MAN O’ WAR IRONCLAD 2023

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"Named in honour of the 19th Century warships characterised by the iron armour bolted onto their wooden hulls, much as iron courses through the veins of our warm clay hillside vineyards. Brooding yet refined, the 2023 Ironclad strikes a bold balance between power and finesse – a true expression of the long, temperate growing season and rugged coastal vineyards.

Evocative aromatics unfold in layers:  blackberry, cassis, and dark plum meet floral notes of violet and lavender, grounded by savoury notes of graphite, cedar, and dried tobacco. The palate is structured and poised with concentrated black fruits, baking spice, and subtle herbal undertones carried by fine tannin and bright coastal acidity.

Waiheke's signature blend – the 2023 Ironclad is Cabernet Franc predominant, offering spice and lift, while Merlot and Malbec add depth and generosity with plush, supple fruit.

Each varietal component of the blend, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot, was harvested by hand from distinct vineyard blocks, each managed individually for vine balance and optimal ripeness. Parcels were fermented separately in small open-top fermenters, with a mix of pumpovers and plunging tailored to each lots tannin profile and structure. Fermentations were guided by indigenous yeasts to enhance site character, with extended maceration used judiciously to build depth and polish.

Once pressed, wines were transferred to a mix of French oak barriques (around 35% new), where they underwent malolactic fermentation and were matured for 18 months. Regular topping and racking ensured clarity and integration, but the wine was otherwise left undisturbed to evolve at its own pace.

After extensive tasting and blending trials, the composition of 2023 Ironclad was finalised- a wine that reflects both the complexity of its varietal parts and the cohesion of a single, coastal place. Bottled without fining and with minimal sulphur, the 2023 vintage carries the hallmark structure and tension of Ironclad, with a slightly more floral and lifted aromatic profile thanks to a standout Cabernet Franc contribution."

Reviews for the 2022 vintage below…

Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, November 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"An excellent bouquet of power and concentration, dark plums and blackberry fruits, lots of baking spices, smoky wood and new barrel scents. There’s an enticement from the synergy of aromas along with and earthy stony quality adding depth and intrigue. Full-bodied, dry, plenty of tannins and acidity delivery a taut and very youthful mouthfeel. Fruit flavours remain at the core with dark skinned plums and blackberry, there’s also chocolate and brown baking spices, a lick of salt, a long finish and complexity. Best drinking from 2028 through 2038."

93/100 Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, December 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Austere with subtle flavours with cocoa and violet, plum and blackberry framed with drying oak and tannin on a broad and very ripe palate with spicy alcoholic warmth. Clenched and unyielding, this needs time to come together as it is really fiercely tannic right now and very chewy. Under the drying structure and alcohol is a core of violet and even some crunchy blackcurrant leaf which bodes well for the wine once it can overcome its hard shell."