2024 Primo Estate Zamberlan Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese, McLaren Vale

This is a black fruited McLaren Vale blend that while only of medium weight, has intense and complex flavours. The fruit is bright, spicy and textural, the fine tannins very much in a supporting role.

Look to northern Italy for food inspiration: perfect with duck leg ragù cooked with dried sour cherries and rosemary and served with hand-cut pappardelle. For something lighter, try pan-seared polenta with charred radicchio, olive tapenade and grated mature Parmigiano.

More about this wine

This wine is named after Primo Estate’s original winemaker Joe Grilli’s father-in-law Rinaldo Zamberlan, whose suggestion it was to use the Venetian ripasso technique of adding dried skins to ferments to enhance the wine’s structure and flavour.

The 2024 is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and was matured in a combination of seasoned and new oak barriques of both French and American origin.

About this producer

Primo Estate is a family business established in McLaren Vale in 1973 by Primo and Santina Grilli, migrants from the Le Marche region of Central Italy, with first wines made from the 1979 vintage by their son Joe.

Third generation Matteo Grilli has now taken the lead in charting a course for the future, with estate grown fruit from grape vines and olives remaining at the heart of the operations. Experienced winemaker Tom Garrett is his go-to man at the winery.