Lake Road 2013 Gisborne Merlot

Lake Road 2013 Gisborne Merlot

Tasting Notes:
A gentle Merlot showing youthful aromas of red plum, floral and subtle spice. The palate is rounded and juicy with smooth texture and a pleasant dry finish.

Food Match:
Great with char-grilled scotch fillet steak or with roasted lamb shanks.

Production Notes:
Following extensive crop thinning, the grapes were harvested in late April. It was fermented traditionally on the skins with daily plunging and then oak aged.

2014 ROYAL EASTER WINE SHOW - Bronze Medal.
2014 NEW WORLD WINE AWARDS - Bronze Medal.

RAYMOND CHAN - 4 Stars   17/20
"Very full, dark, near-saturated black-hued purple-red colour, very youthful in appearance.  The nose is full with bright, up-front, and fragrantly ripe black plum, boysenberry and redcurrant aromas, the bouquet very primary and fruit-focussed.  Medium-full bodied, moderately deep, but vibrantly bright and sweet flavours of black plums, blackberry and boysenberry fruit are the feature on palate.  The fruit is supported by light tannin extraction, providing a sinewy line, the mouthfeel softly luscious with ripe acidity also present.  The flavours flow with good energy to a fresh, gently fruity, dry textured finish with some length.  This is an elegant, bright, primary-fruited Merlot with ripe plum and boysenberry flavours and light tannin line.  Serve with barbecued and grilled red meats over the next 4 years.  Fruit from the East Coast of the North Island fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine given light oak treatment." October 2013

LAKE ROAD WINES began as a partnership in the early 70's with the plan of investing in premium vineyards supplying the pioneering wine companies such as Penfolds, Corbans, Giesens and Villa Maria.
As a family business, quality was always valued over quantity and through careful viticulture the vines produced many gold medals, cementing a reputation for premium wines.
In the mid 2000's after more than 30 years of viticulture, winemaking was begun with the first wines under our Lake Road label released in 2008 and exported to Australia.
Exports of our wine have since spread to China, UK and the EU. The range of wines from the four main regions offered by Lake Road has broadened to today when all major varieties are exported. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the cornerstone of our range and this is complemented by other white wines such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Waipara Pinot Noir and Hawkes Bay Merlot are the main varieties of red wine we offer and showcase the best of those individual regions.
Looking forward, Lake Road is looking to export to the United States in the next 2 years and work further with Asian markets to showcase New Zealand to these emerging markets.
Lake Road Group Ltd was incorporated in 2012