WTN: 1998 Warrenmang, Grand Pyrenees, Victoria, Oz

[Jenise]

An orphan bottle of pretty much equal amounts of shiraz, cab sauv, and cab franc purchased in Australia back in 2000: exciting big, all-black fruit nose with just a hint of earth, and something that suggests that we're going to find ample acidity on the palate. We do, and though it's pleasant enough to drink the palate doesn't deliver as good as the nose because it's overly acidic for the meager midpalate fruit, and what fruit there is is very primary and likelier to crash than develop into something better. I finally conclude it's simply past it's prime, and THEN I read the label: "Should drink well for the next 5-7 years." Oops!

Jenise
I checked Jeremy Oliver's drinking window for this and he had it down for 2006 to 2010 initially, but at some point later adjusted it to 2006 to 2012. He doesn't seem to have rated it highly though, the 2001 comment on the 1998 (before he included TN's) described some robust minty rusticity. It seems you and he are not too far apart.

Your note is really good as you clearly state why you thinks it's over the hill, as the balance seems to have gone (acidity prominent, fruit not developing, but just fading), never to return. Very useful!

regards

Ian