Wynns Coonawarra Estate Centenary 1991

Wynns Coonawarra Estate has access to some of the best vineyards in the area so when they release a special blend you should be in for a lovely surprise.  Rumours are that this wine is a blend of 2/3rd Michael and 1/3 John Riddoch but that is where it gets messy as the stated alcohol is 12.5% for this wine and 13.5% for the 2 flagships wines from the same year.  How can this be that there is a difference? Well, I can see that different parcels can come in at different baumes. Just a few weeks ago I picked two batches of Sagrantino on the same day and the beautiful batch came in at 14.2 baume while the not so beautiful batch came in at 15 baume.  For this reason I am of the opinion that this wine is the best parcels from the Michael and John Riddoch wines blended together.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Centenary 1991

This is the best Australian wine I have ever had! One of the most interesting things about this wine is that it tastes like it is Cabernet dominant as I get pipe tobacco, cow hide, gunpowder, savoury blackcurrant leaf rolled in brambles, orange rind and spicy mint. The flavours are mesmerising as they linger like they are frozen in time or suspended in animation.  Each little element dances to the beat of its own drum but adds to the whole experience. Next comes the structure... it is silky and seductive yet apparent and appealing. In fact the whole wine experience is beautiful to behold.  Think of the first moment you spent with your partner watching the sun come up with a glass of bubbles in your hand and a blanket wrapped around you bringing you both closer together and that is what this wine makes me feel like.  Pure joy!

Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: Who cares
Rated: 97
Drink: Now but will continue to age gracefully for another 10 years if cellared well.