A 1996 Bin 707

[Rawshack]

I was lucky enough for a bottle of this to land on my lap... One of the big chains 'cellar releases' no doubt.

Anyone have any view on this vintage? Should I be hanging on to it, or drinking now...?

Also v lucky to get a Jasper Hill Georgia's paddock 08 as well. It's almost like it's my birthday. Oh, hold on, it is...

[sparky]

Rawshack, Rewards of Patience has it drinking through to 2025, so I'd be inclined to go a few more years unless the provenance is a bit dodgy. Also marked as one of the better vintages.

Be careful who you open it with..

[TiggerK]

Haven't had a 96, but based on the 98, I suspect the oak will still be fairly noticable, best left another 5 years if you can manage it. Bound to be extremely enjoyable anytime though, if it's been stored well. One of the best vintages ever, and a real long termer.

Nice!

[Rawshack]

Thanks guys.... I am tempted to pop the top off it sooner rather than later, but I might try and hold on another couple of years

707 is something I'm not that experienced in, but looking forward to getting some

[griff]

Not a massive fan of 707 but the 1996 is the exception. Superb wine. Had it twice now. About 5 years back courtesy of Bachaebabe and a year or so ago. Both times it gave a lot of satisfaction but the best is still to come. So you wont regret opening now but later is better.

cheers

Carl

[rooman]

I had one bottle about a year ago as part of a horizontal tasting of '96 Cab Sav. The 707 was still incredibly young with very strong tannins. There was almost no secondary development yet. I would hold it for at least another 5 years and preferably 10 to really get the most out of it.

[Mike Hawkins]

While it is not quite ready (the oak influence has subsided significantly since release thankfully), for my money it is the best Bin 707 for at least 20 years. I vaguely recall one of the British critics (Broadbent?) saying he preferred it to the 1996 Lafite - itself a superb wine.

Given some of the best fruit went to the Block 42 label in 1996, it's a testament to the skill of the winemaker and the greatness of the vintage.

If you're going to open it soon, give it a decent decant....

Mike

[DJ]

Given some of the best fruit went to the Block 42 label in 1996, it's a testament to the skill of the winemaker and the greatness of the vintage.

True the best Barossa fruit but 707 has long been a multi regional blend and Coonawarra was not bad in 96
At least one vintage has included Western Australian fruit (about 94 had Mt Barker)

[AndrewCowley]

At least one vintage has included Western Australian fruit (about 94 had Mt Barker)

Really!? Wow. I have always assumed that the Penfolds Bin XXX reds were at least 100% from SA. So they sometimes go interstate in the search for what they are trying to create. Gee that must be complicated for them. Do they ever use Victorian sourced grapes?

[GraemeG]

At least one vintage has included Western Australian fruit (about 94 had Mt Barker)

Really!? Wow. I have always assumed that the Penfolds Bin XXX reds were at least 100% from SA. So they sometimes go interstate in the search for what they are trying to create. Gee that must be complicated for them. Do they ever use Victorian sourced grapes?

I think the 94 Bin 707 was the only vintage that doesn't actually say 'South Australia' on the label. It lists the regions, including "Mt Barker", but there's nothing to indicated that it's Mt Barker WA, not Mt Barker SA. I heard this from Larry Cherubino at a dinner (a big fan of Mt Barker WA) and was fascinated to confirm it by examining a bottle I had at home.
G

[bacchaebabe]

LOL, I was hoping you were posting a tasting note on this. I went long on it on release as it was getting rave reviews.

As Carl said, I took a couple of bottles of this to a christmas offline a few years ago (probably five but I can't remember). It was still very primary then at around 10 years of age. I'm pretty certain I gave it a big decant too but it wasn't showing too much but the quality was certainly there. It's definitely one of the best Bin 707s and I'm in no hurry to try any more for at least another five years. If you choose to open yours, please post a note. Ha ha.

I also got a few bottles of the Block 42 which I also won't be touching for a while. 96 was a very good year for cabs for Penfolds.