Puriri Hills Harmonie du Soir 2015

The season is at hand when swaying on its stem
Every flower exhales perfume like a censer;
Sounds and perfumes turn in the evening air…
– Charles Baudelaire, Harmonie du Soir (1857)

Accolades:
97/100 – Bob Campbell MW
94/100 – James Suckling
5 stars (Super Classic) – Michael Cooper

“A blend of merlot 42% , cabernet franc 25% , Carménère 17% , cabernet sauvignon 8% and malbec 8% . Intense and complex red with a range of flavours including dark berry, plum, wood smoke, roasted chestnut, anise, spice and nutty oak. A delicious wine that’s great to taste now but promises to develop further with bottle age.” – Bob Campbell MW

“A fresh and floral red with currant, violets, perfume and sandalwood. A medium-bodied red with firm tannins that are polished and very refined. Hints of orange peel to the fruit. 78% merlot, 12% malbec, 8% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet franc. Still holding on beautifully. Decant before serving. Drink or hold.” – James Suckling

“The 2015 vintage is a classy, youthful red, notably Bordeaux-like. Deeply coloured, it is fragrant, mouthfilling and smooth, with rich, ripe blackcurrant, plum, herb and spice flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, and excellent vigour, complexity, structure and harmony. A very ageworthy red, it’s well worth cellaring to 2024+.” – Michael Cooper

Tasting Note: Another generous growing season has resulted in a Harmonie du Soir release that impressively treads the line between power and restraint. After some time in the decanter, this young wine begins to reveal its incredible perfume of vibrant red fruits and exotic spices. It’s silky-smooth and immensely chewy on the palate, red fruits again matched with spice and a savoury herbal component, which pulsates through to a resounding, lengthy finish. One of the best wines ever to come out of this tiny property, to be cellared with confidence for at least 15 years.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Variety: Bordeaux blend

Region: Clevedon, New Zealand