Oak Estate wines reviewed - Chardonnay, Rosé, Viognier, Merlot & Syrah

Oak Estate Rosé 2018 Hawkes Bay

From Pinot Noir fruit grown in the Mararkakaho area of Hawkes Bay - this wine offers a bouquet of sweet cherry and strawberry, ripe red apple and raspberry candy. Fruity, forward and obvious. On the palate - just dry and quite fruity with flavours that match the bouquet, refreshing acidity, light+ weight, balanced and well made, a nice wine. Drink now and through 2019 to early 2020 - with or without food.

88 Points

Oak Estate Pinot Gris 2018 Hawkes Bay

Varietal and familiar bouquet of Gris with ripe yellow apple and pear aromas, a touch of white pepper spice and loads of Asian pear. Fresh, creamy, moderately spiced and fruity on the palate. Flavours reflect the nose. Some warming alcohol takes me to Calvados - briefly then back home to the Bay. Plenty of weight with a satin texture and moderate finish. Drink now and through 2020.

87 Points

Oak Estate Home Block Chardonnay 2017 Hawkes Bay

No mistaking the aromas of Chardonnay with this example - creamy, vanilla and yellow stone fruits, some banana and tropical fruit moments, even a little butter and chew nut oak. Dry on the palate with more intensity than the nose suggests - bigger and richer flavours of oak and wood spice, more baked stone fruit flavours and baking spice. Creamy-ish texture and moderate+ length. Well made. drink now and through 2022.

89 Points

Oak Estate Viognier 2016 Hawkes Bay

Slightly tired bouquet of white wine with a touch of bruised apple before the white apricot and peach aromas of Viognier emerge. Dry on the palate with decent weight and acidity adding freshness and enhancing the flavours described above. Moderate length. Drink now and through 2019 - perhaps with naturally salty food such as capers and olive fettuccine.

80 Points

Oak Estate Merlot 2016 Hawkes Bay

Really nice varietal lift to the bouquet with plums and dark berries then baking spices, violets and wood tones, overall attractive and enticing. Dry, fruity and weighty on the palate with flavours of dark berries and spices, medium+ tannins and plenty of acidity. Nice wine with many food friendly attributes, stand alone drinkability and flavours that will please many Merlot fans. Well made. Drink now and through 2022.

89 Points

Oak Estate Syrah 2016 Hawkes Bay

Plenty of Hawkes Bay warm climate and meaty Syrah aromas in this example. Spicy aged meats, pepper and dark berries, dark cherry and black currant. The use of oak adds complexity and depth to the bouquet overall. Dry on the palate with contrasting fruit core, pepper and dark cherry, raspberry and meaty moments. Fine tannins and balanced acid line. Well made and drinking well now. Best enjoyed today and through 2022.

89 Points

Best to know that Oak Estate wines are not vegan friendly