Goldwater
Waiheke Island
Cabernet Sauvignon
and Merlot 1999

Apellation
Waiheke Island

Vineyard
Causeway Road

Winemakers
 Kim Goldwater, Martin Pickering

 
Winemaker Comments
Yet another unkind spring was again followed by an excellent summer and very good autumn. The crop was thankfully a bit larger than in 1998 but was of equally good quality. The grapes were picked in ideal condition and at optimum ripeness to make a rich, balanced wine with elegant structure. The wine is soft and supple enough to drink now but will benefit from a little more cellaring time.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Brilliant crimson, star bright.
  Bouquet:
 Intense aromas of plum, berry fruit and rich spice balanced by cedary oak.
  Palate:
 Ripe berry fruit with finely structured ripe tannins. Excellent balance and length.
Cellaring Potential
This wine shows excellent potential to cellar well for many years.
Food Suggestions
Venison and all red meats. Particularly good with a rare fillet steak.
Awards Received/Media Comments
Five stars - 95 points - Best of the Bunch - Bob Campbell, M.W., Cuisine Magazine, "A wine with huge cellaring potential. Destined to become a classic"
  Five Stars - Michael Cooper, Sunday Star
Short Description
A well integrated elegant red wine, with rich fruit and spice aromas and firm, finely structured tannins. A seamless wine with great finesse, balance and length. Will cellar well for many years. Best drinking 2003 on.
Technical Notes
Fermentation Stainless Steel
  Maturation 15 months French oak, 50% new
  Cepage Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 38%, Cabernet Franc 12% (approx)
  Total Acidity 6.8 g/l
  Residual Sugar Dry
  Date Picked 3 April 1999 (Cabernet Sauvignon), Brix 23 °
  Date Bottled 27 July 2000
  Production 630 cases made