Wynns, Johnson's Block Shiraz Cabernet, Coonawarra

{screwcap, 13.5%} Silkily seductive nose, quite developed, mostly of cabernet blackcurrant with a spicy pepper edge. Vague coconut oak. Palate has lovely Coonawarra spice, with minimal apparent oak, soft furry tannins and medium acidity. The fruit is blurry and soft and has almost a fermenting strawberry kind of character to it. It's medium weight, perhaps a bit more, quite intense initially, although the finish is becoming soft, diffuse, with a hint of tinned tomato and twist of acid. Medium length. …

13.5%

{screwcap, 13.5%} Dark garnet, but with that orange/brick character around the rim which betrays its age. The nose (decanted & drunk over 2 hours) is fairly intense, starts out with lots of spicy and lightly black pepper characters, laced with dark red fruits. A touch twiggy, but never green, although tobacco comes and goes a bit. The palate is a bit more brambly in flavour, with the leafy cabernet characters more obvious. Seems like it has promise; it's medium/full-bodied, and …

Over the hill

Classic Australian blend of cabernet and shiraz, coming together in a seamless way. Still years ahead of it.

Shiraz dominated blend that is at or neat the end of its drinking cycle. Fruits still dominant and clor ok. Where this wine misses out in length of finish. I enjoyed it though.

{screwcap, 13.5%} Pretty young still, or so it seems on first sniff. Vaguely minty aromas, twigs & sticks, tobacco, herbs. Cabernet element seems dominant as far as the aromatics go. The palate is cool, a bit spicy and medicinal, with vanilla & liquorice flavours, olive-like aspects. It's far more shiraz than cabernet in the mouth. There are fine - almost fading - dusty tannins, medium acidity, but the finish is disappointingly short; although the wine makes its impressions fairly evenly …

Wonderful aromas and flavours of plum, blackcurrant, cooked berries and spice. Chocolatey texture. Needs more time but looking the goods.

{screwcap, 13.5%, A$26} Ruby red. Semi-austere aromas; ripe fruits yes - curranty notes with a lick of white pepper, but twiggy, and brambly and not at all luscious. The palate is more shiraz-influenced, with a spiced quality to the fruits; it's also lean and tight, with low, slightly gritty tannins and discreet acid. It's only medium-bodied; if you're after a blockbuster in the old John Riddoch style, look elsewhere, but although the balance is pretty decent with good even coverage …