1998 Petaluma Coonawarra Red

During a trip to Coonawarra in November last year, Nick conducted extensive barrel tastings of the 1998 and 1999 vintages as well as a number of back vintages from Coonawarra's major producers. These included the great wines from Wynns, Mildara, Wetherall, Majella, Katnook, Kidman, Rymill, Leconfield and Lindemans. Missing from the line up was the 1998 Petaluma Red, and it was an anxious moment prior to the tasting. Are the 98's as good as we believed them to be? The answer is yes and a definite must for the cellar of the serious collector. Spectacular crimson purple colour. Superb nose, pure sniffing pleasure with aroma of mulberry, violets, blackcurrant and spice, followed by a liquorice end note. The palate structure is outstanding, a young thoroughbred awaiting its time. Made from a blend of 30% Merlot and 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine displays great weight and mouthfeel. Perfect balance, flavours of spice, cedar, blackcurrant and liquorice fill every corner of the mouth. Fine grained, yet perfectly integrated tannins with exceptionally long aftertaste. A triumph. Cellar 8-10 years.