Black Label 'Old Vines' Shiraz 2016
Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Black Label 'Old Vines' Shiraz 2016
Overview
Overview
Shiraz (formerly known as “Hermitage”) is an important part of Coonawarra’s history. The acknowledged reputation of Coonawarra for age worthy wines has largely centered on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Shiraz blends. However, the very early history (in the 1890s) centered on other varieties – particularly Shiraz.
Today Wynns is privileged to grow Shiraz on many prime locations within Coonawarra. These vineyards have stories to tell and a history of quality. We select the Black Label Shiraz from the oldest of them including the Undoolya vineyard which was planted in 1894. Wynns ‘Black Label’ Shiraz is a superb example of Coonawarra’s cool climate style.
| Varietal | Shiraz |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Coonawarra |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Alc/Vol | 13.6% |
| Peak Drinking | Now - 2036 |
| Winemaker | Sue Hodder |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 97 points | Andrew Caillard MW |
| 93 points | Ned Goodwin |
| 93 points | Campbell Mattinson |
| Gold | 2018 Adelaide Wine Show |
| Silver | 2018 Royal Hobart Wine Show |
| Bronze | 2018 KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show |
| Bronze | 2018 Limestone Coast Wine Show |
| Bronze | 2019 Perth Royal Wine Awards |
Andrew Caillard
"Deep crimson. Impressive and beautifully made wine with intense ripe blackberry, cassis aromas, herb garden notes and vanilla oak nuances. Generous and inky with fresh blackberry, elderberry fruits, fine dense plentiful tannins and superb integrated grilled nut/ new oak complexity. Finishes long and minerally with aniseed notes. A lovely rendition of the traditional Coonawarra Claret style, even though its shiraz! Bloody good; arguably the best ever. Rare 1890s and 1920s planted vines form “the backbone” of this wine. 13.6% Alc"
Ned Goodwin
"A fascinating wine that is as much Coonawarra genetics, stamped across its sinuous tannins, as it is cool climate medium-bodied shiraz of blueberry, mulberry, lilac scents and sash of peppery acidity."
Campbell Mattinson
"It’s the best so-far release of a Wynns Black Label Shiraz, from the current era. It’s firm, well flavoured, well ripened and yet not too sweet. Cherry liqueur and raspberry, sure, but ripped with dry spice and clove-like aspects. Floral too I’d reckon. It’s fruity, savoury and pretty at once, and while there a smoky, creamy, musky component it’s well tucked into the fruit; oak here has been smartly managed. The winemaking team has done well. As a young wine you wouldn’t necessarily fuss but for the cellar; it should be the goods."
Food Pairing
Food Pairing
Beef
Lamb
Duck
Veg
Pizza
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
Lifted red fruits. Perfumed and bright. Enticing
Flavours and Palate
Initially soft and creamy but the flavour builds across the palate to reveal a wine of balanced concentration. Silky tannins are a hallmark of our high pedigree, old vine Shiraz grapes. These prized vineyards reliably give us generous fruit which is stylish without heaviness. The 2016 has some milk chocolate notes attributed to the warmer vintage.
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Coonawarra, South Australia
Coonawarra, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, is a flat, isolated region almost mid-point between Adelaide and Melbourne. The area enjoys a cool maritime climate - similar to that of Bordeaux - and is renowned for its unique terra rossa soil. Rich, rust coloured soils… crimson sunburnt faces… magenta sunsets: this is red wine country! While Coonawarra is famous for its rich, minty Cabernet, the area also produces Shiraz and Merlot and surprisingly good Chardonnay and Riesling.
A very warm and dry spring led to early flowering, veraison and harvest. The warm November temperatures were ideal for good berry set necessitating extensive green harvest (thinning) for quality. The grape ripening months of February and March were influenced by a cold “upwelling” off the coast but overall, a warmer- than-average Coonawarra vintage. We describe our 2016 wines as being at the “fuller” end of our long-term Wynns Coonawarra flavour and style spectrum.
Sue Hodder - Senior Winemaker
Sue Hodder is one of Australia’s best-known winemakers and this year celebrates her 27th vintage with Wynns – making wine from wonderful, expressive fruit grown in the heart of the terra rossa. Sue commenced her career as a viticulturist and believes her early viticultural training – assessing vines, analysing mature fruit and tasting the finished wine – gave her an invaluable insight into the importance of the vineyard in quality winemaking.
Sue brings valuable experience with vintages in other noted wine regions around the world and has judged extensively in Regional, National and International wine shows. She is the recipient of many accolades including GT Wines ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2010 (with viticulturist Allen Jenkins); and most recently ‘Winemaker of the Year’ (with Sarah Pidgeon) at the 2016 ASVO awards.