Zema Estate Saluti Cabernet Shiraz 2016
- 94
- $125
- Drink by: 2022-2032
Share
The Zema family tend to keep things low key and usually let the wines speak for themselves. They are, however, celebrating their fortieth anniversary and have released this wine to commemorate the milestone. A blend of 72% Cabernet and 28% Shiraz, the final wine is a barrel selection, made after the wines had spent an initial 12 months maturing, of their very best from a very fine vintage. The new blend then spent another 14 months in a mix of new and used French and American hogsheads. ‘Saluti’ is only made when the occasion demands and the vintage is sufficiently excellent. This is a near opaque magenta in colour, finely crafted, with notes of spices, dark fruits, bay leaves, tobacco, leather, black fruits, cloves, coffee beans, sandalwood and mocha plus finely integrated oak. The structure is tight, with fine tannins and plenty of them. Very good length, it has at least a decade or more ahead of it. A most worthy way to celebrate such a significant milestone.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
