Decanter Magazine 2018 Reviews by Rebecca Gibb

Rebecca Gibb's recent reviews of Puriri Hills 2010 Pope and 2009 Reserve as part of her "Mature New Zealand wines from the cellar" article for Decanter Magazine UK.

2010 Puriri Hills Pope 95 points. “Puriri Hills is truly different from other New Zealand producers. A Bordeaux blend specialist, it releases its wines five to eight years after the vintage, ensuring that the newly launched wines are ready to drink upon release. Flagship wine, Pope, is a blend of 54% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 17% Carmenere. It’s a ripe-fruited, dense expression from a dry and warm vintage, starting to show its middle age through its softening mid-palate and savoury development. There’s lots of fruit-filled concentration, with cocoa powder-like tannins that coat the mouth. Flavours of tobacco, black fruit and pencil lead linger on the long finish. Drinking Window 2018 – 2025.”

2009 Puriri Hills Reserve 93 points. "Puriri Hills is truly different from New Zealand producers, releasing its wines five to eight years after the vintage. The newly launched vintages are ready to drink upon release like this Reserve (renamed Harmonie du Soir from the 2012 vintage). It is savoury, with hints of tobacco, pencil lead and herbal tones and offers up an elegant and fresh expression with a dry, savoury conclusion; fine tea-leaf-like tannis coat the palate."