Sacred Hill Merlot Brokenstone Hawkes Bay 2015

Andrew Caillard MW

Medium deep colour. Fresh dark cherry, blackcurrant pastille aromas with herb, rhubarb, mocha notes. Plush voluminous and classic with blackcurrant, dark plum fruits, slinky looseknit tannins, mocha espresso oak notes and long persistent mineral acidity. Finishes chocolatey form. Perfectly ripe wine with density, generosity and mineral length.

Wine Orbit

It is superbly ripe and fragrant on the nose showing gorgeous Black Doris plum aromas with clove, cigar, cedar and cocoa notes. The palate is richly fruited and full flavoured, and displays excellent fruit purity and silky texture, brilliantly structured by fine, chalky tannins. Power and grace in one.

Raymond Chan

Full, even, black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, near impenetrable. The nose is very soft and full, and harmoniously integrated with aromas of ripe black plums and black berried fruits, with layers of exotic spices and cedary oak. This is beautifully perfumed in expression. Medium-full bodied, the palate is soft with rich and lusciously sweet, mouthfilling fruit flavours of dark-red and black plums and spicy black fruits harmoniously integrated with curranty elements and exotic, sweet oak.. The plumminess blossoms as the wine flows, and the fruit richness is supported by balancing fine-grained tannin structure, with softly ripe acidity providing energy. The fruit richness carries to a softly integrated, long and sustained finish. This is a beautifully rich and luscious, harmonious Merlot-based wine with mouthfilling flavours and fine tannin extraction.

Robert Parker

Hints of pencil shavings, vanilla and bold black cherries mark the nose of the 2015 Brokenstone, a blend of 87% Merlot, with small amounts of Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Aged 19 months in 22% new French oak, it's a classy, medium to full-bodied red, with a rich mid-palate and a velvety finish. It should age comfortably up to a decade or more.

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

Dark core of purple and ruby persistent to the rim with a light pink edge. Aromas of ripe, punchy, crunchy, fresh and dark red berry fruits including blackberry and blueberry, some Doris plum and blackcurrant suggestions, some obvious dark berry spices with clove, vanilla then peppercorn. On the palate – youthful, fresh, crunchy and vibrant with flavours that reflect the nose – dark berry fruits with ripe and tart moments; medium+ acidity and tannins to match; lengthy dry finish. Loads of ageing potential if stored properly.

Michael Cooper

Full-coloured, it is vibrantly fruity, with concentrated, ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, well-integrated oak, savoury notes adding complexity, and supple tannins. Already delicious, it should be at its best 2020+.

Yvonne Larkin

With a name taken from an old Sacred Hill vineyard known as ‘stoney broke’, the Brokenstone is now considered one of New Zealand’s most iconic merlot-based reds. The 2015 is a blend of merlot, malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc and it’s absolutely sensational. Matured for 19 months in French oak, layers of cedar, tobacco and black olive cloak the rich, dense, plummy and berry-saturated palate. Sinewy, sexy tannins add depth to an already extended finish.

Six Nations Wine Challenge