2023 Boneline Waipara Iridium Cabernets Merlot
Grape
Usually a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Its Origins
Boneline are a Waipara operation with a serious focus on terroir. Waipara’s lime-rich soils and nearly identical climate to Chablis allow Boneline to explore stylistic bridge points between the more restrained French and more brightly fruited characteristics of New Zealand terroir wines. The name Boneline itself invokes a network of ideas linking their wines and terroir to the primordial history of the site, directly referring to fossilised fish bones that have been found around the Waipara River - which also appear on their labels - and indirectly referring to the lime in the soil, itself a residue of fish calcium that forms the various bone-like substrata of many Waipara vineyards and makes the region such a special place for wine. Bringing to their work a broad range of human and marketing as well as winemaking talents, Boneline look set to define new possibilities for their exceptional place and its offerings.
What The Critics Say
94/100 Cameron Douglas MS (2020 vintage)
"From a blend of Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon with Merlot delivers a bouquet of complexity and power showcasing dark red berry fruits laced with five spice and smoky earth tones, sweet tobacco, bitter chocolate and velvet cake. A dry wine touches the palate with core flavours that mirror the bouquet, firm tannins and bold acid line secure the structure and foundation in place for the ripe fruit and complex flavours. A lengthy wine, delicious and fresh with best drinking from 2024 through 2030." Drink 2024 - 2030
92/100 The Real Review, Stephen Wong (2020 vintage)
"Deeply-pitched tarry oak, milk chocolate and blackcurrant fruit. Concentrated and liqueur-like. On the palate, it takes on a more old-fashioned style with baked diffuse fruit, noticeable heat and some early development characters. The opulent palate has creamy plummy fruit and big, woody tannins. Traditionally structured; very grippy on the end and quite drying tannins for the fruit. This needs more time to soften, but there is a hardness and severity to the wine which might always remain 18 DEC 2023." Drink 2025 - 2034
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc / Merlot |
|---|---|
| Region | Waipara |
| Closure | Cap |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Maturity | 2025 - 2033 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.