Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Bold, Structured & Cellar-Worthy

Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 is a structured, biodynamic Barossa Cabernet with classic varietal shape and a savoury edge. It opens with violets, cassis, mulberry, tomato leaf, cooling menthol, black olive and refined cedary-spiced oak. The palate is medium-bodied yet powerful, with concentrated dark fruit, dusty fine tannins and a long, poised finish that gives the wine both generosity and definition.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan friendly
• Crafted by Kalleske — a seventh-generation Barossa family estate at Greenock
• Violet, cassis, mulberry, tomato leaf, black olive and cedary French oak
• Single-vineyard Cabernet from low-yielding vines on the Kalleske property
• Hand pruned, hand harvested and matured for 16 months in French oak hogsheads
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

2024 Merchant Cabernet is deep, vibrant crimson in the glass. Aromas move through violet, cassis, mulberry and tomato leaf, with cooling menthol, earthy black olive, a quiet nori note and refined cedary spice from French oak. The palate is medium-bodied but carries real Cabernet power, with concentrated dark fruit wrapped in elegance. Dusty natural tannins are prominent and fine, giving the wine structure and length without hardness. Subtle toasty oak adds savoury complexity, finishing long, dry and composed.

Winemaking

The Cabernet grapes were picked in two lots on 2 April and 4 April. After destemming into open-top fermenters, the musts were fermented on skins for 7 and 13 days respectively, with hand pump-overs twice daily. After pressing, the wine was filled to a mix of one-quarter new and the balance seasoned French oak hogsheads, where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation. It then matured in barrel for 16 months before bottling.

Vineyard & Vintage

Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a vineyard planted on the Kalleske property at Greenock in the north-western Barossa Valley at the end of last century. The vines are hand pruned, low yielding and grown in shallow red-brown soil over deep clay, a strong foundation for structured Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2024 vintage was excellent, with a drier and slightly warmer winter and spring, refreshing summer rainfall, average temperatures and no extreme heat. Autumn began warm and finished mild, allowing steady ripening through to harvest, with average yields and superb fruit quality.

Why We Love It

This is Barossa Cabernet with polish, but not excess. It has the richness and dark fruit you expect from the region, yet the Cabernet markers are beautifully clear: cassis, violet, tomato leaf, black olive, cedar and firm fine tannin. The oak is measured, the fruit is generous, and the finish stays savoury and long. It is a lovely choice when you want a red with presence, but also line, detail and a proper dinner-table structure.

Food Pairing

This wine suits dishes with savoury depth, slow-cooked richness, char or earthy vegetable notes. The tannin structure loves protein, while the cassis, olive and cedar notes work beautifully with rosemary, mushrooms, eggplant, lentils and gently smoky flavours. Try matching this wine with →

• Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom bourguignon with lentils or mashed potato — Find a Recipe
• Chargrilled eggplant with miso or tahini — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Bring this out for roast dinners, autumn evenings, good steaks, mushroom pies or a table of friends who know their way around a serious red. It has enough structure for a special meal, but enough generosity to enjoy without ceremony.

Cellaring

This wine has the balance and refinement to evolve gracefully for at least the next decade. Drink now with a short decant, or cellar under good conditions for 8–10 years to let the cedar, savoury spice and fine tannins soften into more developed Cabernet complexity.

Producer

Kalleske is a seventh-generation family estate based at Greenock in the north-western Barossa Valley, where the family property was established in 1853. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, and the wines are estate grown and made with a minimalist approach to capture the character of the site. Merchant has a personal family thread: Johann Georg Kalleske migrated from Prussia in 1838 as a merchant and miller, and today Kym John Kalleske continues that farming tradition, hand pruning and harvesting the Cabernet used for this single-vineyard wine.

Related Wines To Try →

If you like structured reds with dark fruit, savoury detail and fine tannins, these are worth exploring next:

• Same producer, richer Barossa depth and old-vine Shiraz power — Kalleske Greenock Shiraz
• Dark, structured and savoury with violet lift — Kalleske Stryker Petit Verdot
• Margaret River Cabernet blend with biodynamic elegance — Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

FAQ

What does Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 taste like?

It tastes like a classic Barossa Cabernet with violets, cassis, mulberry, tomato leaf, black olive and cedary French oak. The palate is medium-bodied yet concentrated, with dusty fine tannins and a long dry finish. It has generosity, but the shape is more savoury and structured than plush.

Is this wine dry, and how full-bodied is it?

Yes. This is a dry red wine with a medium to medium-full body, concentrated dark fruit and firm Cabernet structure. The tannins are prominent but fine, and the acidity sits in a balanced medium range.

How should I serve this Cabernet?

Serve it at around 16–18°C in a large red wine glass. A Bordeaux-style glass or a generous all-purpose red glass will give the aromatics space to open. Avoid serving it too warm, as cooler serving helps keep the cassis, cedar and tannin line fresh.

Should I decant Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon 2024?

Yes. Give it 30–45 minutes if you are drinking it young, especially with richer food. This will help the violet, black olive, cedar and dark fruit notes settle together.

Can this wine be cellared?

Yes. This wine has the balance and refinement to evolve for at least the next decade. Drink now for fruit and structure, or cellar for 8–10 years under good storage conditions.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is not a No Added Preservative wine, so it does contain sulphites. It is made with minimum sulphites and certified organic and biodynamic, so sulphur additions are kept within the lower limits required for those wine standards.

Is it vegan friendly?

Yes. Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon is vegan friendly, certified organic and certified biodynamic. It is a strong option for drinkers looking for a traditionally structured red made with thoughtful farming and no animal-derived fining inputs.

What food pairs best with this wine?

It is excellent with slow-cooked lamb, roast beef, grilled steak, mushroom bourguignon, lentil pie and chargrilled eggplant. The tannins work well with protein and richer textures, while the savoury Cabernet notes suit herbs, mushrooms, olive and roasted vegetables. For vegetarian pairings, choose dishes with earthiness or umami rather than sweetness.

Who will love this wine?

This will suit drinkers who enjoy structured Cabernet Sauvignon with cassis, cedar, savoury herbs and fine tannins. If you like Barossa reds but want something more classic and Cabernet-shaped than Shiraz, this is a very good fit. It is also a smart choice for anyone who enjoys organic and biodynamic wines with real cellar potential.

Is this wine keto friendly?

This is a dry red wine, which is generally the preferred wine style for lower-carb drinking. For strict keto, check the residual sugar and serving size against your own daily limits. Pair with lower-carb dishes such as steak, roast vegetables, mushrooms or grilled eggplant.

(SKU: KA_CAB_CV)