Which wine to have first?

[Mattwine]

Hello All,

This is a first time post from a long time lurker, don't know why I have been so slow in getting on board but very much enjoy the forum and learning all I have from you all.

Having dinner with friends this weekend (will require two bottles) and tossing up which wines to run with and then which one to serve first. These are my options:

1996 Houghtons Jack Mann
1997 Leconfield Cabernet
1999 Orlando St Hugo Cab
1999 Annie's Lane Coppertrail Shiraz.

I have a few bottles of the Jack Mann (which I really like!) and would like it to be one that we have but not sure which of the others should come to dinner? Any thoughts appreciated, together with suggestions on which should be had first and why.

Thanks in advance, Matt.

[TORB]

Matt,

Jack Mann followed by the Coppertrail.

[griff]

Welcome Matt,

I also think that TORB's choice is a shoe-in here.

cheers

Carl

[roughred]

Had the Jack Mann about 18 months ago and should still be very much on song.

The 99 St Hugo was a nice drink 12 months ago, but did not stand out as remarkable.

Think I may have tried the Leconsfield as a young wine...but FWIW Leconsfield make (or at least made at the time) some pretty green, lean wines, and 97 was a pretty green, lean year in Coonawarra...don't know of too many that are travelling well. Save it for St Patrick's Day.

Haven't had the 99 Coppertrail, but generally a very smart drop, and nine years out should be drinking well.

Look forward to more posting and less lurking!

[Mattwine]

Thanks for the replies people. I thought as much. Would having the Coppertrail second be due to the fact that it should be a "bigger" wine and Jack Mann more "elegant"?

Roughred, I too have heard that the Leconfield Cabs from around that time were a bit green. I did have a 97 about 18 months ago and I thought it was much better than it poor reputation suggested. Could have just been that my very low expectations were exceeded and I was happy, or, that my untrained palate didn't notice!

Anyone else had the 97 Leconfield cab in the last couple of years?

Thanks again.

[GraemeG]

Anyone else had the 97 Leconfield cab in the last couple of years?

Posted here by me last June:
1997 Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) {cork, 13.5%}
Tasted this for the second time in a year, and I reckon I’d have picked it blind. Surely among the most polarizing noses of all time. Intense lashings of asparagus, capsicum, and green leaves. The palate is less intimidating, being quite loose-knit and open; surprisingly it doesn’t taste unripe. Soft grapey tannins remain around the back of the palate and draw some attention to a reticent mid-palate. Medium bodied, this wine will probably taste the same in five more years.

Not sure 99 St Hugo quite lives up to the vintage reputation eithery, which leaves the two popularly-tipped wines as your best bets...
cheers,
Graeme

[Mattwine]

Thanks Graeme. Knew there'd be someone that would've had a go at it. Sounds like it wasn't completely uninspiring, even if not enormously memorable. Will try it again soon.

[GraemeG]

I assure you, the nose guarantees that it is completely memorable! That fact that the palate isn't quite so scary doesn't obliterate the memory. But it's a dead-end style as far as aging goes, that's for sure.
Graeme