Community Tasting Note

• Dr S wrote: 92 points

  December 1, 2018 - Tasted with Geoff and Bec in my home away from home, Hastings Hawkes Bay. Tried only a handful of times previously, all showing glacial progress in ageing and never quite as beautiful as when first released.
  
  Dark purples still. A highly floral nose with more black fruits than normal, intense but without the usual spicy and dried herb complexity. Almost essence like blackberry and dark plum fruit on the palate. Tannins have mellowed but the palate is tight fisted, even hard and lacks the suppleness or willowy textures the 05 and 08 now display. A product of the worst frost of four (94, 99 and 14 the others), picked very early (February perhaps instead of mid March into April), potent fruit. Tastes younger than 08, 09 or even 2010.
  
  The question is will it ever unfold and evolve in the CKA SV fashion? The stern essence-like palate suggests perhaps not. A good wine but not a classic SV. Arrested development?

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