(2014) >From the cooler Southern Valleys of the Marlborough region, this wine was made in open fermenters and aged in large, 500-litre French oak barrels for nine months. It has a nicely transparent ruby colour, and very appealing aromatics combining fresh, juicy cherry, a touch of autumnal, underbrush and mushroom and a sheen of creamy oak. On the palate the sweet and ripe fruit hints at strawberry, a real abundance of ripe and open summery fruit flavour, before toast and chocolate fill in. It remains light and fresh, though medium-bodied, its gentle tannins and tart acidity doing enough to dry and add some bite to the finish.