TN:WynnsBL90, Lindemans HR res shiraz 91,kalimna 91,StH 86

[fred]

No, it wasn't Southfost night but it was my mother's birthday and duty bound son does the right thing for old-fashioned folks:-

Lindemans Hunter River Reserve shiraz1991

This wine was unmistakably Hunter - and as the vintage which promised most since 1983 Lind HRB it should have been promising: the standard bottling bin...03 was good albeit now past its best - the reserve denoted by 4 bin number concluding in 00 had show strange characteristics in the past but in deference to the 65 & 83 I was willing to wait.

Colour lightish and slightly atypical of these wines
Nose: Hunter pong but a trifle muted - post decanting came through more strongly
Palate: classic Lindemans HR shiraz in the sense of lineage but nothing startling on the palate -merely good without the additional wow factor still present in most bottles of the 83.

Certainly in the drink now phase though will hold in current state for a few years. mark remainder for current drinking


Wynns BL 1990 CS
THis wine has been marked down by many and I have been patient waiting for it - and lo and behold it has started to deliver.

Now integrated beautifully it has entered its drinking window with full fruit expression clear -and oak no longer noticeable while the tanins are present to hold the wine. The colour shows full not quite purple and no bricking. Length is lovely and for anyone brought up on Coonawarra CS prior to the greensticks of the early 80s this is a return to times gone by. Probably cleaner and better made than memeory tells me thsoe old BLs of the 60s were, but not industrialised. THe backpalate is pure and fairly long auguring well. This wine is now a delight and will overtake the 91 in the next few years; clearly coming together will be lovely over (at least) the next 5 years


1991 kalimna bin 28 Penfolds

With all the fuss I note that this is not quite as good as the 1990 but a lovely drink. Still punchy and weighty in the Penfolds mould, virtually pickable on the nose, the wine has integrated to the point where you see it seamlessly move to strong shiraz, and still has length if not great subtlety.


1986 St Henri

oak without oak: using large vats the integration and savoury quality of this wine is tremendously appealing and is one of my preferred styles of Oz shiraz. Perhaps the best modern StH with only the 71 a competitor. (The 90 promises much, the 91 will be ready slightly earlier with 98 & 99 looking similar matches to the former duo).

Food excellent:

crispy prawns (hit of tempura) on light avocado "soup" (really a dip)
Twice-baked cheese souffle
Eyefillet of beef (rare-medium-rare) with caramelised onion red wine sauce and home-made pommes frittes

Chocolate plate: mousse, fondant and icecream...

life could be worse...
fred

[Mike Hawkins]

Thanks for the notes Fred.

Having had most of the wines you noted, I have to say I agree with the exception of the 99 St Henri. I found it disappointing and dont think it will live up to the Pennies hype at release. I see it as a shorter term proposition - say pre-2010.

Cheers

Mike

[707]

Fred, we'll meet for a 90/91 Wynns Black taste off in 5 years. I'm still on the 91 tram.