Nose sets the tone straight away with really strong gamey, savoury, smokey aromas reminiscent of roast meat and herbs. Smells a bit like a northern rhone red, but with richer, darker fruit that shows lots of blackberries, plums, and cherries. Pretty plush, with ripe fruit, a hint of oak, and a warm spicy hit on the finish. Tannins build on the palate, but they're not the dominant force you might fear from Tannat; the balance works really well all together, but it will reward drinking with some hearty, rich food. Certainly up to the challenge!