Mills Reef Winery, Elspeth Cabernet Merlot, Gimblett Gravels

A beautiful wine, notably richly flavoured. A black beauty: inky deep burgundy - almost black. Black currant flavours predominate, supported with layers of dark plums and menthol, and some red fruit hints. It's a powerful and impressively complex palate. Tannins and acid structure remain fully in place at 10 years of age. There's just a touch of alcohol heat on the nose (not palate) - an imperfection over shadowed by its considerable strengths. I would be unsurprised if this mellows …