Holy Hannah, Craig McDonald has done it again … this time with a 2015 – but really that’s not surprising considering the provenance of the vintage. This 18 month in French oak wine smells of blueberry, black raspberry, spiced tobacco and white pepper; but it’s the palate where the magic really happens. At first it starts out chalky, but then everything ramps into action: cherry tobacco, spiced-blueberry, mocha; next layer: spiced-raspberry tobacco with a blackberry and pepper finish – it’s text book Cabernet Franc with something more on its side – with time in glass this one just gets better and silkier; buy what you can afford then get one more to lie down
Price: $48.95 – Rating: **** ½