Hans Herzog Montepulciano 2019

Accolades:
94/100 – Bob Campbell MW
91/100 – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
95/100 – James Suckling (2018 vintage)
5 stars – Michael Cooper (2018 vintage)

“Deep inky red with intense red-fleshed plum, fresh herbs, dark berry, floral/violet, dark chocolate and spicy oak flavours. Youthful and slightly raw wine that is full of promise.” – Bob Campbell MW

“The 2019 Montepulciano is soft and plump, leading with pert cherries, raspberry, cracked peppercorns and hints of licorice and arnica. There’s a nice slew of acidity on this classy wine. 14% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Tasting Notes: Alluring, complex and multi-layered nose of dark-fruit. Aromas of dark cherries, blueberries and plums with hints of violets, chocolate and spices. Juicy and tantalizing acidity with rounded tannins. Real elegance, power, sumptuousness, immensity and emotion is transmitted by tasting this nectar. Enormously long finish, showing a wine great in its youth but with the necessary structure and balance for great longevity.

Winemaking Notes: “Perfectly healthy, destemmed grapes allowed for a long cold soak to extract the superb flavours and beneficial antioxidants of the skins. The must progressed through a long and cool, wild yeast fermentation with extended post maceration. After gentle pressing, I transferred the young wine into French Barriques (30% new) for it’s natural malolactic fermentation. The minimal oxygen exchange over a long 24 months of maturation on the fine lees softened and smoothed tannin and acidity without too much wood tannin extraction. The wine and wood married together to form a richer, more complex and textured wine, able to age for many years in the bottle. No fining. No filtration. Minimum effective SO2. Natural goodness.” – Hans Herzog

Certification: Organic

Alcohol Volume: 14.0%

Variety: Montepulciano

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand.