Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour was aged for 22 months in French oak, 95% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is open and ready for business, featuring notions of redcurrant jelly, black raspberries, boysenberries and spice cake with touches of red roses, camphor, dark chocolate and new leather. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers bags of fragrant red and black fruit preserves, framed by plush tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. This is a very pretty expression of this vintage, which is drinking beautifully now and yet should cellar for a good 20 years or more. 6,974 cases were made.

97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot. Much-needed winter rains restored groundwater for the growing season. A warmer summer than 2016 led to accelerated harvest conditions due to quickly ripening fruit. Winemaker Trevor Durling’s first full vintage from grape to bottle. Opaque purple colour. Very jammy nose, too sweet for me. The palate is less extreme, but it is still all figs, jam and vanilla bean. Chalky, ripe tannins provide some respite but this is not for the faint-hearted. (TP)