Daniel, Bruce, Mal and Mike Redman. Picture: Astyn Reid
Aftermarket
The glory of cabernet sauvignon flows across the Coonawarra, and the Redmans have been there since the start, creating bold flavoursome reds dripping with character from the region’s famous terra rossa soil.
The Australian Wine Club this week salutes the Redman family’s enduring legacy, with the inclusion of the 50th consecutive vintage of Redman cabernet in a premium mixed dozen of what is universally regarded as the “king of grapes”.
Along with the Redman Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, you’ll find 95-point cabernets from Margaret River and Yarra Valley and a 96-point cabernet crafted from 50-year-old Barossa vines, which usually retails for $80 a bottle.
Bill Redman began the family’s story in Coonawarra, arriving as a skinny 14-year-old in 1901 from the South Australian township of Avenue Range, only 10 years after Scottish settler John Riddoch planted the region’s first grapes. Young Bill was fortunate to pick up work in the Riddoch cellars, where he was taught the magic of winemaking.
He made wine for decades thereafter – at one point in the first half of the 1900s, he was the only red wine producer in the Coonawarra, working away on rudimentary equipment, often without electricity.
It wasn’t until 1966, however, that his son, Owen, started the Redman brand, bottling his first cabernet under the family’s label from the 1970 vintage. His sons, Bruce and Mal, have continued the tradition, making classic reds and managing the family’s 34 hectares of vineyards, with vines ranging from between 20 and 100 years of age. Their sons, Dan and Mike, are the fourth generation of Redmans involved in the business.
The family had the pleasure recently of tasting every vintage of Redman cabernet going back 50 years to Owen’s 1970 starter.
“Grandpa bottled that first vintage in magnums because he had such a small amount,’’ says Dan, now sharing the winemaking duties with his father, Bruce. “We only had one left but Dad said, ‘well, we either try it or we don’t’. So we did. And luckily the cork was good.”
Dan says what really shone through was a remarkable consistency of style across the vintages.
“You can see we never really chased that big jammy style that was in fashion at one point and we never went for a leaner, green style either,’’ he says. “What you see is our quintessential cabernet: medium-bodied, nicely structured, fine-grained tannins, lovely cassis and blackcurrant flavours, oak that enhances rather than dominates.”
The Redmans are committed to following the simple, hands-on winemaking traditions established by Bill all those years ago. For that reason, their business will always remain a boutique operation – viable but small enough to demand the touch of a Redman.
Intense blackberry nose, with hints of fennel, olive tapenade, rose petal and smoky cedar. Juicy blackcurrant, cassis and plum flavours flow across the palate. Good structure and acidity. Medium-bodied in true Coonawarra style. Described by the Halliday Wine Companion as “elegant and fine-boned; restrained and understated; gorgeous”.
Heavenly with a good old-fashioned lamb roast and rosemary. 13.4% alc; RRP $35 a bottle.
SPECIALS $29.99 a bottle in any dozen; $29.99 in cabernet dozen.
From vines planted at Bethany in the 1960s, you’ll find opulent aromas of dense blackcurrant, cinnamon and chocolate panforte, leading to a rich palate driven by dark fruits (plums, mulberries and blackcurrants) and licorice but with herbaceous notes (tobacco and thyme). Sumptuous mouthfeel with smooth tannins and a persistent fresh finish.
96 points from Andrew Caillard, MW. Absolute bargain in mixed cabernet dozen. 14% alc; RRP $80 a bottle.
SPECIALS $70 a bottle in any dozen; $29.99 in cabernet dozen.
Plush Margaret River classic from a superb vintage. Expressive aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, capsicum, dried bay leaf and cedar. Generous layers of fruit flavours (blackcurrants, plums and cassis), vanilla, mocha and spice come in waves across a velvety palate.
Deliciously mouth filling but elegant. 95 points from Wine Pilot. 14.5% alc; RRP $55 a bottle.
SPECIALS $44.99 a bottle in any dozen; $29.99 in cabernet dozen.
Classy Yarra Valley cabernet. Shows vibrant blackcurrant and sweet cassis aromas, with touches of bay leaf and mint. Fruit-driven palate with a hint of black olive supported by grippy tannins and a tingling acidity that cuts through to a fresh finish. 16 months in French oak, 35% new.
Delicious. 95 points from Team Halliday. 13.5% alc; RRP $38 a bottle.
SPECIALS $29.99 a bottle in any dozen; $29.99 in cabernet dozen.
CABERNET DOZEN Three bottles of each wine above for $29.99 a bottle a dozen. SAVE $264 a dozen.
Order by simply clicking the links to our online store or telephone 1300 765 359 Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm AEST. Deals are available only while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaites Wine, LIQP770016550. Stockhead is partnering with The Australian Wine Club on this offer.
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