Sacred Hill Special Selection 2010 Released

Sacred Hill Special Selection 2010 Released To Market

The 2010 Sacred Hill Special Selection boasts a range of wine collectables, showcasing four, handcrafted vintages that represent the pinnacle of winemaking for this famous Hawke’s Bay winery.

The four new wines are:

Deerstalkers Syrah 2008

Brokenstone Merlot 2008

Sauvage Sauvignon 2008

Rifleman’s Chardonnay 2009

Special Selection wines are derived from parcels of grapes grown exclusively on Estate and Mason Family vineyards, including Riflemans Terraces and Gimblett Gravels, vineyards known for near perfect growing and ripening conditions as nature allows.

At such a time, Special Selection wines are produced, when vintage conditions are ideal, individually named and uniquely positioned.

The limited edition wines are an intense collaboration between Sacred Hill viticulture and winemaking teams, orchestrated by Chief Winemaker, Tony Bish.

The end result consistently produces flagship wines of power, concentration and purity, a robust contribution to Sacred Hill’s award-winning portfolio.

“Special Selection is our Olympic collection of wine, each bottle infused with all the handcrafted, time-honoured expertise of any world-class boutique wine. The vintages in the 2010 release are no exception.

“The Hawke's Bay enjoyed a good summer in 2008, with plenty of hot weather and relatively low levels of rainfall. This meant the approach to harvest fruit quality was maximised as the ripening processes began. We were able to take full advantage of that, reflected in the quality of the Deerstalkers Syrah, Brokenstone Merlot and the Sauvage Sauvignon. Both the Deerstalkers and Brokenstone have received 4 Star statuses in the up coming September / October issue of Wine state magazine.

“As for the Rifleman’s Chardonnay, the vineyard performed well, and we secured ripe and rich fruit to work with in the barrel room. With no 2008 Riflemans the long awaited 2009 Rifleman’s is a limited release with just 170 cases due for release in New Zealand Based on the success of the 2007 Rifleman’s Chardonnay, the 2009 vintage will be no exception.

Rifleman’s Chardonnay 2007 has won three high profile awards in 2010 already, including two international trophies. These include:

The sought after five-star Cuisine Magazine stamp of excellence for the 2007 Riflemans Chardonnay;

The Sydney International Wine Competition in February, winning the SWIC Perpetual Trophy as well as a Blue-Gold award for best fuller bodied dry white table wine.

The 57th Royal Easter Show Wine Awards in March, claiming the Champion Chardonnay New World trophy. Earlier in the month, the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards awarded Riflemans a gold medal, automatically placing it in the trophy finals. The Special Selection wines sit at the premium end of the market and continue to be award winning single vineyard wines. Over the years each vintage has received rave reviews and a number of local and international trophies and accolades.

Sacred Hill Special Selection range is available from fine wine retailers and restaurants.

www.sacredhill.com

Deerstalkers Syrah 2008

Hand-picked grapes, gently de-stemmed from the Gimblett Gravels vineyard, were fermented in small, open vats, hand plunged and aged 18 months in French oak barriques. The finished result is a Syrah blending lifted spicy black fruits with a fine, gravely note reminiscent of the soils from which it came. A layered, complex aroma with savoury notes, mingled with black cherry, black olive and plum, this vintage offers a rich, suave and velvety textured palate. All the complexity of the nose flows through to the palate with brooding dark fruits, spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon and developing rich savoury gamey tones as it unfolds

Brokenstone Merlot 2008

From the Gimblett Gravels region, hand-picked, gently de-stemmed grapes were fermented without crushing in small open vats, hand plunged and aged 18 months in French oak barriques. Rich aromas of this Merlot are black plum, black olive with subtle cedar and cigar box notes. With time reveals sweet mulberry nuances, very fragrant and full of charm, making for a very harmonious wine. Well integrated black fruits, spicy complexity and fine structural tannins, evenly textured with lovely balance and flow complete this stunning, hand-crafted vintage.

Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Hand-picked bunches, sourced from the Dartmoor Vineyard, from very low yielding vines were whole bunch pressed to French oak barrels, enjoying a natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts, followed by 10 months of ageing in barrel. The result is citrus peel aromas, tight and unyielding in its youth, but promising much. An unbelievably intense palate, at first boney and mineral but rising to a crescendo of flavours. A concentration of phenomenal length, a tight, taut structure that unfolds to reveal citrus and honeysuckle with delicate chalky tannin nuances.

Riflemans Chardonnay 2009

From the infamous Riflemans Terraces vineyard, the source of so many award-winning wines, come hand-picked grapes. Gently whole bunch pressed to barrel, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged 12 months in new and one year old French oak barrels. Lifted, complex aromas with hazelnut, cashew, citrus blossom, fig and white nectarine. Layered, multi-faceted with a smooth entry and beautiful, silky texture, enshrouded with fine and persistent citrus acidity. The medley of aromas flows to the palate with nutty complexity, fig and citrus peel characters. Very long and elegant and almost certain to be another award-winner for this famous Hawke’s Bay winery.

ENDS

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