“Most New Zealanders claim Hawke’s Bay is their best area for producing merlot and this indeed is a smart wine, especially at a modest cost. It comes under screw cap but even so, improves considerably when given a bit of air. So pour it and wait 10 minutes or so for it to soften out. Hawke’s Bay is blessed with river water for natural irrigation and gravelly free draining soils. The colour is dense and bright while the palate is crammed with sweet ripe fruit.”