Testify Organic Gimblett Gravels Red 2019
Testify Organic Gimblett Gravels Red 2019
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Testify is a wine that is only produced in the best of vintages.
Our powerhouse Gimblett Gravels Malbec dominant blend. This speaks to Daniel's entire career of making Malbec. Pair now with your boldest red wine food matches or age this premium wine for as long as you can resist.
Winemakers Notes
If there’s a ‘big’ wine in my lineup it is this one. But keeping with the Testify mantra, it’s still a wine of purity and elegance and truly the best Hawke’s Bay red I could produce in each vintage. From the first 2016 rendition I made of purely Malbec, this has evolved to include Merlot (some co-fermented) and coming soon a Malbec/Syrah. Coming off the certified organic Gimblett Gravels vineyard this wine is intense, structured and quite peppery making for an intriguing experience.
Vineyard
Hawke’s Bay is located on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The region enjoys dry summers with moderate, cool nights. This wine reflects a single vineyard Malbec dominant blend 60% with 40% Merlot which was grown organically on the famous Gimblett Gravels appellation. The Gimblett Gravels is marked by specific soils laid bare from the constantly shifting Ngaruroro River over millions of years. The river’s last shift in 1867 left these amazing rocky soils, which combined with the slightly inland Heretaunga Plains’ weather, and classic viticulture techniques created a uniquely expressive Malbec.
Reviews
Bob Campbell, The Real Review - 95 points
A blend of 60% malbec and 40% merlot. Dense, ripe, sweet berry fruit, plum, chocolate/moccha and vanilla flavours. Generously proportioned wine that is deliciously accessible now but promises to deliver much more with further bottle age. Drink 2023 - 2033.
Cameron Douglas MS - 93 points
From the Decibel Wines collection comes this ripe, fragrant and fruity example from the Gimblett Gravels with aromas and flavours of dark plums and blackberry fruits, there’s layers of soils and barrel spices, smoky toasty qualities and a harmonious tempting core. As the wine develops on the palate flavours of chocolate and baking spices begin to emerge, there’s also a backbone of acidity and firm youthful tannins that need time and food to tame - not for too long though. Well made, as always, with persistent flavours and textures and a dry lengthy finish. Best drinking from late 2024 through 2030+.
Yvonne Lorkin - 5 Stars
Testify is the flagship red from Dan Brennan at Decibel and this vintage, from one of the holy trinity of Hawke’s Bay harvests (2019, 2020 & 2021) is a stonkingly good, certified organic blend of 60% malbec and 40% merlot which roars with spiced berry energy, mocha notes wrapped around a core of meaty layers on the mid-palate. Finishing with generously proportioned, muscular tannins, it deserves a large, swirlable glass or another 6-7 yrs in the cellar. Powerful stuff.
Sam Kim, The Wine Orbit - 95 points
Superbly ripe and perfumed, the bouquet shows blackcurrant, Black Doris plum, floral, olive and cedar characters. The palate displays excellent concentration and richness, wonderfully structured by fine texture and chalky tannins. It's robust and sturdy with silky mouthfeel, finishing impressively long and engaging. 60% Malbec & 40% Merlot from the Gimblett Gravels. Certified organic. At its best: now to 2034.
Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews - 93 points
Full, deep ruby-red with a dark purple core, lighter on edge. The nose is piquant with aromas of plum, red currant, blackcurrant, and a hint of herb alongside tobacco, spice, liquorice and minerals. Full-bodied, aromas of plum, red and blackcurrant melded with vine leaf, tobacco, dark minerals, liquorice, clove and cinnamon bark. Fine-grained tannins entwined with graphites, lined a firm framework. Tangy acidity carries spice and a sustained finish. This structured Red Blend shows a red fruit core, enriched by oak spice and a firm tannin structure supported by a tangy acid line. Match with lamb or beef over the next 6+ years. A blend of Malbec 60%, Merlot 40% from William Murdoch vineyard, 100% destemmed, lightly crushed, cold macerated for 5 days before wild fermented to 14% alc, partial co-ferment. Aged 24 months in French barriques, 20% new oak. Certified organic.
John Saker
Malbec makes up 60% of this blend (the remaining 40% being Merlot) and does not shirk from its leading role. The scents are deep and full - dark wild berries, more of the earth than the light. There is a quiet intensity to the palate. Beautifully ripe fruit holds its line and delivers different shades at the dark end of the spectrum. Finishes elegantly and beautifully with a sense of completion and just a hint of chew. This is a deftly made, splendid example of what Hawkes Bay can do with these two varieties.
Rebecca Gibb, Vinous - 89 Points
The 2019 Malbec Merlot Testify is an aromatic, feisty red that's spicy, edgy and firm. It's a no-holds-barred, structured style that was tasted a week before release after 24 months in barrel. It's a tangy, solid wine with cloves, spice and florals, that are for the long term. This is still raw, powerful and requires bottle age.
A blend of 60% malbec and 40% merlot. Dense, ripe, sweet berry fruit, plum, chocolate/moccha and vanilla flavours. Generously proportioned wine that is deliciously accessible now but promises to deliver much more with further bottle age. Drink 2023 - 2033.
Cameron Douglas MS - 93 points
From the Decibel Wines collection comes this ripe, fragrant and fruity example from the Gimblett Gravels with aromas and flavours of dark plums and blackberry fruits, there’s layers of soils and barrel spices, smoky toasty qualities and a harmonious tempting core. As the wine develops on the palate flavours of chocolate and baking spices begin to emerge, there’s also a backbone of acidity and firm youthful tannins that need time and food to tame - not for too long though. Well made, as always, with persistent flavours and textures and a dry lengthy finish. Best drinking from late 2024 through 2030+.
Yvonne Lorkin - 5 Stars
Testify is the flagship red from Dan Brennan at Decibel and this vintage, from one of the holy trinity of Hawke’s Bay harvests (2019, 2020 & 2021) is a stonkingly good, certified organic blend of 60% malbec and 40% merlot which roars with spiced berry energy, mocha notes wrapped around a core of meaty layers on the mid-palate. Finishing with generously proportioned, muscular tannins, it deserves a large, swirlable glass or another 6-7 yrs in the cellar. Powerful stuff.
Sam Kim, The Wine Orbit - 95 points
Superbly ripe and perfumed, the bouquet shows blackcurrant, Black Doris plum, floral, olive and cedar characters. The palate displays excellent concentration and richness, wonderfully structured by fine texture and chalky tannins. It's robust and sturdy with silky mouthfeel, finishing impressively long and engaging. 60% Malbec & 40% Merlot from the Gimblett Gravels. Certified organic. At its best: now to 2034.
Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews - 93 points
Full, deep ruby-red with a dark purple core, lighter on edge. The nose is piquant with aromas of plum, red currant, blackcurrant, and a hint of herb alongside tobacco, spice, liquorice and minerals. Full-bodied, aromas of plum, red and blackcurrant melded with vine leaf, tobacco, dark minerals, liquorice, clove and cinnamon bark. Fine-grained tannins entwined with graphites, lined a firm framework. Tangy acidity carries spice and a sustained finish. This structured Red Blend shows a red fruit core, enriched by oak spice and a firm tannin structure supported by a tangy acid line. Match with lamb or beef over the next 6+ years. A blend of Malbec 60%, Merlot 40% from William Murdoch vineyard, 100% destemmed, lightly crushed, cold macerated for 5 days before wild fermented to 14% alc, partial co-ferment. Aged 24 months in French barriques, 20% new oak. Certified organic.
John Saker
Malbec makes up 60% of this blend (the remaining 40% being Merlot) and does not shirk from its leading role. The scents are deep and full - dark wild berries, more of the earth than the light. There is a quiet intensity to the palate. Beautifully ripe fruit holds its line and delivers different shades at the dark end of the spectrum. Finishes elegantly and beautifully with a sense of completion and just a hint of chew. This is a deftly made, splendid example of what Hawkes Bay can do with these two varieties.
Rebecca Gibb, Vinous - 89 Points
The 2019 Malbec Merlot Testify is an aromatic, feisty red that's spicy, edgy and firm. It's a no-holds-barred, structured style that was tasted a week before release after 24 months in barrel. It's a tangy, solid wine with cloves, spice and florals, that are for the long term. This is still raw, powerful and requires bottle age.
