Each vintage, Wynns selects a premium parcel from a single vineyard to bottle separately. In 2022, the Childs Vineyard on V&A Lane stood out with distinction.
This wine is an excellent follow-up to the 2012 release from this prized vineyard, showcasing its signature superfine tannins and intricate layers.
Planted in 1969, the Childs Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a prime Terra Rossa site that has long been a key contributor to the premium wines of Wynns.
Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
---|---|
Vintage | 2022 |
Country | Australia |
Region | Coonawarra |
Volume | 750 mL |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Alc/Vol | 13.6% |
Peak Drinking | Enjoy now - 2035+ |
Winemaker | Sue Hodder |
97 Points | Ray Jordan, Winepilot |
97 Points | Jeni Port, Winepilot |
96 Points | Shanteh Wale |
95 Points | Huon Hooke, The Real Review |
95 Points | Andrew Caillard MW |
95 Points | Campbell Mattison |
95 Points | Nick Ryan |
95 Points | Steve Leszczynski |
94 Points | Ken Gargett, Winepilot |
Oh my, this is a classy expression of a single vineyard Coonawarra Cabernet in this excellent year. Each year one section is chosen to bottle separately and, in this case, it was the Childs vineyard on V&A Lane. The last of these was back in 2012. The striking feature is the fine elegant lines with the silky fine tannins and equally fine oak matching which has augmented the smoothly textured fruit beautifully. Just love the bright red fruits with the underpinning black leafy fruits. The energy and life are palpable. 97 Points.
Childs Vineyard is on V&A Lane and the last time its name graced a Wynns’ label was the 2012 vintage. A decade later it returned in ‘22 and brings an imposing deep colour and intensity of flavour to the glass. Impenetrable dark purple. Aromas are just awakening – this is a taut, young Cabernet – with scents of briar, earth, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, briar, earth, anise. Tempting as it is, you would be doing the wine a disservice to drink it too young. There is a solid core of gorgeous fruit, peppery spice and vanillin oak spice complexity built around taut tannins at the wine’s heart, and it’s ever so slowly evolving. Finishes firmly and dry. Some powerhouse winegrowing/winemaking here. Holds great promise for those willing to cellar. 97 Points.
A wine I just want to keep pouring and keep drinking, and perhaps that is precisely what happened. An utterly delicious and lacy Cabernet from Wynns, this Childs Single Vineyard Cabernet is ready to pull at your heartstrings. This is everything Cabernet with each element neatly squared away and beaming with delight. Oceans of blackberries and blackcurrants set the tone and I'm happy just to let the current whisk me away into the distance. Scents of violets and purple flowers add a pretty factor with dried herbs, licorice, black olives and tobacco ticking away. Silky lines and bevelled edges up the pleasure factor with delicate tannins that appear to be placed ever so precisely, the only thing remaining is the need to dive in with pike. Drinking well now but it will also reward ageing, this is superb stuff by the Wynns team. 95 Points.
Classic Cabernet characteristics of cassis, mixed berries, cedar, and violets.
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.
Overall, the 2022 Coonawarra vintage was a high-quality year without any obvious climate change impacts.
After a cold start to the season, Budburst occurred in a cool spring. Thankfully, flowering week was ideal – warm temperatures with no wind – resulting in an even berry set. The ideal flowering conditions and above average temperatures (with no heat waves) led to even veraison (red berries colouring) with minimal variability between bunches. Harvest dates ranged from late April into May. This is in line with long term average dates for Wynns Coonawarra Estate.
Vintage 2022 exemplifies the Wynns Coonawarra Estate medium bodied age worthy style.
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.