Simonne

I found the nose on this wine quite closed; although I did get intermittent whiffs of dark fruit - maybe plum. Lingering ripe berry on the palate - I feel it could sit for a wile longer in the cellar as it came across as quite an graceful wine with lots to offer.

Paired with Coffee intense chocolate - I did not enjoy it, the flavours really clashed.

Pieter

Shy nose showing dark, plummy fruit and a touch of caramel. Wonderful, minerally palate with good balance. This wine is currently wearing a long black coat, but is likely to flash its hidden multi-colours in just a few years - even its colour is less developed than the other 2008 wines in this flight. My favourite red in this line-up and truly butt-kicking value. The wine turned a bit acidic when matched with the choc and drowned in the sea of raging coffee. I'd much rather buy the wine and leave it for a few years or have it with meat, while using the choc to make some kick-ass tiramisu.

David

Greets the nose with a nice pepper start which is complemented by a rich molasses finish. On the palate the wine has a generous helping of wood which lingers along ensuring that you take notice. The Lindt Coffee chocolate did nothing for the wine when paired. The wine was fantastic as it is and the coffee flavoured chocolate will make you miss most of the things you enjoy about wine.

Robyn

The pure Cab was a little more balanced than the red's before it, and would probably reward more time, but it was still a little wood-heavy and not quite enough fruit to carry it for my tastes.. But I'm getting fussy in my old age. The coffee flavoured chocolate made this Cab intensely bitter!

Ellen

With a dark ruby colour, the slightly shy nose suggests black fruit, eucalyptus and vanilla. The palate is medium-bodied but somehow simultaneously quite meaty, with medium tannins and a nice texture. Cassis is the dominant flavour. The wine would reward cellaring. Chocolate and coffee is a great combination of itself, but does nothing for the wine. The chocolate is too sweet for the dry wine. Once again, my advice is to enjoy these foodstuffs quite separately.