Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2023

Almost, but not a completely solo Cabernet Franc. It is joined by 8% Shiraz, presumably to bring a little more breadth and width across the middle palate. Either way, the two varieties like each other’s company and together they produce a wine that can easily pull up a chair at the dinner table and match a range of proteins. The scent of Cab Franc is quite seductive: rose, rosehip, cinnamon, pepper, jalapeño and leaf with black cherry and plum. Sinewy tannins hold the fresh youngster in place rolling through and across the palate in plenty of ripe black fruit and spice with just a touch of savoury, roast meat juices. Good concentration here and with mid-term cellaring it will become a little more fully formed.