Australian Cabernet Sauvignon from Wynns black label in the Coonawarra region. Strong aromas of plum and black cherry. Excellent long and lingering finish that brings out a leafy minty component with dried thyme, cloves, and flower petals. There's heat from the 13.5% alcohol, medium tannins, low acid. Well-balanced and perfect to be enjoyed with or without food. Good value at $28.95 at LCBO compared to a Napa cab.

very good

Gorgeous, lifted, layered nose. Iron/graphite minerality right off the bat, followed by beautiful cassis, dark cherry fruit, and just a touch of cigar box. Vibrant acidity, youthfully firm but very fine tannins, superbly balanced. The purity and ripeness of fruit is excellent. Complex and long. GV and sure to keep a decade. 17+

Developing nose with heaps of fruit and spcie: black currant, red & black plums, kirsch, cloves, vanilla, tobacco, eucalyptus.

Rich and round on the palate with medium+ acid and tannins well-balanced across a full body of flavour. Plum jam, cooked blackberry, chocolate, allspice, liquorice. Nice long finish.

One of the more classic Coonawarra Cabernets, Wynns also produces good value for what's in the bottle. Keep a few of these down to see how they develop.

Tasted November 2016.

Very young and certainly not near its peak, this famed Cab opens with a rush of plump dark fruit but then closes quickly, only hinting at its potential with lively acidity and chalky tannins indicating sound, age-worthy structure. But it's impressive now with complex, elegant, restrained notes of cassis, blackberry, cherry, mint, red licorice, redcurrant, herbs, crushed rock, minerals, and faint wood smoke -- the cassis highlighting the varietal, the mint/minerals the place -- without any flabbiness and with only minimal wood influence. With time, it could take a significant upward leap.

I expected to be wowed but I wasn't. Yes, it's smooth, balanced and tasty but the nose and palate lacked intensity. Dare I say that I thought it was rather simple. An excellent value wine at $20 but not at $28. Enjoyable but it never really put a smile on my face.