With Pharos referring to a large lighthouse, a Martello tower references a smaller coastal structure, while Martello Rock is a beacon which marks rocks at the entrance to Bon Accord Harbour in Kawau Bay.
Our Martello Rock 2007 has had the same meticulous attention to detail as Pharos, both in the vineyard and winery, to produce an interesting blend of a ‘new-world’ fruit-driven style and an ‘old-world’ earthy claret.
In the Vineyard
Following a damp year’s end, the beginning of 2007 settled into 10 weeks of perfect sunshine and very little rain - an amazing run of weather for this part of the country. Our viticultural team worked hard removing leaves around the bunches to allow sunlight penetration, and by removing fruit that lagged behind the ripening profile of each variety, only perfect bunches were allowed to continue ripening on the vine.
In the Winery Each of the 4 varieties was destemmed and crushed separately into small open-top fermenters. A selected yeast instigated fermentation, with the rising ‘cap’ of skins initially hand-plunged four times daily. As alcoholic fermentation proceeded, the plunging regime was decreased to avoid over-extraction. After a period of post-fermentation maceration to add structure and balance, the wine was racked, the skins gently pressed, settled, then aged in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barriques. Different coopers and forest origins were utilized to optimize the potential of each grape varietal. Following 10 months aging in oak, selected barriques were blended together. The wine was then bottled without fining, then bottle-aged for a further 3 years before release.
Harvest date: 23th March – 14th April 2007 Bottling date: 18th February 2008
Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon 47% Malbec 20% Merlot 17% Petit Verdot 16%
Alcohol: 12.5% TA: 6 pH: 3.4 Quantity produced: 425 dozen
Aging potential: Totally approachable now, but in stable cellaring conditions, should continue to evolve and develop further complexity over the next 3-5 years.
Tasted by Cameron Douglas MS May 2011
Brick Bay Martello Rock 2007 12.5%abv
N: Earth, new leather and fruity all rolled in together with a flourish of violets as a high note; hints of tobacco and chocolate then plum and wild berries emerge – a sense of richness to come.
P: Dry and for some very dry, but this is a wine built on a foundation of balance between classic Bordeaux fruit flavours, spicy oak tannins and an undertone of brown soil and clay flavour suggestions. Each component of this wine demands the attention of the other and collectively a lovely package. A complex wine that requires a simple, but equally full-flavoured main course, a cheese board; or if you’re game a great cigar followed by strong black coffee.
Balanced, well made and very giving although the tannins need at least 3 to 5 years to weave and soften throughout the wine - if well cellared. 4 ½ stars.
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