A Decade

A couple of wines at around a decade of age showed how good or bad wines can develop, after a decade, which can be a bit of a magical number to do this sort of thing. Of course, we had it with Jube's special lamb dish, to allow the wines show their best.

A 2001 Daniel Schuster 'Selection - Omihi Vineyard' Pinot Noir was a bit of a stunner. Danny, whose Canterbury operation has now folded, was erratic with his output. Sometimes the wines were disappointing, other times brilliant. A bit like burgundy really. This 2001 was special from the start. An now, a decade down the track, it still is. Garnet hues to colour, this was distinctly secondary with tertiary notes too. Fungal, game and savouries. But ultra-smooth and velvety, yet with substance and fruit extract. New Zealand Pinot Noir can age...

To go with the lamb also was a 2000 Crossroads 'Talisman', the enigmatic creation of Malcolm Reeves. The varietal mix has never been made public, but no doubt there was Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, with Syrah, Malbec and two others, possibly including the likes of Tannat? The 2008 is gorgeous. But this 2000 was plagued by brett. Smelled like concentrated sweaty horses, the palate was all dried up. It was black as the Ace of Spades and dense as pitch, but the fruit and sweetness had gone. If only it was clean, it would have been a marvel.