MILLS REEF WINERY

The birth name of Mills Reef's founder and winemaker, Paddy Preston, is Warren Mills Preston. The name "Mills" passes from Paddy's great grandfather, Charles Mills, a sea captain who was also a gold-miner. It came quite naturally to Paddy to name the winery in honour of his great-grandfather's life-time exploits and achievements, both watching for reefs at sea and mining for reefs of gold, hence the name "Mills Reef". Those same pioneering sentiments are shared today, a century later, in our efforts to pioneer New Zealand wines.

Whether Charles Mills found his reef we are not entirely certain, but Mills Reef has certainly found its reef in the steady stream of accolades and gold medal wines that have flowed forth since our first vintage in 1989.

www.millsreef.co.nz      Extended Portfolio

2007 RESERVE CABERNET/MERLOT
+717974 · 12x750ml

Showing excellent colour, enticingly dark and fragrant, it is rich and spicy with strong blackcurrant and plum flavours over a backbone of nutty oak. A highly complex wine with substantial body, finely handled French oak and full bodied with a foundation of ripe fine tannins. A benchmark Hawkes Bay wine with obvious cellaring potential.

STATUS: OPEN
3*  

Current Vintage

2005 RESERVE SYRAH
+728018 · 12x750ml

This classic Hawke's Bay Syrah is attractively scented, with intense aromas of blackcurrant, white pepper and spicy cedar notes. A satisfyingly dark, rich wine with mouth-filling blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours balanced with oak complexity and silky tannins. Already drinking deliciously, it will continue to develop and reward cellaring for up to 5 years or more.

STATUS: OPEN
3*  
Current Vintage

2006 ELSPETH CABERNET SAUVIGNON
+717975 · 6x750ml

This densely coloured and generous Hawke's Bay red was made from close-planted vines in Mills Reef's Mere Road vineyard, in the famous Gimblett Gravels district. This is a powerful Cabernet Sauvignon with mouth-filling body, highly concentrated flavours of blackcurrants, plums, herbs and spices and a backbone of firm but supple tannins. Enjoyable now, it will flourish with cellaring, gaining even greater complexity.

STATUS: OPEN
16  
Current Vintage

2005 ELSPETH SYRAH
+717979 · 6x750ml

This dark, fragrant red has distinctive aromas of plum and pepper seasoned with toasty oak. Excellent palate weight and complexity sit in harmony with ripe supple tannins and intense blackcurrant, plum and pepper flavours for a generous, notably concentrated wine with a spicy sustained finish.

STATUS: OPEN
4.5*  
Current Vintage      Past Vintages

2002 ELSPETH “BLOCK 3” MERLOT
+717977 · 6x750ml


Packed with deep, dark berry fruit and nuanced hints of cocoa, herb and earth with a soft structure. Its velvety texture makes Merlot instantly appealing and an obvious alternative to similar, more tannic Bordeaux varieties.


STATUS: OPEN

Current Vintage

2008 RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC
+717970 · 12x750ml

This youthful and lively wine presents lovely passionfruit, feijoa, gooseberry and tomato leaf aromas and flavours. Multilayered, it is rich and creamy with a long weighty palate and balanced acidity that finishes crisp and dry. The grapes for this expressive wine were selected from two cooler coastal vineyards (Church Block & Waverly Farm) in the Meeanee District of Hawkes Bay.

STATUS: SOLD OUT
90   88   4*  
Current Vintage      Past Vintages

2007 RESERVE MERLOT/MALBEC
+717973 · 12x750ml

The grapes for this fine wine were selected from our two Gimblett Gravels vineyards located in the stony soils and warmer inland area of Hawkes Bay. Concentrated flavours entice the palate with a medley of ripe blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry fruits, complemented with a silky smooth texture, fine tannins and finely balanced oak seasoning. The length is long and lingering with a gentle dry finish.

STATUS: SOLD OUT
89   4*  
Current Vintage      Past Vintages

2004 ELSPETH MALBEC
+717976 · 6x750ml

This striking Hawkes Bay red was made from grapes grown on close-planted vines in Mills Reef's Mere Road vineyard, in the famous Gimblett Gravels district. This is a distinguished Malbec, with fragrant, fruit cake and spice aromas, rich flavours of plums, spices and nuts, and ripe, supple tannins. It will mature well but is already delicious, with a sustained, spicy finish.

STATUS: SOLD OUT
4.5*  
Current Vintage      Past Vintages