Maison Noire Gabrielle’s Kiss Hawke’s Bay Red Blend 2023 $20 
Hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, Guillaume Thomas at Maison Noire opted to get creative with their Cabernet Franc and Syrah grown high up on the Waimarama Road – and do some crafty blending. Highly floral, laced with bay, tobacco, green peppercorns, black olive and dried herb complexity, it’s a lighter style red (just 12.5% alc) that’s softly savoury and dangerously easy to drink.
