TN:Rosemount 1998 Coonawarra Show Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

David Lole · Post by **David Lole** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 9:18 pm

As promised.

Unbelievable pitch black core. Deep ruby in the extreme edge with not a sceric of age showing. Savoury oak predominates on the nose. Ditto on the palate with some dark chocolate fruit in the background. Plenty of acid and firm tannin. Extremely long finish. One thing missing - the fruit. By the colour and structure, my gut suggests this has totally shut down. Recommend this one be left alone for three or four years and monitored carefully thereafter. Will try again in 2008.

ChrisH · Post by **ChrisH** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:01 pm

Hope you are right David - the only one I have had so far was corked !

The rest are sleeping.

regards
Chris

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:15 pm

It is interesting to see this wine going so well. I have both the 96 and 98's in the cellar and the 96's have left me a little dissappointed. But too simple and not really going anywhere. I haven't tried the 98, but is the last year I bought the Rosemount Show Reserve's.

Has anyone tried the 1999 or 2000 Show Reserve Cab lately?

cheers
anthony

David Lole · Post by **David Lole** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:28 pm

Anthony wrote:It is interesting to see this wine going so well. I have both the 96 and 98's in the cellar and the 96's have left me a little dissappointed. But too simple and not really going anywhere. I haven't tried the 98, but is the last year I bought the Rosemount Show Reserve's.

Has anyone tried the 1999 or 2000 Show Reserve Cab lately?

cheers
anthony

Don't get me wrong, this is not drinking well tonight. All oak and structure and very little fruit, Anthony. Repeat, very little fruit. A veritable tree trunk in a glass.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:37 pm

Sorry David,
missed the sentence about 'only one thing missing' :lol:

I might have to try a bottle and see where it is going, or not going.

cheers
anthony

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:22 am

Anthony,

I opened 96 Show Reserve Cab on Saturday night and I agree 100% with you on your remark on this wine. When I first opened and tried it and was very bland and was going nowhere so I would gave about an hour to see if it would open up, but there was no improvement whatsoever on the nose and extremely short on the palate. I don't think I will buy another vintage of this wine again being given 96 was considered to be an excellent vintage in SA. BTW, I also tried 96 Show Reserve shiraz few months ago and nothing to be excited about!!!

Cheers

PS. I am starting to worry about wine reviewers tasting notes

simm · Post by **simm** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:55 am

Guest wrote:Anthony,

I opened 96 Show Reserve Cab on Saturday night and I agree 100% with you on your remark on this wine. When I first opened and tried it and was very bland and was going nowhere so I would gave about an hour to see if it would open up, but there was no improvement whatsoever on the nose and extremely short on the palate. I don't think I will buy another vintage of this wine again being given 96 was considered to be an excellent vintage in SA. BTW, I also tried 96 Show Reserve shiraz few months ago and nothing to be excited about!!!

Cheers
PS. I am starting to worry about wine reviewers tasting notes

I agree with your worry about reviewers notes. I was zipping through the latest edition of Winestate last night and saw a 5/5 rating for the latest Rosemount SR Shiraz (I think it was) and it didn't mention anything about big oak as we would all expect from the SR. I haven't tried it but maybe they have settled down on the barrel treatment

If so I might be tempted again

kenzo as guest · Post by **kenzo as guest** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:07 pm

FWIW I really enjoyed the '97 of the SR cabernet - it had a touch less of everything, and IMO benefited from that.
Cabernet essence.

Cheers,

S.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 5:15 pm

I hate to say it but long time readers will remember my comments of the 96 and the 98 of this wine, especially the 96.

Not at all surprised its going nowhere, thats exactly where I expected it to be. :wink:

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 5:27 pm

thanks for telling me now TORB, could have sent the whole lot to auction. :wink:

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 6:17 pm

Disappointing, given all of that, I note JO rates the 98' RSR Cab Sauv as 18.3 with a drinking window of 2010-2018!

I usually trust his judgement, though his drinking windows can be optimistic. Sounds like we may have to wait, or send to auction.

Cheers

Andy

David Lole · Post by **David Lole** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:00 pm

Exactly my thoughts, Andy. Let's hope it's just going through a "difficult period". If it doesn't come back into balance, cya later.