Man O' War Island Blend wine is a harmonious marriage of the best grape varietals from the renowned Waiheke Island vineyard in New Zealand. This exceptional blend showcases the unique terroir of the region, with aromas of ripe blackberries, plums, and hints of spice. On the palate, rich flavors of dark berries, mocha, and vanilla are complemented by silky tannins and a lingering finish. This medium to full-bodied red wine is perfect for pairing with hearty meat dishes or enjoying on its own. Man O' War Island Blend effortlessly blends elegance with boldness, making it a standout choice for any wine lover.

Tasting Notes

The Island Blend 2019 is brooding on the nose with blackberry, bramble, black tea and a touch of Provence herbs. The palate is medium bodied with red berry fruits, a touch of black olive and graphite on the finish with a light hint of oak and pepper spice on the finish. The 2019 Island Blend is a well structured wine and a wine to enjoy fresh in its youth as well as a wine worth ageing.

About the Winery

The New Zealand-based wine label of Man’O War is known for creating wines that are rich in texture, elegance and balance. This estate is located towards the east of Waiheke Island. The richness of this land was realised at least two centuries before the establishment of this brand. Ever since its conception, this label has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, this group owns 156 acres of vines planted in some of the premium wine-growing regions of New Zealand. These vines are planted in around 76 blocks across the wine estate. These blocks are known for their diverse soil quality, mesoclimate conditions and natural ripening characteristics.

The white vines are cultivated on top of the hills of the Man O’ War estate, to expose them to the volcanic soil quality and the chill breeze from the sea. Thanks to this, the white grape varietals created here are rich in intense flavours and minerality.

The red grape varietals are cultivated on the low slopes to give them enough shelter from the sunlight. The clay soil and natural climatic conditions here ensure that there is a lot of depth in the reds. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot are the varietals that are used mostly for the wines created under this label. Some of the popular wines in this range are:

Dreadnought Syrah – This is one of the flagship wines of this label. It is made from 100% Syrah that is hand-harvested. For fermentation purposes, this wine uses 35% French Oak Puncheons and 65% Seasoned Oak barrels.

Gravestone – This is made from 25% Semillon and 75% Sauvignon Blanc grape varietals. For fermentation purposes, 90% Seasoned Oak and 10% New Acacia barrels are used to retain the richness and intensity of the grapes processed.

The winemaking techniques followed here are quite traditional, but there is also some creativity used by the wine experts to create wines that are true to their land.

https://www.manowar.co.nz

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