PepperGreen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 from the Southern Highlands is an elegant, savoury, cool‑climate cabernet – medium‑bodied, fragrant and structured, closer in feel to Bordeaux than to big, fruit‑bomb Aussie cab.

In the glass it’s medium red with a touch of purple, showing a fragrant nose of violets, red berries and leafy overtones, plus spicy oak and dried herbs that give it a distinctly Old‑World aromatic profile. The palate is medium‑bodied with elegant berry flavours and a fine tannin grip, delivering a delicate, long finish with ripe tannins that Nick Butler calls “instantly savoury and under‑stated” and “undeniably compelling.”

From an Adelaide‑based sommelier’s perspective, PepperGreen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is tailor‑made for lamb racks, roast beef, herb‑crusted pork or mushroom‑based dishes, where its structure, leafy notes and savoury edge can play beautifully with umami. It’s also excellent with aged cheddars and Gruyère, and is in a very nice drinking window now with further short‑ to mid‑term cellaring potential.