2018 Shiraz Viognier The Relic

The 2018 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier leads with apricot blossom and bacon fat, graphite and blackberry, then there are aromas of kicked earth, brick dust, black tea, tobacco, pipe smoke and soy-soaked mushrooms. It's complex and undulating, savory and oh so long. Tasting this today, I'd actually suggest waiting a few more years before you open this; it is leaning hard into its umami and savoriness at this stage. It's confident, it's firm and it's very young. It's gathering momentum right now; to drink it would arrest that. 16% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.