Merlot is the most planted red grape in Hawke's Bay and it's blended here with 15% Cabernet Franc, which adds the deep crimson colour and impressive backbone and structure to this wine. Fermentation was all in stainless steel tanks to retain fruit forward approachability with maturation for 17 months in French oak barriques, which adds smoothness and a velvety texture to this wine. It's dry and tastes of ripe dark fruit.