I had a friend who would have been drawn to this wine like a Scotsman to whiskey (having met a few Scotsmen in my day I say that with some authority). She’s a big fan of Cabernet Franc … big, hearty, beefy, heck, for lack of a better term, ballsy Cabernet Franc – she even liked the green pepper aspect of the wine. Well this one has everything she’d be looking for, including the green pepper. In the past I have dubbed wines with certain names, this one will be my Jim Croce wine, because this one requires some “Time in [the] Bottle”. But for those who just can’t wait, I would suggest decanting or getting some special glassware. First you’ll find black licorice, oak and tar on the nose (not too inviting huh?) and even the flavours are a little tight on the tongue: with licorice, oak and tart blackberries. Give it some time though and it opens up nicely with raspberries, vanilla and yes that telltale green pepper on the nose; black fruit, oak and sweet pickled red peppers on the taste. This wine goes best with food, steak, hearty pasta and sauce, or a mess of ribs – but those firm tannins will need some air to mellow them out; open a minimum of 30 minutes before serving. As for my Franc-loving friend, my dear, if you’re out there – this one’s your cup of tea, so to speak.