Really nice, good fruit, smooth tannins and firing on all cylinders

A 2016 Syrah dominated (94%) blend with 4% Cinsault and 2% Carrignan from Western Cape, South Africa. Medium intensity aromas of plum, blueberries, jasmine, black pepper, black tea, vanilla, slate, smoke, barnyard, wet leaves. Smoky peppery medium length finish. Fresh crisp acidity that keeps the alcohol (13%) under control. There's a lot of depth here. It's a nice blend of old world European styles with modern touches. Great value.

Simply put, year after year, this is the best Bordeaux style blend that you can buy for this price. It outperforms wines from Bordeaux worth twice as much.

A nice lithe red blend from the Mullineux family. Red florals with ripe fruit in the red berry, dark cherry and plum fruit. Savoury balsamic interplays with cinnamon spice. A hint of graphite-like minerality. So fairly complex and balanced in a medium plus body with juicy acidity and softer resolved tannin. For immediate enjoyment or hold for the short term. Enjoy on its own or with tomato based and meaty pizzas or saucy bbq fair. Sept. 2018.

Rich and ripe, this mostly Syrah red has a bit of a sweet-sour thing going on. Riper than a typical north Rhone (as point of reference for this SA red), there is almost a sweetness to the fruit (though this has only 3g/L of residual sugar), offset by a sourness that reminds me of balsamic vinegar. Good wine, fairly priced. Tasted Oct 2018.