Salil Benegal
Salil Benegal
A couple of older reds that stood out during a dinner with good friends last night:
1995 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas
Horrible cork that took a while to get through, but the wine was well worth the effort. A really wild, sauvage Cornas combining a vivid smoky meatiness, leathery funk and bright red fruits and black olives. It's still pretty structured with bright acidity and some lingering tannin on the back end, but drinking beautifully with some time in a decanter.
1994 Wendouree Shiraz-Mataro
Well, here's a rare beast - a Wendouree that seems reasonably mature. There's that signature Wendouree scent of eucalyptus, coal smoke and anise with bright red fruits and developed savoury elements beneath, but it's quite restrained with moderate weight and the tannin mostly resolved (!!!), giving it a nice polished texture.
1995 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas
Horrible cork that took a while to get through, but the wine was well worth the effort. A really wild, sauvage Cornas combining a vivid smoky meatiness, leathery funk and bright red fruits and black olives. It's still pretty structured with bright acidity and some lingering tannin on the back end, but drinking beautifully with some time in a decanter.
1994 Wendouree Shiraz-Mataro
Well, here's a rare beast - a Wendouree that seems reasonably mature. There's that signature Wendouree scent of eucalyptus, coal smoke and anise with bright red fruits and developed savoury elements beneath, but it's quite restrained with moderate weight and the tannin mostly resolved (!!!), giving it a nice polished texture.