Country: New Zealand / Hawke’s Bay
Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend
Winery: Babich / The Patriarch Premium
In marked contrast to the plush, sexy 2010, the 2011 Patriarch is a stern taskmaster. The aromas and flavors of cherry, cedar and dried herbs are pleasant, but carry with them a worring dry astringency. Try drinking this over the near term, with rare beef to help ameliorate the tannin’s effects.