Why no one else in the world can make cabernet quite like Coonawarra

Odds are you’ve already met. After all, cabernet sauvignon is the world's most famous red grape and most planted of all varieties. The vinous lovechild of cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc, cabernet  is native to France – specifically the Bordeaux region in the country’s south-west. It’s best known for its distinctive flavours of blackcurrant and chocolate, and its herbal lift, which transcends regions and winemaking. A common variety in quality red blends, cabernet also enjoys an illustrious solo career, producing seriously stunning varietal wines. 

The first cabernet sauvignon vines were planted in Coonawarra in 1893 by John Riddoch, a figure widely considered to be the region’s founding father. Little did he know the small patch of earth selected for his fruit colony would prove to be the perfect parcel for premium cabernet sauvignon. The region’s cool, maritime climate and rich red soils provide ideal conditions for the variety to reach perfect physiological ripeness, but also give the wines a certain je ne sai quoi that makes the cabernet produced in Coonawarra unlike any other. 

Cabernet sauvignon is a variety built for the long haul. Some of the most sought-after and long-lived wines are made from cabernet, with Bordeaux’s famous wines some of the world’s most expensive. As a variety, cabernet produces naturally high levels of tannin and acidity, two important structural components that help bolster a wine as it matures in the bottle and yield a long and graceful development. You might be wondering what actually happens as a cabernet matures. Most notably, the wine mellows; its tannins soften, producing a velvety mouthfeel. Another major development is in the flavour profile, which gains complexity with more plush fruit and earthy, truffly notes coming through.

One of the best things about Coonawarra cabernets is they can be enjoyed at all stages of their development. Typically more medium-bodied than say Margaret River or Bordeaux wines, Coonawarra cabernets are very approachable from a young age, and they are often said to come into their own from about eight to 12 years of age, although they can last beautifully for decades more.