1987 Yarra Yering Dry Red No 1 Cabernet Sauvignon Yarra Valley – Victoria 3 Medium-deep crimson. Exaggerated cassis, Americano aromas with tea leaf, tobacco notes. Expressive palate with concentrated blackcurrant pastille, chinotto, green-pepper flavours and sappy textures giving density and vigour. Richly flavoured with lovely volume and character. Winemaker Sue Hodder has been the long-term custodian of Wynns Coonawarra Estate wines. She and viticulturalist Allen Jenkins, now retired, oversaw great changes in the vineyard during the 1990s and 2000s, with vineyard performance making a great difference to wine quality. 1998 was a classic growing season where the cabernet grapes ripened to perfection. 1998 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra – South Australia 5 Medium-deep crimson. Beguiling and youthful in this company. Classical blackcurrant pastille, praline aromas with hints of sage/herb garden. Generously concentrated and inky deep with lovely volume/ richness and underlying mocha, roasted almond marzipan notes. A sleek graphite finish. Wonderful. I haven’t tasted a Craiglee Shiraz for many years. The winery was first established in 1863, but winemaking stopped by the 1920s. A discovery of a bottle of 1872 Hermitage, hidden in the Bluestone winery walls, inspired Pat Carmody to replant and recommence winemaking. While 2000 is not remembered as a great vintage, I found the wine just wonderful. It was in absolute perfect condition, showing lovely purity and cool-climate expression. 2000 Craiglee Shiraz Sunbury – Victoria 5 Medium crimson. Pure blackberry fruits with white pepper, brambly notes. Buoyant, supple and sweet fruited on the palate with evolved dark berry hint demi-glace flavours with some chocolaty nuances, plentiful chalky textures, lovely mid-palate density/volume and underlying pepper notes. Lovely.
Hong Kong, March 2026
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