| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | New Zealand > Central Otago |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Plenty of peppery sage and thyme hints lead the way upfront, with gunpowder tea, nutmeg and toasty rye notes mingling with strawberry and cranberry flavors. The tannins are muscular, but never get in the way. Drink now through 2028.
The Block 3 is a redolent ruby in the glass, with a deep, brooding nose of sappy red and black fruits, layered with subtle hints of toast and nutmeg from a small percentage of new oak. The palate is still compacted into a dense core of black fruits by supremely refined and fine grained tannins. Through the mid palate this expands, revealing notes of hedgerow fruit, wild strawberies, and layers of savoury spice. The finish is long, perfectly poised and harmonious. An outstanding effort with a great future for those with the patience to lay it down in the cellar.
Extraordinarily complex. Layers of floral, herb, berry and savoury characters are so multifaceted as to defy description. A seductively silken texture adds to the appeal. I agonised over whether to give this wine 100 points; in hindsight I feel I may have been too conservative.
