A step up in price and packaging from the siblings in the range with a Stelvin Luxe cap. 20 months French oak maturation. Wine maker is Neil Doddridge.

Riddoch Coonawarra, Reserve, Cabernet, Coonawarra, 2015

Finally, a wine in the range that smells like a Coonawarra wine, albeit cloaked with cedar. But there’s unmistakable black fruit, some candle wax, clove and star anise spice. Pleasingly few green notes and that anise arising in the form of soft licorice when combined with the oak and fruit. Slightly one dimensional black fruit palate with the same sour tannins as the rest of the range, but this time compounded with the oak. Hot little sting in the earthy, drying finish.

RRP: $35
Alc: 14.5%
Rating: 15/20

Wine sample courtesy of Pinnacle Drinks and Dialogue PR