MAN O’ WAR ISLAND BLEND 2022

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"Rich and warm with plenty of body and juicy fruit. Made from some of the most remote vineyards in New Zealand (possibly the world…) the 2022 Island Blend is a stunning wine full of sweet red and black fruits with soft ripe tannin.

Our Island Blend is a Bordeaux style wine – a blend of fruit from both Waiheke Island and its neighbouring Ponui Island. Vintage 2022 was an amazing growing season for Bordeaux blend wines in that it was hot, dry, and long. The largest parcel of fruit for the 2022 Island Blend comes from the Paradise ‘Outback’ vineyard on Ponui Island; a remote, steep, hillside vineyard planted to Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Only accessed by certain tides, we take our barge across loaded with all our harvest gear and pickers and harvest all day to once more catch the tide to access and unload at Man O’ War Bay. Possibly the only set vineyards in the world to be picked according to the tides. The remaining Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec is sourced from Estate Vineyards on Waiheke Island – hence the name ‘Island Blend’."

Reviews for previous vintages below…

NZ Bordeaux Red Tasting, Dish.co.nz, August 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"With its bright berries on the nose, bold mid-palate complexity and smooth, supple tannins, this cabernet franc-dominant blend from Waiheke made a huge impression. “Dark cherries, cocoa, coffee bean and blackberries bring power, flavour and a long, fine finish,” noted Cameron. Kiwi cabernet franc-based reds are rare, especially at this price and quality. This has a strong, spice-saturated spine and is quite stunning."