Howard Park A.S.W. Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2022

A very restrained and compact opening. Pan juices and blackberry straight off, followed by warm gravel, black currant, blueberry pie, dark cherry, earth and a graphite edge with some sweet cedar notes to follow. Lovely balance, elegance and complexity with air. The palate dials things up, however, with its mouth-coating, sapid, and dark fruited profile led by blackberry and blackcurrant again. Stacked, chalky tannins constrict the mouth and fight to contain the fruit to an ultimately long and black fruited finish. Unquestionable quality here, but it’ll shine best with time as its firm structure and bold palate soften and unfurl.