A classic Australian wine, Wynns Black Label Shiraz was previously known as “Wynns Black Label Hermitage”. Typically showing superb fruit density, with ample red forest berry fruit and spice and supple tannins, Black Label Shiraz typifies Coonawarra’s mid-weight elegant style.
Some fruit comes off the Undoolya vineyard planted in 1894. This has slipped comfortably into a seamless wine. Supple, ripe fruit, lightly spiced with cedar, licorice root and cinnamon. The palate is fuller bodied but so restrained. The tannins are absurdly fine, with length like no tomorrow.
95 points, Wine Companion (February 2021)
Has great grip and sense of structure, pucker and chew, a field of tannins that melt into dark, glossy fruit and musky, exotic spice characters. Ultra fragrant, totally silky, extra lengthy and down right lovely to drink, this is a wine that speaks of finesse and sense of purity while delivering hallmark medium weight, fragrant shiraz of Coonawarra in spades. How delightful.
93 points, The Wine Front (September 2021)
The kicker’s in the tail. This floats along in fine, almost easy-going form but then really kicks up a gear through the finish. I’m loving this wine. Redcurrant, musk, vanilla, woodsmoke and clove flavours with a burst of anise or something close to it. That finish. It’s not an especially big wine but every sip, that finish, it bowled me over.
95 points, The Wine Front (September 2021)
Very deep, intense red/purple colour. The bouquet is intensely spicy and red-fruited, fresh and young but also quite detailed for its tender age. The palate is medium-bodied and sofly-textured, the tannins fine and smooth and velvet-textured. A note of violets. A lovely elegant shiraz that drinks superbly now and should age very well.
93 points, The Real Review (September 2021)
There’s plenty of noise out there about “cool-climate” shiraz, yet Coonawarra is often left out of this discussion. Time for that to change, especially with this outing, taking into account that 2019 was considered an “elegant” year in the region. This shiraz is definitely a fine example of what can be, given that context. Pepper – pink and black – with crimson fruit expression, bright and expressive, tended by finessed tannins that sit neatly in the back pocket of the palate allowing flavour and spice to dwell and delight. Apart from that – it’s also really, really tasty.
96 points, Wine Pilot
A perfect partner to the Black label Cabernet. This is certainly one of the best and most stylish yet under this label. It’s from old Coonawarra vines that have been carefully managed by viticulturist Allen Jenkins. In fact, the vines date back to 1894. It’s a beautiful example of cool climate shiraz in an excellent year. Red fruits with a cranberry pomegranate aroma sprinkled with black pepper. The palate is bright and fresh with those fine chalky tannins bringing structure with subtle poise.
95 points, Wine Pilot
There’s something about old vines – in this case the oldest dating back to 1894 – that brings an effortless ease to a wine, a quiet dignity.
Black Label old vines is not in the least bit showy or shouting. Fruits are mostly in the red/black fruit sphere, a touch of blackcurrant pastille opening to reveal a world of spice – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves – and above it, cedary oak. Soft and plummy it meshes beautifully on the palate with a strong bucolic feel from the tilled earth and dried herb inflection to a gentle earthy savouriness. A touch of French polish alerts you to the presence of oak. It’s there, yes, you can taste it, but it’s part of the furniture, so to speak, integral and not to the point of being aggressive.
94 points, Wine Pilot
Deep crimson. Intense pure blackberry, kirsch, cassis aromas with dark chocolate, roasted chestnut notes. Generous and chocolaty textured with ripe black berry, red and dark cherry fruits, fine velvety bitter-sweet tannins and underlying dark chocolate, mocha, vanilla notes. Finishes Claret-firm and inky with persistent cassis, dark berry notes. A retro-modern style evoking the Coonawarra Claret styles of yesteryear and the refinements of modern viticulture and winemaking. Based on “old vine” shiraz from the 1894-planted Undoolya Vineyard, the 1925-planted Johnston Block vines and other older blocks. A very fine vintage. 13 months in new (18%) and seasoned French oak hogsheads (80%) vats (10%) and barriques (5%). 13.4% alc Drink now-2030+
95 points
Coonawarra
The first vines were planted in Coonawarra by John Riddoch in 1890, however it was not until the renewed interest in table wine production in the 1950's that Coonawarra was brought into the limelight. Located almost 380 km southeast of Adelaide, Coonawarra is today one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia. Its weathered limestone terra rossa soils, avaibility of water and relatively cool maritime climate make it a unique viticultural region. Extremely flat and unprotected, Coonawarra is exposed both to the swinging influences of the cool Great Southern Ocean and hot, dry northerly winds. Spring frosts also pose a major threat with the potential to wipe out entire crops. Mechanical harvesting is widely employed in the region although smaller producers prefer to tend their vines by hand. Coonawarra is best known for classically-styled Cabernet Sauvignon, although in good years, Shiraz from the region is also very compelling.
