A rarity, I guess. There is just this single release from Tapanappa’s Whalebone Vineyard in 2020 as there was just 8 tonnes of grapes harvested due to crap flowering. Who’d want to be a grapegrower, eh? It’s a whole vineyard blend too, featuring 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cab Franc. What a big and lush beast it is too with the most seductive, chocolate-and-rose-water, sexy time oak/fruit nose you can think of. The palate then kicks on with concentrated fig and dark berry compote, milk chocolate and more before powder coated tannins to finish. Very much a modern right bank style with oaky biceps a flexin’. Is it too much? It flirts with excess, and needs cellar time. But it’s not hot or hard, just very rich and bold. Impressive. Best drinking: I’d go later. Late this decade. Then for another decade, easy. Would I buy it? A bottle for the cellar.
18.5/20, 94/100
