Diamond Ridge Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008 83 Points

Diamond Ridge Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008 83 Points

Ruby red with garnet reflections and brown towards the rim, showing evolution.

Clean, reductive possibly due to the screwcap closure, lending a moderate intensity with some green peppery edge, slightly herbaceous with hints of pyrazine character, just ripe currant, cassis and plums, wet earth, spicy oak.

Dry with dash residual sugar, leafy edge follows through, delicately juicy, red fruits fading, fresh with moderate plus acidity yet this is a full bodied red with high alcohol of 14% abv, crunchy moderate tannins, good lenght. Drink now until 2014.

Diamond Ridge wines is exclusively available through Checkers at R 80/bottle