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Coonawarra
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Within Coonawarra, the southernmost and, therefore, coolest of South Australia's vineyards, lies a long cigar shaped strip of Terra Rossa soil upon which more than 20 wineries call home.
Some of Australia's greatest reds are made each year on this thin cigar strip of land, where the climate makes vines struggle all year but the famous red soil keeps them well nourished. The soil is a dazzling red-brick hue; known simply as terra rosso, it is this soil that is behind Coonawarra's claim to be Australia's greatest red wine region. It is extremely fertile, so the best quality vines come from thin coverings of as little as a couple of inches. The secret is that the thin layer of well-draining, rich red soil, rests upon beds of soft limestone, causing the vines to stretch to their limits to reach underground water reserves. The birth of the many world-famous Coonawarra reds is due in large part to this serendipitous natural phenomenon.
Although initially it was Shiraz that staked a claim in the region, it was not long before winemakers began to find that Cabernet Sauvignon was especially suited to thrive in their vineyards. The wines they were able to create with the grape were concentrated, firm, and to many admirers the most akin to Bordeaux of any Australian Cabernet. They also had a firm tannic quality that made them well suited for aging—a sure prerequisite for any connoisseur to willingly accept a comparison to the famously long lived red Bordeaux. But the wines also tended to taste surprisingly like Bordeaux in their youth—with highly perfumed fruity characters, and exotic notes of licorice, cedar, and blackcurrant.
The subsequent history of success with Cabernet Sauvignon has made it by far the predominant variety in Coonawarra today, though there are a good amount of other French varietals that make excellent wines. Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and even Pinot Noir do very well in the cool region.
Coonawarra Wine Country - photo courtesy of Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
Buying Guide: Top Coonawarra Reds
Description: Dark deep red with glints of purple. Plush,chocolaty flavors, with mocha aromas and blackcurrant. Saturated with black juice and herb aromatics with a heaping dose of smoky oak. Comment: This wine can be a truly hedonistic experience. Its fruit is selected only from the best vineyard plots, and matured for over three years in small, predominantly French oak barrels. Food pairing: grilled meats | duck | hearty pastas | pork | earthy entrees When to drink: Wait 5 to 15 years after release Service temperature: 18°C | 64°F
 Penley Estate Hyland Shiraz
Coonawarra $20
Description: Rich and mellow, approachable wine. Deep red ruby hues and bright berry aromas accompanied by spice, and smoky oak. Silky on the palate and rich with red berry flavors that persist though the balanced finish. Elegant, but solid. Comment: This wine was made to be enjoyed young, or on release. The balanced textures and flavors that the winemakers seek to impart assure this with each new vintage. The harvest is aged in 30% new oak. Food pairing: grilled meats | pastas | pork | hard cheeses When to drink: Drink young, and keep up to 5 years after release Service temperature: 17°C | 62°F
  Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon
Coonawarra $30
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Description: Dense red in color, with up front flavor of cassis and strong aromas of cedar and cinnamon. A touch of smoked oak accompanies dark berry fruit, and a taught, structured body. Comment: The sturdy structure of this wine is brought about by an extended maceration of the juice on the skins, followed by 20 months in 50% new French oak. Food pairing: grilled
meats | beef | game | hard cheese | risottos When to drink: Drink on release, or keep for 10-15 years Service temperature: 18°C | 64°F
 Jim Barry The Cover Drive
Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley-Coonawarra $15
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Description: Deep red, with forward flavors of plump purple and red fruits. Aromas of oak, spice, vanilla, cedar, and through the finish emerging flavors of blackberry and currant. Body is medium to medium-full, and fine grained. Comment: Planted on what used to be a cricket ground, this wine is leisurely and harmonious as a Coonawarra summer day. It is aged for 12 months in 50% French and 50% American oak. Food pairing: bbq | red meats | pastas | mature cheeses When to drink: Drink on release, but best if given at least 2-3 years of extra in bottle maturing Service temperature: 17°C | 62°F
Coonawarra Red Quick Pick GuideJacob's Creek St. Hugo Cabernet
Sauvignon
On the Market: Coonawarra Red Wines92 Penley Estate Hyland Shiraz Coonawarra $20 90 Jim Barry The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley-Coonawarra $15 90 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Blend Bordeaux Blend $20 89 Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $20 88 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet-Shiraz- Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz $16 88 Reschke Vitulus Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $20 88 Penley Estate Condor Shiraz- Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $20 88 Nick Faldo Shiraz Coonawarra $1488 Nick Faldo Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $15 87 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Vintage Release Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $18 87 Long Flat Destinations Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $15 87 Angove's Vineyard Select Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $20 85 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz Coonawarra $12 84 Punters Corner Triple Crown Red Blend Coonawarra $20 91 Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $30 91 Balnaves of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot $28 90 Zema Estate Cluny Bordeaux Blend Coonawarra $25 90 Wolf Blass Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $24 90 Rosemount Show Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $24 90 Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz Coonawarra $23 89 Nugan FamilyEstates Alcira Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $23 89 McWilliam's of Coonawarra Brand's Laira Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon $28 88 Reschke Bos Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $30 88 Katnook Estate Founder's Block Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $25 87 Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz Coonawarra $24 87 Angove's Vineyard Select Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $21 86 Punters Corner Shiraz Coonawarra $28 86 Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz Coonawarra $25 86 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $30
93 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon $45 91 Jacob's Creek St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $33 90 Katnook Estate Prodigy Shiraz Coonawarra $50 89 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $45 89 Petaluma Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot Coonawarra $40 88 Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $32
92 Katnook Estate Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $60 92 Jim Barry First Eleven Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $60 91 Penley Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra $65 91 Penley Estate Chertsey Bordeaux Blend Coonawarra $65 91 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot $70 87 McWilliam's of Coonawarra Stentiford's Reserve Old Vines Shiraz Coonawarra $55
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Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Grapes: 100% Shiraz
