FROM JIM’S CELLAR

I often get asked how long  our red wines should be cellared for and when will they be ready to drink.  Much of course depends on the vintage and to a great extent how the wines have been stored.  Great vintages will generally age much  better assuming that the wines are kept constantly  cool in a darkened room with the appropriate humidity.   Assuming that your wines have been stored properly, we were initially of the view that our big red wines would last approximately 10 years.  (It must be remembered that we did not have the history to  more accurately predict longevity).

Now that many of our wines are past the 10  year mark, I have committed  to providing periodic updates as to the condition of various vintages.  While this means that I have  to open and sample a number of our library wines from time to time, I am prepared  to make the sacrifice!  So here  goes.

I recently  opened a bottle of our 2009 King’s Ransom Meritage.  As you may recall,  2009 was a very good year and we made our second King’s Ransom Meritage.  Upon release, the 2009 had a great deal of fruit with soft but firm tannins.  It had a full  plush mouthfeel and a long finish.  Today, the 2009 King’s Ransom is stunning!  An aroma of cranberry, plum, dark red fruit with a hint of leather and tobacco greet you on  nose.  Flavours of caramel, leather, tobacco, black liquorice and dark dry cherry envelop your mouth.  The wine is well balanced with firm but soft tannins, a good mouthfeel and a long finish.  I think that the 2009 KR Meritage  is peaking and I would highly recommend that you DRINK NOW or within the next 9 months.