From one of the premier producers of Pinot in Australia, and a place I visited earlier this year to talk to Coldstream Hills winemaker Andrew Fleming (here > https://winefolio.co.nz/?p=8892). On that day we talked about how well their wines from the late 80’s and 90’s were looking, and recently it was my opportunity to have a taste myself…
Sealed under cork. An opaque burgundy purple – and clearly showing some age with a brick-red hue to the edges of the wine in the glass. A rustic, savoury edge to the nose, perfumed with thyme, cherry, cranberry, damson plum and rose petals. The palate is medium bodied and delicate at first, but the wine rapidly awakens and blooms. The fruit is glossy, bloody and floods the middle, with those minerally, forest-floor notes retreating to the fringes. There’s a gentle spice to the juice and the complexity in this near-30 year old wine is astounding. It certainly could be taken for fine Burgundy. Tannin and acidity are both mellow, the tannins still fine and chalky. The finish is dry, with a delicacy and prettiness in a mile-long finish. 96pts
