95 Rockford BP/96 Bin 389/97 YY No.1 & 2000 Bindi

[brodie]

Invited some work mates over to my apartment on Friday night and opened a few bottles from the cellar. All bought on release off the mailing list and stored in temp controlled storage ever since. The Rockford, Bin 389 and Yarra Yering No.1 were double decanted (about 15 mins per bottle) to check their condition and remove the sediment. All much benefited from this treatment in my opinion. The Bin 389 was the darkest colour and youngest tasting wine, the YY No.1 and the Bindi were the most mature. As an aside; I really like old wines and tend to be more forgiving when the wines are older

1995 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz: Medium to dark red colour, enticing spicy fruit cake nose, lovely full bodied mouthful of dark plummy fruits a little bit of earthiness and more fruit cake on the paplate, tannins fully resolved , lovely long balanced finish. This is a delicious rich full bodied Barossa Shiraz that also retains a nice balance to it. Right at peak for me, will hold but no need any longer really.Bought off Rockford mailing list for $24!

1996 Penfolds Bin 389. Dark youthful red colour, nose of chocolate covered blackberries and some oak spice, rich typical 389 palate with lots of dark fruits, extract and nice polished oak tannins, good acidity. Just entering its early drinkability window for my taste. Bought 18 bottles off this on release for the princely sum of $19.50 and this is the first one I have tried. Have had both the 1991 and 1994 in the last two months so I reckon, the 1996 should be kept for another 5+ years.

1997 Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 Medium red, showing a little fading on rim, delicate and refined nose of flowers and red fruits (red currants) and lots of those old YY hard to describe complexities, palate followed the nose, gentle delicate and refined. Lovely soft red fruits, very silky and long in the mouth, finish is excellent. I really love the YY No.1 and the 1997 is now fully mature and right in the zone, Drink now. Released at $38 this make the Rockford look like an absolute bargain

Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot Noir. Medium red colour, no bricking or browning on the edge, nice floral nose with some earth and distinct touch of tomato leaf (not enough to be be bothersome but still quite clear). Palate has nice cherry fruits with more red earth and a wee touch of the leafiness. This is a very balanced mature Pinot. I had not planned to keep these this long, but it has held up extremely well and is drinking beautifully. Yum.



Brodie

[tarija]

Great notes and some very nice wines there!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Brodie,

I also like old wines, and judging by your notes I think we have similar tastes in older wines. Among the wines you've listed I have the '96 Bin 389 but unfortunately none of the others. Interestingly I have the '96 Koonunga Hil, also like Bin 389, a Shiraz/Cabernet, and one that I will use as a gauge to decide on when to open the Bin 389.

Cheres........................Mahmoud.

[brodie]

Brodie,

I also like old wines, and judging by your notes I think we have similar tastes in older wines. Among the wines you've listed I have the '96 Bin 389 but unfortunately none of the others. Interestingly I have the '96 Koonunga Hil, also like Bin 389, a Shiraz/Cabernet, and one that I will use as a gauge to decide on when to open the Bin 389.

Cheres........................Mahmoud.

Hi Mahmoud, I would say the 389 is still youthful, but it does depend on your personal preferences. If you like older wines, I would hold the 389 for another 5+ years easy. I honestly believe it will go for another 20 years and will be magnificent. An impressive wine.

Brodie

[Mahmoud Ali]

Thanks Brodie,

I do like older, mature wines so if you think the 389 is still youthful then I will follow your advice and refrain from opening a bottle. [Edit] Anytime soon.

Mahmoud.