Squawking Magpie The Chatterer Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Squawking Magpie is a boutique winery located in the renowned Gimblett Gravels wine-growing district of Hawke's Bay - synonymous with the production of world-renowned wines. The incredibly stony soils of the ancient bed of the Ngaruroro River and this warm location, create perfect conditions for ripe, full-bodied and gravelly-textured red grapes.

It all began in 1981, when founder Gavin Yortt, first planted vines in the region's Irongate Vineyard on Gimblett Road. Gavin was one of the three first growers in the Gravels.
Over 40 years later, Squawking Magpie has developed long history of producing outstanding wines. The portfolio is diverse, though it is their Reds - Syrah’s and Merlot/Cabernet blends - for which they are especially known, Stoned Crow Syrah 2019 & 2021 and The Nest 2022 being good examples.

This Bordeaux-style blend combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc varieties. Each variety was fermented separately, with daily working of the vats and attentive monitoring of the ferments. The new wines macerated with their skins for 5 to 7 days allowing the tannins and fruit to reach a balance point. Post pressing the new wines were transferred to small French oak barrels for maturation, and then blended and bottled 18 months later when the oak and fruit were in harmony.