The prodigy stands tall as one of the icon wines of Coonawarra and you’d have to describe the winemaker as a prodigy for crafting a drop this good. Yes, it’s that good that it demands a moments silence out of respect. This is the result of drawing the best Shiraz fruit from a single vineyard that lies on the distinct Terra Rossa soils of the region. It's rare to find this kind of concentration. The Prodigy is all about poise with dark berries, some licorice and spice. There’s plush upfront fruit with supple chocolate-like tannins showing enormous balance. It will last comfortably for a decade or more but if you are going to treat yourself, match it with some roast beef and horseradish mash.
Katnook Prodigy Shiraz is one of the Estate's iconic wines, the other being Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2010, Prodigy was added to the prestigious Langton's Classification V in the "excellent" category. Langton's describe Prodigy as "a plush dense wine with lovely roasted coffee aromas, supple sweet chocolaty tannins and balanced rather than full-on new oak.”
Past Accolades and Awards:
Ray Jordan: 95 This is an awesome and powerful statement of Coonawarra shiraz. Winemaker Wayne Stehbens chooses the best fruit from individual parcels and matures it in a mix of largely new French and American oak over at least 26 months. Such is the intensity of the fruit that it absorbs all the oak with ease. The flavour of dark fruit, spices and a touch of licorice and mocha is intense and complex. One for the cellar.
James Halliday: 94 Deep purple-crimson; relatively speaking, more elegant than some of its predecessors, 26 months in predominantly French and American oak barrels woven into the quite savoury/spicy black fruits and the extended finish.
Campbell Mattinson: 94 This is the 10th release of Katnook Estate Prodigy shiraz. It spends 26 months in a mix of French and American oak, about half of which is new. Full-bodied and rich but this 2008 is remarkably spritely. It tastes of liqueured cherries, plums, toasty/smoky oak and bourbon. Those descriptors probably make it sound heavy, but the flavours remain fresh and lively, despite their intensity. Fresh acidity to finish. Soft, melted-in tannin. Faultless in the big, rich fashion.
Jeremy Oliver: 94 A sumptuous, powerful but measured shiraz that balances its deeply ripened and concentrated blackberry and briary fruit with smoky, chocolatey oak. Full to medium weight, it's long and firm, supported by firm, fine-grained oak-derived tannins and saturated with flavours of blood plums, blackberries, redcurrants and cassis that soaks up its polished new oak influences. Give it plenty of time. Best Drinking: 2020-2028
Don't Pay: $115.00
WBW Rating: 95/100
Closure: Cork
Region: Coonawarra, SA
Winemaker: Wayne Stehbens
Drink now until: 2029
Alc/Vol: 14.5 %
