Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013 $18 
That waft of vanilla smoke on the nose indicates that winemaker Warren Knudsen has made excellent use of a combination of French and American oak. That oak wraps around the bay leaf, blackcurrant, and leather layers in this strapping wine from our northern climes. Solid tannins meet supple, frisky acidity and excellent length of flavour for a super sip that opens up to reveal aromas of prune, cocoa, and baked berries and a layer of leather on the finish. It’s a lovely little Matakana red that roars with meatloaf
