JENNY DOBSON MAC CHILLED RED 2025

Winery notes (2025 Vintage)
"Dedicated to my Uncle Mac (Robert McGregor Nell), adventurous, generous of spirit, gregarious, practical and always in a hurry. His character is a perfect match for an early drinking chilled out red.

I have fermented Merlot grapes grown on the Lesley’s Vineyard in the Hawkes Bay Red Triangle growing district, using traditional and carbonic maceration to ensure a fruit filled, softly textured supple red wine.

Packed with flavours of sweet summer plums and juicy berry fruit, this is a red wine with sass and panache and perfect to drink slightly chilled on a hot summers day. This is the wine I want to drink after a hot day working in the vineyard.

The Merlot is grown following sustainable practices on the Lesley’s vineyard in the Red Triangle growing district in Hawkes Bay. Picking when the grapes have ripe and fresh flavours is crucial in making Mac. I am looking for vibrancy and texture in the wine not tannic structure.

I ferment a portion using carbonic maceration to preserve the vibrant fresh fruit flavours and lively texture, with the rest fermented traditionally. Pressed in a basket press the wine remains in stainless steel and is racked to help clarification before bottling late winter."

Reviews for the 2024 vintage below…

David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz (2024 Vintage)
"A Merlot from the Lesley’s Vineyard in Hawkes Bay. A bold magenta/purple colour in the glass. The perfume has a bright pop of plum, cherry, bramble and boysenberry. Youthful, light-footed – no more than medium-bodied – with bags of energy through the palate. Crunchy fruit with a vibrant, peppery spiciness, highlighted by a crisp acidity. In the background there is light grip of tannin, but it is all about that fruit freshness. A soft texture settles the wine before the finish. I can see this working chilled on a summer evening."