TN: 1991 Mount Mary Quintet Cabernets

[Baby Chickpea]

1991 Mount Mary Quintet Cabernets (Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia)
Predominantly cabernet sauvignon based, with merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and a little petit verdot (hence the name). Paid A$27.40 on release. Current auction price around A$120. Lovely mid red colour with stunning clarity. Bouquet is very measured, with equal doses of violets (typical Mount Mary), blackberries and some residual oak. Very good to be sure but not massively impressive, especially compared to the two Bordeaux’s had recently - 1982 Château du Tertre and 1982 Château-Lascombes (see separate TNs). Palate is very elegant but too fine on the fruit level for my tastes. There is well integrated oak and tannin, and the wine has not begun to develop. The palate is long but too elegant for me. I prefer my wines with more stuffing. This is too underwhelming for me. Strangely, I used to adore Mount Mary Quintets a decade ago (having drunk them consistently from 1981 on and the 1986 remains my favourite) but I view this wine paralleling Bordeaux cru bourgeois classé or 5th growth from Margaux/St.-Emilion (qualitatively and stylistically speaking, rather than a direct comparison between the Bordeaux and Yarra Valley cabernet). Still needs 3-5 years in my opinion but, personally, I do not believe it will ever be a great wine. No wow factor (drink it and almost forget it) for what is a top vintage. Solid but a tad boring, despite obviously being well made. Traditionalists will love it (and the wine is strongly supported in Australia with cult-like conviction and fervour). I merely liked it. For the price of A$80 per bottle now being asked by Mount Mary, I want more bang for buck. Frankly, alot more. That’s just my 2 cents worth (depreciating daily).
88 / 100

[Chow Chow]

Am glad I'm not alone. Amen!