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Graeme Melton and a mate were travelling across South Australia in 1973, their EH Holden was in dire need of maintenance and Graeme took up casual work at a passing winery. The site supervisor was Peter Lehmann and young Graeme had his epiphany on the road to Barossa Valley. Lehmann suggested that Graeme change his name to Charlie and take the pilgrimmage to Vallee Rhone. Charlie became prepossessed with the culture of old vines Grenache, Shiraz and Mourverdre. He returned to the Barossa, at a time when old vineyard fruit was made into flagon Port and growers were destroying their historic sites in return for government grants. Charlie emabarked on a.. Melton makes a mean mourvedre»
Some precious old blocks of ancient vine Grenache still remain after a government sponsored program to cull unproductive vineyards during the 1980s. Yielding excruciatingly small harvests of the most characterful fruit, these wizzened old veterans deliver small batch vintages which are evocative of the old world classics from Cotes du Rhone. The enduring Wirra Wirra were established 1894, their eclectic range belies the splendour of small parcels which are separately handled and bottled for exclusive release. The Absconder draws fruit from vines planted a century ago, it merits a breathing and decant, an articulation about the sublime excellence of old.. The compelling case for old vines grenache»
Hoddles Creek was planned and developed from day one, with a view to crafting an artful range of superlative Yarra Valley wines. The most arduous aspects were planted, because they offered the best promise of outstanding quality fruit. Chilly mornings, vivid afternoon sun and extended ripening, profound vintages of intensely ripened berries. From four superior rows of Pinot Noir on the Hoddles Creek property at Gembrook. Rows 22 to 26 always yield something spectacular with each new vintage, the mix of Burgundian and new world clones are hand picked and separately vinified for release as an exquisite limited edition, only made in the finest vintage.. For partisans most particular about pinot»
Halls Gap Vineyard was planted 1969, along the steep eastern slopes and parched rocky crags of Grampians Ranges, at the very beginning of a renaissance in Victorian viticulture. Since early establishment in the 1860s by the noble Houses of Seppelt and Bests, the region had earned the most elite peerage, a provenance of extraordinary red wines, bursting with bramble opulence and lined with limousin tannins. The Halls Gap property had long been respected as a venerable supplier to the nation's most illustrious brands. Seppelt and Penfolds called on harvests from Halls Gap for their finest vintages. Until 1996, when it was acquired by the late, great Trevor.. Land of the fallen giants»

Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon CONFIRM VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra South Australia
Excellent Langtons Classification. John Riddoch is made in small quantities from the best fruit grown to the estate's extensive plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon. Conceived as a flagship wine for the Wynns portfolio, it carries the name of the Coonawarra's founding father into the 21st century. Arguably richer and more concentrated than any other Coonawarra, made only in years when Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinarily high quality is available, less than one per cent of the most superior estate grown grapes are destined for inclusion into John Riddoch.
Available in cases of 6
Case of 6
$881.50
Wynns may be one of the oldest and most distinguished winemakers but there have been changes. Small fermenters, ranging in size from two to ten tonnes, enable the team to keep small vineyard parcels separate in a way that was just not possible before. Access to better quality oak has also made an influence. John Riddoch is a regional flagship from older blocks planted on their own roots in the 1960s and 1970s, cropped at a very low one or two tonnes per acre. Fermentations take place immediately after crushing over a period of five to eight days, after which the wine is pressed off at dryness, followed by fifteen months maturation in a balance of new and seasoned French oak barriques.
Dense, dark red colour with youthful purple hues. John Riddoch broods in the glass before opening up to dark cherry, mint and rich chocolate notes. A solid but stylish palate with the classic ripe Cabernet flavours of black cherries, dark forest fruits and subtle violets. Framing, fine, structural tannins are matched by rich dark, linear fruit. Subtle, fragrant French oak enhances the texture and lingers well after the last mouthful. Long and solid, a memorable experience immediately upon release, yet renowned for it's amazing cellaring potential.
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Wynns
Nestled in the heart of Coonawarra is the famous three-gabled Wynns Coonawarra Estate winery 400km south east of Adelaide South Australia

The oldest operating winery in the region, today visitors are invited to enjoy a tasting of current and back vintage wines in a world-class tasting facility. Time spent at Wynns Coonawarra Estate leaves visitors with a powerful and lasting impression of Coonawarra.

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What is now Wynns Coonawarra Estate was founded by Scottish pioneer John Riddoch. He planted vineyards in 1891 and completed the estate's three-gabled winery. In 1951 Melbourne wine merchants Samuel and David Wynn purchased Riddoch's original vineyards and winery and renamed the property Wynns Coonawarra Estate.

The Wynns family recognised the intrinsic qualities of Coonawarra wines - their richness and intensity of fruit character - and set out to build an independent identity in the region. They created the famous label that has made John Riddoch's winery one of Australia's best known buildings.

Its wines are regarded as benchmarks for the district, lauded for their consistent quality and depth of flavour. In contrast to its worldwide reputation, the Coonawarra region is a relatively tiny, cigar shaped strip about 15 kilometres long and 2 kilometres at its widest point.

Wynns

Its most famous feature is the terra rossa soil, a rich red topsoil which lies over soft porous limestone with a constant water table beneath it. As the vines have to struggle and stress in extending the roots through the thin layer of terra rossa and the limestone to the water table, growth of the vine is limited to producing low yielding, intensely flavoured grapes.

Of all the Australian winemaking regions, Coonawarra - which is an Aboriginal word meaning 'honeysuckle' - stands alone in a number of aspects. The terra rossa soil of Coonawarra is Australia's most famous soil. In reality there are three main soil types within Coonawarra: terra rossa (red or red-brown soil), which always overlies limestone, is on the highest ground and shows no distinct layers; rich black clay rendzina soils over limestone which are located to the west of the terra rossa strip, and sandy, podsolic and solodic soils over clay to the east.

Like many great wine regions of the world, Coonawarra's climate is cool and marginal. This cool climate ensures a long ripening period that slowly builds up the intensity of flavours in the grape. The resulting wines will always be among Australia's greatest wines for their richness, intensity, depth of flavour and excellent longevity. Wynns Coonawarra Estate is the Coonawarra's pre-eminent wine producer, with the largest holding of the region's best and oldest vineyards.

The terra rossa soil and cool climate produce low yields of intensely flavoured grapes, and the resulting wines have long been regarded as some of Australia's greatest, known for their richness and longevity. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, under Sue Hodder who has been Chief Winemaker since 1998, produces five wines every year. In vintages where the quality of grapes is exceptional, two flagship reds are made, the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Michael Shiraz.

Wynns