Man O' War Ironclad Bordeaux Blend 2008
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Parker
Robert
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The multi-award winning 2008 Ironclad has a tight, leafy nose that unfurls in the glass to reveal blackberry, raspberry leaf, a touch of fresh fig and boysenberry jam. The palate is medium-bodied, firm tannins, good weight, gentle but firm grip with a finely tuned, almost Cote-Rotie-like finish. This is one of Waiheke emerging stars: a top class Merlot that should age well. Drink 2011-2017.
Under our family's stewardship for almost 30 years, we first introduced grapes to Man O' War in 1993, firm in the belief that world class wines could be produced here. Since then we have carefully selected and developed almost 90 individual pockets of Man O' War's hillsides for wine growing, each chosen for the unique and exceptional qualities they bring to our wines.
Today 150 acres of vines are strategically placed around Man O' War's 4500 acres, enhancing its intrinsic beauty. Meticulous design ensures that the distinct soil profile and microclimate of each block is used to best advantage with different rootstocks, clones and planting densities selected to match the specific terroir on offer.
At Man O' War an exceptional and passionate team of people come together to bring you unique world class wines that reflect the distinctive treasure of land from which they come. Our winemaking team possesses broad and extensive experience and we pride ourselves on fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An eclectic region on the east coast of the North Island, Hawkes Bay extends from wide, fertile, coastal plains, inland, to the coast range, whose peaks reach as high as 5,300 feet. While the flatter areas were historically more popular because they are easier to cultivate, their alluvial soils can be too fertile for vines. In the late 20th century, the drive for quality led growers to the hills where soils are free-draining, limestone-rich and more suited to producing high quality wines.
Over the passing of time, the old Ngaruroro River laid down deep, gravelly beds, which were subsequently exposed after a huge flood in the 1860’s. In the 1980s growers identified this stretch, which continues for approximately 800 ha, and named it the Gimblett Gravels. The zone has proven to be ideal for the production of excellent red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
Today the area takes well-earned recognition for its Bordeaux blends and other reds. Expressive of intense stewed red and black berry with gentle herbaceous characters, Gimblett Gravels wines are suggestive of their cool climate origin, and on par with other top-notch Bordeaux blends around the globe.
Chardonnay is the top white grape in Hawkes Bay, making elegant wines, strong in stone fruit character. Sauvignon blanc comes in close behind, notable for its tropical, fruit forward qualities.