Notes from Twenty Years Ago

Well maybe not notes from tweny years ago rather notes on some wines made around twenty years ago. Last weekend I opened a few older NZ wines.

First on the list is was Kumeu River 1995 Chardonnay.

The colour was bright gold and the wine looked more youthful than I thought it would.
Aromatically it was citrus tones were still strong as were earthy mineral characters.
On the palate there was a bitter marmalade flavour. Good persistence and length. Still plenty of life in this wine. I was really quite impressed.

Next up was the late addition of the Collards 1985 Cabernet Merlot.

Menthol, mint as well as medicinal tobacco character and a little reductive on the nose initially. Sweet palate, and surprisingly good. Feeling it’s age though.
15 minutes later it had actually opened up a bit more an had developed an orange pith character.
30 minutes after opening there was a distinct grapey, sultana nose developing.
45 minutes on it was browning and starting to take on an unpleasant acidity.
60 minutes on tasting quite green but making a bit of a comeback. amazing really.

You would have to say it wasn’t too bad.

Then there was the Coleraine 1991

Very dull aroma initially until that familiar old bottle reduction blew off. Plenty of tannin and tasting youthful.
Dark, dusty, smokey cocoa aromas eventually came through. The palate is powerful with sweet raisin-ed fruit.
15 minutes later the flavour profile hadn’t changed but there was a very compact profile to it
45 minutes later there was a distinct dark chocolate aroma and brambly flavours. Notes say “yum”
60 minutes best yet. Very very good wine.

Plenty of time left for this wine. If you have a bottle of this not only are you lucky, but you can definitely hang on to it for a while.