2021 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

16 months French oak hogsheads and barriques (31% new, the balance one to six years old) and 22 months in bottle prior to release. A cacophony of blackberries, Bing cherries and elderberries. Blackcurrant leaf, acaí and prune skin. Black coffee, vanilla pod, ash and charcoal. Acidity wisps about the palate like magic, a mesh of thread-like tannins pull and draw the focus. A hint of dark chocolate bitters; the wine finishes perky with echoing tunes of granite. It’s just so centered and chic. Pure cabernet poise.

98 points & Top 100 Wines of 2024 Shanteh Wale Halliday Wine Companion

Very deep, dark, impenetrable purple colour; a gorgeous fragrance of spicy superripe berries and a hint of licorice, super concentrated and almost essency. Traces of soy sauce and nori. The wine is highly concentrated on the palate; powerful, profound and rich, with masses of sweetly ripe berry fruit and no sign of herbal varietal touches. A profound and multi-dimensional cabernet that will richly reward long-term cellaring. It drinks superbly already but it would be sacrilege to open it before it’s had more time to build the tertiary complexity that we know will come with time.

99 points & 5 Stars Huon Hooke The Real Review

Only made in the very best years, John Riddoch is the flagship of Wynns and one of Coonawarra’s most historic Cabernets, named after the region’s founder. Sourced from the finest parcels of the estate’s terra rossa vineyards, this wine has long set the benchmark for structure, longevity and that unmistakable regional character.

The 2021 vintage is widely regarded as outstanding, and it shows in both clarity and depth. Aromatics are layered and classic, blackcurrant and dark cherry at the core, with cassis, violet and a lift of fresh mint. There is a strong Coonawarra signature running through it, cedar, tobacco leaf and graphite, alongside a gentle spice note from well integrated oak.

On the palate it is powerful yet finely controlled, medium to full bodied with firm, persistent tannins that give the wine its backbone. The fruit is concentrated and precise, carried by a line of fresh acidity that keeps everything in balance. Flavours move from dark berries into more savoury territory, cigar box, earth and a subtle mineral edge, finishing long and structured.

Winemaking is meticulous, careful parcel selection, measured extraction and high quality oak all playing a role in building a wine designed for longevity rather than early appeal.

This is built for the table and the cellar. Roast lamb, beef with herbs or slow cooked dishes all work beautifully, and it also pairs well with richer vegetarian plates like lentil and mushroom stew or char grilled eggplant with spices.

Patience will be rewarded. Over the next fifteen to twenty years it will evolve into something deeply complex, with layers of leather, spice and earthy savoury character emerging as the structure softens.