Most wineries will tell you they're family-owned. Majella is one of the ones where you can point to the year it started and the person who said yes.
In 1968, George Patrick Lynn allowed his sons, Brian and Anthony, to plant vines on the family's Coonawarra property. George died in 1976, aged 50, before the estate grew into what it is today. His name and that planting year now belong to the flagship red: GPL68.
Why Coonawarra matters
Coonawarra is a narrow strip of South Australia's Limestone Coast, known for its terra rossa soil, a red topsoil over limestone. The region has a long reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz does well here too. Majella makes both, alongside Riesling, Chardonnay and Merlot, plus sparkling wines in two styles.
The Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet is the calling card. The winery describes the palate as eucalypt, mint and dark berry fruit with a fruitcake richness, backed by fine, dusty tannins and a long finish. That mix of mint, eucalypt and dark fruit is about as Coonawarra as it gets.
It's built to age, with the winery suggesting 12 to 15 years of cellaring, but you can also open a bottle this week. The 2021 is currently $31.75, down from $39.00.
Majella Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
The GPL68
GPL68 is the flagship: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines planted in 1968. The winemaker describes the 2016 as a balanced wine with fruit, savouriness and oak in step, ripe tannins and a long finish.
Wine Pilot scored it 96 points, noting cassis and black fruit alongside graphite, dried herbs, aniseed and spice. The oak is well integrated, the tannins are silky, and the length is serious. Wine Pilot's suggested drinking window runs from 2025 to 2045, and the winery puts cellaring potential at 20+ years. You can drink it now, but it will still be improving in a decade.
The 2016 is currently $110.50, down from $130.00.
Majella GPL68 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
The rest of the range
Reds. The Merlot 2024 comes in a 12 bottle pack at $379.99, about $31.67 a bottle. The Shiraz is sold by the half-dozen at $192.99, about $32.17 a bottle.
Whites. The Riesling 2025 is $239.99 for 12, which works out to $20 a bottle and makes it the best-value case in the collection. The Chardonnay 2024 is $169.99 for six.
Sparkling. The Sparkling Shiraz 2022 is $34.99, an Australian style that suits summer and Christmas tables. The Minuet Sparkling Riesling NV is a sparkling Riesling at $181.00 for six, about $30.17 a bottle.
Where to start
- One bottle to try: the Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
- One bottle to keep: the GPL68 2016.
- One case to buy: the Riesling, at $20 a bottle.
- One bottle for Christmas: the Sparkling Shiraz.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Majella wine from?
Majella is made in Coonawarra, in South Australia's Limestone Coast region.
What is GPL68?
It's Majella's flagship Cabernet Sauvignon. The name honours George Patrick Lynn and the 1968 planting of the vineyard.
How long can Majella Cabernet Sauvignon be cellared?
The winery suggests 12 to 15 years for the standard Cabernet, and 20+ years for the GPL68.