2018 Merlot-Cabernet-Malbec Hawkes Bay Reserve

A blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 19% Malbec and 15% Cabernet Franc, Esk Valley's 2018 Winemakers Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Malbec / Cabernet Franc is a dark-hued wine redolent of cassis, just-right leafiness and a dusting of baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, silky and refined, with gently dusty tannins on the finish, it combines a delicious mouthful of New World fruit with an Old World sense of structure and restraint, making it a great food companion. Already approachable, it should nevertheless drink well for at least 6-7 years.