The 2008 Ironclad is a blend of 52% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 10.5% Malbec, 9.1% Petit Verdot and 1.4% Cabernet Sauvignon.This wine is built with the Merlot component providing the fruit softness and lifted berry fruit aromas, the Cabernet Franc adding fragrant earthy notes and a sinewy structure. Malbec brings ripe tannins and intense floral aromas while the Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon add density and tannin weight to the wine. All of this framed within a mix of predominantly French oak and a small component of American oak.

Will continue to develop and cellar for up to 8 years.

2008 Vintage

• Best New World Red Wine, Steven Spurrier, Decanter Magazine, January 2010
• 4.5 Stars - Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide 2011 "The powerful, youthful 2008 vintage from the eastern end of Waiheke Island, is Merlot-based (52 per cent),with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Matured in French and American oak casks (25 per cent new), it is deeply coloured, sturdy (14.5 percent alcohol) and packed with blackcurrant, plum, spice and nut flavours, slightly chocolatey, ripe and long. Savoury, rich,complex and firmly structured, it’s one for the cellar; open2012"
• GOLD MEDAL - New Zealand International WineCompetition 2010
• 91 POINTS, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, Issue 191,Neal Martin, October 2010
• 94 POINTS, Jamie Goode, www.wineanorak.com, July 2010,"Thrilling aromatics – sweet, pure, ripe raspberry and blackcurrant fruit nose with some fine  floral notes and a spicy, medicinal edge. The palate shows ripe berry and blackcurrant fruit with nice fresh spicy tannins and real precision. Lovely structure."
• 93 POINTS, Bob Campbell MW, February 2010
• SILVER MEDAL ~ International Wine Challenge 2010, London