The Auswine Forum

Hello

Recently opened a bottle of 99 Houghtons Crofters Cabernet Merlot.
The bottle has sediment type stains around the neck and shoulder.
The wine tended to have a pronounced menthol type palate.

Could this be bad cellaring, or can a 99 develop such bottle stains.

Thanks
Mark

Surprised no-one else has answered you yet. I know nothing about this wine but if unfiltered, etc and stored on its side for a good period of time, then you could expect stains like you describe. Sounds like it has been well cellared - lying on its side, so it is nothing to worry about in my opinion. The proof will be in the tasting.
I often associate menthol with Aussie cab. Presume this is a WA drop.
Cheers,
Sue

Mark,

I think Sue is right, the slight sediment (crust) is fairly normal in fuller-bodied reds left undisturbed for a while. 99 was a pretty good vintage in WA, but I remember being disappointed by the Crofters C-M of that year, don't remember the strong menthol, I remember it was just a bit unbalanced and lacking in the fruit departiment.

Hi all,

I have had the Crofters CM and don't remember anything regarding menthol, although to be fair, the flavour profile has changed over the last three bottles. There is considerable sediment and it is worth decanting this one and letting it breathe for 2 hours. I'm going to try the next one in one or two years to see where it's heading. I'm sure I have a TN somewhere, will try to remember.

RB, the last bottle I tried didn't have any decanting or time and the fruit didn't seem as powerful as the previous bottles tried, but then it did come after a Classic Clare Sh 96 so that wasn't really fair was it?

All the best,

From my tasting notes there was heaps of green capsicum on the palate, well at least to my green veg hating palate, which could perhaps be confused with menthol.