Hi all,
I have a 1/2 dozen of these stashed away, JO suggests a drinking window of 2010-2018. However, a friend had one the other day and thought that it was good drinking now and suggested not lingering. Not sure about his palate, and I have no confidence in my own palate in terms of predicting optimal drinking windows.
Has anyone had a bottle recently, is it good drinking now or would you recommend waiting another 5 years for best results.
Regards,
Allan
Penfolds 1998 Bin 389 Drinking Window
In general, that's one of the advantages of buying six, in that you could crack one now - if you love it, great have another 2 or 3, then leave the others staggered nearer towards the 2010-2018 range. However if it still feels tight, give it some air (say in a decanter) and if you feel it opens up, keep the remainder locked up for a few more years before trying the 2nd.
I need to remind myself sometimes that:
- There is no optimal drinking date. Wines don't go from undrinkable to exquisite overnight, nor do they fall off a cliff the night after that.
- Wines can be drunk before and after they've peaked and still give great pleasure.
- There is great bottle variation(I'd say especially under cork, but that would start a debate we don't need!), so you may drink one that tastes a little past it and the next bottle 6 months later is fresh and immature.
I have 3 of them and I've not been tempted yet, but probably will be tempted in a couple of years.
Personally I'm sure I'm rubbish at predicting drinking windows on wines I don't know, but the critics are often way off course as well. However as 389 is a wine with a decent history, it makes it easier to compare and I don't think Oliver will be far off the mark with his suggestion. Just a simple "still strong tannins" or even "this is drinking beautifully" can be enough to confirm/challenge your original assumption (which might have been from a critics assessment). As you've got six of them, you'll find yourself making this judgement naturally.
Hope you enjoy them - I'm sure you will
Ian
I need to remind myself sometimes that:
- There is no optimal drinking date. Wines don't go from undrinkable to exquisite overnight, nor do they fall off a cliff the night after that.
- Wines can be drunk before and after they've peaked and still give great pleasure.
- There is great bottle variation(I'd say especially under cork, but that would start a debate we don't need!), so you may drink one that tastes a little past it and the next bottle 6 months later is fresh and immature.
I have 3 of them and I've not been tempted yet, but probably will be tempted in a couple of years.
Personally I'm sure I'm rubbish at predicting drinking windows on wines I don't know, but the critics are often way off course as well. However as 389 is a wine with a decent history, it makes it easier to compare and I don't think Oliver will be far off the mark with his suggestion. Just a simple "still strong tannins" or even "this is drinking beautifully" can be enough to confirm/challenge your original assumption (which might have been from a critics assessment). As you've got six of them, you'll find yourself making this judgement naturally.
Hope you enjoy them - I'm sure you will
Ian
Allan,
There's a TN from last Monday night in my '9 old Penfolds' thread. Without knowing your personal taste preferences, it's impossible to say whether you'd enjoy it particularly or not. I find it thoroughly immature and would suggest (assuming correct cellaring) that another 5 years might give it the sort of personality that the 94 and 91 vintages are now showing.
I think you can generally drink Bin 389 at any time, but the best vintages demand at least 10 years before they're of even moderate interest. For the first 7 years after vintage they're one-dimensional, until 15 they're two-dimensional, and after that they're really something worth making a fuss about...
cheers,
Graeme
There's a TN from last Monday night in my '9 old Penfolds' thread. Without knowing your personal taste preferences, it's impossible to say whether you'd enjoy it particularly or not. I find it thoroughly immature and would suggest (assuming correct cellaring) that another 5 years might give it the sort of personality that the 94 and 91 vintages are now showing.
I think you can generally drink Bin 389 at any time, but the best vintages demand at least 10 years before they're of even moderate interest. For the first 7 years after vintage they're one-dimensional, until 15 they're two-dimensional, and after that they're really something worth making a fuss about...
cheers,
Graeme
Hi Allen,
I agree with Graeme, it's been very good and balanced drinking right from the beginning (not that I've had in the last 2, and Graemes notes contradict this opinon) but will really show it's colours in a few years. But then maybe you aren't keen on aged wines and prefer the upfront fruit it would still be displaying now. Crack one and let us know
I agree with Graeme, it's been very good and balanced drinking right from the beginning (not that I've had in the last 2, and Graemes notes contradict this opinon) but will really show it's colours in a few years. But then maybe you aren't keen on aged wines and prefer the upfront fruit it would still be displaying now. Crack one and let us know
simm.
"I ain't drunk! I' still drinkin' !!"
"I ain't drunk! I' still drinkin' !!"
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Gianna
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I tried both the 96 and 98 recently and tend to agree with JO and his window for the 98. It will develop further, but as Ian said, wines don't go from being undrinkable to optimum overnight. The 98 389 should be left for a few more years, but it is still a fine drop now.
I have 5 96's left and although they will develop further, I won't wait and will drink at least one each year from now on.
I have 5 96's left and although they will develop further, I won't wait and will drink at least one each year from now on.
At every turn, it pays to challenge orthodox ways of thinking
Open one 98 vintage few months ago, I would say it is good to drink now if you decent it for at least an hour. I believed it will keep improving in the next few years , however, since you got six bottles, it is not a bad idea to try one now. Then you can compare your own feeling in few years later rather than just listen to other people comment.
Open a 86 vintage last week, excellent to drink now and dont think it will improve any further.
Open a 86 vintage last week, excellent to drink now and dont think it will improve any further.