Bob McDonald

9.1

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

Bob McDonald

9.4

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

Ross Bathgate

9.4

50 year Wynn’s Black Label celebrating my friend Lucille’s 50th birthday. Cork was in good shape and the wine was too. Very brown but still showing some purple tinge. Fruit all but gone but wonderful tertiary characters of leather, spice and earthiness. Drank beautifully over hours and did not fade. — 9 months ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Smoky Syrah with a young backbone and side of the mouth pepperiness. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

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

Daniel M

8.9

This is a blend of syrah, cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine is red but completely translucid like a Tavel wine. The nose is funky with dome discreet barnyard notes, a typical herbaceous note that I associate with Sauvignon Blanc, some minerally notes like crushed rocks, pomegranate and strawberry too. Very interesting!
The palate shows a good acid drive, pomegranate and strawberry notes all along, some width, a soft and gentle mouthfeel that changes in the rear with some lively tannins that create another layer over a rather long and fruity finish with pomegranate and strawberry. It's fresh and fun, it's super easy going. Textbook glouglou wine. Enjoyed slightly chilled. 12,5% abv. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

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

Joe Fischer

9.0

Deep ruby with aromas of black berries, spice, and a fresh herb of some sort. On the bud, black currant, blackberry, and tart cherry. Tannins are smooth, but finish is a bit short. Great with our baby back ribs and Brussels sprouts. I’d certainly buy it again as an everyday drinking Cabernet. — 4 months ago

Brett Rogosin

9.3

I’ve been drinking this slowly over a week and a half. At this point it tastes like a fortified or mulled wine. It’s deep, inky like ox blood, burnt copper color around the rim. The smell is mulled red fruit, raspberry, strawberry, dry earth, purple flowers, sweet lavender. Very delicate tannins remain with an acidity that tickles the edges of the tongue and fades quickly. What you’re left with is something that resembles a young fortified wine with beautiful red fruit, earth, a floral element that lingers, and a slight hint of mushroom. It’s quite lovely and unexpected. — 7 months ago

William Douglas

9.5

3/6.5/9.5 = 19 out of 100 say 95
2010 vintage - great bouquet - really showcasing that classic Coonawarra cab sav fruit. Rich fully ripened fruit on the palate with a great linger. — 9 months ago