“10 days on skins, portions separately matured in new and used French barriques for 18 months with a further 12 months maturation in bottle. A pure, powerful and perfectly balanced cabernet at the start of what will be a very long life. It oozes blackcurrant, bay leaf and savoury notes on its long palate and aftertaste, the oak certainly evident, but equally subservient to the fruit and tannin of the wine. Another snap bargain from West Cape Howe.”

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon has an expressive nose of creme de cassis, mulberries and Chinese dried plums with hints of cedar, spice box and toast. Medium-bodied, it gives just enough ripe black berry flavors in the mouth supported by a medium to firm level of chewy tannins and refreshing acid, finishing long. Drink this one now to 2016+. Imported by The Country Vintner; www.countryvintner.com.au

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec, the 2009 Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in French barriques, 30% new, for 15 months. Very deep purple-black colored, it gives ripe cassis and warm blackberry aromas over notes of baking spices, pencil lead and bay leaf. Full bodied with a medium to firm level of chewy tannins, it has very crisp, slightly disjointed acid and the mid-palate is just a little lacking, though it finishes with good persistence. Approachable now, it should remain good to 2016. Importer: The Country Vintner; www.countryvintner.com.au

As with the Shiraz Viognier, the 2008 Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon proved a little finer than its 2007 vintage. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it is youthfully mute at this stage with moderately intense aromas of crushed blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, pencil shavings and cloves. Crisp with a medium level of very fine tannins, it is both concentrated and elegant in the mouth with plenty of fruit and a very long finish. Give it another year or two in bottle and consider drinking it 2012 to 2020. Importer: The Country Vintner; www.countryvintner.com.au

The 2007 Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon possesses a very deep garnet-purple color and is scented of warm cassis, lifted blackberry, mocha and a touch of mint. With a solid backbone of high acidity and medium to firm, fine tannins, this juicy, full bodied wine has a decadently long finish. Drinking now, it should broaden out a bit in the coming 3-5 years and keep to 2017. Importer: The Country Vintner; www.countryvintner.com.au