A deep Ruby red - no hint of bricking. Coonawarra mint noticeable on the nose. Possibly drinking this a little young at 16 years of age - at least a 20 year old wine. From a warmer year showing cassis, blackcurrant, milk chocolate and a little bay leaf. Fine grained persistent tannins. Hand pruned and picked, natural yeast fermentation, matured in French oak. A gift to us from the owner and winemaker, Sue Bell. Drinking well, thanks Sue. I hope you don’t think we drank it too early. — 2 months ago
Mid Ruby. Notes of mulberry, lavender, cherry and a little pepper. Medium bodied spicy palate showing cool climate characters. Drinking well at 8 years with a long future. The last one I had was in 2018. This is more the midweek quaffer Wynns Shiraz, not like their premium Shiraz, “The Michael “. Interestingly Shiraz was initially the predominant red varietal in Coonawarra before Cabernet Sauvignon took that mantle. — 3 months ago
rich, bitter & sweet well balanced — 22 days ago
A new friend advised me to try it because I love dry! It’s a great wine and very dry.
— 2 months ago
Nose: green pepper herbs.
Palate: lovely cab. Elegant red cherry. Nice vegetal.
$11 winebow — 3 months ago
One of Australia’s best Cabernets. Sue Hodder who is Wynns’ chief winemaker told me that only the best 2% of their wide resources of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes goes into John Riddoch. I guess it explains the continuing high quality of Black Label (the next Cabernet down in the Wynns range and an unbelievable bargain). Sue was the chief winemaker in 2008 when she made this wine and remains the chief winemaker at Wynns. See previous Delectable note as things haven’t changed much. Coonawarra Mint, cassis and blackcurrant. A full bodied palate with fine persistent tannins. — 5 months ago
Another great value red from Coonawarra - this from Bowen Estate. I paid $27.50 at the cellar door in 2021. Their excellent Cabernet Sauvignon was the same price. In earlier days this Cuvée showed cooler climate characteristics of white pepper - not evident in this bottle. This shows more spice, red berries and black olives. Just a medium weight palate and obviously great QPR. Interestingly in the early days of Coonawarra, Shiraz was more planted than Cabernet Sauvignon - it’s the reverse these days. — a month ago
Waitrose. Decent at the price point. Bold enough flavours without being too over powering. — 2 months ago
At first I found this medium bodied, slightly creamy, with prominent stone fruits, white peach and cumquat, with a prominent minerality and slight notes of cheesecake on the nose. Now it’s emerging much more dry with air, still a long, mineral driven palate, still medium bodied, but beautifully balanced and definitely a contract to many California white wines when it comes to complexity and nuance. — 3 months ago
Geoff Upston
2020. Loved it and looking forward to more — 22 days ago