Layers of savory, earthy and tangy fruit aromas mingle, from beets to cherries and raspberries to tobacco and ground pepper. Heady aromas flow to a full-figured palate that's sculpted with chalky, muscular tannins, the fruit and spice peeking through. A powerful wine, this has plenty more life left in it. If drinking now, break out the protein.

The 2021 Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard is structurally firm and yet populated by a flow of silky red fruit. In the mouth, the acidity and tannins are so finely intertwined that it is hard to feel where one stops and the other begins. This is a blend of 49% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It is an elegant wine that speaks clearly of its place, in its austere tannins and lean mineral finish. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Malty and herbal accents complement the core of dark bramble and wild berry flavors, with a juicy edge and velvety tannins. Cedar, tobacco and spice accents linger on the long finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

The 2021 Te Kahu is a blend of five Bordeaux varieties, with Merlot leading the charge in this vintage, closely followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a mid-weight style with structured tannins that are resolved but abundant and need a huge chunk of meat or bottle age. There are herbal aromas of the Cabernets piercing the richer plum and fruit-cake flavors of Merlot with the merest twist of violet. Oak-derived flavors of cedar and festive spices (18 months) add an extra layer of complexity. A little raw at this stage, this wine needs time to shake off its young fruit and uptight shoulders.