Wynns Black Label Old Vines Shiraz 2024

Always a personal favourite, this latest release is another cracker. Whilst Coonawarra is seen very much as a Cabernet region, its original fame was built on Shiraz. The vines which provide the fruit here are some of the oldest in the region and include grapes harvested from the Undoolya Vineyard, which was established at some stage between 1894 and 1897. Maturation was for sixteen months in a mix of new and older French oak hogsheads and barriques. Dark maroon in colour, there is concentration, plushness, depth and balance with very good oak integration throughout. The nose gives us aromas of black fruits, chocolate, dried herbs, mocha, licorice, cassis and a character reminiscent of chocolate mud cake, in the very best way. Impressive length here through to the fine powdery tannins, this is a delicious Shiraz which will drink wonderfully well over the next decade. And there is room to improve even further during that period.