Walked into Woolies after work, bought a few groceries, badly in need of a refreshing cold ale and, goddamit, this wine’s staring me in the face for $15.98 by the six pack! Just had to buy one, take it home, give it a good breathe and post a TN.

Dark ruby/purple. Excellent varietal/regional nose of weedy, herb-tinged blackcurrants, freshly turned earth, cedar, a little mint and that indelible mix of older US and French oak that has worked so well with this label over many years. Medium-bodied palate offering a smooth, velvety entry harnassing plenty of ripe blackcurrant/plummy fruit, a touch of black olive, subservient savoury/cedary oak input, beautifully judged acidty, ripe, marginally chalky, firmish tannins, terrific length and an expansive, authoritative finish that, collectively, achieves an Outstanding rating.

This is a perfectly balanced, high quality Coonawarra Cabernet with an excellent medium- to long-term cellaring potential that’s drinking pretty darn well right now. Crystal-balling the mind-set of the winemaker, Sue Hodder, and the reported “corporate goal” of re-establishing this label to former glories, I suspect this Black Label is well and truly back on the “desired track” and worthy of a place in any serious wine lover’s cellar. 92 points. Drink 2010-2018+. Fantastic QPR! 13.5% A/V