Brand & Sons Silent Partner Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

This Cabernet exhibits inherent power and structure, yet it remains gracefully controlled and balanced, delivering impressive complexity. The bouquet melds earthy tones with gentle bell pepper, vanilla bean, graphite, plum, cedar, and espresso, with the savoury notes taking early prominence. As it breathes, the fruit asserts itself more, with plum evolving alongside blackcurrant, complemented by sweet clove, subtle soy sauce umami, and a hint of mint. Elegance permeates the aromas and carries seamlessly onto the palate, where blackcurrant, black cherry, and plum form the core, layered with cedar, dark chocolate, mint, and earthy nuances. Grainy, dark chocolate-infused tannins provide a linear structure, framing the wine beautifully and extending into a minty, persistent finish. This wine punches well above its $40 price tag, offering both class and the potential for cellar ageing over the next decade.

Tom Kline

Wine Critic at Winepilot

Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.

Wine tasting and writing