Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Wynns likes to promote Black Label as “Australia’s benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon,” but it could also be called Australia’s greatest comfort wine. Year in, year out, it arrives in the glass and the drinker’s high expectations are always met – that’s so comforting. Even in relatively challenging cool, wet years like 2023 there is no denying the Black Label stamp: a deep concentration of ripe black fruit and spices in sync with some pretty smart oak. The ’23 vintage does bring a finer expression of Cabernet, less obvious mint and eucalypt than usual and more gentle florals and light herbals. Blackberry, cassis, black cherry, violet, briar, anise, dried leaf, crushed herbs – fresh and lively – work in harmony with French oak (30% new) to present a fully integrated youngster. Firm, fine tannins, as always, offer a seamless undercurrent, driving the wine long. As for drinking windows? Why not start tonight.