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Elephant Hill's latest reviews from Bob Campbell MW and Cameron Douglas MS

2017 Salomé Chardonnay
"Immediately complex with a Meursault-like bouquet of cashew spice, cold smoke, grapefruit peel, apple and peach. A complex and lengthy wine on the palate with flavours that mirror the nose. Satin texture with a light creamy butter note and a bit of new oak. Primed for cellaring with drinking from 2021/22 and through to 2030. An excellent wine." 97 points - Cameron Douglas MS
"Only the second vintage of Elephant Hill's flagship chardonnay with just 111 cases produced. Most of the grapes from Te Awanga with some from a low-cropped section of their Bridge Pa vineyard. Concentrated yet restrained chardonnay that is rather taut at this early stage with chalky, mineral, citrus, brioche and bran biscuit flavours. Should develop well with bottle age. Drink now - 2025." 95 points - Bob Campbell MW


2016 Stone Syrah
"Focus, concentration and power, pepper-spice, wood spice, violets and dark berries, barrel spice and bacon oak, masculine and muscle. There's no mistaking the power and presence of this wine on the palate with youthful energy, backbone of acidity, powerful tannins and core of fruit carrying the structure well, but also showing youth and potential. Lengthy finish with concentration and power. A wine to rival Northern Rhone counterparts. Best drinking 2021 through 2030." 96 points -Cameron Douglas MS
"75 cases made. Dense, restrained and elegant syrah with floral, smoky, black pepper flavours restrained by fine, close-knit tannins that clearly suggest bottle age potential. This is Elephant Hill's top syrah from this coolish vintage. Drink now to 2023" 96 points- Bob Campbell MW

 

2015 Airavata
"A complex and engaging wine from bouquet to palate the more your swirl, sip and explore the more it offers. Pressed violets and dark raspberry, black currant and plum. Bold tannins and youthful acidity, a hint of tar and boot polish, meat and smoke. No mistaking the impact of oak with a core of fruit and flavour this wine is impressive. Requires cellar time to integrate and develop. Decant and taste again in 2022. A wine destined to last through to 2030+."  98 points- Cameron Douglas MS
"Flagship syrah made from 2/3 Gimblett Gravels and 1/3 Te Awanga grapes. Big, dense and very ripe red that is both elegant and a blockbuster with pepper, plum, berry, coffee and mocha flavours. A concentrated wine that's built to last. Drink now - 2025" 96 points- Bob Campbell MW


2015 Hieronymus
 
"Youthful, powerful and focused bouquet of Hawkes Bay red wine. The Cabernet is the driving force on the nose with cigar and blackberry fruit, the Franc is unmistakable with olive and sweet leaves, violet and dark berry; the Malbec highlights new oak with bitter chocolate and black cherry note; the Merlot brings everything together with flavours of plum and softness. Other flavours include marmite and barrel spices. A youthful example with big tannins and acidity to match and plenty new oak, complex and lengthy finish. Cellar till at least 2025 before sampling again. This will be a twenty-five year wine. Cellar properly and this wine will reward." 98 points- Cameron Douglas MS
"280 cases made. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and tempranillo. Big, dense red with concentration and power. Layers of berry, dried fruits, spice, cedar and a suggestion of floral characters. A very complex wine with a higher level of dry extract (a measure of flavour concentration) than any wine previously made at Elephant Hill. Drink now – 2030" 97 points- Bob Campbell MW

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