Wines > Back vintages

RIESLING

Keep the 1999 - it's probably the best vintage of Riesling we have had for many years. The 2001 will probably fade more quickly than the 2000 because it is much sweeter with a slight botrytis character softening the acid. Keep the 2004 for as long as you can as the fruit and acid are in great balance. The two previous vintages ('02 and '03) are drinking really well now and should keep for another 3 - 4 years easily especially under screw cap. The 2005 is also a keeper and should be even better drinking after about 5 years.

Of all the wines to cellar I believe Riesling is the most enjoyable, because it changes so much and seems to age much more interestingly than any other variety.

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Definitely finish up the 1999 - it has lost that wonderful fruit intensity. 2000, 2001 and 2002 should all be drunk within the next couple of years to get maximum enjoyment. The recent vintages, 2003, 2004 and 2005 should certainly be opened with in the next year or so. Generally I would recommend that our Sauvignon Blancs be drunk within a few years of vintage to maximise the fruit intensity and freshness.

PINOT GRIS

First produced from our Cambridge vineyard in 2002 it was an immediate success. The 2003 and 2004 are more restrained and will last longer in the bottle allowing the acid and fruit to integrate. Almonds, apricots and honey are the characteristics that are developing with this variety at Meadowbank. They have generally been big structured wines with quite high alcohol balanced by fruit intensity. The 2006 was a more restrained style and I expect will cellar quite well for 3- 5 years. We did not release the 2005 as a labelled wine as it was quite out of balance and lacked fruit intensity.

CHARDONNAY

Keep the 2000 Grace Elizabeth for a while - it is a gem. Watch the 2001 as I suspect it will outlive the 2000. The 1999 will not reward your patience for much longer, though it is still drinking well. 2002 should be drunk quickly as it is getting rather tired. The 2003 is still a little disjointed with oak and fruit yet to integrate fully. The 2004 has taken a while for the fruit and oak to come into balance but with a few years in the bottle it is now rewarding those who kept it.

Some tasting notes on back vintages 4/3/2007:

'94 Grace Elizabeth - still tightly structured with obvious fruit

'95 Grace Elizabeth - caramelised and with oxidation. Drinkable - just.

'00 Grace Elizabeth - high acid with little obvious fruit and probably nowhere to go

'01 Grace Elizabeth - similar to 2000 with intense acid dominating fruit

'02 Grace Elizabeth - slightly flabby and broad on the way out

The unwooded Chardonnays are really made to enjoy while they are still crisp and singing with fruit flavours and like the Sauvignon Blanc, we recommend that they are consumed within a few years of bottling. The 2004 was a gold medal and trophy winner at the 2004 Royal Hobart Wine Show.

PINOT NOIR

Neither of the 1999 Pinots will improve much more. The 2000 Henry James has a lot going for it now, and I suspect will continue to deliver the goods for some time yet. The 2001 will be an interesting wine to see how it develops and will be a long lasting wine - probably much longer than the 2000 as the oak and fruit slowly integrate. 2002 was probably one of the best Pinot years seen in Tasmania. The 2003 was a lighter year lacking the depth and intensity of the 2002's. 2004 was a difficult vintage for Pinot Noir. However I have been pleasantly surprised at the development of the standard Pinot but would suggest that it is drunk by 2008. The 2004 Henry James is developing really well with some complexity and should cellar for another 5 years or so.

Some tasting notes on back vintages 4/3/2007

'94 Henry James - good colour and acid and structure holding well but some green sappy characters showing in fruit suggesting that we may have overcropped.

'98 Henry James - excellent fruit oak balance with great integration. Some primary Pinot Noir characters with a touch of barnyard giving complexity. Great length and structure with suppleness and roundness in the mouth

'99 Henry James - A peculiar "new" oak character on the nose but food acid balance and with a saw dust finish giving some hardness on the palate

'00 Henry James - dark cherry attractive nose. Round soft and supple fruit showing good integration and very good length with great cellaring potential

'02 Henry James - some dark cherry and plum with some savoury characters on the nose. Touch of herbal vegetative character adding to complexity but well balanced with soft juicy Pinot Noir palate and good length.

CABERNET

I think the 1999 is a better cellaring proposition than the 2000 which is a little soft and probably lacks the acid for long-term cellaring. The 2001 should also cellar very well as the spicy fruit from the Shiraz component slowly integrates with the oak. The 2002 was surprisingly lighter in structure despite the good season and showing more spicy characters from the Shiraz. The 2003 is probably the best Cabernet Meadowbank has produced and should live for a number of years. The 2004 is also a fabulous example of what good cool climate Cabernet is all about.