Pepper Tree P.J.P. Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Nice touch here. The initials P.J.P represent the three men who worked to produce the fruit on Block 21A, which is Pepper Tree’s best cabernet block in Wrattonbully. Parts of what we now call Wrattonbully were once inside the Coonawarra regional boundary, so it’s no coincidence that this wine shares distinctly Coonawarra-like flavour components. I’m referring specifically to the blackberry, blackcurrant, mulberry fruits and dried herbs and the scent of the Australian bush, in particular. The centrepiece to this complex cabernet is the herbal interaction of thyme, sage, spearmint with the concentrated fruit, gently cedary oak and firm tannin. While it’s entirely approachable now with its smooth ways and enduring length, it’s definitely built for the long run. It is set for release in June, 2022. Winemaker, Gwyn Olsen, keeps a tight lid on Cabernet’s varietal intensity. It’s the equivalent of a vinous iceberg. So much more is to be revealed in time.