Brand’s Laira Blockers Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Coonawarra junkies will love this wine as it is classic Coonawarra in style. It starts with a deep colour of cool climate cabernet sauvignon before launching into aromas of cedar, choc-mint and blackcurrant well supported by coffee grounds scented oak. It is then dry and quite elegant – that cool climate again shows itself with an acid freshness and some leafy flavours plus chalky tannins sitting under elegant cassis fruits. It is a little angular at the moment but give this wine a couple of years and it will flesh out nicely. Or, better still, drink it now with braised ox cheeks reserving a little in the bottle for a red wine sauce.