ماري هيل كابيرنيه فران 2019، وادي كولومبيا، واشنطن

I opened this expecting a fruit bomb, but the black tea and pencil box notes give it a really sophisticated, earthy complexity. The black cherry and bell pepper balance is spot on, making it perfect with a hearty steak.

The bell pepper and dried herbs come through beautifully alongside the deep cherry fruit, making this a fantastic food wine. I’ve been drinking it with grilled lamb and it’s a perfect match.

The pencil box and black tea notes give this a really unique, almost savory complexity that I wasn't expecting. It's smooth enough to drink now but has enough structure to age a couple more years. Pairs perfectly with a mushroom risotto.