{"id":33345,"date":"2022-09-13T17:02:41","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T15:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=33345"},"modified":"2022-09-20T19:35:43","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T17:35:43","slug":"john-riddoch-wynns-coonawarra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/13\/john-riddoch-wynns-coonawarra\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover the John Riddoch vineyards, from the Wynns Coonawarra Estate in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"Let’s go this time in Australia to discover the beautiful wines from the Wynns Coonawarra Estate. This famous domain, from Down Under until the most popular illustrious gastronomic tables from the World, was founded in 1901 by the Scottish wine enthusiast John Riddoch. Renowned as a real visionary, he achieved many things in his life, including the conception of the Wynns Gabled cellar and the Coonawarra Fruit Colony in 1890, spread on around 800 hectares of surface (photo credits: Wynns Coonawara).<\/strong><\/div>\n
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As you can see, this is such a good occasion to explore the wide opportunities proposed by the Australian vineyards. A long adventure started a couple of years ago, and more precisely since the arrival of the British settlers. On top of that, this year, this Estate is proud to introduce in France its last magnificent 2019 vintage! <\/strong>By AP<\/em><\/div>\n
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..his heritage<\/strong> is pursued nowadays by the cellar master Sarah Pidgeon<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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John Riddoch<\/strong> himself, pictured some years ago..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For instance, we focus here on the Coonawara<\/strong> region, so dear to the same John Riddoch<\/strong>, due to his high contribution for the launch of this vineyard<\/strong> territory. Indeed, that’s precisely here that settled more than 20 colonials<\/strong> who planted nearly 100 thousand vine stocks<\/strong> from 1891, before John Riddoch<\/strong> building this winery<\/strong>, completed in 1896.<\/p>\n

Thereafter, when in 1951, the Wynn<\/strong> family bought an important part of this wide Wynns Coonawarra Estate<\/strong><\/a>, the wine production<\/strong> was not that much launched in Australia<\/strong>. That’s why, they were even the first family to add the European<\/strong> suffix of Estate<\/strong> to their entity. They had to deal with a specific climate<\/strong> that plays an important role in the characteristics of those local wines<\/strong>. By the way, those vineyards<\/strong> are located in the coldest region of Australia<\/strong>, and this area<\/strong> is situated in the southeast part of this continent<\/strong>, very close to Antarctica<\/strong>. This situation includes the fact that nights<\/strong> may be very cold<\/strong> which allows the retention of acidity<\/strong> levels in their wines<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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..a good illustration of this Terra Rossa<\/strong><\/em> soil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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An old clich\u00e9<\/strong><\/em> from this bucolic Coonawarra<\/strong> domain..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a huge development work, the family<\/strong> issued their first Cabernet <\/strong>cuv\u00e9e<\/em>, named as Black Label<\/strong>, in 1954, initiating a true love story<\/strong> between this grape variety<\/strong> and this ancestral wine<\/strong> region of Coonawarra<\/strong>. This territory<\/strong>, spread over a total surface of 400sqm, is also known as “Terra Rossa”<\/strong><\/em>, because its soil<\/strong> is mostly constituted of an oxydated red<\/strong> underground. This large zone<\/strong> is 20km long and 2km wide, naturally bordering the south of Australia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Therefore, this magical marriage<\/strong> seems successful, between rich red terra rossa<\/strong><\/em> soil, limestone<\/strong>, along a pure underground water<\/strong> and a long cool ripening<\/strong> season for the grapes<\/strong>. On top of that, this territory of Coonawarra<\/strong> is acclaimed as one of the oldest vineyards<\/strong> territories in Australia<\/strong>, where more than 24 Coonawarra<\/strong> wineries have cellar door<\/strong> sales outlets, mostly open seven days a week (except Christmas Day<\/strong>).<\/div>\n
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..closely surveyed by Sue Hodder<\/strong>, the Senior Winemaker<\/strong>, who celebrated her 25th vintage<\/strong> with Wynns<\/strong> in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The John Riddoch<\/strong> line wears an elegant <\/strong><\/em>claret-red<\/strong> label, a perfect distinctive sign to stand out from other wines<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Therefore, this typically Australian<\/strong> winery<\/strong> is nowadays run by Sue Hodder<\/strong>, who’s the chief winemaker of this Wynns Coonawarra Estate<\/strong> and even celebrated 30 years of experience with them, in 2022. Nonetheless, this winehouse<\/strong> is delighted to host its vineyards<\/strong> on a good part of these soils<\/strong>, sustaining a combination of a sometimes cold climate<\/strong>, along a specific soil<\/strong> that has a real influence on those very original and fine wines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Right here, you have the honor to get introduced the John Riddoch<\/strong> cuv\u00e9es<\/em>. Those jewels<\/strong> are the prestige wines<\/strong> from the Wynn<\/strong> winery, and they were launched in 1982. As far as we know, this should be an authentic tribute to John Riddoch<\/strong>, and those wines come from the best plots<\/strong> of this Wynns<\/strong> vineyard. Since the very first edition of this vintage<\/strong>, the monocepage<\/strong> interpretation of this Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong>, by John Riddoch<\/strong>, has been vinified in small batches<\/strong>. <\/div>\n
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..ideal to prepare the issue of the brand new vintage 2019<\/strong>, that is already available in France<\/strong>, via<\/em> the Place de Bordeaux<\/strong>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Smaller and younger barrels<\/strong> offer oaky<\/strong> notes, while French oak<\/strong> barrels turn more into cedar<\/strong> and vanilla<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the fruit of the finest grapes<\/strong>, grown in the Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong> plantations, in an extended terroir<\/strong><\/em> that spans 500 hectares on the precious terra rossa<\/strong><\/em>.  In this occasion, those various vintages<\/strong>, proposed by this John Riddoch<\/strong> domain, only aim to highlight the best years when extraordinary grapes<\/strong> are meant to be used. That corresponds to less than one percent<\/strong> of premium Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong> grapes, and only from the great vintages<\/strong>. By the way, the release of the last 2019<\/strong> version of this precious John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong> occurred this September 2022, promoted in France<\/strong> by the Place de Bordeaux<\/strong> and also in Paris<\/strong> by the Vinconnexion<\/strong><\/a> agency, with winemaker Sarah Pidgeon<\/strong> who has been at Wynns<\/strong> for over 20 years, at the Bistrot du Sommelier<\/strong><\/a>, held by Philippe Faure-Brac<\/strong>, the 1992<\/strong> World Best Sommelier<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This ideal background<\/strong> contributed to the emergence of this brand new vintage 2019<\/strong> by the John Riddoch<\/b> entity, dressed in a beautiful purple<\/strong> wake. <\/p>\n

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The other millesimes<\/em><\/strong> of John Riddoch<\/strong> are also worth to taste, such as this 2018 vintage<\/strong>, full of red<\/strong> and black cherries<\/strong> notes, along a touch of dried mint<\/strong> and fresh violets<\/strong> on the nose, plus ripe fruit<\/strong> and fine tannins<\/strong> on the palate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once opened, this jewel<\/strong> from the deep South<\/strong> proposes a fresh fragrance of red fruits<\/strong>, displaying some cherry<\/strong> and cassis<\/strong> notes, reinforced with a touch of violet and aromatic spices<\/strong>. Once in mouth, you would be seduced by its elegant wooden<\/strong> aromas, with a noticeable acidity<\/strong> and minerality<\/strong>, full of ripe fruits<\/strong> and perfectly supported by fine tannins<\/strong>. In fact, a brilliant final sensation<\/strong> is able to enhance this alloy between blackcurrant<\/strong>, cocoa<\/strong> and wood<\/strong>. This inspired structure would allow this wine<\/strong> to last for at least many years more.  <\/p>\n

A logical continuation for this Wynn\u2019s John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong> series\u2026 Therefore, the beautiful previous years of this John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong> were 2010<\/strong>, 2012<\/strong>, and 2013<\/strong>. An interesting selection<\/strong> between the 2010 vintage<\/strong> offered by explicit and delicious expressions of blackcurrant<\/strong> again, but also mint<\/strong>, and tobacco<\/strong>. While the 2012 edition<\/strong> was more able to reflect the encounter between intense and dense ripe<\/strong> notes of black fruits<\/strong>, violet flowers<\/strong>, along delicious varied spices<\/strong>, plus cedar<\/strong>, a hint of mint<\/strong> and even dark chocolate<\/strong>. Before ending with a full-bodied<\/strong> and fruity<\/strong> finish, adorned with a real explosion of fine tannins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>. Don’t also miss to order the book<\/strong><\/a> telling the incredible story of this John Riddoch Estate<\/strong><\/a>!<\/div>\n
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A typical winter<\/strong> panorama between vines<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last but not least, the Coonawarra Vignerons Association<\/strong><\/a> plays host to a full calendar<\/strong> of exciting events<\/strong> throughout the year. For example, every January<\/strong>, the Coonawarra Cup<\/strong> is contested at the Coonawarra Vignerons<\/strong> race meeting. The Lights of Vintage<\/strong> will be on in April as vintage<\/strong> is celebrated at Coonawarra After Dark<\/strong>. There are cultural activities<\/strong> and exhibitions<\/strong> all year round but brilliantly showcased in the Penola\/Coonawarra Arts Festival<\/strong> in May.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

For your information, during the austral<\/strong> winter month of July<\/strong>, the cellar<\/strong> door sales offer rare back vintage<\/strong> tastings of Coonawarra<\/strong> wines for Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers<\/strong>. The year reaches its pinnacle in October<\/strong> when Coonawarra<\/strong> celebrates its prized Cabernet<\/strong> style wines<\/strong> during the month-long Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Let’s go this time in Australia to discover the beautiful wines from the Wynns Coonawarra…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":33355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[1273,1276,1274,1278,1277,1275,409],"class_list":["post-33345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy","tag-australia","tag-australian-wine","tag-cabernet-sauvignon","tag-coonawarra","tag-coonawarra-wine","tag-john-riddoch","tag-wine"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33345"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33426,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33345\/revisions\/33426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}