The 1997 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully matured and highly collectable expression from one of Australia’s most revered Cabernet-producing regions. Named after Coonawarra’s founding vigneron, John Riddoch, this flagship wine is crafted only in strong vintages and sourced from the estate’s finest parcels of low-yielding Terra Rossa vineyards. These ancient red soils are renowned for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with purity, structure and exceptional longevity — qualities that shine through in the 1997 release.
The 1997 season in Coonawarra was cool and even, marked by a long ripening window that allowed Cabernet to achieve excellent physiological maturity while retaining bright natural acidity. As a result, this vintage delivered wines of elegance, refinement and classic varietal definition — a style that suits long-term ageing remarkably well.
Now over 25 years old, the 1997 John Riddoch has developed beautifully, showcasing layered tertiary complexity alongside the estate’s hallmark fruit purity. The bouquet opens with notes of dried cassis, black cherry, redcurrant, cedar, cigar box and bay leaf. Secondary nuances of leather, roasted herbs, tobacco leaf, violets and earthy spice reveal the wine’s evolution in bottle.
On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with a supple, mature texture. Fine-grained tannins frame flavours of aged blackcurrant, mulberry, black tea, forest floor and savoury oak. A refined line of acidity provides lift and balance, carrying the wine toward a long, elegant and gently tapering finish. The harmony and composure of the 1997 vintage reflect both the vineyard pedigree and Wynns’ masterful approach to Cabernet winemaking.
Well-stored bottles remain in excellent drinking condition today, offering a graceful and fully evolved expression of Coonawarra Cabernet at its best.
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: ~13.5%
Drinking Window: Now – 2030
A refined, beautifully matured John Riddoch Cabernet — elegant, savoury and classically Coonawarra, with superb charm for collectors and lovers of aged Australian Cabernet.
