Assembled from barrels that don't make it into Bond's single-vineyard offerings, the 2019 The Matriarch is an excellent wine in its own right. Perhaps a bit more cedary than the other Bond wines, it deftly marries piny, herbal notes with ripe cherries on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is intense but supple, with a slightly grainy texture on the lingering finish.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Matriarch absolutely pops with vibrant black fruit notes and a seriously spicy undercurrent, featuring black cherry compote and warm cassis with hints of Indian spices and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich and exotic, the style is upfront and bold with a plush texture and hedonic finish.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Matriarch rocks up with forthright notions of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries and mulberries plus hints of crushed rocks, dried herbs, iron ore and black soil plus a touch of Ceylon tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals impressive intensity with a firm texture of grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

The 2015 Matriarch, bottled in early 2018, is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and simply sings of crushed blackberries, black raspberries and warm black cherries with nuances of chocolate box, aniseed, cinnamon toast and lilacs. The full-bodied palate is rich, concentrated and lively with fine-grained tannins, finishing long.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Matriarch reveals a core of crushed blackcurrants and blackberries with lovely herb and floral nuances and an earthy/damp soil waft. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is well structured with grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, framing the vibrant black fruit and earth layers, finishing long.