In Bordeaux, they’re only allowed to grow six types of red grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carménère. Them’s the rules. For decades we’ve also been growing exceptional examples here, and our record- breaking results prove we’re only getting better.

Wine industry folk talk about 2019, 2020 and 2021 being the ‘holy trinity of vintages’ and our results slammed home that fact with no fewer than 18 golds. Hawke’s Bay cemented its powerhouse status by delivering 14 of them, and, making eye-popping history, Church Road Wines scooped five golds including First Equal!. Finding a rich, spicy, beautifully structured, gold medal merlot from Central Otago definitely raised a few eyebrows too. A whopping 32 silver medals were also awarded. It was an epic tasting and we’re thrilled to introduce you to our Gold Medal winners.

TOP OF THE TASTING - Church Road Hawke's Bay McDonald Series Merlot 2021 ($28.99) - Gold Medal

Deeply glossy and garnet- black in the glass, this powerful, black- fruited wine erupts with blackcurrant leaf florals, dark cocoa and smoky oak. On the palate it delivers rich concentration, cigar box complexity and elegant, finely tuned tannins to finish. A powerful, cellar-worthy, exceptional value example. church-road.com

TOP OF THE TASTING - Church Road Hawke's Bay 1 Malbec 2021 ($120.00) - Gold Medal

An absolutely stunning wine bursting with brooding dark fruits and seductive, invitingly lush textures. This world- class malbec roars with rich, berry-centric complexity, highly aromatic spices, elegantly handled oak and a hint of dried herb and leather to finish. Stunning. church-road.com

2. Mudbrick Waiheke Island Velvet 2022 ($195.00) - Gold Medal

With its inky colour and powerful nose of violets, dark fruits, mocha and cedar followed by a palate massaged by menthol, this blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot has a soothing, beautifully balanced mouthfeel and fresh, frisky tannins. Magical. mudbrick.co.nz

3. Church Road 1 Hawke's Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($120.00) - Gold Medal

Impenetrably dark and glossy, this intensely floral cabernet saturates the nose and palate with ripe black fruits, soft pepper, dark cocoa characters and seductive spice concentration. The tannins have gorgeous grip and cling and it finishes with great finesse. church-road.com

4. Paritua Hawke's Bay Red 2020 ($49.99) - Gold Medal

This blend of 44% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 16% cabernet franc erupts with brooding blackberry intensity. Ripe and concentrated with chocolate and cedar singing alongside plush, prominent tannins and caramelised oak characters.paritua.com

5. Shed 530 Estate Hawke's Bay Woolshed Merlot Cabernet Malbec 2021 ($29.99) - Gold Medal

Roaring with red, black and blue fruits, this wine is intensely aromatic, rich, mouthfilling and laced with dark chocolate notes which accentuate its savoury, silky tannins. Vibrant and lengthy, it’s a real wow-the-crowds style. shed530.com

6. Radburnd Cellars Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2019 ($85.00) - Gold Medal

The words ‘elegant’ and ‘stylish’ featured across all judges notes. Lifted aromatics of thyme, dark berries and deliciously savoury, meaty complexity lead to succulent fruit structures that weave around a core of expertly handled oak, leaving fine, sandy tannins to finish. radburndcellars.co.nz

7. Mudbrick Waiheke Island Merlot Petit Verdot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2022 ($75.00) - Gold Medal

Dark and inky in the glass and bursting with beautiful dark berries, cherries and cassis characters alongside exotic florals on the nose. The palate is plush with forest floor complexity edged with cedar, iodine and black olive. Muscular tannins dictate that it’s dense, powerful and cellar-worthy. mudbrick.co.nz

8. Thyme Hill Te Unuatua Central Otago Merlot 2021 ($45.00) - Gold Medal

With its deep purple colour and plum, cocoa and coffee-centric aromas, this wine impressed with its juicy, energetic blueberry and plum-punched palate. Fine-grained tannins and great energy on the finish gives gorgeous drinkability now, but cellaring is recommended. thymehill.co.nz

9. Church Road Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020 ($120.00) - Gold Medal

Rich, brooding dark fruits wrap around subtle, cedary oak on the nose alongside hints of tobacco and cocoa. The palate builds with sweet fruit, liquorice and layers of dried herbs creating a dense, powerful wine with sandy tannins and excellent persistence of flavour. church-road.com

10. Beach House Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2021 ($40.00) - Gold Medal

Vibrant violet, berry and plum aromatics open the door to a satisfyingly juicy spectrum of smoked fruit, raspberry and chocolate notes on the palate. Cabernet franc at its finest, beautifully balanced, soothing and finishing with gorgeously gripping tannins. beachhouse.co.nz

11. Church Road 1 Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2021 ($120.00) - Gold Medal

With a spicy oak lift on the nose, cedar and cigar box characters and sweetly complex blackberry and redcurrant flavours tsunami-ing across the tongue and gums, it’s an incredibly impressive, very classy merlot with personality for days. church-road.com

12. Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Prison Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($120.00) - Gold Medal

Inky-dark in the glass and erupting with fragrant oak, blueberry and blackberry layers on the nose and palate. This muscle- bound cabernet sizzles with energy and plum-laced power, the tannins are deliciously drying accentuating its long, statuesque finish. trinityhill.com

13. Paritua Single Vineyard Hawke's Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 ($49.99) - Gold Medal

This berry-saturated cabernet is crammed with cassis, Black Doris plums and heightened florals that’ll have you struggling to take your nose out of the glass. Juicy acidity, great generosity of flavour and a long, chewy finish had this sailing into the top scores. paritua.com

14. Shed 530 Mutu Reserve Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet 2020 ($59.99) - Gold Medal

With baking spices and earthy, leather layers on the nose, followed by dark berries, soft pepper and suede-like tannins on the palate, this wine has textural density, impressive style and a long, lingering finish. Hard to put down. shed530.com

15.Esk Valley Artisanal Hawke's Bay Malbec Cabernet Franc Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($24.99) - Gold Medal

Deep garnet-purple and bursting with ripe, plummy fruits, black pepper, hints of dried herb and cocoa on the palate, this is just a joy to sip. Complex yet highly approachable, silky-textured and generously structured. It’s outstanding value. eskvalleywines.com

16. Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels 'The Gimblett' 2021 ($35.99) - Gold Medal

Impressively fragrant, expect violets, pencil shavings, plucky plum and dark fruit deliciousness. It’s a big, meaty, powerful wine with superb concentration and structure. Drying, dusty tannins accentuate it’s savoury length. trinityhill.com

17. Mudbrick Waiheke Island Petit Verdot Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec 2021 ($75.00)

It’s a rare thing to find a New Zealand wine dominated by petit Verdot, and this is an excellent example. Garnet-dark, and fabulously floral, it has buckets of berry and cherry notes, finely tuned tannins, and energy on the finish. mudbrick.co.nz