• French oak
• Red berry fruit
• Smoke & spice
• Firm tannins

"A blend of cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon. Silken smooth red with appealing depth and density, together with impressive complexity. Chocolate/mocha, liquorice, dark berry and mocha flavours" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Feb 2024

The 2021 Ironclad is ripe and generous in style which can be attributed to the very ripe Cabernet Franc from Ponui Island making up 40% of the blend. Harvest on Ponui is dictated by the tide and the fruit can often get incredibly ripe yet retains its integrity and varietal character. The bold flavours are balanced with some very firm tannins which draw out the finish and, along with the natural vibrancy of the Petit Verdot, provides balance to the richness. The 2021 is a very hedonistic wine seemingly fruit forward and rich but there are layers of complexity that revel themselves as you journey through the bottle, layers of aroma and flavour and of structure; acidity, warmth, tannin and a paradoxical freshness that ebbs and flows throughout the tasting experience. A wine that will cellar incredibly well. Dark black and red berry fruits, graphite, new leather, smoke, spice, and the smell of the sea.

Vintage 2021 was exceptional with moderate crops enjoying long periods of dry weather with occasional rainfall to keep the vine canopy in good condition for a long ripening into late Autumn. As always, the vineyards are dry farmed, hand harvested and each parcel fermented and aged separately for an extended period, 30 days in vat and 2 years in barrel.