The Auswine Forum

Would like to hear what your best aged cellar gems tried of late are. Is always good to know what’s been travelling well.

I recently opened up a 1999 Penfolds Magill that was superb. Still has life left (and lots of it) but is already a joy right now. Wish I had more. Another great red out of the underrated 99 era.

Also had a 1996 Xanadu cab/sav which is right on the mark. Very enjoyable typically aged Margaret cab.

2001 Rockford Basket Press is terrific now. Had 2 bottles, and both were brilliant.

Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 1997 was superb recently.

1994 Bannockburn Chardonnay was scrumptious...

I'm working my way through some '99 Willespie Cab.Sauv at the moment. This seems in good nick.

Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 1998, singing loudly and proudly, softened but not fading, lovely balance, will hold for 3-4 years yet for my tastes, but I'll probably drink the remaining 3 of mine over the next year or so.

98 Leasingham Bin 61 - In great nick, would have been an oaky wine in its youth though, but now is a lovely sweet fruited Clare Shiraz. At its peak me thinks

2001 Kay Brothers Amery Shiraz & Cab. Sav. Both drinking well and still have plenty of life in them.
2002 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz. Almost at its peak
2002 Saltram Namre Brook Cab. Sav. Just great.
2002 Clonikalla Hilltops Shiraz. Very good example of cool climate Shiraz, still has time to go
2002 Arakoon JJ Clarendon Shiraz. Another great MacLaren Vale Shiraz, a keeper.
1999 Signature. Still needs plenty of time in cellar.
2002 Bullers Calliope Shiraz. Very good. Needs more time

cuttlefish wrote

I'm working my way through some '99 Willespie Cab.Sauv at the moment. This seems in good nick.

I had a 96 Willespie last weekend but it was gone. Had high hopes too.

Partagas wrote:

Also had a 1996 Xanadu cab/sav which is right on the mark. Very enjoyable typically aged Margaret cab.

Ironically, we had a Xanadu Lagans 1998 that was stunning at CD when purchased but is now as dead as a dodo.

Davo wrote:

Partagas wrote:

Also had a 1996 Xanadu cab/sav which is right on the mark. Very enjoyable typically aged Margaret cab.

Ironically, we had a Xanadu Lagans 1998 that was stunning at CD when purchased but is now as dead as a dodo.

And the always volatile, now pretty undrinkable 99 Lagans is being offered for $8.86 in ex-HFW Cow Rock guise.

95 Awatea and Coleraine drinking fantastically well presently

Just getting into the 98's to. Pick of them probably (surprisingly) 98 esk reserve merlot cab

Avoid 1996 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec. Not much stuffing, with that annoying Clare mintiness. Totally dominates the palate. Virtually undrinkable.

Had a St Hugo 98 some weeks ago - it was rather oaky. A Tahbilk Shiraz 02 shared 2-3 months ago drank beautifully, very good fruit, well-integrated oak fairly subtle on the palate.

daz

I recently attended a large birthday party for two birthday boys. Because of the numbers we had to bring magnums (for Lordson that means a 1.5 liter bottle and not a Clint Eastwood weapon). The oldest wine there was a 1980 Chateau Musar, Bekaa, Lebanon (in Magnum) and it was delicious, for me (and a few others) the best wine of the evening.

I opened two bottles of 1989 Chateau de la Gardine, Chateauneuf du Pape (didn't have an older magnum). Drinking well but still has some way to go.

The other wines, and there were many, were good but no older than 2001. Just puppies. Love them older wines.

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

PS: Just for reference, some of the other wines were '96 Clos du Marquis, St Julien, '05 D'Issan, Margaux, and '05 Pirban, Pauillac, all from Bordeaux; an '01 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino, Italy; '05 Domain Weinbach, "Cuvee Ste Catherines" Pinot Gris, Alsace (Fantastic, the 2nd best wine of the evening); '03 Riessec, Sauternes; '01 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon; a couple of Spanish wines from 2001, and a forgettable California Zinfandel with 16.5% alcohol, all in magnum except for the Weinbach, Cloudy Bay and Rieussec.

I had a bottle of of 1995 Guigal Cotes Du Rhone a few weeks ago that was sublime, and right up there with the best I've ever had. Sadly I just had a 1995 Chapoutier St Joseph's Deschants which was very average. Southern Rhone 1 Northern Rhone 0.

Had a couple of back vintage pinots including the '99 Leabrook, and the '00 Tamar Ridge which have been good, and am looking forward to a 1995 Plantagenet pinot on Sunday.

1997 Elizabeth Semillon (remarkable).
1999 Xanadu Cabernet in magnum (good, but not great)
1998 Tahbilk Cabernet (nice, but not typically cabernet)
2001 Mitchelton Blackwood Park Riesling in magnum (OK, but not fabulous)

1992 wolf blass black label CS somewhat not as nice as i remember the 1994 black label CSM i had 5 months ago to be but still delicious

Red Bigot wrote:Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 1998will hold for 3-4 years yet for my tastes

Brilliant. You don't see this very often.

1999 Houghton White Burgundy... absolutely delicious, and one of the better older wines I've had lately...

If you get a good bottle...!

I guess I'm unusual in that I prefer to age white wine rather than red wine... even though red is my preferred poison

Steve wrote:1999 Houghton White Burgundy... absolutely delicious, and one of the better older wines I've had lately...

If you get a good bottle...!

I guess I'm unusual in that I prefer to age white wine rather than red wine... even though red is my preferred poison

I have to admit to cellaring HWB up to about the 1999 vintage, and not being disappointed, including some magnums (bought for single bottle prices) of their 1996 (60th vintage of HWB?). It would surprise a lot of people that such a relatively cheap bottle of wine made from innocuos white grapes would have the cellaring potential it used to have. I'm not at all convinced that the cellaring potential still exists, however, and would be interested in other peoples' experience with more recent vintages (i.e. this century).

Steve wrote:1999 Houghton White Burgundy... absolutely delicious, and one of the better older wines I've had lately...

If you get a good bottle...!

I guess I'm unusual in that I prefer to age white wine rather than red wine... even though red is my preferred poison

My best aged wine of the weekend was also a white. 1996 Penfolds Trial Bin Adelaide Hills Chardonnay and it was fantastic. Lovely golden colour without looking like it was past it. Still plenty of fruit and some acid, but also some honey and great mouthful and looong finish. A shame it was my last one. We had this for afternoon tea with some crumbed mozarrella.

Followed this up at dinner with:

1996 Wolf Blass Brown Label Shiraz - very nice. Still in it's drinking window but probably towards the end of it.

1993 Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet Sauvignon - Nice aged Victorian cabernet.

1995 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon - Slightly corked and otherwise probably past it's best

Waiters Friend wrote:

Steve wrote:1999 Houghton White Burgundy... absolutely delicious, and one of the better older wines I've had lately...

If you get a good bottle...!

I guess I'm unusual in that I prefer to age white wine rather than red wine... even though red is my preferred poison

I have to admit to cellaring HWB up to about the 1999 vintage, and not being disappointed, including some magnums (bought for single bottle prices) of their 1996 (60th vintage of HWB?). It would surprise a lot of people that such a relatively cheap bottle of wine made from innocuos white grapes would have the cellaring potential it used to have. I'm not at all convinced that the cellaring potential still exists, however, and would be interested in other peoples' experience with more recent vintages (i.e. this century).

The older ones cellar so well because they're basically just chenin blanc with a few other bits and pieces thrown in. I think that from about the time the name was changed to "Classic White" the chenin blanc disappeared and it's now made from grapes that don't belong anywhere near a cellar...

Red Bigot wrote:

Davo wrote:

Partagas wrote:

Also had a 1996 Xanadu cab/sav which is right on the mark. Very enjoyable typically aged Margaret cab.

Ironically, we had a Xanadu Lagans 1998 that was stunning at CD when purchased but is now as dead as a dodo.

And the always volatile, now pretty undrinkable 99 Lagans is being offered for $8.86 in ex-HFW Cow Rock guise.

Had my 2nd, and last, bottle of Xanadu Lagan 1998, hoping like hell that the cork was the problem in the 1st, allowing premature aging. Alas, the second bottle was identical to the first, way past drinktime.

Red Bigot wrote:

Davo wrote:

Partagas wrote:

Also had a 1996 Xanadu cab/sav which is right on the mark. Very enjoyable typically aged Margaret cab.

Ironically, we had a Xanadu Lagans 1998 that was stunning at CD when purchased but is now as dead as a dodo.

And the always volatile, now pretty undrinkable 99 Lagans is being offered for $8.86 in ex-HFW Cow Rock guise.

Had my 2nd, and last, bottle of Xanadu Lagan 1998, hoping like hell that the cork was the problem in the 1st, allowing premature aging. Alas, the second bottle was identical to the first, way past drinktime.

Red Bigot wrote:
Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 1998, singing loudly and proudly, softened but not fading, lovely balance, will hold for 3-4 years yet for my tastes, but I'll probably drink the remaining 3 of mine over the next year or so.

Wow Brian, seems we like our wines at enormously different ages.
I drank my 98 RSWs years ago, and have currently drank/tipped out many bottles of 02 RSW due to oxidisation/premature ageing problems that I have encountered. I am finding many 02 shiraz from McLaren Vale simply not ageing well, and going past the point of being enjoyable IMO.

I am currently getting into 04 RSWs, and I think they are just perfect right now.

I suppose it would not be much fun if everybody liked the same wine at the same age!

cheers
Bruce

A 1999 Penfolds Bin 407 yesterday, was pleasantly surprised given it was generally considered a poor vintage, nice and still has some legs but will be drinking the last couple I have in the next 12 months.

1999 Peter Lehman Eight Songs, just entering its drinking window, but will hold for 5+ years yet, gorgeous rich Barossa shiraz.

Glen

Tasted this wine last week.

Absolutely magnificent, a faith restoring wine, surprisingly good.

Colour - still a vibrant red, light around the edges, as would be expected.

Nose - smell of french oak (vanilla), dark berry fruit.

Palate, beautiful liquorice characteristics mid-palate, dark berries again (blackberries) fantastic mouthfeel and grip, almost silt-like tannins and consistency, very long, gently fading finish.

Sharkey wrote:
1993 Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet Sauvignon - Nice aged Victorian cabernet.

She's from the Dorrien Vineyards in the Barossa, but I agree, when they are good they are very very good. Pity they don't make it any more.