Crossroads Hawke’s Bay Talisman

This is the top shelf wine from Crossroads made from a ‘secret squirrel’ blend of red varieties. It’s quite a medium-bodied wine, with attractive dark berry and choc-coated plum smells mingling with star anise and soft spice. The palate is spicy fruited and juicy, with fine-grained tannins, a lick of toastiness and a long, lingering fruit and savoury finish. This will cellar over the next couple of years, but would be just as good with a quick decant and some roo steaks. Red – Other Reds – Red B