Having seen the discounting on the 2001-02 Jameson Run single vineyard wines thought I should see how one with a bit of age was holding up. I wasn't expecting to like it.
1998 Jameson Run 'Alexanders" Cabernet Sauvignon [Coonawarra] Still quite dark red with no thinning. Quite a complex nose of black berries, earth, touch a mint and only a wisp of vanillan oak. Mid weight palate again of dark berries and mint but filled out with some nicely handled oak. it lacked only in the finish which for the depth of fruit was a bit short. Nice wine and drinking well already - I have found quite a few of the 98 coonawarras have come round earlier than the bigger barossa/mclaren styles.
1999 Houghtons Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Excellent deep red ruby colour. Lovely classic MR dusty black olive, and cassis nose. More fruit driven than the Alexanders. Richer on the palate than the Alexanders and more fruit tannins. needs to be left for a couple more years. nice wine.
I thoroughly enjoyed both wines for a mid week drink with a close friend from the country. One thing I was particularly happy with was that both were clearly from their place - not swamped with either alcohol or oak or over fruit extraction. While neither were overly complex they both gave lots of satisfaction - nmore than I was expecting.
Cheers
Paul
TN:1998 Jameson Run Alexanders Cab;1999 Houghtons MR Cab
Re: TN:1998 Jameson Run Alexanders Cab;1999 Houghtons MR Cab
PaulV wrote:1998 Jameson Run 'Alexanders" Cabernet Sauvignon [Coonawarra] Still quite dark red with no thinning. Quite a complex nose of black berries, earth, touch a mint and only a wisp of vanillan oak. Mid weight palate again of dark berries and mint but filled out with some nicely handled oak. it lacked only in the finish which for the depth of fruit was a bit short. Nice wine and drinking well already - I have found quite a few of the 98 coonawarras have come round earlier than the bigger barossa/mclaren styles.
Cheers
Paul
d'accordo - good wine, not as good as the Limited Release (as opposed to Reserve - how many labels did JR produce in 1998 ???) but still good.