Musings from Wine Expressions

We had many people who asked us about the risks and rewards of opening older bottles.  While this is a subject that could be discussed at length, the best way to discover is to pull the cork.  I did just that over the weekend.  As some of you know I lived in Australia for a couple of years in the early 1990s. I had a love for Australian wines before moving to Melbourne.  This love only grew stronger and deeper as I experienced the elegance and power of Aussie reds.

When we moved back to the US, I had to “import” a few favorites.  We drank a few in the late 1990s but since opening Wine Expressions in 2002, I have not had the occasion to open many of these older wines.

I decided to try a 1988 Lindemans Limestone Ridge Vineyard Shiraz Cabernet to complement a piece of grilled tenderloin.  This wine is from the Coonawarra region in South Australia.  In short it was drinking very well at 20 years old.  The cork extracted very smoothly.  Quite unusual in my experience lately with older vinatges.  The wine was a rich ruby red with a bright fruity nose that called to mind a mixed berry carnival.

The wine was aged for 13 months in American oak before bottling.  Surprisingly there were none of the aromas of leather, chocolate or tobacco that are often found in these blends.  It was pure fruit.

The palate offered smooth tannins and more delicious fruit flavors.  As you might imagine, it was a perfect match for the grilled meat.

I had a little left at the end of the night and the last glass accompanied a late night pizza snack on Sunday evening.

I have several more bottles that I brought back from Australia dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s. I am looking forward to opening these bottles over the next few months.  One of particular interest is the Barossa Valley Estate E&E Black Pepper Shiraz. I have opened several of these over the years and found them to be excellent.             

Tags: australian wine, food pairings, shiraz, tasting notes, wine expressions

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