Stonehaven Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 from the Limestone Coast is an intensely rich, fruit‑driven Cabernet that still shows proper regional structure and has been cleaning up on the show circuit. It is designed as a smooth, approachable style, not a hard‑edged, cellar‑only cab.

In the glass it is deep red to purple, with very lifted aromas of potpourri, currant, cassis, blackberry and cherry wrapped in cedar, sweet spice and a touch of dark chocolate, tobacco and pepper. The palate is juicy, smooth and medium‑to‑full bodied, bursting with blackberry, plum and blackcurrant, layers of vanilla spice and choc‑mint, fine yet deep tannins and balanced oak that give generous texture and a satisfying, dry finish.

This Stepping Stone Cabernet 2021 is spot‑on with char‑grilled lamb chops, beef and mushroom pie, slow‑cooked meat dishes, pasta with meatballs or any grilled red meat off the BBQ. Drink it now or over the next 5–8 years; with double golds at Cairns and the International Cool Climate Wine Show plus 94 points from Wine Orbit, it is outstanding value for a mid‑week or weekend red in Adelaide.