Drinking Window 96 Jack Mann Magnum

[Teisto]

Hi all,

Just joined up today after reading avidly for quite some time and now posting like it's going out of fashion

I have a Magnum of Houghton's Jack Mann from 1996. This has been immaculately stored with minimal temperature fluctuation out of the sun etc.

I have tried asking Houghton's what they think the window is on this but have had no luck.

Was hoping someone here could offer some advice - I think it would be getting close to the right time. Also the decant time on a bottle like this?

Appreciate any feedback you may have?

Thanks

[TiggerK]

I'd say now is a good time. Decanting will always be variable on older bottles, pour into the decanter, give a minute and have a taste... the more 'closed' you feel it is, the longer to leave it, I'd always err on the side of decanting too little than too long though....

Cellartracker users report between 05 and 08, so for a magnum well cellared, should be good to go now.

Good luck with the cork!

Cheers
TIggerK

[cuttlefish]

I'd be interested to know how it drinks, if you do decide to open it. I have one of these myself.

To be quite honest, though, I'd expect another 10 years from now if the magnum had been well kept. Depends how much age you like in your red wines, I suppose..

[n4sir]

In their reviews Halliday had an expected drinking window of 2006-2021, and Mattinson 2006-2015.

Considering this is a magnum I'd expect it's probably only just entered its drinking window and should hold at least another ten years.

I have one too, so I'd also be interested in your impressions if you do open it.

Cheers,
Ian

[PaulV]

Jack Mann's are always big wines so if you open it please give it a good breathing - open it in the morning even decant some of it.

cheers

paul

[Teisto]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Given there seems to be a longer window of opportunity I might leave it for a while still

However if anyone else chooses to open theirs I too would be happy to hear of how you found it

[cuttlefish]

No, no. You drink yours...

[Mattwine]

Hello All,

Been a while since I was on the forum, so good to be back and to see you are all still drinking well.

By chance I had a bottle of the '96 Jack Mann on the weekend (the standard 750ml bottle). I bought quite a few of these some years back and have been sampling one every few months for a while now. After enjoying a bottle about 2 or 3 years ago I thought I'd get a heads up from the winery on a drinking window. Unlike you Teisto, I did get a response here is the info below (sent in May 2008):

"This wine was last tasted in a vertical line up two years ago with Journalists. General consensus then was that the ideal drinking window was present and over the next two to three years, depending on cellaring conditions. The 1996 has the highest percentage of Shiraz of all the Jack's made and considered 'softest' of the Jack's."

The above advice would have the '96 Jack's hitting the end of the road at about 2008-2009. I have had one probably every 6 months since then and don't think they are in any danger of falling over anytime soon. Only one bad bottle from my batch with a dud cork. Mine on Saturday was superb again. No rush for anyone to crack open their magnums I wouldn't think.
Cheers,
Matt