Lake Breeze Bullant Cabernet Merlot / 2022 / 750mL

Lake Breeze Bullant Cabernet Merlot 2022 is a generous, medium to full-bodied red from Langhorne Creek in South Australia, built around dark berry fruit and a soft, even run of tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the shape and the leafy edge, while Merlot fills out the middle, making this a red that drinks easily young without feeling simple.

Blackcurrant and mulberry lead the aromatics, with darker touches of cocoa, dried bay leaf and a dusty, sun-warmed earthiness that Langhorne Creek reds often carry. The palate follows through with plum and blackberry, a little roasted spice, and a savoury undercurrent that keeps the fruit from tipping into sweetness.

Structurally the Bullant sits in comfortable territory: acidity is gentle rather than sharp, and the tannins are fine-grained and rounded, brushing the sides of the mouth rather than gripping. The finish is medium in length and drying just slightly, with cassis and a whisper of mint hanging on after the fruit fades.

Drink the 2022 now through to around 2029.