Mills Reef Reserve Hawkes Bay Gewurztraminer 2024

Mills Reef Reserve Hawke's Bay Gewürztraminer is a wonderfully aromatic, full-bodied Gewürztraminer from Hawke's Bay, bursting with exotic aromas of Turkish delight, lavender, rose petal and ripe tangerine. The palate is rich and silky, with luscious lychee, tropical fruit and juicy apricot flavours complemented by hints of ginger spice and brioche. There's a lovely creamy texture here, balanced by refreshing acidity and a subtle mineral edge that keeps everything lively. Despite its generous fruit and fragrant personality, the finish is beautifully dry and lingering. An excellent match for fragrant Thai curries, Middle Eastern dishes, roast pork or anything with a little ginger and spice. Equally delicious enjoyed on its own.

What the winery says:

Grapes were sourced from a premium vineyard in Hawke's Bay's Bridge Pa subregion, where the warm, dry 2024 growing season provided excellent ripening conditions. Harvested on 8 March 2024, the fruit was gently pressed and the juice settled overnight before a small portion was transferred to seasoned oak barrels for fermentation using selected Alsatian yeast. A slow, cool fermentation preserved the wine's expressive aromatics, while short lees contact helped build richness and texture. Bottled on 27 August 2024, the finished wine offers intense floral and exotic fruit aromas, a plush, creamy palate and a long, elegant finish.

What the experts say:

Cameron Douglas MS, 93/100 (2024 Vintage)
“Fragrant, very aromatic, scents of exotic fruits and spice-trail, flowers and apricots, apples and wet stone minerality. Plush, ripe and creamy with a silky texture contrasted by acidity and mouthfeel. Delicious, fresh, dry on the finish and nicely complex. An excellent food wine with best drinking from day of purchase through 2028. Fantastic value.”