Young winemaker Renée Dale managed to secure some rare cabernet franc fruit from the Twin Totara vineyard out in Waimauku, and then rose every day at 4am to plunge the ferment before heading over to her other job at Westbrook Wines. Were those red-eye starts worth it? Yessir! The palate has glorious dark berries, blackcurrant, black doris plums, liquorice and subtle herbal notes with a fine foil of mint chocolate, saddle leather and spice. Deliciously complex and brightly structured, perky, yet elegant.
Sip with: slow cooked beef cheeks.
For how to buy, email: reneedale@moiwines.com
