TN:1998 Wirra Wirra Penly Cabernet

[mychurch]

I remember the day I bought this - the shop had 4 boxes each of this, the Chook Block Shiraz and the Alwah Grenache. Only took a 6 pack of each and have regretted that for years... The Alwah was drunk up fairly quickly, but I still have a couple of bottles left of this and the Shiraz. Big buggers, which make them difficult to stack in the wine fridges. The bottom layers are good for this sort of thing, but with more Sami-Odi on the way, I need to make some room....10 years ago, at my 40th, this was served as wine 17 of the day (there were only 6 of us) and I ended up rating it higher than all the reds appart from a 79 Grange. That was probably due to the effects of the alcohol, but tasting the wine last night and tonght, I can see why I was so impressed. Then I wrote about the purity, but tonight its the sweet cassis fruit, the vigour, the depth and the wonderful nose. Blood, sage, lavender, blackcurrent, cigarbox. Very complex. Palate is rich, but its not flabby and the layered cassis fruit is right in focus. I presume this is at,or very near its peak, but I also dont think there is any need to hurry. A real treat.

[Ian S]

Many thanks for the note - I have a single bottle and had hidden it away. Might now be the right time to let it surface.

[mychurch]

I have a lot of single bottles and its always difficult to know when to pop...I'd say this is great now so its worth opening - the fruit is beyond the primary stage and there is some complexity. Its also been open 24 hours now and there is no sign of oxidation, so I have no doubt it will age for a while yet - maybe worth leaving for a 1998 Horizontal in a few years time. I think I have 2 bottles left and even though I need the space, they will be kept for a few years yet.

[Ian S]

I've not too many 1998s left, though it felt at the time like I was fully bought into the South Australia vintage hype. Just that bottle plus a Penfolds Magill and 5x Wynns JR left.

[phillisc]

Not heard of the Penly, but have a six pack of the 2002 Chook Block, if anything at the time the smartly dressed bottle with its sterling silver tag seduced me....that and JH going ga ga over it in his Oz top 100 of that year

Still the most expensive MV red that I have ever purchased.
Cheers
Craig

[GraemeG]

My now-antique notes are not so effusive, but I remember the wine very distinctly.
Would love to try it again:

• 1998 Wirra Wirra Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Series Penley Vineyard - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (5/02/2001)
  NobleRottersSydney - Wirra Wirra with Greg Trott (Darling Mills, Glebe): The fruit is from Penley Estate – a marital connection means the two wineries exchange some fruit. Deep purple/red. Essence of cabernet; that dark, smoky, chocolatey, yet slightly herbaceous Coonawarra signature. Almost an inky texture, with lovely fine tannins. Super long finish, with concentrated weight. Leaner than the shirazes – perhaps tighter is a better word. Great wine with a super future.
• 1998 Wirra Wirra Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Series Penley Vineyard - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (26/08/2000)
  NobleRottersSydney - South Aust trip (3) - McLaren Vale (Wirra/Hardy's/Limeburgers/Universal): Deep red. Huge intense blackcurrant fruit. Very full on palate, a bit disjointed now, but great balance of tannin & fruit. Super length.

cheers,
GG

[Mahmoud Ali]

I hadn't heard of Wirra Wirra's 'Penley' Cabernet either but Graeme's above post about the marital connection with Penley Estate in the Barossa does clears things up somewhat. However, if the Wirra Wirra Cabernet has the Penley vineyard designation shouldn't the wine be a Barossa wine and not McLaren Vale?

As for myself, my most expensive McLaren Vale is the Dead Arm, unfortunately it is not the '98. I gave that one to my brother-in-law since he was keen on it and instead came home to Canada with the '98 Tim Adam's 'Aberfeldy'. Also, I've yet to open a '98 vintage Australian wine but at the now almost 18-year mark it might be time to start looking at them, perhaps the Shiraz ahead of the Cabernet.

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

[Jay60A]

Thanks for the note - an absolute reminder how well good older wine lasts and improves. I've just finished 4 bottles of Orlando Jacobs Creek Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet 1996. All had dreadful crumbly corks that came out in chunks, intense yet graceful wine, maybe nearly at peak. All gone, just wish I had another 4.

[n4sir]

I hadn't heard of Wirra Wirra's 'Penley' Cabernet either but Graeme's above post about the marital connection with Penley Estate in the Barossa does clears things up somewhat. However, if the Wirra Wirra Cabernet has the Penley vineyard designation shouldn't the wine be a Barossa wine and not McLaren Vale?

I think you mean Coonawarra (and yes, FWIW I think it should accordingly be designated a Coonawarra wine and not McClackers)

[mjs]

Yep, last time I was at CD, Penley Estate was definitely in the Coonawarra

[mjs]

Bit more trivia, the name Penley coming from the Penfolds and Tolley names. Penley owned by the Tolley family, with ancestors of both Tolley and Penfolds, Very interwoven into the wine and spirits industry in South Australia going way back to the late 1800's

[Mahmoud Ali]

I hadn't heard of Wirra Wirra's 'Penley' Cabernet either but Graeme's above post about the marital connection with Penley Estate in the Barossa does clears things up somewhat. However, if the Wirra Wirra Cabernet has the Penley vineyard designation shouldn't the wine be a Barossa wine and not McLaren Vale?

I think you mean Coonawarra (and yes, FWIW I think it should accordingly be designated a Coonawarra wine and not McClackers)

Oops, yes of course, silly me!

And thanks "mjs" for the Penfolds/Tolley trivia.

Mahmoud.

[mychurch]

I actually have gotten thru most of my 98's. Divorce helped - bye bye 707, Grange, Mcalister, Turkey flat and probably some others that I have forgotten - but I also have drunk a lot. I think I have a half case left of the Dead Arm, 389 and the great Katnook Cabernet, but eveything else is 1 or 2 bottles max. Most have been too young, which might explain why so few have been "wow" bottles. The Penley above is probably the best I have tried, but I also remember a great Cape Mentelle Shiraz, a very drinkable Clarandon Hills Brookman Cab and a lovely Chateau Pato, which was actually bought from Gavin. A special mention must go to the humble Morris Durif, that seems to be aging like a great Italian Brunello. Next up is the final bottle of Katnook Odessey. I know its still got years left, but its in one of the thin long neck bottles that are so not suited to wine fidges.

[DJ1980]

This wine ranks as one of the best wines of the year when I sacrifice a bottle.

Such good wine. I have 2 bottles remaining and I'm too scared to open them. I think it'll be drinking beautifully for many years yet.

[mychurch]

Last bottle tonight of the 98 Chook Block. Not aging as well as the Penley, but that may be due to storage issues. Good fruit, eucalyptus and spice, but it's a bit gloopy and flabby. Didn't decant - first glasses were great, but the further down the bottle the less refined it's becoming.