Holden Manz, Merlot Reserve, Franschhoek, South Africa, 2017

Holden Manz describe this wine as smooth, elegant, sexy and luscious and we certainly don’t disagree! You’ll find a full bodied powerhouse packed with notes of dark fruit, blueberries, black cherries and tobacco leaf. But this blockbuster is without charm, the finish is enticing, seductive and lingers delightfully for minutes.

The grapes benefitted from a dream growing season, as did their Cabernet Franc, and like the aforementioned rich bank partner in crime the juice from the low yield of Merlot grapes spends 27 months in French Oak, 50% of which is new, prior to being bottled and sealed with wax.