'Sakura' blends syrah's dark fruit with the fine, structural tannin nebbiolo is famous for, grown across Fetherston's Victorian vineyards in 2023.

Blackberry and dark cherry form the fruit core, with rose petal and a savoury, tar-like quality from the nebbiolo adding real complexity, and a light black-pepper spice showing through from the syrah component. The palate is more structured than a straight syrah, with firm but fine tannin running through the middle.

Acidity stays bright throughout, and the finish leans savoury rather than fruity, with those tannins lingering well after the fruit has faded. Neither variety fully takes over, which is part of what makes the blend an interesting one to come back to.

It suits braised or slow-cooked meats and firm, aged cheeses, dishes with enough richness to soften the firmer tannin and meet the wine's savoury streak.

Give it another year or two in bottle and the tannins should knit together further still; it's built to reward a little patience rather than being poured straight from the cellar tonight.