Reserve wines are from low-yielding vines producing superior grapes showing intense fruit flavours and pure varietal expression. The winemaking philosophy is to achieve "balance" of flavour, structure and texture.
Reserve wines are more complex than the Mills Reef range and by matching them with food can greatly enhance your dining experience.
Delightfully approachable, yet complex, this supple rich Marlborough Pinot Noir exudes sweet cherry and lavender aromas, with vibrant boysenberry fruit flavours, beautifully complemented with spicy liquorice and earthy notes. Subtle oak and velvety refined tannins.
"Ripe, fresh, youthful, fruity and very engaging with aromas of plums and cherries, smoky sweet wood aromas with brown spices of cinnamon, vanilla and a whisper of clove. On the palate - fresh, youthful and fresh with a crunchy texture from firm tannins and medium+ acidity then flavours of red berry fruits and plums, some raspberry and red apple notes. There’s enough new wood flavour and bite to warrant some cellar time. Balance should arrive by early 2022, is a well-made example and destined to suit a range of food. Best from late 2021 through 2025."
Cameron Douglas, 92 Points
"Tangy, medium-bodied pinot noir with red berry, raspberry, crushed herb and spicy flavours. A drying backbone of fine tannins balances fruit sweetness and promotes a drying finish. Drink 2020 to 2023"
Bob Campbell
Yvonne Lorkin
The grapes for this generous wine were grown in the Marlborough region, on low yielding vines. Perfect weather over harvest allowed the grapes to be picked at ideal ripeness and flavour profile.
The grapes were gently crushed, and allowed to cold soak to extract important colour and flavour components. Fermentation proceeded with plunging for further colour, flavour and fine tannin extraction. The resulting wine was then sent to wood for three months ageing in quality French and American oak (27% new wood). The wine received a light egg white fining and was cross flow filtered prior to bottling under screwcap closure.
