Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon

A week ago was Wynnsday. Less than a handful of Australian wineries manage to attract a lot of attention on their release day with tastings around the country. Wynns is one of them. I admire Wynns for two reasons: their long history of essentially unchanged wine and labels and the fact that they produce a serious $25 wine made for serious cellaring with their Black Label Cabernet. By all accounts, the 2008 and 2009 wines were well received.

But how does an older wine stack up? I opened a 1998 Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon to find out. The cork comes out fairly easily and is in good condition. The wine shows typical varietal character, with blackcurrant dominant. The wine is still quite juicy on the palate and the structure is holding up well. This is nice to drink. The tannins which are often a bit harsh on release have softened and are now attractive. Unfortunately, the finish falls off and is a bit thin.

Overall, this was well worth the wait. I think this wine will continue to drink well for 3-5 years. What more can you ask from a wine at this price point.

Score: 92/++