Babich wines provide a direct link to New Zealand. They truly love what they do, and believe that caring for their land and doing things by hand are all components of a deliberate, careful process in a constantly evolving, always-on environment.
In 1912, people believed Josip Babich was insane. Planting grapes in a remote area of New Zealand, then slowly producing wine the hard way – with insight, consideration, inventiveness, and genuine skill. Today, the company still possesses a strong work ethic, and as long as they are around, they intend to “pay it forward.”
Over 70% of New Zealand’s red wines originate in Hawke’s Bay thanks to its exceptional climate and diverse range of soil types, including alluvial gravels and historic river terraces. Many of Babich’s most popular wines come from grapes harvested at Hawke’s Bay, including The Patriarch, their unmatched flagship Hawke’s Bay red wine.
Grown on the so-called “Irongate” vineyard in Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels, The Patriarch’s Red Blend is a deliciously complex, delicate, yet strong wine. The makers believe it is worthy of the winery’s founder and pioneer in the development of the New Zealand wine industry – Josip Babich and is created in his honour.
This blend has layers of spice, cassis, plum fragrance, and a little cedar. Its intense fullness, roundness, and density dominate the palate. The flavours evolve into cinnamon, blueberries, dark chocolate, and a cigar box. This wine is bold, refined, and wonderfully transparent.
2016 Vintage
The 2016 vintage in Hawke’s Bay was a remarkable year for wine production. It was characterized by warm, dry weather, which provided ideal growing conditions for grapes, resulting in excellent quality fruit with intense flavors and aromas.
The vintage produced wines with great concentration, depth, and complexity. The red wines, in particular, were exceptional, with rich fruit flavors and elegant tannins that contributed to the wines’ structure and longevity.
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, two of the main grape varieties grown in Hawke’s Bay, flourished in the 2016 vintage. The warm, dry weather allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex flavors, resulting in wines with intense fruit aromas and flavors of dark berries, plum, and cassis, along with subtle notes of vanilla and spice.
Food pairing suggestion: The producers recommend it with a whole fillet beef, roasted rare.
Awards
Shanghai International Wine Challenge 2021 – Gold Medal
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