Fresh medium deep purple colour. Sweet red cherry fruit with a hint of brambles. Prettier and riper than the 1997. Soft entry, sweet fruit on mid-palate and firm yet elegant tannins at the finish. A wine with more immediate appeal but shorter life expectancy than the Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, though it should last 10 years. Best decanted if drunk while still young. Serve with quail or guinea fowl (especially with blueberry sauce), Cape Salmon with Merlot sauce, lamb and Torte Duetto (mascarpone and gorgonzola cheese).