Salomon Estate Norwood Heritage Red 2022

From Austrian winemaking “royalty” Dr Bert Salomon’s South Australian vineyard in the Finniss district of the Fleurieu Peninsula, cooled by the Southern Ocean. The wine is an Aussie classic red blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, dedicated to Bert’s mother’s forefather Johann Nepomuk Hinterrocker, who established the St Ignatius parish and college in the eastern Adelaide suburb of Norwood in 1870. That’s Heritage two ways from the Salomon family point of view. The blend in this iteration is 65% Shiraz and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured in mostly seasoned French oak hogshead barrels which bring a supportive cedar backdrop to the overall black-fruited expression, a faint aromatic edge of dark mint chocolate, both nose and palate, pointing to a recognisable Australian identity. While there’s impressive depth and flavour, the wine drinks with medium weight ease, tannins superfine and soft with a dusting of white pepper spice for a late palate rise in interest. Definitely benefits from a decanting at its current age, the wine opening up and blossoming over hours and even days if you pour just a glass or two each time. A lovely whole world approach and expression.