Colour is a deep red with purple hues. The nose shows complex aromas of cherries and plum, further bouquets of black fruits and licorice, pepper and five spice, cloves and cedary oak. Chocolate notes follow from the nose onto an earthy middle palate of engaging complexity, density and finesse. Rather medium to full bodied with moreish flavours of blueberries and dark cherry, chocolates, pepper and spice. Firm, velvety tannins coat the palate, the wine is kept vital by a ripe fruit acidity, cherried and refreshing. A backbone of natural, talc tannins that will sleep with the wine long into the future, but ultimately, peak drinking for Benno is right now, ideally alongside lamb with potaoes, tarragon and red wine jus.