Darkly perfumed with layers of spice, cassis and plum, with a touch of cedar. The palate is full, round and dense, with flavours of dark chocolate, blueberry, cinnamon and a touch of cigar box. An elegant and powerful wine with delightful transparency.

Select crop thinned parcels of fruit were hand harvested from the Babich Irongate vineyard, then fermented in small open vats and hand plunged. After an extended maceration period the new wines were drained to French oak barriques, to mature. After several rack and returns and extensive tasting trials The Patriarch was blended after 12 months then returned to oak. The wine spent a total of 21 months in oak.

Ideal with roasted red meats. It makes a good partner for a whole fillet beef, roasted rare. Also perfect with a tasty winter casseroled stew.