Ultimately, this Tapanappa Whalebone Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018 is too firm and ripe to be great. But maybe, just maybe, it’s too young by half and I’m going to look like an idiot when it’s a blinder next decade. Try a bottle and report back in 2032?

Anyway, this red from the Croser family’s Wratonbully property certainly aims for greatness – it smells of mint and dark berry fruit and raisins and expensive wood. There is an initial flourish on the palate of minty dark fruit but then it gets so tannic and drying. Too drying. The length is super – it powers on with the minty firm tannins. But gee it’s heading down the desiccation route. Is the fruit enough to deal with that hardness? I don’t know. It might well look great in time IF it doesn’t dry out in the meantime.

Best drinking: later. Five years for a start. 17/20, 90/100+. 14.5%, $90. Tapanappa website. Would I buy it? Not for a while yet.