Mark Kogos wrote:David Lole wrote:Jay Labrador wrote:I have a bottle of Brokenwood Semillon 1999. Is this ready to drink?
Last one I tried was passed it, Jay. Sorry to the bearer of sad news. Hopefully, yours is at the peak of its powers. Whatever the case, it's time to open it.
I have dozens of Hunter Semillon maturing in the cellar (going back to 1992). Mark's sage advice is well-noted but I opt for leaving the better Hunter's somewhat longer, especially the Tyrrell's Vat 1 and Reserve (Belford, HSV and Stevens) range - 10 years is my preferred starting point for their drinking window. The McWilliams Mount Pleasant Elizabeth is a reliable cheaper, end wine, the Lovedale the premium label that needs more bottle-age before being opened. Brokenwood make a premium Semillon called ILR, but it's very limited availability will make it difficult to procure OS. Keith Tulloch's wines' have received plenty of excellent reviews of late but as I've not been buying much Hunter Semillon of late, haven't tried any. The Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon is another one worth looking out for. The 1999 MP AM I bought some time ago is just coming around now. There are literally score's of maker's in the Lower Hunter making Semillon (Scarborough, Audrey Wilkinson, Bimbadgen to name a few) that are worthy of putting down but are mostly sold through cellar door/mailing lists and are not exported.
David, nice to see you up here. I was thinking of you yesterday when discussing the Vat 1 99. I still have the 6 pack unopened in the cellar based on your write up last year but am tempted to try one this year. Have you tried the 02 yet? I was thinking it was time to put some more down into the cellar.
Mark (aka rooman)
Ahhh!!!! That Mark! Where's ya wheelie bin, bro? How are you in any case?
My case of 2002 remains untouched and is sitting at 16C in the cellar whilst it's soaring into the high 30's outside.
No rush to drink that wonderful 1999. It's soooo good I'm not touching any of my remaining 9 bottles for at least a few years yet. I wish I'd bought several more cases of this now. The HVD Reserve from the same year is a more open style that's ready to go now. The other wine I've had a great run with over many years now is the gorgeously seductive 1997 Belford Reserve. Not many left now and a couple I bought at auction a while back were both cactus - caveat emptor.
Hope you keep contributing here. The good old Aussie troops who congregated here in reasonable numbers in times past have dwindled considerably over the last several years. Wizz has started posting here recently, too. Good to be able to catch up, Roo!