1994 Howard Park v 1996 Petaluma Coonawarra cab/merl's

[Partagas]

A couple of brief notes on what should be outstanding cab merlots from their respective regions.

1994 Howard Park cab/merl - very different from the first bottle I had a month or so ago. Less development and strangely young. Still a bit of acid and more upfront tannins then the first. Still a lot of bold fruit (more than other btl) but not really showing its total balance quite yet. Extremely different stage to the other bottle in same batch (same batch as far as I’m aware). Will try the last bottle years later.

1996 Petaluma Coonawarra - how’s this, also very different from the first bottle I tried last year. It was an incredible package but thought it had a bit too much merlot showing that tamed down the great cabernet fruit in the background. Another word, very classy but just not quite my preferred style. This bottle however was right on the money and had a massive wow factor. Magnificently ripe but tight blackcurrant with very firm subtle tannins. Medium to full in depth, traveling in a peak period with years left. Extremely enjoyable and in the very top of the class list of cab/merl’s I’ve tried. Brilliant wine

[Brucer]

I bought 94 Howard Park Cab on release, and the last 3 bottles opened have been crap. Lots of bottle variation here. Ive one left, so I am really hopeing its got a good cork.
Gee, I am really over corks.

[Rawdyn]

I used to have some Howards (at that time stored at my parents house). Unfortunately my Dad drank the last one with his fish and chips having no idea what it was worth (in appreciation as much as money). I think it was an '86 Cabernet from memory.

Corks do add a certain element of chance I find. Makes cracking a wine that little more exciting.

[TORB]

Corks do add a certain element of chance I find. Makes cracking a wine that little more exciting.

Personally I can do without the "excitement" of opening five bottles sealed under cork - in a row- four from one producer (same vintage, 2 labels,) and finding them all have been ruined by a 50 cent tree bark plug.

[Rawdyn]

Yes I do feel a certain sense of tragedy when it happens - expecially when you get a run of them.

[Brucer]

I am getting sick of asking wineries for replacements for corked wines. It seems to happen all to regularly.

[Mike Hawkins]

I guess I've been fortunate. I've had a run of outstanding 94 HPs. For my money, one of the best wines to ever come out of the west.

Mike

[Brucer]

I have just had to send an email to Kilikannon, after opening an 03 Barossa R Reserve shiraz last night in a restaurant, that was horribly corked. All these corked wines are quietly sitting in my cellar, already corked, waiting for me to open them. There is probably a hundred or so of them. Terrific!

[Partagas]

I think my experiences though were bottle variation just to get back on track. Both did not have any cork issues that I could tell of. They weren’t even bad just a bit different in stages.

The first HP was better than the second but the second Petaluma was better than the first .

[JF]

I guess I've been fortunate. I've had a run of outstanding 94 HPs. For my money, one of the best wines to ever come out of the west.

Mike

I'm with Mike on this. The three I have had from a dozen have all been excellent.

[immature_grape]

I have just had to send an email to Kilikannon, after opening an 03 Barossa R Reserve shiraz last night in a restaurant, that was horribly corked. All these corked wines are quietly sitting in my cellar, already corked, waiting for me to open them. There is probably a hundred or so of them. Terrific!

Sorry to get back off topic, but what would expect from the company? Not being sarcastic, just curious.

[Brucer]

I would expect a replacement bottle of wine, of either the same vintage or the current vintage. I also offer to send them the corked bottle and contents.
Bruce