Wines presented blind.
1986 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Savoury and developed aromatics. Tobacco and some ripe plum fruit. Medium to full, lush and ripe with fine tannins and tertiary flavours in persistence on a good length.
0 First 0 Seconds 6 lasts
148 pts
7th for me 12th for Group
1984 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Powerful wine with cedar/cassis/ pencil shavings prior a classic sweet Bordeaux like nose emerging. Texturally polished and bright, palate flavours are developed yet fresh and complex. Cassis, leather and a gentle salinity. Tannin rise is firm on the finish though plenty of offsetting flavour persistence.
2 First 1 Second 1 Last
4th for me and 6th for the Group
1985 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Pine-smoke, plum. green peppers and soy/caramel development. Again presents medium-full, the age presents a very mellow fruit profile - a component of the overall ethereality of the wine- cleanly completing with a noted purity and length.
1 First 1 Second 0 Lasts
8th for Me and Third for Group.
1982 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Striking deep aromatically, not unevolved, but lush and fresh in an abyss of dark violet like fruit. There's very high complexity here too- with surprisong red fruits and a lovely fresh and unassuming mintiness. Long and fine, precise, red fruits slowly un-peel over the night making the tasting a tease- I want a whole bottle !
3 First 6 Seconds 0 Lasts
10th for Me WOTN Group
1982 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707- The ring-in and a classic cameo shoot-out with the 82 JR. The results delighted me with such a broad and experienced drinking crowd and a brutal blind tasting format.
Classy and distinct. Polished craftsmanship with high class oak integrated and to the background. Pure blackcurrant sits perfectly with more integrated fruit nuances. Textbook perfect balance in great length- spiciness of tannins alluring.
5 First 2 Seconds 0 Last
WOTN for Me Second for Group
1992 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- lEaf, cassis, choc-mint and sun burnt earth. Medium weight and more aeration could have helped pry out the fruit as it got better. Dusty astringency.
0 First 1 Second 0 Lasts
11th for Me 8th for Group.
1988 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Stewy and Caremllo-Koala like though gentle aeration and warming drew the wine from the glass. Rhunbarb and licorice, sweetened dark violets, palate presents lovely black cherry fruit with good balance and an even and preserving structure of tannin.
3 First 1 Second 0 Lasts
9th for ME 7th for Group
1997 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Perhaps its relative youth that sees this wine very fresh and near primary? Leaf and red fruit, cedar and gentle overtones of menthol. Elegant and easy, ready now or will hold.
6th for Me and 4th for Group
1993 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Powerful blackcurrant fruit that's lifted with green grass, leaf and asparagus like notes. Sounds odd though it wasn't; fruit highlighted though perhaps a little dimethyl sulfide ( DMS ) at play ? Palate drive is primary with smokey cassis notes and long and spicy finish of brittle tannins.
0 Firt 2 Seconds 0 Lasts
12th for Me and 4th for Group
1994 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- The next three wines would all benefit decanting. There's plenty of notes from bloggers suggesting such.
Distinctly darker aromas, richer syrupy cassis, dark violets and chocolate plum fruit. Polished cedar oak influence, still youtful with a cabernet mid-palate hole, ripe gritty tannin. Plenty of future here.
0 First 1 Second 2 Lasts
5th for Me 10th for Group
1998 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch- Monumental nose ! Choc-vanilla, malt, mushroom and underlying smokey and unevolved red and black fruits. Long and classy, a little oak char with perfectly sweet fine tannin. Needs a decade!
1 First 0 Second 1 Last
3rd for Me 11th for the Group
1996 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch-Vibrant and the Old World drinkers remarked the BDX similarity. Pencil shavings, leafy mint-cassis, very vibrant and energetic. Loaded with unevolved primary fruit in a well crafted long finish.
1 First 1 Second 1 Last
2nd for Me 5th Group
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TV's Dinner Wines-
Grosset Piccadily Chardonnay 2006- screwcap presents little evolution or complexity; though its simplicity and cleanliness appreciated.
St Hugo Magnum 1990- I was hoping for a more stylistic and classical expression of Coonawarra. Well received albeit in a simple dry red style.
BL 1992- beautiful in its simplicity of regional and varietal expression.
JR 1991- Some served a corked bottle in amongst a good bottle. This was deflating as I ran around confiscating the bad glasses after inspection ! The good bottle seemed to have a great purity and drive. Maybe I'll have one tonight!
