2016 Anwilka

The 2016 Anwilka, a blend of 55% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot, offers plenty of dark berry fruit, smoke and hickory on the nose, quite minty and still quite tight. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, slightly coarse tannins. Broad-shouldered at first, then it somehow musters more refinement and harmony towards the Médoc-like finish. This is a well-crafted Anwilka, though I personally would like to see the contribution of Petit Verdot limited to 10% as it can steal the limelight from the other varieties.

Dark chocolate and cloves on the attack, Cabernet Sauvignon is more dominant in this vintage, coming through in damson and savoury dark fruit flavours, with toasted cedar, smoked earth and cooler gunsmoke aromatics. 50% 400l new oak barrels and 50% one year old barrels.

Bursting from the glass, the 2016 Anwilka has elegant oak tones that play with a juicy fruit structure. Dark cherry, blackberry and plums all dance with mocha tones and oak spices that integrate seamlessly together. The wine is full-bodied on the palate, with a ripe attack of bold, concentrated fruit and a balanced structure with grippy tannins that hang on the gumline, leaving flavors of bitter dark chocolate and coffee bean. Ending with a long, drawn-out finish, it continues to evolve on the palate long after the wine has left the mouth. This is a serious wine for collectors.