TN: Blacktongues - Class of 1993

[n4sir]

As usual all wines were tasted blind and served in the order listed, and after about an hour all participants voted for their most preferred, two next preferred and their least preferred drops. In comparison to the difficulties I had with last week’s group, these were a pleasure to assess, even if two were corked.

1993 Mildara (White label) Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon: Dark to inky red/brick colour. Classy aged notes of tomato, tobacco and a hint of diesel at first, but then turns a bit stinky/earthy. The palate is medium-weight and velvety, with leathery, sweet fruit (though at times funky), finishing with good persistence. I think this wine is pleasant now and will hold on a little longer, but won’t improve.

My ranking: 5th place
BTs: 1 most, 2 second, 1 least



1993 Elderton Merlot: Dark to inky red/brick with a lot of crusting. The nose was green/leafy at first with a hint of coal; the palate was rich, with a raisiny build-up of fruit that dropped off remarkably quickly. Something was wrong, and then that unmistakable stench of TCA kicked in – what a pity; Steve swore when he saw which bottle this turned out to be.

Corked and not rated



1993 Mildara Robertson’s Well Cabernet Sauvignon: Dark red/brick colour. An elegant nose cedar, chocolate and coffee. The palate featured a powerful structure that always seemed that bit ahead of the fruit, but overall the balance was good with some leather, finishing with sweet oak. A very smart wine drinking well now.

My ranking: 4th Place.
BTs: 0 most, 5 second, 3 least



1993 Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon: Dark to inky red/brick colour, with a lot of crusting. Very closed at first, opening up to some green/chalky/aeroguard scents. The palate featured a slow build-up of the big chalky structure with the fruit coming in waves, and finishing with very green tannins. This started awkwardly, and seemed rather disjointed all night.

My ranking: 6th place
BTs: 0 most, 1 second, 3 least



1993 Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon: Red/brick colour. That obvious Leconfield nose of green/leaf, coal and chalk announces the label from the glass. The palate features developed tomato and meaty characters with good persistence, and finishing very green. This wasn’t a bad wine, but in a strong field such as this, it just wasn’t my style on the night.

My ranking: 8th place
BTs: 3 most, 5 second, 2 least



1993 Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet Sauvignon: Dark to inky red colour. A strong, sweet nose of rich chocolate and coffee, and later on a hint of tobacco. The palate is powerful and complex, featuring velvety fruit and great persistence with that distinctive flash of tobacco spit. This is a classic, aged Cabernet in the prime of its drinking window - great stuff!

My ranking: =2nd place
BTs: 4 most, 4 second, 0 least



1993 Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Inky red with a hint of purple on the rim. This was obviously corked from the moment it was poured; a real pity as it appeared to have the strongest colour of the group.

Corked and not rated



1993 Lindemans Limestone Ridge Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon: Dark to inky red with a hint of purple on the rime, and a lot of crust. A wonderful, (relatively) youthful nose of chocolate, formic acid and espresso with a hint of tomato. The fruit on the palate is equally as sweet and ripe, with a powerful structure and persistence and more than a hint of VA and raisin, but amazingly all in balance. Is it a coincidence that the best Limey’s have a greater proportion of Shiraz in those vintages? This one is 84%, and was just as good when I tried it last six months ago – clearly the wine of the night.

My ranking: 1st place
BTs: 6 most, 6 second, 0 least



1993 Holdsworth and Oliver Range Hermitage: Dark to inky red/brick colour. Closed nose at first, then stewed fruit with hints of tomato and blood/ammonia. The palate again has stewed, ripe (but also green) fruit, and chalky tannins, finishing spicy and green. The most amazing thing about this wine is the label, which like the name mischievously rips off/takes the piss out of Grange Hermitage!

My ranking: 7th place
BTs: 1 most, 2 second, 5 least



1993 Wynns Michael Shiraz: Dark to inky red with a hint of purple on the rim. Complex but still youthful nose of green/leaf, tomato, and hints of chocolate and coffee. The palate is a ripe mix of fruit and oak in a big structure, with a hint of VA on the finish and coffee on the aftertaste. When Steve said the Michael was in the wines, I thought it could have been this wine or what turned out to be the Limestone Ridge because of the VA and oak, and the colours; I ended up leaning towards the latter as this seemed fractionally green in comparison. Mighty impressive though.

My ranking: =2nd place
BTs: 0 most, 4 second, 1 least

Again my thanks to the Steve and the gang.

Cheers
Ian