“Wow, so much life and vitality! I would love to serve this blind to bordeaux-philes.” -JancisRobinson.com, 17 points

They say that you should treat a wine like a prince and let it speak to you first. There’s no other option with this wine, it can barely get the words out fast enough, stumbling over itself in its effusiveness and cheery outpouring of warmth and charm. The aromas practically knock you over, as they surge forward to greet you. It’s like a gorgeously ripe Pomerol, with the Cabernet Franc element giving it wonderful cassis lift followed by sweet black cherry, blackcurrant pastilles, undiluted Ribena and pencil case notes. There’s a boisterous swagger to the nose that settles down on the palate, leaving you with a wine that has a lovely pinch of fruit-soaked tannins to keep it in check and to make it presentable at the dinner table. The blend is 44% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot aged in new & seasoned French oak for 15 months. The 2014 vintage produced tiny, thick-skinned berries that stayed on the vine late into the growing season, achieving wonderful aromatic ripeness. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2030.

Press review:

Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com : ”I did a bit of a double-take when I was opening this wine and saw 2014 on the head of the cork. I hadn’t actually clocked how old it was! It’s transparent but still has lots of ruby colour, and it smells, incredibly, of fresh berry fruit. I only sensed the age when I tasted it. And even then, wow, so much life and vitality! Here’s a 12-year-old New Zealand red that I think would out-youth a great number of bordeaux reds of the same age. The tannins have eased but still hold their shape and do their job with style and comfortable class, like an old, well-worn but beautiful kempt Chesterfield sofa. The rose-hip fruit is steeped in cigar-box spices flecked with forgotten petals of dried roses and hibiscus, pencil shavings and anise. I would love to serve this blind to bordeaux-philes. Drink now-2027. ” 17 points

International Wine Challenge: “Lovely expressive dark fruit and chocolate aromas with savoury and herb mint. The palate shows leather and sour cherry, with smooth tannins and a spiced finish.” Silver Medal