Silver Heights The Summit Ningxia 2021 

This wine takes its name from a famous ancient Chinese poem that represents the spirit of the people of Ningxia. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon hand picked and selected before undergoing cold maceration and temperature controlled fermentation in neutral oak. Aged in 50% new French oak and 50% 1-year-old oak barrels for 18 months. Dark, brooding and dusty aromas on opening. Black plum, black cherry, tomato leaf, and dried currant lead the charge, followed by salty seared meat, ash, cocoa and black tea. There’s some liquorice in the mix and some shitake mushroom coming out with air, too. Lots going on here. The palate is full bodied and packed with flavour with a smoky and savoury sensibility. Black currant, black cherry, shitake mushroom, campfire ash, black plum, and black tea are coiled within a fine but very firm sheath of earthy tannins and black fruited acidity. This is all carried long through the palate with the savoury earth and mushroom notes lingering in the mouth perfume. They haven’t shied away from ripeness here at 15% abv, but they have balanced it well thanks to powerful complexity, sapidity and structure. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s a food wine for sure, but there’s a lot of interest and intrigue here. A Cabernet like no other I’ve tasted.