TN: Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon (Special Reserve) 1983

[dlo]

A recent auction purchase, this outstanding Cabernet revealed a rusty brown meniscus gradating to a deep ruby core. The nose fluctuated like a flukey sea breeze, but delivered, at various stages, very sound aged notes of dusty blackcurrants, capsicum, old books, a mix of sandalwood and cedar, sweet earth, mixed dried herbs and a top note of spice box. The palate even more impressive offering fresher flavours of plum, blackcurrant, autumn leaves, some cigar box and minerals. There's a healthy dose of savoury oak adding weight on the palate and lovely bright acids caress the tip of the tongue. The tannin regime is fully mature with only a skerrick of grip remaining with the finish suitably impressive revealing astute length and, remarkably, a degree of freshness. My initial score of 91 now seems somewhat stingey ..... I'll give it 93 - it's improving all the time as it sits in the glass and went incredibly well with home-made spaghetti bolognase earlier this evening. Great job, Keith Mugford - this is a ripper Margaret River red!

[griff]

Thanks for the note David. Do you know when Pannell left Mosswood?

cheers

Carl

[Mahmoud Ali]

Thanks for the tasting note, I particularly liked the reference to "old books".

Cheers...............Mahmoud.

[dlo]

Thanks for the note David. Do you know when Pannell left Mosswood?

cheers

Carl

Early eighties I think. Keith's first vintage was 1983 IIRC. Good to hear from you again, Carl.

[griff]

Thanks for the note David. Do you know when Pannell left Mosswood?

cheers

Carl

Early eighties I think. Keith's first vintage was 1983 IIRC. Good to hear from you again, Carl.

On the other side of the world now but still around

Sounds like an excellent first effort then!

cheers

Carl

[Partagas]

I believe Bill started Picardy in early nineties and wasn’t too long after leaving Mosswood (as mentioned I think mid 80’s). Keith was his winemaker for a while and bought it off him at the end.

I opened a 1991 Reserve recently for my boy’s birthday and it had the very best nose of any wine I have ever had the pleasure in opening. It was great but way way too young. I obviously suspected it was going to be but couldn’t help myself.

Sam