2018 Spring Just Crushed

SPR ING

2018

ISSUE N O.

12

2

PEPPER TREE WINES

Gwyn’s Quarterly Review

How quickly the year seems to be progressing. We’ve only just got 2018 out of the way and all the signs are that budburst has started heralding the 2019 vintage!

Now that all the 2018 wines are in barrel we can breathe a sigh of relief. It’s business as usual in the winery as we clean up after another busy vintage and now start releasing our 2017 reds from the Hunter and 2016 reds from Wrattonbully.

With those 2016 reds in mind we did a launch in Sydney and Melbourne for Wine Media and Sommeliers which was very well received. We were lucky enough to get a rating of 96 points from wine writer Huon Hooke for our as yet unreleased super premium wine – the PJP but we will let you all know when it’s available to purchase. The 2016 Block 21A Cabernet Sauvignon was also rated highly by Huon Hooke and James Halliday agreed by giving it 95 points in his annual Wine Companion.

I hope you enjoy the new release wines and hope that you can visit our Cellar Door soon as we have just launched our Single Vineyard and Museum wine tasting area called ‘The Vault’. Instead of your typical bar tasting we have created a warm space to enjoy the best of Pepper Tree that will offer a benchmark regional experience.

Gwyn Olsen Head Winemaker

SPRING 2018

3

The name ‘Alluvius’ derives from the well drained, ‘alluvial’ soils found in vineyards planted close to river beds.

These soils are renowned for growing Semillon as it leads to a unique expression of what is considered to be Australia’s greatest white wine style.

RRP

$38.00 •

CLUB MEMBER PRICE

NEW R E L E A SE

$32.50 •

Q4 MEMBER PRICE

$28.50

Single Vineyard

'Alluvius-BM' Hunter Valley Semillon 2018

Pure Semillon fruit of lime cordial and lemon sherbert showcase this classic Hunter Semillon. The palate is intense yet elegant displaying mineral texture with great line and length. A wine of great drive, coupled with extraordinary finesse. Enjoy now or confidently cellar for the next 10-20 years.

VINTAGE | The 2018 vintage followed another drought year with almost no rain between November and February. As a result there was no disease pressure and all varieties were harvested in very good condition. Although day time temperatures were warm to hot there were many cool nights which preserved natural acidity and enhanced flavours. White varieties retained some delicate floral notes and have produced quite elegant wines. Shiraz ripened with very fine tannin structures and the quality of resulting wines may even exceed the excellent 2017 vintage.

4

PEPPER TREE WINES

We're thrilled to announce another successful round of results in this year's Wine Companion.

SPRING 2018

5

Companion Results

6

PEPPER TREE WINES

Q4

Winemakers Table Luncheon Review

SPRING 2018

Thank you to our Q4 members' and their guests who attended our exclusive Winemakers Table Luncheon, which was held in our decked out Barrel Hall, and catered by the team from Muse Restaurant. The vast array of New & Museum release wines paired perfectly with the delicious cuisine.

7

PEPPER TREE WINES

8

Q4 Club

For tailored tastes.

The Q4 is an exclusive invitational membership which provides priority access to all Single Vineyard and Limited Release wines upon release as well as Museum offerings. The membership is available to only a limited number of positions and we currently have some openings.

The membership comes with personal recommendations from our Head Winemaker, Gwyn Olsen as one of the extensive benefits.

Q4 BENEFITS J Receive 25% off Single Vineyard and Limited Release Ranges.

J 30% off all Varietal Range.

J Complimentary invitation for you and your guest to attend one of Pepper Tree’s Member events of your choice throughout the year.

J Invitation to exclusive Q4 events such as the Benchmark Tasting, Winemaker’s Table Luncheon and ‘Q4’ Cruise.

J Detailed tasting notes included in every wine delivery.

J James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion upon release each year signed by our Head Winemaker Gwyneth Olsen.

J Upon your 1 year anniversary of the Q4 Club, receive a voucher for two at ‘Chef Hatted’ Restaurant Bistro Molines to the value of $150.00.

You will also receive a complimentary bottle of Sparkling ‘Silenus’ to enjoy on your arrival.

J Free freight Australia wide on all purchases plus much more!

If you are interested in becoming a Q4 member or would like more information on how you can receive an exclusive invite to the Q4 membership please express your interest: Pepper Tree Wine Club on 1800 655 965 or email ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au

SPRING 2018

Displaying intense dark fruit notes of black cherries and mulberry, the palate is complex and textural. The robust tannin structure provides a layered, dense mid palate of juicy fruit, structure and continuing length. This classic Hunter Valley Shiraz will improve for many years.

VINTAGE | Budburst for the 2017 Hunter vintage occurred well into September following a cold wet August. Good early season growing conditions led to a good flowering and light to moderate crops. As the season progressed the weather turned hot throughout January and early February, with 13 days over 40 degrees. Our vineyard manager did an amazing job to maintain canopies and ripen all varieties with very little heat stress. White varieties maintained good acidity against the odds and good to very good wines were produced. All our reds were picked before the worst of the heat and with almost no rain the quality was excellent with great flavour and balance. They may rival the 2014 reds.

9

Limited Release

'Claude' Hunter Valley Shiraz 2017

RRP

$50.00 •

CLUB MEMBER PRICE

$42.50 •

NEW R E L E A SE

Q4 MEMBER PRICE

$37.50

Our Limited Release ‘CLAUDE’ Shiraz comes from the Claude Ferraris vineyard on Hermitage Road in Pokolbin of the lower Hunter Valley.

10

PEPPER TREE WINES

VAULT T HE

Introducing a new way to experience Pepper Tree Wines, we have unlocked ‘The Vault.’

Open 7 days a week at our Halls Road Cellar Door, The Vault will be open to the public as well as our members.

The Vault will be a designated space to enjoy a tasting of up to six wines in a bracket or you will be able to choose your own bespoke tasting including our rarer museum wines as well as our super premium wines paired with cheese and olives.

Using the Coravin pouring system we have the ability to look at three vintages of the same wine so you can see how well some of your favourite Pepper Tree wines age. We have raided our museum stocks to ensure you get to see some of our best wines with some bottle age.

Head to the Vault on your next visit For the ultimate ‘Vault’ experience you’ll be able to buy a glass or a bottle to enjoy your favourite wine while sipping from our new monogrammed Schott Zwiesel glassware. Even better, pair it with a cheese and antipasto plate and relax amidst the tranquil surrounds.

The Vault at Pepper Tree Wines is open from the 1st week of September For all enquiries please call our Cellar Door on 02 4909 7100.

SPRING 2018

11

Introducing Elliot Watt

We are pleased to welcome Elliot as our new Cellar Door Operations manager.

Elliot has been working with us for the last three months and has been instrumental in leading the team as we launch our second venue: The Vault. Joining us from Wine Selectors where he was a wine consultant, he is currently studying WSET level 4, has an introductory accreditation from the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Bachelor in Science, and studied wine science at Charles Sturt University. Make sure you pop into cellar door, say hello and make the moustachioed maestro welcome.

Meet

Sharon Evans

For those of you who remember it’s welcome back to Sharon Evans who used to be our Cellar Door Manager. Sharon has returned to lead the Wine Club side of the business and we are excited to have her back on board. She is no stranger to the Valley and has an intimate knowledge of the wines and the people having worked at Hungerford Hill for the last 8 years where she was Cellar Door and Club Manager.

Please welcome Sharon back to our Family, and no doubt you’ll be seeing her at a number of Member Events in the coming months!

2018 E V EN TS C A L E N DA R

October Hunter Uncorked Balmoral Sun 7th October

Balmoral Beach—Balmoral NSW

Gala Dinner Fri 12th October

View by Sydney Pier 2, 13 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay—Sydney NSW

Wahroonga Wine & Food Festival Sun 28th October

Wahroonga Park—Wahroonga NSW

November Q4 Harbour Cruise 2pm-5pm Sat 3rd November

Sydney Harbour—Sydney NSW

Taste of the Bay Sat 3rd & Sun 4th November Nelson Bay NSW

Evening Cruise 7pm–10pm Fri 9th November

Sydney Harbour —Sydney NSW

Afternoon Cruise 2pm–5pm Sat 10th November

Sydney Harbour—Sydney NSW

Book a wine club event:

ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au 1800 655 965 Due to the extremely high and growing demand, some events may have set ticket limitations per membership. Event details subject to change.

86 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320 Phone 02 4909 7100 Freecall 1800 655 965 ptwclub@peppertreewines.com.au

peppertreewines.com.au