Malbec seems to have found a natural home on Australia’s West Coast. 84% Mount Barker Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Frankland River Malbec. West Cape Howe are just rolling onto the new vintage of 2016 now.

West Cape Howe, “Hannah’s Hill,” Cabernet, Malbec, Great Southern, 2015

Black fruit dominant with blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, baked pastry and a cassis syrup heart. A tale of two halves: All oaky sweet black and purple fruit up front before moving into a gravelly tannin, texture driven back section. There’s a distracting, somewhat viscous finish that maps to the cassis syrup note on the nose with tart, acidity. This will need: time, air or food…but ideally a combination of all 3.

RRP: $22
Alc: 14%
Rating: 16.5/20

Wine sample courtesy of West Cape Howe