Mills Reef Estate Merlot Cabernet

Selected as Master of Wine Bob Campbell’s No.1 “Top Red” for July 2024! Stunning value Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux red blend!

Charles Mills – sea captain, gold miner and former Member of Parliament and Minister of Trade & Custom 1890-1908. He’s a bit of a legend in the family tree of the name behind this iconic Hawke’s Bay producer, so you can see why they ended up naming their wines after him. As for the reef bit, nothing to do with anything he smoked but everything to do with how he spent his days – watching for reefs at sea and mining for reefs of gold.

Although their vineyards are mostly based in Hawke’s Bay their vineyard is actually just out out of Tauranga – and it’s flash as! Twenty aces of landscaped grounds, wine making and bottling facilities, an underground cellar, 150-seat restuarant and conference centre – and quite the spot to get hitched at!

Using fruit from some of their vineyards in the Bridge Pa Triangle sub region of Hawke’s Bay. Aged for 12 months in oak, this two thirds Merlot to a third Cabernet Sauvignon blend and it’s a great value Bordeaux blend red as always. Medium to full bodied and good to go now with your favourite Sunday roasts!

This latest 2021 release is from an excellent ’21 Hawke’s Bay vintage. Aged for 12 months in French oak this is a benchmark release for this label – a fresh, fruity and smooth style red with a heap of juicy berry, plum and spice flavours.

Scoring a highly impressive 93/100, a Top Rank Award and a Top Value Award with Master of Wine Bob Campbell. Bob called it “Vibrant, tangy red with cassis, blackberry, dark-fleshed plum, black pepper and mocha flavours. Medium-bodied red that is firmly structured and intense with underlying power.”

This was also Bob’s No.1 “Top Red” for July 2024! For the money it’s an obvious bargain!