TN: 1996 Penfolds Clare Estate

[n4sir]

1996 Penfolds Clare Estate, Clare Valley (cork): 12.5% alc. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc from the Clare Estate Vineyard at Polish Hill, matured 12 months in new French oak barrels. Solid crust on the bottle after 16 years in my passive cellar. Medium to dark red/garnet. A little inky and stocky upon first opening, but after an audoze of about 2 hours it smells absolutely divine and complex, black olives, caramel, plum, pencil notes, subtle cedar, cinnamon and tobacco, green and black liquorice, fresh herbs and mocha chocolate. The palate’s medium to full-weight, minty and spicy with a fat mid-palate and resolved, silky tannins, finishing minty and very long, fully ripe and yet surprisingly elegant. An absolutely brilliant bottle - Penfolds Rewards of Patience IV had a drink by 2006 recommendation, and mentioned the wine was discontinued after 1996 because after 11 vintages they decided the wine aged too quickly. Twenty years later...



Cheers,
Ian

[George Krashos]

It's the 1996 vintage baby! Stellar stuff. Had a few older Clare Estates in the 90s. Never thought they lacked the potential for decent longevity.

-- George Krashos