A subtle change of packaging – since the 2023 vintage – highlights a nuanced transformation in winemaking and marketing outlooks at the former Wynns Coonawarra Estate, now known simply as Wynns. The 2024 Black Label wines – which represent the core of the 2026 Luxury Collection are exemplary wines that are all steeped in the history of the winery since 1951. Along with John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, which is marketed these days through La Place de Bordeaux, they belong to Australia’s great playbook of classic wines.
The Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon – The Original – has always been a bellwether release because of its consistency, regional definition and value. For years, it has been a staple of Australia’s secondary wine market, not because of its investment potential, but because it has a proven aging track record and offers something that is singular and classic. The 2024 release is much better than the polarizing 2023 vintage, highlighting a more generous growing season in terms of outcome. Although the wine is a touch on the lighter side of medium bodied, I think it will develop beautifully with some more years of bottle age. It’s the star of the show with its sibling Cabernet Shiraz and the Shiraz both looking very good too.
The Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon – The Original – has always been a bellwether release because of its consistency, regional definition and value.
The 2025 Limited Release Cabernet Franc shows the benefit of a further year of bottle age at release. It lies at the cusp of gold standard and may well reach it in a few more years. The 2025 Chardonnay is an excellent early drinking style and genuinely offers value at its price point.
The 2024 V&A Shiraz and Cabernet Shiraz will garner more generous support from other parts of the wine media community, but I personally find the structures unsuited to the density of the fruit. Bottle age may improve the experience, but I don’t really understand why you would want to harvest the fruit early for this series. You might get naturally balanced acidities but the tannin quality is compromised. And the fruit is less expressive. Nonetheless they are well-made wines and will have wide appeal for drinkers that like that style.
I am very sad that the marketers have dumped ‘Wynns Coonawarra Estate’ – It feels like the end of an era. I wonder whether it foreshadows a breakout and a return to the Ovens Valley or fashionable regional spot?
2025 Wynns Messenger Chardonnay, Coonawarra – South Australia
Pale colour. Attractive pure white peach, wholemeal aromas with hints of marzipan and tonic water. Supple and creamy with ample white peach, biscuity flavours, fine lacy/ chalky textures and underlying vanilla, grilled nut notes. Finishes crispy and long. Modern, clean and minerally with bangs of primary fruit, a hint of verbena and underlying oak. 9 months in 28% new and seasoned oak barriques and hogsheads. Ready to drink and best to enjoy soon. 12.7% alc 92 points
2024 Wynns Black Label Old Vines Shiraz, Coonawarra – South Australia
Medium deep colour. Fresh cassis, crushed raspberry, hint brambly aromas with sage notes. Smooth and medium-concentrated with blackcurrant, red berry fruits, fine al dente/ cedary tannins and well-integrated vanilla, espresso, dark chocolate notes. Finishes peppery and crunchy; acidity becoming more prominent at the end. Based on rare 1890s and 1920s plantings. 16 months maturation in seasoned French oak barriques and hogsheads. A medium-term keeper. Drink now – 2032. 13.4% alc 94 points
2024 Wynns Black Label Cabernet Shiraz, Coonawarra – South Australia
Medium deep colour. Expressive blackcurrant, black cherry aromas with cedar/ cigar box notes. Classical cassis, black cherry roasted chestnut, cedar flavours, attractive mid-palate volume and sinuous fine-grained tannins. Builds firm and dry at the finish, with bitter chinotto notes and light tannin plume. Some more bottle age will bring elements into balance. Very much a claret style with very good fruit definition and mineral length. Very close in style to ‘The Original’. Drinking well now but best to keep for a while. 14 months maturation in new (30%) and seasoned French oak hogsheads and barriques. Drink 2027- 2035 13.4% alc 94 points
2024 Wynns Black Label ‘The Original’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Pure blackcurrant, dark cherry, chinotto, bush garrigue aromas with underlying roasted chestnut notes. Inky textured and well-balanced with ample cassis, blackberry, dark cherry fruits, classical looseknit/ fine grained tannins, lovely mid-palate volume and underlying marzipan, roasted chestnut, graphite notes. Finishes velvety/ chocolaty with persistent mineral length. Elegant in style with very attractive fruit purity and flow. Still in its elemental phase. 17 months maturation in new (28%) and seasoned French oak hogsheads and barriques, A further year of two of bottle age will see this wine develop into a classical Coonawarra Claret style. Drink now – 2038 13.4% alc 95+ points
2024 Wynns V&A Lane Shiraz, Coonawarra – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Red currant, chinotto, hint Americano aromas with herb garden notes. Moderately concentrated with fresh red currant, raspberry fruits, some brambly notes, sinewy touch sappy tannins and underlying savoury oak notes. Crunchy and leafy at the finish. An elegant, cool expression of Coonawarra Shiraz; the acidity carrying the flavours across the palate. Bottle age will build more mid-palate volume. 12 months maturation in seasoned oak puncheons. Best to keep for a few years. Drink 2028 – 2036 12.6% alc 92+ points
2024 Wynns V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz, Coonawarra – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Bright cherry, brambly aromas with espresso, chinotto notes. Fresh pure cassis, black cherry pastille fruits, persistent firm chalky/ grainy tannins and underlying savoury notes. Finishes sinewy and crisp. Vibrant and modern with underlying light cedar/ leafy notes. Very modern in style with vibrant fruit offset by al dente structure. 69% cabernet sauvignon 31% shiraz. 12 months maturation in 18% new and seasoned French oak puncheons. Drink now – 2034 12.6% alc 92 points
2025 Wynns Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Coonawarra – South Australia
Deep colour, Intense blackcurrant, graphite, star anise aromas with hints of mocha and sage. Inky deep and voluminous with ample cassis, elderberry fruits, some graphite notes, lovely chocolaty tannins and underlying roasted walnut/ hazelnut notes. Finishes chocolaty and minerally. Well balanced and concentrated with very good impact and flow. Best to keep for a while. 6 months maturation in seasoned 3000L French oak vats. 12.9% alc Drink 2028 – 2038 93 points
2023 Wynns O’Deas Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra – South Australia
Deep colour, Intense black cherry, cassis, hint black olive aromas with black pepper notes. Well concentrated and inky deep with black cherry, black currant, black pepper flavours, lovely mid-palate richness and persistent fine cedar/ grainy tannins. Builds claret firm and long. Very good extract and fruit complexity. A cool expression but offset by lovely fruit definition and volume; the peppery notes elevating the aromas and infusing through the palate. 15 months maturation in new (28%) and seasoned French oak barrels and vats. 13.8% alc Drink now – 2032 94+ points
