95 Elizabeth Semillon, 98 Wendouree Cab/Malbec & 99 de Vogue Musigny

[brodie]

1995 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon. A moderate amount of ullage, a terrrible mold infested cork - almost to the base. An auction purchase from 8.5 years ago. Not promising signs. Colour was mid and dark yellow but the nose and palate are pristine. Pure lemony nose with a bit of dried apricot and and a just a touch of the woolly lanolin thing. Palate is amazingly youthful and bright with lovely fresh citrus fruits, bright acidity and a smooth round finish.. Not really much in the way of toast or honey. Pure and clean and long. The cork did its job (only just but thanks!)

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1998 Wendouree Cab Malbec Immaculate cork, Dark red colour, enticing florals and spice on thr noe. Deep powerful rounded full bodied palate that goes on and on and on. Definite earthy and menthol notes to the palate. Finish is intense and very long. Tannins are fully integrated. This is definitelyeady to drink but no hurry. A wonderful expression of Wendouree iron fist in a velvet glove (to quote James Halliday). Wow this was good, very impressive showing

1999 de Vogue Musigny

So you invite a friend over for lunch and this is what he brings! Decanted an hour and half before drinking. Really hit the spot between hours 2 and 3. Mid red no bricking, Initially the nose was definitely funky and earthy and a bit stinky. An hour later the stink was gone and a lovely floral and earthy nose. This bottle was (to me anyway) surprisingly wide open and absolutely wonderful to drink right now. Long deep plate of red fruits, earth and spice, complex long finish with very fine silky integrated tannins and lovely acidity. Keep evolving and developing the entire time. It actually tasted younger and fresher after 3 hours than it did when first tasted. I was initially underwhelmed but but the end it was a the full GC experience.

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[mychurch]

I think I speak for everyone Brodie when I say that your friend, and yourself, are invited for dinner when you can make it.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Can I come too?

[Mahmoud Ali]

Hi Brodie,

Thanks for the photographs and notes. The colour of the 21 year old Elizabeth looks pristine for a 26 year old wine. I scrutinized the photo of the label and would it be correct to say it was 11% alcohol. Mold under the capsule is quite normal with an old bottle. I find this particularly true with Bordeaux for some reason, maybe because they have lead capsules. I should keep an eye out when I open older bottles. I have a few bottles of 1996 Elizabeth so I should be prepared to find mold under the capsule.

Regarding the Musigny and the time it took to open up, I am noticing more and more that Pinot Noir seems almost indestructible, in the sense that even inexpensive ones seem to very long lived. A couple of years ago I decided to pop the cork on some 2001 new world Pinots and found them nowhere near their end of life. One was a regular bottle of Coldstream Hills and the other was a Chilean wild ferment. After those experiences I put a halt on opening any more for a while.

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

[brodie]

I think I speak for everyone Brodie when I say that your friend, and yourself, are invited for dinner when you can make it.

I will let you know the next time we are in Melbourne.

Brodie