Ha Ha Merlot 2023, Hawkes Bay. RRP $19.00  

Ha Ha means – to ‘Catch your breath’ in te reo Māori  

A palate of plums and blackberry fruit scents, there’s a light violet touch and generous fruity core. Fine tannins with medium+ acid line to frame the flavours of plums and red berry fruits. Balanced and refreshing with decent length and lots of style. Best drinking from 2025 through 2028.  

The Food:   

Merlot is one of those wines that bridges the earthy umami flavours of winter fare almost seamlessly every time. One such dish a chicken ballotine stuffed with spinach, lentils and prunes. You can substitute out the prunes for dates, raisins or even dried apricot.  

The natural sweetness of the fruit with the meat is what Merlot likes. Spinach and red wine tannins like each other a lot, and lentils provide the earthy theme to the dish. The lentils can be served on the side if stuffing them into a rolled-up chicken breast or leg doesn’t fit your idea of using lentils in that way.  

The Season:   

2023 was challenging to a greater or lesser degree through Aotearoa NZ. The north island was challenged by the wind and rain. Hawkes Bay where this wine was grown got smashed by cyclone Gabrielle. Producers of wine were quick to react and harvest only the best fruit to make wine. The South Island not so much at all. The bottom line is wine from the 2023 vintage on the most part are wines to drink and enjoy now. 

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