Di Giorgio’s Coonawarra Emporio Cabernet Merlot Franc 2022 from legendary terra rossa soils is a rich elegant blend showcasing the classic Bordeaux varieties grown on what was the original 1890 Coonawarra Fruit Growing Colony site. Deep crimson with purple hues, the bouquet bursts with blackberry, raspberry and cassis alongside some indulgent notes of bitter chocolate, dried blueberries and toasty sweet vanillin oak. The palate delivers a rounded soft structure where fruit is deliciously ripe and succulent with blackberry and cassis flavours, chocolate and spice characters finishing with smooth velvety tannins and a fine mesh of powerful tannins that provide persistence.

This Coonawarra blend pairs brilliantly with roast beef where its velvety tannins complement rich meat, while lamb shanks allow the wine’s chocolate and spice characters to shine through. Mature hard cheeses and grilled steaks also make ideal matches, with the wine’s full-bodied structure providing satisfying depth.

Full-bodied yet beautifully balanced, the Emporio 2022 can be enjoyed now but has enormous cellaring potential thanks to its fine tannin structure. Crafted from estate-grown grapes on those famous red soils, this wine represents outstanding quality from one of Coonawarra’s most historic vineyard sites.