Tasted as a finished tank sample, the wine having being matured in 44% new French oak for 18 months, the 2008 Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Merlot sports a very pure and opulent on the nose with ripe cassis, blueberry and dark cherries. The palate is full-bodied with ripe chewy tannins. One finds notes of crisp blackberry, black olive, redcurrant and succinct definition towards the finish. Succulent, very focused, great structure – this is a supreme success for the vintage. Drink 2012-2022. The wines from Craggy Range were tasted both in Hawkes Bay in January 2010 and then in London six months later. Steve Smith, Rod Easthope and the team continue to furnish consumers with a wide portfolio of terroir-based wines that satisfy both the value and prestige end of the market. Having tasted many of their wines, there is no doubt that they have ‘toned down’ their style, the initial releases being rather hubristic and a tad top-heavy with oak. This sense of refinement has lent the wines greater poise and breeding. Their reds are still their strongest suit, in particular their flagship labels such as ‘Le Sol’ and ‘Sophia’, but do not overlook their Chardonnays that exude great purity and Burgundian poise. Meanwhile their ‘Wild Rock’ entry-level range, which is treated as a completely separate entity to Craggy Range, contains some delightful varietals that form a neat introduction to the delights of Hawkes Bay’s wines. Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300.