A Wellington Question
4I’ve got a question for those with a bit more Wellington experience than I have. I’m faced with having to reduce my storage, and I have quite a bit of Wellington. I want to try to distinguish which bottles merit greater care (i.e., more age worthy) and which I should consume on the earlier side. Of course, Victory falls into the “age” category. What I particularly want to find out about are the which Cabs (the ones I know I have are Sonoma County, Mohrhardt Ridge, Handel-Denier) and Zins (Sonoma County, Estate, Meeks Hilltop) I should consume earlier and which I should try to store longer.
I know that Peter once had some comments in the threads on the past site, but trying to delve into dozens of Wellington postings there would be a bit daunting. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
- 15 comments, 26 replies
- Comment
From Peter from a prior Wine Woot offering
Wellington
The Karren Vineyard looks to be the slowest developer, improving (an extremely subjective statement) for ten years or more. The Handal Denier (not produced every year) tends to open up sooner, and the Mohrhardt Ridge (25 vintage track record) is typically quite approachable at 4-5 years, peaks (for my personal taste) at 8-12 years, and lasts for 20+. The M.R. is not usually intensely tannic; it is the low pH from very cool climate grapes that keep this wine fresh.
2009 Cabernet, Sonoma County - now to 2020
2009 Zinfandel, Meeks Hilltop Ranch - now to 2016
2009 Syrah, EnglandCrest - now to 2021
The Meeks Hilltop has brighter fruit - raspberry predominant. It’s dry, medium bodied, with moderate tannin at four years of age. As far as comparison to other 2009 Zins, ours stand out a bit due to our very limited use of new oak. To my taste, Cab generally needs lots of oak, but obvious oak in Zin destroys its charm - makes it seem like a cheap &-#5.
The Estate Vineyard Zinfandel is more tannic, solid structure and a darker character to the fruit, with added notes of mixed spices and earth. The Estate Zin typically just starts to open up at five years old and starts to get really interesting at 8 to 10 years.
I’d say the 2009s are more similar to the 2007s. “Surprisingly different” from other vintages or other wineries? Our (my) style is born in the vineyards. We have planted and chosen vineyard / variety combinations that are barely warm enough to ripen most years. This results in late season harvests. All the fruit that went into each of these three wines was harvested in October and November, and 2009 was not a late year. This gives us wines with deep color, rich but soft tannins and lower than typical pH. Another factor that typifies our wines is that we are very careful with oak, making sure it always plays a supporting role and never dominates or changes the character from the grapes.
In cooler years like 2010 and 2011 our wines tend to have more herbaceous aromas, but 2009 was warm enough for fully ripe aromas and flavors. The alcohol levels are a bit higher in 2009 as well.
@oncman529 Thank you. Much appreciated!
I only have 5 bottles of Wellington left
For me, the Handal-Denier Cabs are the ones I’ve enjoyed most. So in your situation I’d hoard those, along with the Victorys.
Mohrhardt Ridge has consistently outlasted our other Cabs, then Handal-Denier. The Estate Zin also ages exceptionally well. Of the wines you specified the Meeks Zin is the one most likely to go over the hill first.
@PeterW Thank you, Peter.
@PeterW Opened a 2010 Mohrhardt Ridge last night with visiting family - it was singing. I have a few more that I will hold on to tightly.
Peter- any advice on when to drink the Victory’s? Happy to say that I have a bottle or 2 of the 2013, '12, '08, and '06. Haven’t tried any yet- time to start, or keep holding? Meantime, working my way through, and savoring all the other wonderful reds (and whites
) Thank you for all of them!
@drgonzo99 Something I forgot to do when I initially created this thread was to mention @PeterW (but thankfully he caught it or was made aware). I just did it for your reply in case…
Thanks for joining us Peter!
Both the 2006 and 2008 are in their prime now. I would wait on the 2012 and 2013.
(Depending on personal preferences, of course). The 2012 and 2013 are both very enjoyable now.
Another thought: when I had a 2006 Victory recently it really needed decanting to open up.
@PeterW How about the 2007 Victory - I have 1 bottle left - keep or drink?!
@ctmariner @PeterW I’d also be interested in feedback on the window for 2007 and also 2009. I believe from a prior thread the 2009 is one of your favorites ??
Great thread - I’m the lucky holder of quite a few bottles of various varietals/vintages of Wellington and was wondering the same thing… I tend to hoard my Wellington bottles knowing there is no more to be had… Sounds like I need to start drinking some and enjoy!
@lindylouwho I volunteer to help
@ctmariner Both the 2007 and 2009 are also in their prime drinking window. Both were indeed excellent vintages, up there with the 1994 & 2004 as my favorites. I’d drink the ‘07 first.
@PeterW WooHoo! I have one bottle of 2009 left.
Peter, so glad you’re hanging out here.
Just opened a 2011 Estate Syrah. This is delicious! I know you’ve had some amazing success with ageing this wine, but what are you thinking for the longevity of this vintage?
@klezman I love the estate syrah.
@Winedavid49 Especially that 3 litre version (I forget the vintage - early 90’s?) we opened at dinner on the 2010 Tour…
@klezman @Winedavid49 I remember the syrah (perhaps 1997) I got that was the “library” bottle in a mystery case. It was fantastic! (But sadly I opened it when some family was over so I only got a single glass.)
@klezman oh i remember that. memorable for sure!
@klezman @Winedavid49 It was a 1995 Wellington Syrah Alegria Vineyard double mag. WOTN, finishing just ahead of the 1994 Victory mag. And lest we forget, the 60 and 124 year old Madeira’s were excellent too.
@klezman @merrybill what a night!
@merrybill @Winedavid49 Yeah, that was one hell of a night! 1867 Madeira!
Had the chance the other day to try a 1999 Wellington Cab, Hulen Vineyard (i.e. Handal) from a 3L. It had been open for two weeks and it was still fantastic!
@trifecta I thought Hulen was (i.e. Karren).
@InFrom Ah, you could be right. Not sure what the name was on the Handal property before it changed hands.
@InFrom @trifecta I see the Hulen listed as Dry Creek Valley, which would make it Handal-Denier. Karren is Sonoma Mountain iirc.
@klezman @trifecta I guess my memory just ain’t what it used to be. Thanks for checking.
Personal problem: I can’t bring myself to open a Victory of any vintage. I have given some (few) as gifts, but the “occasion” never seems to rise enough to open a bottle. I have been trying to drink through the Zins and have had had plenty of the Syrahs. No matter the age, have never had a bad bottle or one I thought was too old.
@woopdedoo Be thankful you don’t have mags, or larger…?
@rjquillin I have a Corison 99 Mag - gift from my brother. If have the Victory problem with my Corisons too.
@rjquillin @woopdedoo
Have you considered investing in a Coravin?
@rjquillin @woopdedoo now that’s a good brother!
@chipgreen @rjquillin @woopdedoo Or if you only need to do this occasionally, the RePour device works amazingly well for a single bottle (or, if you are judicious about it, two bottles back to back).
@rjquillin @Winedavid49 Indeed!
@chipgreen @klezman @rjquillin Believe me - the problem isn’t consuming the bottle - it will be gone in a night most assuredly (OK - maybe not for the Mag). It is drinking that bottle and then knowing that I have one less to drink in the future.