Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Cork)

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Cork)

Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Cork)

RRP (750 mL)
$45.00
750 mL
$32.00
6 x 750 mL
$192.00

Overview

Overview

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 per cent 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.

Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2018
Country Australia
Region Coonawarra
Volume 750 mL
Closure Cork
Alc/Vol 13.7%
Peak Drinking Now - 2040
Winemaker Sue Hodder

Awards and Accolades

Awards and Accolades

97 points Ray Jordan
96 Points Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
96 Points Andrew Caillard MW
95 Points Jeremy Oliver
94 Points David Sly, Decanter
93+ Points Mike Bennie
93 Points Angus Hughson
93 Points Tyson Stelzer
“One sip, you're in. Another seductive Black Label - its 63rd vintage - and it's a wow. Excellent vintage conditions have no doubt helped, but this Australian icon doesn't need a lot of assistance outside its trio of long-time 'curators': Sue Hodder, Allen Jenkins and Sarah Pidgeon. Masses of blackberry fruits, a touch of black olive savouriness, stewed rhubarb, violets. Casts a wide net across the palate with sustained black fruits and spice, but also notes of coffee grounds, bay leaf and vanilla. Oak enhances, yet keeps itself in the background.” Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
“Full of pleasure, quite lush despite the web and frame of fine, graphite-feeling tannins. Choc-cherry sniffs and tastes, cassis, violets for sure, some white pepper, choc-mint notes through the wine. Lively and fresh-feeling even with added depth. Sumptuous cabernet, in a sense. It’s great drinking, a little easier on the palate than stricter, leaner releases, but still shows very the pedigree of vines and winemaking. Satisfaction and ease and charm.” Mike Bennie
"Medium deep crimson. Classical cassis cedar aromas with roasted hazelnut, herb-garden, espresso coffee notes. Supple, elegant and minerally with gentle pure blackcurrant fruits, underlying cedar, dried herbs, vanilla roasted chestnut oak, superb mid-palate inkiness and vigorous fine grainy tannins. In some ways understated and sotto voce but lovely clarity and composure. A very age-worthy style yet with immediate appeal 13.7% alc – Now – 2032" Andrew Caillard MW

Food Pairing

Food Pairing

Beef
Fish
Seafood

Taste Description

Taste Description

Nose

Nose of Dark cherry and lavender imbued with underlying dried mint.

Flavours and Palate

The 2018 Black Label Cabernet is a combination of dark fruit and finesse.  Initially the palate is soft and round, but a fine tannin framework provides structure and length on the palate. A beautifully balanced, medium- weight Cabernet with all the hallmarks of this 20heritage label. Pristine varietal cabernet fruit balanced for guaranteed cellaring.

Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking

Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking

Coonawarra, South Australia

Coonawarra, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, is a flat, isolated region almost mid-point between Adelaide and Melbourne. The area enjoys a cool maritime climate - similar to that of Bordeaux - and is renowned for its unique terra rossa soil. Rich, rust coloured soils… crimson sunburnt faces… magenta sunsets: this is red wine country! While Coonawarra is famous for its rich, minty Cabernet, the area also produces Shiraz and Merlot and surprisingly good Chardonnay and Riesling.

Vintage Conditions

2018 is an excellent Coonawarra Cabernet vintage. Very Intense purple colours are coupled with varietal fruit and ripe tannins. Winter and Spring rainfall was excellent at 20% above long term averages, soil moisture was replenished, and limestone aquifers recharged arm Summer temperatures advanced veraison by two weeks, to the end of January. A strong coastal upwelling cooled March, and extended the ripening period such that Cabernet was harvested in line with long term harvest dates (6th April) predominantly from the last week of March through the first two weeks of April. The yields were moderate, and the slow cool ripening was very even.

Sue Hodder - Senior Winemaker

Sue Hodder is one of Australia’s best-known winemakers and this year celebrates her 27th vintage with Wynns – making wine from wonderful, expressive fruit grown in the heart of the terra rossa. Sue commenced her career as a viticulturist and believes her early viticultural training – assessing vines, analysing mature fruit and tasting the finished wine – gave her an invaluable insight into the importance of the vineyard in quality winemaking.

Sue brings valuable experience with vintages in other noted wine regions around the world and has judged extensively in Regional, National and International wine shows. She is the recipient of many accolades including GT Wines ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2010 (with viticulturist Allen Jenkins); and most recently ‘Winemaker of the Year’ (with Sarah Pidgeon) at the 2016 ASVO awards.