Wynns Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon

Bright and clear nose, so fresh and fragrant, smells amazingly inviting with perfumed raspberries, blackcurrants and black cherries with savoury olives, thyme, violets and liquorice. Concentrated yet graceful in terms of the silky smooth texture, the tannins glide across the palate, lifted by mouthwatering acidity but so full of flavour, depth and life. Definitely on the lighter, brighter side, not lean as such but really juicy, forward, energetic and ample, yet not heavy in the slightest. A slight undercurrent of sunshine, but there's such finesse and freshness. Generous and harmonious with focus. Tannins are at the fore, filling the mouth, but soft and plush, velvety with appealing plum, chalky slate and black pepper spice. There is so much to love about this, still youthful, but well worked, charming, lively and extremely drinkable. A joyful and truly elegant wine with soul. Ageing 17 months in French barriques and hogsheads, 23% new, 45% one year old and 32% two years old. Winemakers Sue Hodder and Sarah Pidgeon. 3.5pH. -

Georgina Hindle
96/100 Points

Intense inky purple in colour, and these tannins are silky smooth. Opens with controlled delivery of juicy black cherry, cassis and damson, with plenty of estate signature, majoring on smoked earth and oyster shell salinity. The longer you sit with it, the more the underlying brightness of the fruit comes through, delivering in spades the blackcurrant pastille that is such a signature of Australian Cab. Cold flowering in Spring meant this was an extremely small crop, down as low as 2 tons per hectare instead of the usual 6, and the 2020 John Riddoch comes from a single vineyard (Child's Vineyard) because of the cooler-than-average season, with extremely old 19th century vines helping achieve this concentration and complexity. 23% new oak, Sue Hodder winemaker.