With Hart at the fantastic Mapu.

Cabernet Sauvignon x Syrah blend. This is one of the most oak driven wines I’ve ever drank.

In the glass: deep rich ruby with garnet tones showing its age. Well extracted.

On the nose: toasty spiced oak just exploding from the glass. Yes, there’s this medicinal spiced blackcurrant nose, but there is just sooooooo much spicy toasty oak.

On the palate: intense, high concentration, mid+ acidity. A very long finish that’s dominated by oak.

Did I mention this was extremely oak driven? Haha! That said, it did go surprisingly well with the intense cheese sauce.