Alpha Domus Estate The Navigator Hawke's Bay Red Blend 2018

Alpha Domus Estate The Navigator Hawke's Bay Red Blend 2018Plum & blackberry Cocoa & spice Medium to full bodied Rich & round Softly concentrated with deep and dense aromas of plush red plum, berry fruits, hints of blackcurrant, cocoa, spice and cedar. Each variety contributes to an exquisitely varied array of aroma and great depth of flavour, the palate is medium full bodied. Merlot plays the lead role at 39% of The Navigator blend, giving body, richness, and a plump roundness to the mid palate. A warm

• Plum & blackberry
• Cocoa & spice
• Medium to full bodied
• Rich & round

Softly concentrated with deep and dense aromas of plush red plum, berry fruits, hints of blackcurrant, cocoa, spice and cedar. Each variety contributes to an exquisitely varied array of aroma and great depth of flavour, the palate is medium-full bodied. Merlot plays the lead role at 39% of The Navigator blend, giving body, richness, and a plump roundness to the mid palate. A warm vintage has allowed greater use of Cabernet Sauvignon giving structure, length and longevity but also adding to the important freshness of the blend. Cabernet Franc adds elegance and gentle herbal perfume. A good splash of Malbec and Petit Verdot gives highlights of floral violet and boysenberry aroma, deepening the colour with purple hues.

Fruit for this wine was sourced from their estate vineyard. They use a variety of clones mostly grafted on 101-14 rootstock. All vines are cane pruned, with bud reduction, shoot thinning and second set removal performed as required.

Blended from the best blocks in their estate vineyard, that have been carefully managed to ensure optimum ripeness along with extra concentration to allow for a long, gentle maturation once bottled. Each block was fermented then matured in oak barrels as stand-alone parcels. After at least 12 months initial maturation, each individual barrel was tasted and scored with only the best making the cut for The Navigator. After extensive bench trialling a blend was put together that not only expresses the best of the vintage but also is a true reflection of their unique terroir in the Bridge Pa Triangle.

From their origins in 1989, establishing both vineyard and winery, Alpha Domus was a pioneer in the renowned Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District of Hawke’s Bay. New Zealand family owned, they have always been inspired to create beautiful wines of worth; the importance of quality and expert craftsmanship paramount. Alpha is derived from the first initials of the founding family members names in age descending order, Anthonius, Leonarda, Paulus, Henrikus and Anthonius, Domus is Latin for home.