The new vintage Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 will be available in September, following the recent launch of six other wines comprising the 2024 Wynnsday Collection.
The John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon will once again be available on the prestigious international wine marketplace, La Place de Bordeaux, where it debuted in 2020, occasioning this Drinks Adventures podcast episode with Andrew Caillard MW, author of Imagining Coonawarra.
- Listen to Andrew Caillard MW on the Drinks Adventures podcast here
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“John Riddoch I would say that is the most undervalued fine wine in this country by a factor of at least 100 per cent, and it has been for a long time,” Caillard told us in that interview.
“The reason for that is the marketeers in previous times have concentrated on things like Wynns Black Label Cabernet.
“The price of Black Label has probably doubled in the last ten years, whereas John Riddoch certainly hasn’t.
“So John Riddoch is lagging behind because it [just] sits there. It’s well regarded, but nothing much has been done with it.”
2024 Wynnsday Collection
The 2024 Wynnsday Collection includes six Coonawarra red wines from the 2021 and 2022 vintages,
Wynns senior winemaker Sue Hodder says it is among the strongest line-up of wines released by Wynns over her 30-year tenure, exemplifying the company’s medium-bodied age-worthy style.
“In over three decades at Wynns, I have seen some very fine wines produced, but this year’s release wines are well and truly amongst that group,” she said.
“The 2022 vintage was a high-quality year without any obvious climate change impacts, so this presented a fabulous opportunity for Sarah, Chris and I to truly bring our creative winemaking style and flair to the fore.”
Wynns Michael Shiraz 2021: RRP $149.99
Wynns Michael Shiraz is Wynns Coonawarra Estate’s best-of-vintage Shiraz. Named after David Wynn’s young son, the fruit used for this wine comes from the best vineyard sites in Coonawarra and is only made in years when the best quality fruit is available. The wine is a legend of the Australian wine story with good examples of the 1955 Michael offering an outstanding experience.
Wynns Messenger Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021: RRP $79.99
Each vintage Wynns select a premium parcel from a single vineyard to bottle separately. In 2021 the Messenger Vineyard in the southern section of the Terra Rossa strip, showed to distinction. The wine is an excellent follow on from the 2005, 2010 and 2015 from this lovely vineyard, which often shows its signature perfume and silkiness to best advantage in a warmer year. Planted in 1975, Messenger Cabernet Sauvignon is a dry grown vineyard on own roots, on deeper soils.
Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2022: RRP $45.00
Wynns Black Label Cabernet is a true icon of Australian wine. First produced in 1954, it has a reputation for ageing gracefully and displaying excellent varietal and regional characteristics. The wine is produced from only the top quality 20 to 25 percent of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit grown in our terra rossa vineyards. A wine of style and stature – and a perennial favourite in auction circles – ‘Black Label’ is one of Australia’s most collectable wines and Australia’s benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon. It consistently delivers potential for medium to long-term cellaring.
Wynns Black Label ‘Old Vines’ Shiraz 2022: RRP $45.00
Shiraz (formerly known as ‘Hermitage’) is an important part of Coonawarra’s history. The acknowledge reputation of Coonawarra for age worthy wines has largely centred on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Shiraz blends. However, the very early history (in the 1890’s) focused on other varieties – particularly Shiraz. Today,o Wynns is privileged to grow Shiraz on many prime locations within Coonawarra. These vineyards have stories to tell and a history of quality. We select the Old Vines Shiraz from the oldest of them including the Undoolya Vineyard, a rare fragment of the original 1890’s fruit colony planting, which was planted in between 1894 and 1987. A classic medium-bodied Shiraz palate, fine and silky, Wynns ‘Old Vines’ Shiraz is a superb example of Coonawarra’s cool climate style.
Wynns V&A Lane Shiraz 2022: RRP $59.99
Amongst the patchwork of Wynns vineyards on the farmed Terra Rossa strip, one special area is V&A Lane. A long, straight road surveyed in 1851 which was the old district boundary between the historical electorates of Victoria and Albert. The mature Shiraz vineyards along the V&A Lane ripen early and are among the first picked each season. The resulting wines have a modern appeal being fresh and spicey, yet still maintaining the succulent and silky palate structure of a Shiraz that can proudly take its place on the world stage. The purpose of V&A Lane Shiraz is to showcase a contrasting wine from one of our most beloved grape varieties. A purposely early harvest to highlight a fresh red fruit spectrum, naturally lower alcohol, whole bunch inclusion, wild ferments, and the use of larger oak for maturation are just some of the techniques employed to make these beautiful food friendly wines.
Wynns V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 2022: RRP $59.99
The Cabernet vineyards from V&A Lane have long been looked to for their depth and character as important contributors to Wynns top wines. The inspiration for the V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz comes from the Wynns ‘claret story’ that goes back to the 1950’s, where wines were made to a style rather than being about exact proportions. For this modern version, the grapes are harvested on the same day and then co-fermented. The purpose of V&A Lane wines is to showcase a contrasting wine style from our two most beloved grape varieties. A purposely early harvest to highlight a fresh red fruit spectrum, naturally lower alcohol, wild ferments, and the use of larger oak for maturation are just some of the techniques employed to make these beautiful food friendly wines.
The 2024 Wynnsday Collection is now available from from www.wynns.com and fine wine retailers across Australia, with John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 to follow in September.
More:
The Australian Ark: Andrew Caillard MW on his wine opus
Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz, with winemaker Clare Dry
Rise of grenache, with Hentley Farm Wines
