Hans Herzog Montepulciano 2020

Accolades:
96/100 – James Suckling
94/100 – Bob Campbell MW (2019 vintage)
91/100 – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2019 vintage)
5 stars – Michael Cooper (2019 vintage)

“This is phenomenal, like eating al dente grapes. Black cherries, blackberries, other purple fruits and hints of graphite. It’s medium-bodied with solid tannins and a fantastic finish. Chewy yet polished for a montepulciano, and rather endless. Drink or hold.” – James Suckling

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 superb flavour compounds and beneficial antioxidants from the skins. The must underwent a long, cool wild yeast fermentation with extended post-maceration to build depth and structure. After gentle pressing, I transferred the young wine into French barriques (30% new) for natural malolactic fermentation. A slow 36-month maturation on fine lees, with minimal oxygen exchange, gradually softened tannins and acidity, without overwhelming the wine with oak. The marriage of wine and wood resulted in a rich, complex, and textural expression—built to age gracefully for many years. No fining. No filtration. Only the minimum effective sulphur. Just natural goodness.” – Hans Herzog

Certification: Organic

Alcohol Volume: 14.4%

Variety: Montepulciano

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand.