At the same time, in a remote pocket of South Australia,
Wynns were making their 15th vintage of their cabernet
sauvignon. Fast forward to today and Wynns have released 55 vintages of the
Black Label, and it has become in that time one of Australia’s great wines.
This bottle was a random purchase from my offsite cellar
provider. A punt on a piece of tree bark having kept a wine that almost always
cellars well beyond initial expectations.
The ullage levels were mid-high shoulder which is pretty
good for a 45 year old wine. Still at that age it is very much a lottery, and I
thought it’s opening would reveal either a ruined offering or something quite
exceptional. As it turned out it took a kind of middle road, in that what evolved
in the glass was simply a lovely aged Cabernet. It smelt and tasted aged, but I
would have never have picked it for a 45 year old wine. There was still plenty
of fruit, and cork permitting, there’s no reason it wouldn’t continue to live
for a while yet.
Beautiful blackcurrant, old furniture mustiness, mint, and a
lovely earthiness. Soft and supple, the flavours are carried by some tannin
that’s still holding in there and some nice acidity as well. The finish actually lengthened as it opened
up in the glass, giving that extra dimension of enjoyment. Four of us finished the
bottle in good time with slow cooked lamb-shanks as the match. Remarkable that
such a humble wine has aged so well and it bodes well for recent vintages of
this wine that are now under screwcap. Love my Wynns.
1 comment:
I've always dreamed of getting the opportunity to drink a wine this old...although appreciate that it can be a bit of a lottery! A pity it was a middle of the road experience for you, but a good read nonetheless.
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