TV's: Two Outstanding 1998's (Majella & Bannockburn)

[Martin Phillipson]

Hi All

Well, my previous bleak postings about certain 1998's are certainly contradicted by the following:

Majella Caberet Sauvignon 1998

What a wine! The absolute essence of Coonawarra Cab. It's wines like this that remind me why Coonawarra Cab is my fave Australian wine. Jet black in the glass, with a truly superb nose of eucalypt, earth, and ripe ripe blackcurrants. In the mouth a huge mouthful of tannin, fruit and acid all in perfect balance. The tannins are starting to soften and everything is coming together beautifully. Long long finish.

Still a pup, delicious now but really needs a bit more time to gain more complexity. Certainly in it's drinking window but in its v early stages.

As an aside I treated this wine abominably before opening. Took it in my carry on across the Atlantic to London where it was x-rayed, tossed about and finally opened at a friends house with no decanting etc etc. Had it with roast lamb with rosemary and garlic and as the TV indicates it was outstanding. Cost me $36 here a few years back..a total and utter bargain.


The second great recent 1998 was perhaps even better:

Bannockburn Shiraz 1998

Only managed to snag 3 of these a few years back. This was the first one. Also, this is the infamous frost wine, where vintners from all over Aust donated fruit so they could produce something. Well produce something they did.

Beautiful colour in the glass, vivid purple, no signs of browning yet. On the nose, just a riot of raspberries, forest floor and black pepper. In the mouth, more and more of that black pepper with heady notes of mint and fruit. The finish was long and clear and balanced.

However, the thing that really struck me about this wine was the texture. It was such a luscious mouthful, I think the word we used was viscous. Not cloying or heavy just a beautifully rich mouthfeel, really quite outstanding and almost like no other Australian wine I have ever tasted. It just coated your tounge and mouth with all that flavour.

A remarkable wine that is drinking superbly now but will certainly last another few years.

Cheers

M

[jester]

Completely agree with you, had the 98 majella cabernet a couple of times in the last 12 months and it is a fantastic wine.

[707]

Agree, agree.

Majella is such a consistent producer with little vintage variation, just high peaks in the best vintages and 1998 is certainly that. You can buy them every year with confidence, as I have done since the first vintage in 1991.

Don't under estimate the Shiraz either, the 1997 is drinking brilliantly at present.

Bannockburn, what a worry. The 1998 showed that Bannockburn is as much about the winemaking as the vineyards. Now the other great Gazza from that area has left. Gary Farr is maybe as much an enigma as Ablett. I know Kitsanbummer is there this year but where to from now?