Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2020 $39 
Deeply glossy in the glass, magenta-black, and heaving with smoked blueberry, plum, and blackberry notes on the nose and palate, this wine is dense, delicious, and dangerously sexy to sip. Tironui sits atop Napier’s Sugar Loaf Hill, and its stunning terraces capture sun all day, turning out a Cahors-style blend of 51% malbec, 42% merlot, and 7% cabernet that proves how spectacular the 2020 vintage was for Hawke’s Bay reds. The tannins are bold and chewy, accentuating its superb length of flavour. Slow-cooked lamb rump? Stop it. Drink now through 2030.
