Oaky at first sniff, with plenty of vanilla and cinnamon aromas over black currants. The atypically warm vintage has yielded a wine that lacks the herbaceous character of many New Zealand reds, yet still retains excellent acidity. Ripe fruit flavors are countered by lemony acids, resulting in a wine that shows a pleasant yin-yang character.——J.C.(10/1/2000)—— 87