The Auswine Forum

I guess I could just open it & see but it may well be a wine for an occasion. Sold in-bond, so stored somewhere cool without UK duty & VAT until released by me last week. The level is mid shoulder.

Past it, fading or still alive do you think? The Moss Wood web site doesn’t give much useful information except… “The benchmarks for the Moss Wood style, however, remain the Cabernet Sauvignons made between 1974 and 1977”. FWIW, I paid £30 (AU$54) for this bottle & I don't expect to ever see one again! Anyone here know anything about this vintage?

TIA.

From Jeremy Oliver...

category: tasting note date: 17/12/2003
Youthful, intense aromas of red and black berries with earthy, leathery and chocolate-like complexity. Smooth, fine-grained and dusty, but bursting with small dark berries, currants and prunes and tightly framed by assertive, almost gritty tannins. Not hugely complex, but has time ahead. 18.6, drink 1996-2006+.

Enjoy!!

Cheers
TiggerK

Phil,

I haven't had a bottle of the 76 since 1996, so that is a long time ago!

1976 in MR was NOT a great vintage - and the wine is not comparable to either the 75 or 77 which were the early benchmarks (but there is alos a tendency with the passing years for the writers to become soggy with nostalgia). I think Moss Wood really hit its straps in the 80s 83, 85 , 87 all still very good and 91, 95 - almost in its window- excellent, 99 showing promise and 01, 05 & 07 all potentially excellent.

Funny - just noticed that pretty much all my favourite vintages for MW are odd years...maybe it is weird because Coonawarra has been better even (ignoring a few good wines from 71 & 99).

On the 1976 from 1996: " cassis and cigarbox - fairly classical CS with considerable power but not a great vintage albeit not hte variation we see from other areas".

I have never seen a MW which does not improve to 15 years from vintage - and hold for at least another 5 (so 20 years for 1976 to be drinking in 1996 was normal).

My view to date has been that beyond 25 years they may start to fade (but watch the 95 & 99 which I am confident will do 30 years).

Expectation assuming decent cellaring (& cork) is for a wine that is past its best and even slipped from its plateau, but should be drinkable plus - perhaps like woman of a certain age "remnants of remarkable beauty" !

regards,

fred

For what it's worth, 1976 was fairly cool season, with a long and slow ripening period, which is excellent for cabernet. Bill Pannell rates 1976 and 1975 as the 2 best vintages of the 70's, with the '76 showing more rich, generous fruit.

Mid shoulder is a good fill level for a wine of that age.

The last sale of the 1976 Moss Wood on Langtons was much more than what you paid, so you certainly have a bargain. I know I'd be more than curious to know what lies inside though. Hope it's a good one.