Kiwi classics with an extra dimension

Kiwi classics with an extra dimension

Sacred Hill’s newly released HALO wines could be described as two classics with a depth and texture that add an extra dimension to two of New Zealand’s most celebrated wine styles.

Sacred Hill HALO Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 and HALO Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 combine new world fruit flavour with a touch of old world complexity.

Managing Director David Mason says the HALO label was created to bring premium wines into everyday enjoyment and the goal is to create wines that are distinctive, and richly textured.

“Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet are classic New Zealand wine styles and HALO is an expression of the styles which builds on their most loved varietal characters,” he says.

Senior Winemaker Tony Bish says the HALO Sauvignon Blanc 2015 shows the benefits of a classic cool climate growing season in Marlborough, superb ripening conditions and an early harvest which captured flavours at their best, delivering wines of intensity.

“The wine is an expression of the vintage and the land where it was grown – that’s the key to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc,” Bish says.

Likewise, the HALO Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 show all the benefits of the Hawke’s Bay vintage a year earlier, which Bish describes as warm and dry - a fabulous year for these for Merlot and Cabernet.

Carefully harvested from the renowned Gimblett Gravels sub-region, the fruit for this wine was ripe and intensely flavoured and vineyard portions were selected with great attention to detail.

“With HALO wines the winemaking itself is about gentle handling and doing everything we can to optimise and enhance the fruit expression and varietal characters, as well as bringing out complexity and texture.”

Sacred Hill HALO Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 – Aromas of tropical fruits including mango and pineapple with nuances of passionfruit, snow peas and hints of citrus. The palate is rich and powerful with a beautiful mid-palate of tropical fruits and a punchy vein of zesty acid which lingers on the fresh, vibrant finish.

Food match: White fish tacos. Serve with sour cream, fresh coriander, crisp shredded lettuce and lime wedges.

Sacred Hill HALO Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – Dark plum colour. The nose is rich with scented chocolate and ripe berry fruit notes. Full bodied palate with dark fruits and liquorice flavours. The structure is firm yet balanced, with lingering ripe dark fruits.

Food match: Angus Scotch Fillet cooked medium rare and served with fresh beans and blue cheese butter.

Sacred Hill HALO Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (RRP $27.99) and HALO Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (RRP $24.99) are available from fine wine retailers throughout New Zealand.
For further information visit www.sacredhill.com.

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