Warwick Estate, Stellenbosch (South Africa) 2018

 The 2018 Warwick Estate Reserve presents a medium purple, ruby color in the glass.  The nose leads with dark roasted coffee beans, followed by subdued fruit notes with more apparent red licorice and anise seed notes.  On the palate the wine is structured by medium plus acidity and while the tannins start well buffered, the balance of the wine changes and finishes drier, with a dusty element.  Lifted red fruit notes continue on the palate, showing more of the character of Cabernet Franc as opposed to Cabernet Sauvignon, which would be darker and potentially a bit herbal.  It seems as if it could benefit from additional bottle age, as it seems a bit simple at the moment.  This may repay cellaring for the medium term, but it will depend on your tolerance for the drying finish.  The wine was aged in 34% new, French oak barrels for 24 months.