This Bordeaux red blend reminded me a little of watching the All Blacks play rugby, a blend of character, strength, diversity and determination. Smelling of more pleasant things than a Rugby team the red and blue fruit is thick expressing more than the other elements of mocha, vanilla and cassis. As I swallowed my first taste, the rich seductiveness of this wine was overwhelming. The varietal blend is magical and it is hard to fathom this wine is from New Zealand. Now I have tasted a lot of great New Zealand wine especially Hawkes Bay, but I think this is the first Bordeaux style blend that I have had the pleasure to taste and what a great pleasure it was. Fruity and spicy, full bodied with well-integrated tannins, soft texturally and lengthy in the extremely pleasurable finish.

This wine is worth looking for, and not in a casual, oh it’s not on this wine list or I don’t see it on the shelf way. More like get up, go to another restaurant and quit shopping wherever you are way. Find it, buy it, hoard it, drink it often and keep some stashed. This is a wine that wine will impress even the most jaded of enophiles and such a value it should not be held back for special occasions.

Rating: Excellent (93) | $22 | 14.0% ABV

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