Wynns The Original Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
- 94
- $45
- Drink by: 2025-2040
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One of Australia’s most iconic wines, it is surely represented in almost all serious cellars throughout the country. Deservedly so, as it has wonderful ageing potential. It is also one of the truly great value wines available today. This latest release is no different. A cracking wine. First made from the 1954 vintage, maturation is in a mix of French oak hogsheads, barriques and vats, with 31% of the barrels new. A dark cherry/maroon hue, the wine offers a range of aromas with violets, blackberries, aniseed, dried herbs, chocolate and plums. Tightly knit and finely balanced, there are abundant but sleek tannins, bright acidity and serious length. Excellent focus, this is a superb Cabernet with at least ten to fifteen years ahead of it – experience suggests considerably longer if you wish. In a decade or two, you will look like a genius if you have a case or two of this in the cellar. And if I may digress again, last time I promise, their food recommendation being butter salmon with a creamy sauce. Why? What on earth did the wine do to the marketing department to deserve that? The salmon would surely have been a far better choice with the new Messenger Chardy. Whatever you decide to match it with, this is a wonderful Coonawarra Cabernet.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
