2018 Salomon Estate Finniss River Sea Eagle Vineyard Shiraz

Bert and Gertrud Salomon are full-time travellers when it comes to wine. In Austria's Kremstal region on the Danube they manage their seventh-generation family estate, Salomon Undhof. Then once vintage is complete in the northern hemisphere, they fly south to Australia to manage Salomon Estate. Founded in 1995, the wines here are produced off a single property located on the Finniss River, about 20km southeast of McLaren Vale, where the Adelaide Hills run into the Fleurieu Peninsula. The soils are typically gravel and sand over red and orange sandstone and the vineyard falls gently away towards the northwest providing ideal exposure, warm days ensure ripe fruit flavours while the cooling breezes which roll off the Southern Ocean in the late afternoon ensure excellent acid retention. Here, Australian robustness meets European elegance in a most convincing fashion.
Aged in small French oak barrels for 18 months. Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Wafting from the glass are aromas of liquorice, black cherry and dark plum which are trailed by some smoky vanillin cedar, earthy dark chocolate and peppered fennel notes. Rich liquorice, black cherry and fresh blackberry fruits saturate the full bodied palate that still manages to retain ample energy. A ripe chewy tannin structure lends a muscular feel with notions of smoky vanillin cedar, fennel, earth and blackpepper characters sitting on the back half. Outstanding concentration and power with a long robust finish that’s layered with black fruit and infusions of blackpepper.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews….
Deep savory nose with stacks of ripe red and some blue fruits. Delicate spice, too. Impressive tannic power that’s wrapped around plenty of ripeness, but this stays clearly on the dry side of taste spectrum. Long, savory and spicy finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
94 Points
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