Smelling of grilled steak and cracked black peppercorns, this wine has a strong umami note. Concentrated flavors of blackberry and sloe saturate the palate, highlighted by barbecue spice and toasty oak with notes of damp cigar and fallen autumn leaves coming through. The tannins are foursquare and rigid, but the bright acidity nicely lifts the full body and helps clean away the generous extraction on the spicy, medium finish. This could use another year or two for the tannins to settle down so drink 2024–2026.

— Published (3/10/2022)