Man O' War Warspite Cabernet Franc Merlot Malbec 2014 - Ponui Island, New Zealand

94/100 Sam Kim
18.5+/20 Raymond Chan

Commended - International Wine Challenge (2012 Vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2012 Vintage)
Silver - International Wine & Spirit Competition (2012 Vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2010 Vintage)

4 Star Rating from Michael Cooper
5 Star Rating from Wine Orbit

Michael Cooper "...a powerful, sturdy (15 per cent alcohol) red, with generous plum, spice and herb flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, good complexity and a well-rounded finish."

Raymond Chan "Full-bodied, the palate has rich and mouth-filling flavours of red and blackcurrants, notes of dark plums, entwined with fresh and dark herbs, and some earthiness adding complexing interest. The flavours are bold and up-front, with sweetness and lusciousness, all underlined by considerable alcoholic power. The fruit is supported by fine-grained tannin extraction with fresh, balanced and integrated acidity lending vibrancy. The flavours carry to an elegant, lingering finish. This is a bold and up-front, powerful Franc and Merlot-based blend with lusciously vibrant red and blackcurrant fruit with plum, herb and earthy complexities and fine extraction. Match with roasted lamb, beef and venison over the next 8-10 years. A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec from Ponui Island, fermented to 15% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 45% new French oak."

Sam Kim "It is wonderfully lifted on the nose showing blackcurrant, dried cherry, vanilla, cigar and cedar characters. The palate is richly fruited and generously weighted, delivering sweet fruit intensity and plush texture, leading to a lengthy silky finish. It is luxuriously expressed and highly enjoyable. A blend of cabernet franc, merlot and malbec were grown on their estate vineyard in Ponui Island."

Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate "Man O’ War is without a doubt one of New Zealand’s greatest wineries in the making and one to watch."

Jancis Robinson “Waiheke Island, home to one of the country’s best Syrah producers Man O’ War…New Zealand is second only to the Rhône in the consistency of quality it achieves.”

Raymond Chan "Man O’ War is arguably Waiheke Island’s most significant wine producer.."

Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.

Ponui Island is a small neighbouring island to Waiheke Island and is considered the same wine-growing region as Waiheke Island. It is a private island of 18 km² and consists of three farms and one vineyard. Nine permanent inhabitants live on the island, which is home to New Zealand's only feral donkey breed, the Ponui donkey, and a large population of kiwi.

Waiheke Island is a wine-producing region just 18km east of Auckland city. This hilly island is home to a healthy population of hippies and artists, as well as some of Auckland's most famous vineyards. Waiheke Island's specialty is elegant Bordeaux Blend wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but Syrah and Chardonnay are also important grape varieties planted here.

Cabernet Franc – Merlot is an established and important variant on the classic Bordeaux blend. The two varieties have complementary features: Merlot's dark, juicy fruit is balanced by the herbal aromas and structure of Cabernet Franc. This blend is used in the prestigious Pomerol and Saint-Emilion appellations, and makes some key wines – the most famous of which is undoubtedly Chateau Cheval Blanc.