Few Old Wines for 60th

[mjs]

[See final round of wines in last post in this thread]

Digging a few bottles out of the cellar for 60th celebrations over the next few days or so. Here's a selection of Pennies, will post some TN

[sjw_11]

Awesome line up ... and happy birthday! look forward to the tasting notes

[mjs]

The 72 St Henri seems to have disappeared out of shot!

Also have 90, 86 and 67 BL, 98 Bowen Ampelon, 81 Mildara Cab, magnums of 98 707, 96 Block42 and 91 Wynns Centenary. Should be a good week or so I reckon!!

Sorry, is my Coonawarra bias showing?

[sjw_11]

The 72 St Henri seems to have disappeared out of shot!

Also have 90, 86 and 67 BL, 98 Bowen Ampelon, 81 Mildara Cab, magnums of 98 707, 96 Block42 and 91 Wynns Centenary. Should be a good week or so I reckon!!

Sorry, is my Coonawarra bias showing?

Dont drink the 1998 707 from Magnum yet!! Keep it for your 70th at the very earliest!!

[Luke W]

Awesome selection - congratulations - good to see u embarking on ur 7th decade in style

[mjs]

The 72 St Henri seems to have disappeared out of shot!

Also have 90, 86 and 67 BL, 98 Bowen Ampelon, 81 Mildara Cab, magnums of 98 707, 96 Block42 and 91 Wynns Centenary. Should be a good week or so I reckon!!

Sorry, is my Coonawarra bias showing?

Dont drink the 1998 707 from Magnum yet!! Keep it for your 70th at the very earliest!!

Yes, perhaps a mild case of vinfanticide, might rethink that one

[TiggerK]

Tasty lineup! What year is the Bin 128?

Look forward to some notes, especially the 707 1976 and the Block 42 1996. May all your corks be taint free.

And Happy 60th!

[Willard]

What a glorious line up MJS. Happy birthday!

If it was mine, I reckon I'd hold on the 1996 Block 42, but unfortunately I'm not lucky enough to have any! I'm very keen to hear how the 1972 St Henri is.

Hope you have a great few days.

Will

[phillisc]

Malcolm, enjoy and happy 60th
We share a Coonawarra bias, apart from the 81 Mildara, 72 St henri and the block 42...I have the rest

When I tried a 55 Michael in 1984 it was the closest to perfection that I have ever experienced.
However, the Ampelon is one out of the box....a stunning stunning example of Coonawarra shiraz.

I spoke to Joy Bowen a few weeks back, there has been nothing in over a decade in terms of fruit quality that has come remotely close...wondering if there may be a 2012 release though.

Look forward to the notes.

Cheers
Craig.

[mjs]

Tasty lineup! What year is the Bin 128?

Look forward to some notes, especially the 707 1976 and the Block 42 1996. May all your corks be taint free.

And Happy 60th!

Thanks Tig. The Bin 128 is 1973

Picked it up a while ago in the bottle shop at the Royal Oak Hotel in Penola. Looks in perfect nick. Always something interesting there that gets pulled out of cellars where most stock has been since purchase.

[mjs]

What a glorious line up MJS. Happy birthday!

If it was mine, I reckon I'd hold on the 1996 Block 42, but unfortunately I'm not lucky enough to have any! I'm very keen to hear how the 1972 St Henri is.

Hope you have a great few days.

Will

Yes, the Block 42 magnum could be kept, I have a few bottles as well, so will definitely have a go at something. Tasted it some years ago at a Pennies tasting and thought it was the one of the best Cabernets I have ever tasted. Will be interested to see the development.

[mjs]

Malcolm, enjoy and happy 60th
We share a Coonawarra bias, apart from the 81 Mildara, 72 St henri and the block 42...I have the rest

When I tried a 55 Michael in 1984 it was the closest to perfection that I have ever experienced.
However, the Ampelon is one out of the box....a stunning stunning example of Coonawarra shiraz.

I spoke to Joy Bowen a few weeks back, there has been nothing in over a decade in terms of fruit quality that has come remotely close...wondering if there may be a 2012 release though.

Look forward to the notes.

Cheers
Craig.

Thanks Craig,

Had an Ampelon a couple of months ago at Matteo's, was stunning. Have had a few since release and have to say that it seems best right now.

Emailed Joy yesterday actually, might catch up over the weekend. (Going to Coonawarra tomorrow)

Malcolm

[phillisc]

Cheers Malcolm, in Coonawarra for your 60th, what a blast!!

I am 50 in February 2015, and are thinking something similar although you will certainly have the better of it with the weather, 10 degrees versus 40 plus.
Great you had a chat to Joy...great lady indeed...do hope there is another Ampelon one day.

I have a sneaky feeling you will pop into Wynns, my name is complete mud with the winery now...might have to build a bridge one day
Can you get the good oil on what might be happening for Wynnsday next week...nothing going on here in Adelaide to date.
I see that there are 5 wines to be released and low and behold an 2010 Alex 88 single vineyard, first reported by Halliday 11 months ago in the Oz, and from Graeme G at the Sydney show...but denied as recently as 8 weeks ago by the winemakers (TWE embargo on press release until this month).

With no JR or M this year they are trying to push the single vineyard wine up to fill the void ($80 RRP)...I am already getting some correspondence of price way below RRP...unfortunately not from the winery or indeed their wine club.

Cheers
Craig

[alexc92]

Fantastic line up! Very jealous..enjoy your birthday!

[mjs]

First cab off the rank, pre-dinner

81 Mildara Cabernet Merlot (75/25), 12mths in Fr oak
84 Montgomery Trophy winner
0g/l resid sugar, pH 3.5, 12.5% A/V
Bottom of neck, cork in v good nick
Brick red, pale rim, almost yellowish. Some mustiness which blew off, some sweet fruit, then beautiful cedar notes, soft fruit, some tobacco, an elegant style, probably typical of the era, still holding up. Obviously a good old bottle. V enjoyable.

[LGW]

Happy 60th Malcolm. All the best for the rest of the night/weekend!

[mjs]

Cheers Malcolm, in Coonawarra for your 60th, what a blast!!

I am 50 in February 2015, and are thinking something similar although you will certainly have the better of it with the weather, 10 degrees versus 40 plus.
Great you had a chat to Joy...great lady indeed...do hope there is another Ampelon one day.

I have a sneaky feeling you will pop into Wynns, my name is complete mud with the winery now...might have to build a bridge one day
Can you get the good oil on what might be happening for Wynnsday next week...nothing going on here in Adelaide to date.
I see that there are 5 wines to be released and low and behold an 2010 Alex 88 single vineyard, first reported by Halliday 11 months ago in the Oz, and from Graeme G at the Sydney show...but denied as recently as 8 weeks ago by the winemakers (TWE embargo on press release until this month).

With no JR or M this year they are trying to push the single vineyard wine up to fill the void ($80 RRP)...I am already getting some correspondence of price way below RRP...unfortunately not from the winery or indeed their wine club.

Cheers
Craig

Craig,

As things would have it, went there today, your sneaky feeling was right on the money, was hoping to taste the 12 Black labels as TWE are offering them to their members for a reasonable deal atm. Unfortunately, the wines will not be available at CD until Thu next week, so no tasting today. Not sure about Wynnsday, but tasted some Alex88 from barrel earlier in March thus year at CD. Was really impressed with their interest and handling of small parcels and single vineyards, including Alex88. Just not sure what might happen this coming week. I guess there is no 11 JR or M, probably the 12s next year.

Not sure if this helps!
Malcolm

[phillisc]

Cheers Malcolm, what is really sad is that TWE clearly does not talk to the winery(Wynns).
I rang the winery on Thursday largely to see what the lie of the land is, but also to inform them that wines being held back for wynnsday is an absolute farce, (and to gloat that i have already ordered).
I ordered a dozen BL shiraz and Cab on Thursday for a pretty sharp price ( appears we get the same emails from TWE).

Yes 2012 JR and M out next year and these will be the retail last purchases along with the 2012 single vineyard offering.
I was down in the cellar yesterday...just teetering on a 1000 bottles over 45 vintages...so that will be it for me.

did you get to have a look at the 2012 Gables?

Its 2.5 degrees in Adelaide this morning, you must be freezing your backside off down in Coonawarra.
hope the rest of the reds go well

Cheers
Craig

[mjs]

98 Bowen Estate Ampelon
100% Shiraz, 14.5% A/V, no bottling since this vintage.
Black red, slight blood red at rim, still looking relatively youthful, intense black fruit bouquet, black coffee, oak notes, incredibly attractive, full mouth feel, medium chalky tannins, black fruit, very impressive drink. Certainly did not seem like a 14.5% A/V wine, great balance.

Would say that this bottle was one of the best examples of this wine that I have had.

[catchnrelease]

Really curious as to how those old Pennies are holding up.

[mjs]

Here's the line up from last Sat which was the final 60th celebration. Most from the cellar, grb2001 generously contributed the JR and the Pennies port


Consumed from right to left - some very brief impressions below

96 Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet (magnum) - absolutely pure cabernet, cassis, great structure, not too much oak, very young, great fruit, vinfanticide right now, will go for another thirty
91 Petaluma Cabernet - ok
91 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet (magnum) - beautiful drink, fantastic
90 Penfolds Bin90A - very good, but not as good as others that I have had - a bit closed, harsh maybe still great
90 Wynns Black Label Cabernet - drinking beautifully
90 Penfolds Bin 70 - wow, wow, great bottle, leather, coffee, still good fruit though, a great wine to savour
88 Wynns John Riddoch (magnum) - great nick, beautiful
86 Wynns Black Label Cabernet - great nick
81 Wynns Black Label Cabernet (magnum) - beautiful old wine
76 Penfolds Bin 707 (not shown, see first post above) - great drink
72 Penfodls St Henri (2012 Clinic) - WOTN for me, great great nick, still fruit, complexity, beautiful
67 Wynns Black label Cabernet - a bit past it, slightly porty, interesting
53 Penfolds Club Port - level was low shoulder, but was ok, raisiny, sweet, complex

Fantastic wines, great night, great celebration

[sjw_11]

Here's the line up from last Sat which was the final 60th celebration. Most from the cellar, grb2001 generously contributed the JR and the Pennies port


Consumed from right to left - some very brief impressions below

96 Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet (magnum) - absolutely pure cabernet, cassis, great structure, not too much oak, very young, great fruit, vinfanticide right now, will go for another thirty
91 Petaluma Cabernet - ok
91 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet (magnum) - beautiful drink, fantastic
90 Penfolds Bin90A - very good, but not as good as others that I have had - a bit closed, harsh maybe still great
90 Wynns Black Label Cabernet - drinking beautifully
90 Penfolds Bin 70 - wow, wow, great bottle, leather, coffee, still good fruit though, a great wine to savour
88 Wynns John Riddoch (magnum) - great nick, beautiful
86 Wynns Black Label Cabernet - great nick
81 Wynns Black Label Cabernet (magnum) - beautiful old wine
76 Penfolds Bin 707 (not shown, see first post above) - great drink
72 Penfodls St Henri (2012 Clinic) - WOTN for me, great great nick, still fruit, complexity, beautiful
67 Wynns Black label Cabernet - a bit past it, slightly porty, interesting
53 Penfolds Club Port - level was low shoulder, but was ok, raisiny, sweet, complex

Fantastic wines, great night, great celebration

Wow what a line up!!!

What was your pick of the lot??

[mjs]

Like I said, the 72 St Henri was just a stunning wine, but have to say that the sleeper was the 96 Block 42 Cabernet. Fabulous Cabernet, structure, complexity, will last for yonks

[catchnrelease]

wow! great line up!

[mjs]

wow! great line up!

Yes, I did get comments from several friends along the lines of " .. best line up of old wines that I will ever have the pleasure of tasting in one go .. "
I was looking forward to it and it was bloody good fun. Got to wait ten years for the next one now

[Teisto]

What a great line up! some very lucky people. I know I would consider giving up part of an appendage for trying something like that.