Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2022 $35 
Cabernet franc is a rare thing to see on its own here in New Zealand, so it’s exciting whenever I see one, particularly one from one of the tiniest vineyards in Hawke’s Bay. Very new and youthfully fresh, it boasts a huge lift of bay leaf, blackcurrant, charred capsicum, and blueberry on the nose and palate. Long on flavour, it’s got fabulously fuzzy tannins, and there’s a ribbon of tobacco leaf and black olive.
