The wine was a deep ruby colour with inky legs and had a bit of sediment.

The nose started out with an intense pyrazine aroma which was reminiscent of a pungent green bell pepper (some even perceived this as a cat pee smell), but this seemed to dissipate over the course of the tasting. Other aromas included cherry and oak wood. Some perceived a note of petrol.

The pallate was dry with medium-low acidity, abundant and slightly corse-textured tannin and medium alcohol. The wine was medium-full bodied. Flavours included cherry candy, Strawberry jam and a touch of wood. Medium length.

Overall, the wine was acceptable for quality and slightly faulted owing to the green pepper note. Revisiting this wine the next day showed marked improvement as the bell pepper aromas had fully dissipated and were more reminiscent of a roasted red pepper. There was a blackberry jam and vanilla sugar note combined with a flavour of back fruits and a pleasant black currant finish that was longer lived.

The wine represents good value considering the on-sale price of $12.95.

But one has to be has to be patient and decant the bottle, entirely, for a few hours or pour off a glass and leave the remainder of the bottle to rest and breathe for enjoyment the next day.