John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Wynns Coonawarra Estate
John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Wynns Coonawarra Estate
John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Overview
Overview
First made in 1982, the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon was conceived as a flagship wine for Wynns. John Riddoch himself was a true visionary. Amongst his many achievements are the building of the Wynns Gabled winery and the establishment of the Coonawarra Fruit Colony
John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon is made in small quantities from the best available fruit grown on the estate's extensive Cabernet Sauvignon plantings in the heart of the terra rossa soil It has become a definitive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, made only in years when grapes of extraordinarily high quality are available, using less than one percent of the top-quality Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Coonawarra |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Alc/Vol | 13.4% |
| Peak Drinking | Now - 2025 |
| Winemaker | Sue Hodder |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 99 points | Andrew Caillard MW |
| 98 points | Huon Hooke |
| 98 points | James Halliday |
| 98 points | Toni Paterson MW |
Andrew Caillard
"Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, blackcurrant pastille, praline aromas. Plush generous and chocolaty with saturated dark cherry, blackcurrant fruits, fine velvety tannins, superb integrated roasted chestnut oak complexity and superb mineral length. Finishes al-dente firm with a lovely classic tannin plume. A gorgeously seductive yet refined wine with the structure and density for medium to long term aging. 13.4%"
Huon Hooke
"The bouquet has a subtle patina of smoky, toasty oak while the palate has an extra level of density and power over the other Wynns cabernets. Lashings of supple tannin. Great intensity, power and persistence. A glorious wine of fabulous flavour and power - indeed, a great cabernet!"
James Halliday
"John Riddoch represents a tiny fraction (1% or thereabouts) of the Wynns Coonawarra Estate cabernet crush in the years in which it is made. This is a classic release, unusually supple and already balanced. Blackcurrant/cassis fruit sweeps along the palate, nuances of Coonawarra mint and earth joining with quality French oak following on behind."
Food Pairing
Food Pairing
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Duck
Pasta
Veg
Spicy Food
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
A powerful, fresh yet ripe blueberries and red cherries.
Flavours and Palate
Juicy red cherry and blueberry fruit with fine, glossy tannins. Initially the wine is restrained but the layers of succulent Cabernet are soon revealed. 2015 was an outstanding year in our terra rossa vineyards. The concentration and persistence of flavour on the palate is testament to the vintage. Fine-grained subtle oak and ripe fruit tannins frame the fruit for both early drinking and long-term 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.
A warm spring with even flowering and set, giving good yields. A mild summer, and long ripening period delivered full fruit flavours and balanced acidity. 2015 is heralded as an outstanding Coonawarra vintage. The 2015 Wynns John Riddoch, Michael and Messenger are all amongst the best we have made. They reflect optimum growing conditions and careful selection.
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.