Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra Australia 2020 (13.5% ABV) – 93.7
SF | A dense stain of color, then a nose of woodsmoke and soot; one has to swirl with vigor to release the fruit quota, made up, surprisingly, by red apples, blackberry, and fruits of the forest; there's also a hint of coulis behind the tar, gravel, and roses. Stentorian but grown-up tannins, grippy for sure, but only as a gift from ripe fruit and expensive wood. Behind the reserve, there is charm; and behind the charm, a genuine seriousness, which stretches the entire length of the palate. Precocious, but also brimming with vitality and potential. 93
AR | This is so youthful and primary that the colors practically stain the side of the glass when you swirl it; there's a brooding depth to the aromas, which are still a little on the shy side but gradually reveal themselves as sweet, spicy, and cassis-like, with an underlay of stylish oak; the fruit has excellent purity and concentrated ripeness encased in a framework of well-balanced fresh acidity and firmish, but not too firm, tannins. Still young and primary, it's on the cusp of developing further complexity as it spends time in bottle, which it's going to need for its superior virtues to shine. 95
DW | Vivid, dark, inky color, and wonderfully pure and vivid fresh blackcurrant compote on the nose; a touch of black cherry, too, in both flavor and a glossy-cherry-skin feel on the palate, which has wonderfully fine, polished tannins; juicy, succulent, long, fruit-filled finish. A joyful expression of Cabernet fruit that is immediately attractive but has the guts to age for many years. 93