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. — 9 months ago
Very smooth red wine on a budget! This is the Shiraz Merlot. — 5 years ago
Quintessential LLC Napa. 14.5% abv. Dark chocolate. Dark berries. Tabecco. Licorice. High acidity. Medium tannin. Probably great with steak but I had it with rotisserie chicken and Italian sub. — 6 years ago
Loved it with Venison back Strap — 7 years ago
A treasure! — 8 years ago
I like it 'cuz I grew up on Greg Norman Shiraz. And if I'd been his caddy in '96, he'd be masters champion. I get he hits it in the drink on 11 being aggressive. I give him the 9-iron on 12 and say "if you hit this right of the pin, so help me God I drop this bag, quit, and you Carey your own clubs." I then personally line him up at the 11 green, he hits it center, two putts, and puts on the green jacket. — 9 years 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. — 7 months ago
Solid. Aged well paired magnificently with beef ragu ✅ good drop — 2 years ago
Deep Cherry colour and taste on palate well balanced acidity and fruit with silky mouth filling tannins and long aftertaste — 5 years ago
Great wine. $23 — 6 years ago
Unbelievably approachable for a wine with this pedigree upon release.
One for the ages, Coonawarra doing its thing. — 7 years ago
Very good based on their price which is the best in that price range so far — 7 years ago
Outback all along! Great — 8 years 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. — 7 months ago
As per previous notes. Dense crimson in colour. Cedar, blackberry and geranium. To borrow HH’s phrase “effortless style”. Demonstrates why Coonawarra’s red dirt is marvellous for Cabernet. 96% Cabernet 4% Petit Verdot. The Tally is the top Cuvée from Balnaves. Rich, medium to full bodied. — 5 years ago
Buy all the bottles! — 5 years ago
After 10 years this is absolutely fabulous. Throw the French or English kings of cheese at it, and it will match them nobly — 6 years ago
A classic. — 7 years ago
Notes of dusty mulberries and blackberries - also olive. A beautiful balancing act of 60%Cabernet Sauvignon and 31%Merlot and 9% Shiraz. Very different to the 1996 Moss Wood had recently because of the Merlot in the blend. Good density and concentration. A class act. — 8 years ago
Matthew Cohen
Nose: green pepper herbs.
Palate: lovely cab. Elegant red cherry. Nice vegetal.
$11 winebow — 7 months ago