Salomon Estate Dark Pearl Cabernet S.F.M. 2021

From Austrian wine making royalty Dr Bert Salomon’s South Australian vineyard on the south-eastern side of the Fleurieu Peninsula, more critically facing towards the Great Southern Ocean which profoundly influences the growing conditions for a suite of classic red varieties. This wine is tagged simply as “Cabernet” but it is the underline S.F.M. that tells us more, referring to C-Sauvignon, C- Franc, and Merlot in a well-versed international trio setting. This expression is not shy to be leafy and minty in its aromatics, and definite in its black currant flavour suggestions, retaining some skin herbaceousness, perhaps a touch of tobacco leaf, and pleasingly fine tannins in the finish without the intrusion of oak, which would have just been too much in this case. A tad old-school, yet sweetly nostalgic because of it.