Houghton, Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec, Frankland River

Ruby color, no browning noticed. Full bodied palate with layers of sweet fruit balanced by juicy acidity. Medium plus tannins are well integrated. Finish drops off a bit in intensity then lingers for a while afterward. It could use a touch more complexity, but I’m tasting immediately after the corked is pulled, no air time yet. Super sturdy cork, wish they could all be like this. Should age a long time. Drink now to 2050.

1999 vintage

Even better. Most balanced bottle so far.

1999 vintage

Opened with my Durand. Cork looked great. This bottle was much fresher than last. Lots of plum, cigar, oak. A real deep ruby red colour without any of the leather or brett of the last bottle. A real treat for Thanksgiving! 🇨🇦🇦🇺

1999 vintage

Opened with my durand, cork was partially soaked. 1st of 6 bottles from a recent auction purchase, very pleased with this first bottle. Decanted to remove sediment. Surprising amount of sweet red fruit notes initially quickly gave way to more tertiary notes. Heavy leather, oak, a somewhat bretty, earthy character, more muted red fruits, chocolate on the nose. Palate lacked some of the impression the nose makes but a real nice silkiness, though not long lasting. Guessing we're towards the …

1999 vintage

Continues to drink very well despite not having been stored super well. I think I have one or two of these left with no rush to consume. Benchmark Aussie Cabernet.

2014 vintage

Wonderfully balanced and structured. I think this needs more time to come into its own. Nice now though lacks a distinctive definition. That is not a flaw, just a reflection that the wine has a lot of room to grow. Give it another 5 years (but don't blame me if that is an error for you).

2014 vintage

Exceptional wine and vintage. 25 years has aged this wine magnificently, cork was pristine, still some fruit and no mistaking the heritage of WA salt influenced Cabernet.

1999 vintage

This continues to drink very well, with the initial primary fruit now giving way to some secondary development, although protected by the screw cap it remains quite fresh. There is wonderful depth to the flavour, and a very long finish.

2014 vintage

NobleRottersSydney - mostly Penfolds (Fix, St James, Sydney) : {cork, 14.5%} [Sian] Purely developed nose of cabernet fruit, all currants and cigar. Still quite some fruit, even at the quarter century mark. The palate suggests this is fully developed, with low resolved tannins providing only the faintest chalky underpinning, and a note of malt and charcoal creeping into the flavours. Medium weight, picks up an acetic note with air. Medium length finish for this gracefully aged wine, but I feel …

1999 vintage

Mark Brown’s Birthday

2014 vintage

A ripper! 70/30 Cab Malbec. Blueberry, cassis, soft violet, vanilla. Dry, dusty, smooth tannins. Right in its sweet spot at the moment but will go another decade or more.

1999 vintage

Absolutely fantastic. The cork crumpled when attempting to remove it, but after decanting with a strainer there was no hint of taint or bits and pieces. Still a bright, perfumed nose, dark but not overly rusty colour, strong through the mid-palate when tasted. Smooth, tannin ever-so-faintly still there and rounding out with a richness that feels like its still got some wheels left in it. But it was soooo yummy I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. I still have …

1999 vintage

Drinking wonderfully now, but with the obvious structure to last a lot longer.

2014 vintage

Opened, decanted and poured. Excellent drinking, many years still ahead.

1999 vintage

Will keep it short. Just another amazing 90's vintage Jack Mann. every vintage from 94 to 99 are stunners. this was still way to young but so perfectly balanced and enjoyable now but if lost in the cellar for 20 more years then no big deal. dark, rich, sweet, long, and almost makes you speechless. such a great wine

1999 vintage

Cassis, chocolate, smoke, graphite. Rich with fruit sweetness in the mouth, but balanced with the acid and tannins. In a great spot now.

1999 vintage

Seriously good wine, still with length and drive although I suspect as good as its going to get. Real Frankland river power, muted slightly with time but sitting there under the covers, the tannins giving great structure but as a backdrop for the whole mouthful rather than being centre stage. Decanted and served quite quickly after. Gorgeous colour - no hint of a rust ring or cloudiness, the nose still with a spring in its step - cherries and nicely …

1999 vintage

Popped and poured. This middle ager is drinking very well. Great acids structure supports taste austere fruit with a variety of secondary flavors. Minimial aromas but those probably didn’t have the chance to escape the glassware as it was so freakin delish What better way then to kick off a bbq with friends in Cottesloe!

1999 vintage

This is phenomenal wine, lush but not at all unctuous, with glossy purple fruits, incredibly, elegant but structured tannins and endless layers of flavour. Opened up and unwound over more than four days. It is approachable now. I imagine it might yet close down for a bit and I would approach this again in 2025 and drink over the next 30 years.

2014 vintage

Youthful in appearance Cassis, leather, tobacco, olives Soft tannin Acid sticking out slightly. Very nice

1999 vintage

Dark purple, impenetrable, still quite youthful in appearance. Had thrown quite a bit of sediment. Blackcurrants, blueberry. Leather, tobacco. Tannins resolved. In the window now, ready to go. Very nice.

2002 vintage

red fruit cranberry and blackberry, light herb, light coffee nice tannin flow. Good wine.

2002 vintage

48th TWIGS Dinner (Firoz and Sangeeta's house) : Served blind. Decanted and served immediately. Deep garnet. Lots of blackberry and cassis here. So much sweet, dark fruit. The palate is youthful, and tending towards being full bodied. Rich, deep fruited. Still fairly primary, especially in comparison to a recently consumed 1998 version. Didn't really show any regional characteristics. Would recommend a bit more cellar time. 14.5% alc. Cork.

1999 vintage

Lots of fine sediment, so best decanted. Balanced dark, sweet fruits with dark chocolate and resolved tannins. Lovely stuff.

1999 vintage

Lightly corked, but enough to be ruined. Sigh.

2002 vintage

Two days later, half of the bottle poured into half bottle (to the top with screwcap) kept in fridge. Everything has become more integrated. Still an intense wine with dense colour, fruit, oak. But I don't want my previous note to give the wrong impression. This is more Penfolds than Mollydooker. A bit "built to withstand nuclear attack" but not sweet and syrupy.

1999 vintage

Further to my previous note this really is a winemaker's wine. Ripe, concentrated grapes plus added acid and lots of oak. Powerful and showy, though thankfully not syrupy sweet. Thankfully Australia has moved on from this style. Drink mid winter. 14.5% ABV, sealed with cork.

1999 vintage

Another terrific bottle. Decanted 1 hour. Dark core with just a little bricking. Opens with deep coloured fruits and cedar. There's a medium full palate here, balanced with sweet dark fruits, liquorice, cassis. Still youthful but in a good spot. A recent 1998 bottle showed more secondary flavour which may come with more time in this wine.

1999 vintage

Dark, rather youthful, a tad syrupy. Fun but I'd prefer more complexity, savoury character, rather than sheer concentration/power.

1999 vintage

yeah! Dark cherry And cassis, gentle tobacco, a lick of meatiness, and beautiful balance Aniseed great nice line of tannin finishes long

1999 vintage

"2016" Sydney International Wine Show - stewarding notes; 10/11/2015-10/15/2015 (Blue Mountains, NSW) : {cork, 14%} (Graeme) Big blackcurrant and jam nose. Smoke and oak too. The palate is big and currenty, and amazingly retarded for a 13-year-old wine. Resolutely full-bodied, with medium/high powdery tannins, plenty of oak, medium acid, and black-not-green fruit flavours. Big even palate. Has another decade in front of it without even batting an eyelid, and likely to be better for it.

2002 vintage

Deep coloured centre with bricking. Perfect cork - only slightly saturated. Decanted. Lots of fine sediment. Spicy nose, with black fruits. Similar palate too. Such deeply rich flavours. Integrated, chalky tannins mixed with spice, cedar, sweet blackberry, dark chocolate. It's kind of a big, muscular wine that has a perfectly tailored dinner suit on!

1999 vintage

Still so deep in colour, yet throwing off plenty of sediment. Aromas of black fruits and cedar. The palate is so balanced. Still has plenty of deep fruit flavours, with spicy oak and tannins so well integrated. It's the complete package - full of flavour and keeps you wanting more. Many more years in it yet.

1999 vintage

outstanding

1999 vintage

{cork, 14%} Opened and poured; showed better than last December's bottle. much more assertive, developing currant fruit, pure and powerful; less coconutty oak. Medium, ultra-fine tannins, framing ripe densely-wound cassis flavours, moderate acidity; the finish is quite powerful, medium/full-bodied, of about medium length. Very more-ish, although for sheer pleasure rather than fascination, if you know what I mean. Excellent cork; should hold and develop longer if luckily-sealed!

2002 vintage

NobleRottersSydney - Christmas Lunch 2013 (DavidC's house) : {cork, 13.5%} (DavidC) Decanted a couple of hours earlier. Aging nose. Cassis/cabernet flavours with a strong coconut/vanilla aspect, along with leafy bracken. Medium-bodied, with fine dusty tannins. A dry, aged, medium/long finish. Ready to drink but showing no signs of falling over.

2002 vintage

This was singing. Beautifully mature and not at all over the hill. Such a shame it was a single!

2002 vintage

Still quite a big wine with some years ahead yet!

2002 vintage

NobleRottersSydney - Best Oz vintages 90-02 (Alio's, Surry Hills) : [14%, cork] {Glenn} Decanted just prior to dinner. Quite aged. A touch sweaty with aromas of dusty leather and old whips. The palate is quite rich, with leafy but ripe currant fruits; perhaps the malbec adds a rustic touch. Medium-full bodied, with medium dusty tannins, but a good even palate; the flavours coat the mid-palate well. Solid medium-length finish. Well and truly ready to drink on this showing, but ought …

2002 vintage

[14%, cork] Exquisite essence of cabernet/cassis, with liquorice and charcoal notes, all dripping with quality. Well into its developing phase. Great depth and persistence to the cassis and leafy fruit on the palate, with pure linear flavours running the length of the palate, fine tannins adding their bit to the full-bodied texture. A long, dry, chalky finish, rich with fruit; a triumphant wine in every respect.

2002 vintage

Surprisingly fresh and youthful still. Plenty of sediment so need to decant the next bottle. Well balanced. Will hold for at least a few more years.

1999 vintage

Are you sure?

Houghton, Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec, Frankland River

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews