I've been disappointed with younger BLs (2014, 15, 16) in the last 12 months, and you might see advice from some earlier posts that I should be leaving these for a decade longer than I have been. Surely a 2010 might be starting to show the goods? Time to crack one and find out.
Red purple in colour. Blackberry and other darker berries on the nose. There's very little sign of the trademark Coonawarra mint, but if it is there, it is like a Mint Slice biscuit (choc mint). Cocoa powder is also prominent and there's only a slight indication that this wine is developing with age.
The palate is bright with dark and red fruits, almost tangy. Tannins are fine but grippy and acid is freshening and supportive. It's only medium bodied, however, and not especially rich or viscous.
It is, however, a fairly complete wine, in that all the elements you might look for are here, and it is satisfying without being overly weighty.
I wonder what it will be like in another decade?
Cheers
Allan
TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
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TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.
Re: TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
I think the Wynns BL has maybe suffered a bit like Penfolds Bin 28 in the sense that a lot of the better fruit is hived off nowadays into premium labels. In the 90s and earlier there was just JR and the black label. By the time you hit 14-15-16 the hierarchy encompasses JR (at whatever production level that is at these days), plus a single vineyard wine somewhere, plus the V&A wines, all getting first chop at the fruit.
Does it make me sound like a fearful old codger to say, of any wine with a 40+ year pedigree, that "things aren't what they use'ta be" ? Cause I reckon it's a pretty safe bet, at least for any corporate-owned, marketing-driven wine company.
Does it make me sound like a fearful old codger to say, of any wine with a 40+ year pedigree, that "things aren't what they use'ta be" ? Cause I reckon it's a pretty safe bet, at least for any corporate-owned, marketing-driven wine company.
Re: TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
GraemeG wrote:I think the Wynns BL has maybe suffered a bit like Penfolds Bin 28 in the sense that a lot of the better fruit is hived off nowadays into premium labels. In the 90s and earlier there was just JR and the black label. By the time you hit 14-15-16 the hierarchy encompasses JR (at whatever production level that is at these days), plus a single vineyard wine somewhere, plus the V&A wines, all getting first chop at the fruit.
Does it make me sound like a fearful old codger to say, of any wine with a 40+ year pedigree, that "things aren't what they use'ta be" ? Cause I reckon it's a pretty safe bet, at least for any corporate-owned, marketing-driven wine company.
Back then for cabernet, just a red stripe and a BL. 1982-1999 the JR was added.
Post 2001 vintage
Now the ridiculous Banker range, the Siding (probably too many young vines or recent plantings, so what to do with all this cabernet), The Gables (not sure why, when very little point of difference between this and a little merlot added in with the Red Stripe), a single vineyard (sometimes two releases from the one vintage), a V&A, and now a Cabernet rose??
Certainly agree with your comments, poor old Cabernet has got to work hard at Wynns.
Cheers Craig
Tomorrow will be a good day
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Re: TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
I suspect you're both right.
The next question leading on from this is "If fruit sources have expanded, and we are now getting premioums and budget labels above and below the BL, are we still getting a similar or equivalent product?" The logic is that for BL produced in 1990s, the grapes may have come from fruit sources (hypothetically) 30 years old (so planted in the 1960s). In 2020, are we now getting BL made from the fruit of viners planted in the 1990s?
I realise reality will be more complicated than that, but it could be argued that we are getting an equivalent product, and the expansion of the range is a result of ageing vs younger vines (at least in part).
The next question leading on from this is "If fruit sources have expanded, and we are now getting premioums and budget labels above and below the BL, are we still getting a similar or equivalent product?" The logic is that for BL produced in 1990s, the grapes may have come from fruit sources (hypothetically) 30 years old (so planted in the 1960s). In 2020, are we now getting BL made from the fruit of viners planted in the 1990s?
I realise reality will be more complicated than that, but it could be argued that we are getting an equivalent product, and the expansion of the range is a result of ageing vs younger vines (at least in part).
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.
Re: TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
I'm an old codger too and have found BL underwhelming for at least 15 years when compared to older vintages drunk at the same age. Very little complexity and lack of weight and intensity are my main issues. Stelvin may be an issue. I gave up buying after the 12 vintage and sold many older vintages from 2005-09 but have locked a few of the 12 in the cellar and will leave for many years to see if they gain anything. My gut feeling is they won't. JH always gives them high marks so maybe I just don't get it. Not the first time though.
Your worst game of golf is better than your best day at work
Re: TN: Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
It's unrealistic to expect modern Black Label Cab to be as good or better than the past (despite what some of the professionals may say).
1. Within Wynns - many labels above Black Label will take preference for the good grapes.
2. Within Treasury - Penfolds is likely to take more of the top grapes now, given higher prices of their wines. 389 and 407's Street price now is sometimes triple Black Label.
3. Price of Black Label has not moved that much over the years. If the sales price is staying flat or only has weak growth over such a long period (especially when cost of production and labour is going up), then something also has to give. 2010s and 2012s recently available in a big barn retailer for $33. Think I was able to buy the 2016s for basically $17 as well a few years ago at a chain.
1. Within Wynns - many labels above Black Label will take preference for the good grapes.
2. Within Treasury - Penfolds is likely to take more of the top grapes now, given higher prices of their wines. 389 and 407's Street price now is sometimes triple Black Label.
3. Price of Black Label has not moved that much over the years. If the sales price is staying flat or only has weak growth over such a long period (especially when cost of production and labour is going up), then something also has to give. 2010s and 2012s recently available in a big barn retailer for $33. Think I was able to buy the 2016s for basically $17 as well a few years ago at a chain.