TN: 1996 Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz

[n4sir]

1996 Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz, Adelaide Suburbs (cork): 13.5% alc. A BYO desgustation lunch with friends at Penfolds Magill Estate Kitchen seemed the perfect occasion to open this bottle in outstanding condition: a few commented that it visually looked like it was purchased last week instead of 17 years ago, it was that good! Medium garnet/red. Absolutely gorgeous from the first whiff, cigar box, sweet plum and leather, cedar, cranberry, ground nutmeg, star anise, a little mixed pepper, cocoa and cassis coming and going as it breathed over the 3 hours it was drunk. The palate would be maybe a little more than medium-weight and is beautifully balanced, spicy red fruits and soft, velvety tannins that are exceptionally long and even, finishing with just the faintest lick of sweet vanilla pod. The fruit, oak and tannin balance is so much better than the 1998 vintage which appears chunky and clunky in comparison; a true benchmark wine for Magill Estate that is at its peak now, although I think bottles in equally outstanding condition should hold this form a few more years.




Cheers,
Ian

[michel]

Ian
Have you tried 98 magill recently?
Or is that a general vintage call compared to 96?

[n4sir]

Ian
Have you tried 98 magill recently?
Or is that a general vintage call compared to 96?

I specifically meant the 1998 Magill: I last tried it five years ago at the Tin Cat Cafe offline (man, where does the time go?) and I think everyone thought at the time the hefty dill oak would never really integrate with the wine, it was just way too obvious.

I think Philip White also said something similar around the same time about that particular vintage on his drinkster blog (from memory he specifically slammed the amount of obvious American oak characters). Looking back over the original release notes the 1998 Magill spent 16 months in new 58% French and 42% American oak, the 1996 was in 62% new French and 38% new American oak - the alcohol level of the 1996 was listed as 13.8% too.

Cheers,
Ian

[michel]

Thanks Ian
I don't enjoy obvious oak
I am torn wether to open a perfectly sourced stored magnum next month or gift it!!
You are not helping me....

[n4sir]

Thanks Ian
I don't enjoy obvious oak
I am torn wether to open a perfectly sourced stored magnum next month or gift it!!
You are not helping me....

Take it to an offline or similar wine group - I am sure the wine would be appreciated in that setting even if you don't end up liking it (and chances are you can quietly move on to something else you like for the rest of the night )

Cheers,
Ian