TN: 1998 Majella Cabernet

Alan Rath · Post by **Alan Rath** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:58 pm

Still a pup, but drinking pretty well. Nose has a touch of green vegetal character, but the flavors are nicely dark, very balanced ripeness, acidity, tannic structure. My only complaint is what seems to be a fair amount of oak flavors, which distracts a bit from the fruit. Overall pretty nice wine, particularly for the price up here.

Regards,
Alan

Andrew Jordan · Post by **Andrew Jordan** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:46 pm

Alan,

Thanks for the TN. Have a few of these in the cellar so might crack one open soon. I can remember buying this stuff from the Wine Exchange there in Orange, CA for around US$17 per bottle when we lived there. Agree with you, great value for that price.

707 · Post by **707** » Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:31 pm

Did the Majella vertical 1994 to 2005 at the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebration weekend. The 1998 was one of the standouts but they do use a fair bit of new oak although I reckon it's been backed off in recent vintages.

One of the surprise packets at the tasting was the strong showing of the 1999, one to watch out for at auction now.

Alan Rath · Post by **Alan Rath** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:43 am

Andrew, gotta love that Wine Exchange! I recently bought a few bottles of Wendouree, the only place I've ever seen it up here. $17 is an insane price for a wine of this quality, I think I paid something like $23, after it started to get noticed.

Steve, I've read good reviews on the 2002s, but we don't seem to get the wines up here in the Bay Area (bought all mine down in San Diego). I often wonder why winemakers take such obviously good fruit and obliterate it with oak, although in this case it's not that bad. Thanks for the comments, I've got a few 99s and 00s, which I'll hold for a few more years before trying. Also a couple Malleea from those years, how long would you wait before trying one?

Regards,
Alan

Andrew Jordan · Post by **Andrew Jordan** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:16 pm

One of the surprise packets at the tasting was the strong showing of the 1999, one to watch out for at auction now.

Steve,

Glad to read this. Have a few of these in the cellar as well. Where did you rank the 2003 release, and do you think over time the ranking will improve?

Steve, I've read good reviews on the 2002s

Alan,

Although the 2002 is a good wine, if I was you, I would wait for the 2003's (under screwcap as well

) to hit your shores. IMHO a much better wine.

I too have a few vintages of Malleea - 1999, 2000, 2001. Will probably crack a 1999 next year to see how they are travelling. The same with the 2000. Both of these wines should peak IMO in the next 3-4 years. In regards to the 2001 JO gives a 2009 - 2013 drinking window on this one, so will probably wait 3-5 years before I open the first one. It is actually interesting that JH gives longer drinking windows on these wines than JO. Usually it is the other way around? :roll:

But at the end of the day, when the wine is living up to YOUR expectations, drink up and enjoy!