Mills Reef Reserve Merlot

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!

Their Reserve Merlot is produced with top notch Gimblett Gravels fruit and with 13 months spent in quality French oak – 25% of it expensive new oak!

This latest 2022 vintage made the incredible Top 12 list of Andrew Caillard MW’s “Gimblett Gravels 2022 Annual Vintage Selection” – this list includes some seriously big hitting Hawke’s Bay reds like Church Road TOM Syrah, Craggy Range Le Sol and others! In his notes Andrew said “A beautifully made wine highlighting precision winemaking, intuitive maturation timing and selection. Drink 2026 – 2036”

A silky smooth, luscious Merlot full of red plum, blackcurrant and cassis flavours – it’s absolutely delicious! Perfect with a cut of good old Kiwi beef or lamb.