The Auswine Forum

Neil opened this last night and gave it to me blind. St Jerome Matuka 1996 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, made from fruit grown in Henderson in West Auckland and matured in French oak for two months before release. He asked me options styles questions but I couldn't pick the region, the grape variety or the actual vintage, although I got the 10-to-15 years age span question right. This has be one of the best 15-year-old NZ wines I have tried. Period. It would be interesting to taste this alongside more favoured regions, eg Hawkes Bay and Waiheke as I think this wine would give any top wine of the same age a run for the money.

Dark in colour but with bricking evident, it's a concentrated, intense red with lovely sweet vinosity, a cakey lusciousness, vanilla, spice, cassis, plum, tar, cedar, dusty tannins and liquorice. It seems like the fruit is immensely ripe and while some mellow notes are creeping in, it is sensuous and sumptuous with brightness to the finish and seems more youthful than the maths says it is.

Back label says cellar for 10 years from vintage, but it is strolling nicely across a plateau to deliver very satisfying sipping right now. Seems to be plenty of acidity still in the wine. Cork had some travel to about halfway up the laid down side but was still tight and had done its job well.

Cheers,
Sue

Doesn't surprise me. I think I have tried every vintage of this wine ever released. I remember the 1989 and 1991 being very impressive and the 1998 also on one occasion blew me away. The 1999 was a bit dirty though, didn't like that too much. It has always had a reputaion for cellaring long

I have bought the odd bottle here and there over the years. I think I only have 1 bottle of the 2000 left. In the context of today it is increasingly an "old fashioned style" often a bit austere for today's palate.

One question id love to ask. How can any winery afford the expense of the current release being a 2000 when every other winery is selling 2008's and 2009's?? Maybe the mortgage is paid off

Craig(NZ) wrote:

"How can any winery afford the expense of the current release being a 2000 when every other winery is selling 2008's and 2009's?? Maybe the mortgage is paid off"."

That's amazing, an old world-style winery in NZ! Lopez de Heredia's (in Rioja, Spain) latest release is the 2000 Rose Gran Reserva, 2000 Cubillo White, 2002 Bosconia Reserva, etc., etc. I wish I could get the St Jerome in Edmonton. What does the new release sell for?

Mahmoud.

Current release is $42 NZ.