Nannup Estate Rolling Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Nannup Estate’s home is in the emerging Blackwood Valley region of Western Australia. Like its neighbour to the west, Margaret River, the Valley looks to the Cabernet grape for one of its signature wines. If Rolling Hills ’19 Cabernet is anything to go by, the Valley style is firm in tannin and requiring of patience before it starts to hit its straps. All the ingredients are here from arresting fruit – blackcurrant, blueberry, redcurrant – to lively oak-derived spice and varietally-strong leafy, herbal notes. As it opens up, there is a little more give, a glimpse of enlivening anise, cedar and sweet black berries. But it’s just a glimpse at this stage. Taut tannins keep everything in their place and then some, giving the wine great line and length, but the overall effect remains one of restraint. Give it time.