SF | Of a dark tenebristic hue; uncompromising. The nose is more forthcoming, with blue fruit and spice, loganberry, crushed plum, and hints of bitter chocolate, mocha, and eucalypt—all in all, very attractive. The palate is equally generously disposed, the purity of fruit bedecked in balanced acidity and with a full supporting cast of ripe fruit tannins. Vertical and poised: an attractive and rewarding example. Challenging, but we all like a nice challenge, do we not? 94
AR | Surprisingly youthful in color, this wine comes with a powerfully aromatic whack of sweet new oak and ripe blackberry, offset by the fresh minty notes of typical cool-climate Cabernet; the fruit is nicely ripe and pure, with a minty freshness that underpins the concentrated cassis-like fruit in a substantial structure whose firm spine of acidity and mouthcoating tannins suggest that this wine is only just out of short pants and turning into adolescent youth; so, drink now if you must but it will almost certainly benefit from five years plus in bottle. 93
DW | Rich, luxurious, settled, and succulent ripe summer-fruit compote, a swoop of blackberry and blueberry and suave, finely-stitched tannins, but with a breath of maritime freshness. Very pleasurable and immediate; an accessible, fruit-filled, resonant finish. 93