Salomon Estate 'Wildflower' Syrah 2018
The Wine
Variety: 95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier
95% Syrah, co-fermented with 5% Viognier, barrel-aged for 20 months in 300 L hogsheads (primarily French oak, with a small percentage of American oak).
94 points, James Halliday "Co-fermented with viognier. Full-bodied, and steps outside the usual elegant Salomon style, daring to lead to the top of the Rhone Valley. There are some exciting dark fruit flavours (despite the viognier) and well bred tannins. Drink by 2038."
I’m not a big consumer of Australian Shiraz (with the exception of Sami Odi…), but this is a little gem and would happily crack the top off it without hesitation! Think Northern Rhone, it’s charming, intense and really stains the palate…and with the small addition of Viognier rounding out the aromatics and mouthfeel nicely. Now this is surely a baby Oz ‘Cote Rotie’ look alike for a fraction of the price! TC
The Details
Variety - Shiraz, Viognier
Country - Australia
Region - South Australia
Sub Region - Finniss River
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2018
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker
Salomon Estate was founded in 1995, originating from great ideas and passions. The first being Bert and Gertrud’s love for the landscape around the Finniss River vineyard. Second, their enjoyment of great red wines and last but not least the enthusiasm they both have for diverse cultures.
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.