Having not had more than cursory access to a computer for well over a month now, I bit the bullet a week and a bit ago and, with the help of a good friend, bought one. Since last month's Merimbula Jazz Festival, I've been working through a number of my cellar's forgotten heroes, along with some recent purchases and, to date, not one dud has passed my lips. Probably the worst rated wine was a 2000 Denis Mortet Lavaux-St-Jacques (85), a good wine only marred by some chronic overoaking.
Some of the highlights to date have been -
Henschke Mt Edelstone 1995
Wynn's John Riddoch 1984
Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet Les Perrieres 1997
Kay's Amery McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz 1971
Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon 1984
Ch. Langoa-Barton 1985
Lindeman's Coonawarra Nursery Vineyard Riesling 1985
Hugel Gewurtztraminer VT 1989
Deletang Montlouis Grande Reserve Tris Les Batisses 1990
Mount Horrocks Riesling 2002
Trimbach Clos St. Hune Riesling 1992
The Henschke's were both stunning - the '95 Mt Ed. (93) utterly beguiling, revealing an uncanny balance between youthful vibrancy and sublime maturity. The '84 Cyril (96) akin to an angel weeping on your tongue with such silky elegance and profound complexity. I almost shed tears when we cracked this blinder. The Lindy's 85 Nursery Riesling (95) is an utter freak of nature. At age 25 it's only reached it's zenith. Similarly-stored and preserved bottles should last at least another 5 years. This was a minimally-ullaged Lindeman's Classic release that went straight into Anders Josephson's storage facility for many years thereafter. What can you say about Trimbach's super-premium Clos-St.-Hune? Utterly beguiling and elegant with such brilliant delineation, freshness of fruit and mouth-watering minerality. 94 points. The Hugel 1989 late-picked Gewurtz is no slouch either and, to my taste, only a meagre point below the CSH. I've drunk close to a dozen of the phenomenal Kay's 1971 Cabernet-Shiraz and not opened a bad bottle. Freakish wine, and in much better shape (bottle to bottle) than Grange of the same vintage! The Wynn's blew me away - still marvellously intact and drinking magnificently ... about 92 points and, yes, before I forget I must give the Mount Horrocks a huge rap. This is Clare at its finest and having drunk this over 72 hours with no degradation, I would give this another 10 years in the cellar before it peaks.
There are quite a few others I've opened that have impressed greatly, but alas, I'm out of time just now to report on them, and, no doubt, too many that have just blended into the fog of the recent past. Look forward to being online again to report on and discuss the sometimes wacky but mostly wonderful world of wine.
