TN: 2005 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Gewurztraminer

[n4sir]

2005 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Gewurztraminer, Eden Valley (screwcap): 13.5% alc. Sourced from the Woodbury Vineyard. Medium yellow. It's been five years since I last tried this wine and it has barely moved, the nose full of rose water, lychees, musk, lemon blossoms and rose petals, a little slate and smoke in the distance. The palate's just as spicy and pretty, with racy acidity kicking in just before mid-palate, dancing around the edge of the tongue, finishing mouth-watering, lip-puckering, slightly slatey and ever-so slightly grassy. Still a benchmark wine for Penfolds and other Australian Gewurztraminer, and still a remarkably affordable one at that!

[catchnrelease]

What do you think it's life span would be? I've only had Gewurz young (<3 years). Do they have a dumb phase like riesling?

[thevinogeek]

Definitely have to get my hands on some of this. Has anyone tried Topper's Mountain Gewurztraminer? Absolutely sensational and ages very very well. Very similar price around the $35-$40!

[pstarr]

Best Australian gewurtz I've had, that 2005 Penfolds Cellar Reserve. I should have bought more.

[sparky]

One of my all time favourites, the Cellar Reserve Gewurztraminer.

Always makes me think of rolling naked in rose petals. Probably does quite well as a date night wine

[n4sir]

What do you think it's life span would be? I've only had Gewurz young (<3 years). Do they have a dumb phase like riesling?

No real dumb phase to report of, at least in this case - as to how long it will keep, I'm in the dark like you!

A few years ago when Forumite Gustav was here from Norway with his family, he asked the same question after saying old world examples aged superbly - at the time I wasn't aware of too many with any kind of age, so I stashed a couple of these away. I did get hold of a 1983 Trimbach as a possible guide, but that turned one out to be a VT (higher RS levels) compared to this which is bone dry. We knocked it off last year, and I thought it was in decent shape.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13552&p=111038

I also have the 2006 & 2007 vintages on the tasting rack to have a look at sometime later this year to see if there's any significant differences. Maybe I should have done a mini-vertical at the time?

One of my all time favourites, the Cellar Reserve Gewurztraminer.

Always makes me think of rolling naked in rose petals. Probably does quite well as a date night wine

Thanks for the hot tip Sparky. When are you in town again?


Cheers,
Ian