Wynns Black Label The Original Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

The most visible of Wynns’ Coonawarra creations, and the most collectable as well, Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon has an enviable history stretching back to 1954 – and it should be noted that in past landmark tastings of many of those 69 museum releases the wine is a venerated elder of its region and its variety – world class over the ages. Bringing together the best 20-25% of Wynns’ Cabernet fruit from their central Terra Rossa vineyards, matured for 17 months in 28% new French barrels, shaped elegantly with medium-bodied definition, there’s an initial dark cherry/berry and blue floral attraction with the faintest of background mint, all finding an ease of flow and genteel expression in the palate – that perfect balance of flavour, oak, structural drive and textural mouthfeel that marks a fine wine, here with encouraging now-drinkability as well as the potential of longevity well into the 2040s.  The Original – and assuredly one of the best.