Sileni Triangle Grand Reserve Merlot

Sileni Estate was born in 1997 and co-founded by Kiwi businessman, philanthropist (and wine lover!) and official Hawke’s Bay legend Sir Graeme Avery. Named after the Sileni that features in Greek mythology who followed Dionysus, the God of Wine. They celebrated good wine, good food and good company. Now we’re talkin’.

To celebrate their 25th vintage Sileni jazzed up their labels and released their new “Grand Reserve” range using some of their best fruit from specific sites and sub regions in Hawke’s Bay and beyond.

This is their Triangle Grand Reserve Merlot. And yes, while Sileni’s logo is a Triangle, it’s actually named after the Bridge Pa Triangle sub region of Hawke’s Bay. In the Bridge Pa they get warm temperatures and free draining red metal gravels, perfect for growing some seriously good Merlot.

Aged in 20% new French oak for some 18 months. They’ll tell you it’s got dark plum, licorice and dark berry fruit flavours with a silky smooth finish. We just reckon this is a classy example of top notch Hawke’s Bay single varietal Merlot.

Scoring 94/100 with Master of Wine Bob Campbell who said “Dense, ripe, almost luscious merlot with Black Doris plum, blueberry, black cherry, liquorice vanilla, and spicy oak flavours. Good now, even better in a few years time (Feb 2024)”

It’s drinking superbly right now but will comfortably cellar for several years from vintage. Bust it out with your favourite NZ beef and lamb dishes for the best food match.