A higher-class Bordeaux type

Of all the wines in Osawa Wines' lineup, I (Sommelier Iwasu) feel that this is the one with the best cost performance.

Yes, the vintage of this wine is 2014.

Mr. Osawa's power to hold stock is amazing. The current vintage of this prestige Cabernet & Merlot is 2014. They wait for it to mature before releasing it. It's wonderful and I'm grateful.

By the way, the person I met the other day in the New Zealand wine industry said,

"Osawa Wines is really amazing because they wait so long before releasing their wines. It's really hard to replicate that."

He said. His colleagues are envious of his leisure time. It's a blessing for drinkers.

Unlike the entry-level Flying Sheep series, this Prestige is cork-stoppered. Cork stoppers generally have higher oxygen permeability and allow for faster aging.

So, now that 11 years have passed, I'm hoping that it's about time to drink it, so I uncork it and pour it into a glass. And then...

Great aged aroma! It smells like aged Bordeaux!

It has aged nicely after all.

You can clearly sense the concentrated flavors of black fruits, cocoa and coffee, as well as hints of moist leaf mold.

When you put it in your mouth, you can feel the sourness and astringency blended together. It is very mellow and has a long aftertaste. It also has a spicy taste and a hint of forest undergrowth.

Wow, it's amazing. It's a Bordeaux type that has a multi-layered appeal that comes with age. I want to keep smelling it.

I feel like shouting, "Thank you, Osawa-san, for storing it until this time!"

What's more, 2014 was a good year for Hawke's Bay.

Looking at the vintage data, 2014 has been blessed with very good weather, following on from the "perfect" 2013 vintage.

From spring through to harvest, the weather was dry and mild, with almost no rainfall in the fall, which was recorded as ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in particular.

This prestigious aged red wine from such a good year is priced at 5,500 yen including tax. To be honest, this is a bargain.

Compared to wines in the same price range from other countries, its balance is a cut above the rest, and the Osawa brand gives it a sense of security.

To be honest, if you ask me if it's ready to drink now, I think it would be better to let it sit for another 2-3 years. But it's still delicious even now. The complex flavors that come with aging are already clearly visible.

At my bar, Bokumo, some customers order a bottle of this wine for special occasions. This is indeed a perfect bottle for a special occasion (and reasonably priced for one!).

Great for your home or as a gift.

Please give it a try!

About the Winery "Osawa Wines"

Osawa Wines is a boutique winery located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island.

It was established in 2005 by its Japanese owner, Taizo Osawa, who had dreamed of farming overseas since he was a boy.

Since its founding, Osawa Wines has believed that "making safe and delicious wine begins with growing the best grapes," and while it incorporates the latest technology in grape cultivation, it still primarily cares for the branches, leaves, and fruit of its vast single vineyard, which covers an area of 43 hectares (about the size of nine Tokyo Domes), by hand.

In addition, they started their organic cultivation, which was their goal, from the 2013 vintage. Their 2016 vintage wine was certified by BioGro NZ, a New Zealand organic certification body. Since then, all their wines have been given the same certification.

The head brewer is Rod MacDonald, who was once named New Zealand's best brewer. By incorporating wild yeast alcohol fermentation and traditional brewing processes, they maximize the unique characteristics of their own vineyards to produce safe, reliable, and top-quality wines.

The lineup of Osawa Wines is as follows:

• Flying Sheep, Osawa Wines' representative casual line
• Reserve Wine (High-Quality Wine) "Prestige Collection"
• Reserve Wine (Top Quality Wine) "Winemaker's Collection"

These three series are divided into a wide range of releases, from casual to authentic flavors that can be aged for a long time.

About Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is located in the eastern part of the North Island and is characterized by abundant sunshine and a relatively warm climate, and boasts the second largest grape-growing area in Australia.

Hawke's Bay specializes in producing red wines, particularly those made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah, while fruity Chardonnay is a popular white wine.

The Gimlet Gravels, an area created when an earthquake pushed up what was originally a riverbed, is one of Hawke's Bay's important sub-regions.

Osawa Wines prestige collection Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014

item	Content
Winery Name	Osawa Wines
Country of Origin	new zealand
Origin	Hawke's Bay
kinds	red
Grape variety	Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Merlot 50%
Vintage	2014
Alcohol content	14.0%
capacity	750ml
others	Sustainable Certification
remarks	Screw Cap

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