Wynns welcomes back flagship wines

The highly sought-after pinnacles of Coonawarra winemaking - Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon and Michael Shiraz - are making a welcome return.

The wines, which are both 2003 vintage, will be available from March 1, 2006. Both wines are made only in years when grapes of extraordinarily high quality are available in Coonawarra, with the last vintages of John Riddoch being 1999 and Michael being 1998.

First made in 1982, the Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch was conceived as a flagship wine to be made in small quantities from the best fruit available from the estate's extensive Cabernet plantings. Since that time, the John Riddoch style has evolved. The 2003 exemplifies the elegance and refinement of the vintage.Less than one per cent of the top Cabernet grapes are used to the John Riddoch wine..

The first Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz (then called Michael Hermitage) was a one-off wine from the 1955 vintage. Wynns Coonawarra Estate proprietor David Wynn noticed the outstanding quality of the wine from two particular barrels and ordered them to be bottled separately. That wine, named after Wynn's young son, became a legend of the Australian wine industry with good bottles still offering a great wine experience today. This best-of-vintage concept was revived in 1990 thanks to that year's superb vintage.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Chief Winemaker Sue Hodder says it was a great thrill to be able to bring these wines to the market again.

"These wines are such an important part of Wynns heritage," Sue says. "While it's important to retain the rigorous standards we set for these wines, it is a great thrill that we're able to continue the legacy with these releases."

Sue Hodder says the vintage conditions of 2003 were near perfect, with Coonawarra receiving rainfall at the right time during the growing season and moderate temperatures. Mild temperatures throughout February and March allowed the fruit to develop good flavours whilst retaining acid before warmer temperatures in the critical ripening month of April ensured a successful vintage. This vintage also produced the acclaimed 2003 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Johnson's Block Shiraz Cabernet, released late last year.

Newsletter not displaying properly? Please click here http://www.wynns.com.au/newsletters/mar_06/index.html