'Black Label' Cabernet Sauvignon, which was first vintaged in 1954, has evolved markedly over the decades. It is arguably Australia's most recognised Cabernet Sauvignon and has more than any other, helped define Coonawarra. The wine is matured in new and seasoned French oak for 12 to 18 months.
A classic Coonawarra Cabernet with pristine dark berry/ cassis aromas, fine-grained tannins and underlying savoury nuances, it develops into a rich, chocolaty wine with age. In a super vintage, this wine can look astonishingly like a 2nd or 3rd growth Bordeaux with its pure cassis aromas and cedary complexity.
Deep red colour with a good tint of purple. The bouquet is clean and bright with cassis-like Cabernet fruit, the intense, bright flavours neatly framed within a structure of fine, firm tannins. A lovely wine, fine and elegant, medium to full-bodied and stylish. 96 points, The Real Review (9/2017).
Very deep purple colour; the bouquet young and fresh, the fruit aromas bright and reminding of blueberry, raspberry and mulberry. A hint of dried banana on the nose is the only inkling of oak that is given. A very elegant wine, intense and balanced, finely-honed and very long. Time will reveal it to be a superb vintage. Tremendous persistence and utterly gorgeous flavours. 98 points, The Real Review (7/2017).
Superb release. Unruffled pedigree here. Understated Cabernet that thumbs its nose at the universe saying ‘Coonawarra has a righteous place amongst the stars’. It’s a purring flow of knitted tannins woven firm over succulent, dark berried, fine garrigue, graphite-edged fruit character. Tight, just medium weighted, exceptionally long, controlled and ultra fine in its finish. It’s not for now so much as a generation from now, but there’s a greedy pleasure in early approach and admiring what’s in your glass. Excellent wine. 95+ points, The Wine Front.
'Deep red colour with a good tint of purple. The bouquet is clean and bright with cassis-like cabernet fruit, the intense, bright flavours neatly framed within a structure of fine, firm tannins. A lovely wine, fine and elegant, medium to full-bodied and stylish.'
96 points, Huon Hooke.
Coonawarra
The first vines were planted in Coonawarra by John Riddoch in 1890, however it was not until the renewed interest in table wine production in the 1950's that Coonawarra was brought into the limelight. Located almost 380 km southeast of Adelaide, Coonawarra is today one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia. Its weathered limestone terra rossa soils, avaibility of water and relatively cool maritime climate make it a unique viticultural region. Extremely flat and unprotected, Coonawarra is exposed both to the swinging influences of the cool Great Southern Ocean and hot, dry northerly winds. Spring frosts also pose a major threat with the potential to wipe out entire crops. Mechanical harvesting is widely employed in the region although smaller producers prefer to tend their vines by hand. Coonawarra is best known for classically-styled Cabernet Sauvignon, although in good years, Shiraz from the region is also very compelling.
