Sacred Hill Hawke’s Bay Brokenstone 2014 $45 (re-tasted June 2020) 
Merlot leads a cast of superstar varieties in this celebrity Gimblett Gravels gathering. Malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc combine to create a deeply aromatic red with warmth, woollyness and furry feelings in all the right places. This vintage at 6 years on is really only just getting ready to pull the ripcord and sail down through it’s perfect drinking window. Soft prune, blueberry, wild cherry and dried herb notes lead to a full, savoury, leather-licked finish. The tannins are fine-grained and deliciously feral. It’s quite lovely.
