A wine from Matakana, north of Auckland. Single-varietal bottlings of Cabernet Franc are something of a rarity in New Zealand, but can be real discoveries since the grape is fairly distinctive, and good to try outside of a blend where it usually resides. A dense garnet-burgundy in the glass. A smoky and herbaceous perfume that takes me straight to an Old World style. Super savoury, with heroic tannins forming the spine. Grippy, tight and with an unpolished, rustic charm. A satisfying depth to the palate. The succulent fruit flavours of plum, bramble and cherry are accented by spices and a lingering suggestion of good green bitters. 91pts
Yakutin ‘Old Chimney’ 2020
