Jim Brand Silent Partner Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The Silent Partner wines were born as a celebration of his late father by winemaker Sam Brand. They are from the same Cabernet vineyard each year, and always use Jim Brand’s winemaking techniques as a celebrated Coonawarra vigneron. ““It's quite interesting because 2022 was a much cooler year in comparison to the 2016 0r the 2021, so it probably didn't get as ripe, probably the tannins weren't as thick. You still get that minty, almost chocolatey oak but also slightly more acid, a little bit more freshness.,” says winemaker Sam Brand. "There’s a youthful reserve upfront that lifts away the longer this is out of the bottle, slowly giving up blackcurrant, mint and bay leaf, tobacco leaf and cedar, even flashes of coffee. The palate has more blackcurrant with the intensity of boiled sweets and savoury notes of cedar and tobacco – the tannins are much firmer and the acidity balanced, and it’s noticeable how the fruit unfurls as the wine opens up. Cellaring for a few years will deliver this at its peak. " John Lehmann, The Australian.