Man O' War Vineyards Syrah Viognier Bellerophon

Nose: black fruit, sour cherries, violet, all spice Palette: confirms the nose, cassis, blueberries and dark plums, sandalwood. White and green pepper. High acid, medium soft tannins. Medium high body. Long finish. Did not notice tertiary notes, other than the oak. Balanced, long finish, intense, medium complexity. Not elegantly integrated. Fruit is very generous, leading to a vibrant wine, at the cost of elegance and introspection.

Two visits to Waiheke Island (Easter 2019 and New Year's 2020) (Auckland, NZ) : Bottle tasting, small pour. Again 3% Viognier. A finer more floral nose than for the Dreadnought. Also, lighter on its feet, and crisper on palate. More red fruited – with some raspberries – mixed with the black fruit and the impression of white pepper. Preferred over the 2016 Dreadnought.