11.11 DEAL: Reschke RSR Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

At over a decade old, this Reschke RSR has reached that sweet spot where aggressive young tannins have softened into silky elegance. The extended bottle ageing has allowed the primary fruit flavours to integrate beautifully with secondary characteristics like leather and herbs. Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is renowned for its exceptional ageing potential, often hitting its stride between 10-15 years, making this 2013 vintage perfectly positioned for optimal drinking.

Coonawarra's famous terra rossa soil - a thin strip of red earth over limestone - creates ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique terroir produces wines with distinctive eucalyptus and mint characteristics, evident in this wine's rosemary and thyme notes. The cool climate and excellent drainage result in wines with exceptional structure and longevity, which is why this region is often called Australia's answer to Bordeaux.

Premium Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon like this Reschke RSR can age gracefully for 20-30 years or more. While it's drinking beautifully now with its mellowed tannins and complex flavour profile, it still has the structural backbone to develop further. The wine's savoury finish and herbaceous complexity suggest it will continue evolving, developing more tertiary characters like tobacco and cedar over the next decade.

The wine's evolved tannins and savoury, meaty characteristics make it perfect for rich, slow-cooked dishes like braised lamb shanks or beef bourguignon. The herbaceous notes complement dishes with rosemary or thyme, while the leather and earthy undertones pair beautifully with aged cheeses or mushroom-based dishes. The wine's full body and complexity can stand up to bold flavours without being overwhelmed.

A 96-point score from Wine Orbit places this wine in the 'outstanding' category, indicating exceptional quality and complexity. This rating, combined with the Five Stars designation, suggests the wine demonstrates perfect varietal character, excellent balance, and remarkable ageing potential. Such high scores for a 2013 vintage also indicate that Reschke achieved something special in what was already considered a very good vintage for Coonawarra.