Wine Composition
40% Merlot, 24.8% Cabernet franc, 24.2% Cabernet Sauvignon & 11% Petit Verdot
Winemakers Comments
The 2019 Ironclad opens up to reveal dark cherries, blackberry, olive tapenade, violets and crushed rock. The oak is classy with hints of cedar and pencil lead, the palate is full-bodied and rich with layers of fruit characters. Boysenberry and bramble lead to a fresh almost salty finish. Tannins are present but well integrated as is the oak. A classic wild and wonderful Ironclad blend!
Awards
Bob Campbell | 93 points
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
15.32%
TA
5.4 g/l
pH
3.75
Cellar Techniques
Vintage 2019 was exceptional with a perfect fruit set in the Spring followed by a hot settled summer and practically no rain during the harvest months. With 15 different vineyard sites planted in the five traditional varieties
of Bordeaux the 2019 Ironclad is a careful selection of the very best
fruit from the vintage. As with all our vineyards the fruit is carefully hand harvested and then sorted again in the winery before stem removal and fermentation of whole berries. Only pumped over twice a day the extraction is careful and can continue for over 30 days. Once the perfect balance has been achieved the wines are pressed directly to barrel and remain on gross lees for 20 months undergoing a natural malolactic in the Spring. After aging the wines are then selected for blending into the Ironclad.
Winemaker
Name - Duncan McTavish
Winery
The Man O’ War story begins with a special piece of land rich in history. Located at the eastern end of Waiheke Island, Man O’ War is a stunning array of coastal hillsides with high cliffs and pristine beaches forming a ruggedly beautiful coastline.
It was along this coastline that Captain James Cook came to anchor during his first voyage around the islands of New Zealand in 1769. Upon sighting the ancient stands of magnificent Kauri trees ashore, Cook noted in his journals that they would make ideal masts for the Man O’ War warships of the Royal Navy. Thus the name Man O’ War was bestowed upon this unique land.
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