The Auswine Forum

Was hoping to get ideas/suggestions as to when would be best to drink a magnum of 93 John Ridoch cab sav?

Well the Gold Book says 2010 if that's any help.

I've never had this wine myself. We bought my father in law a bottle of the 96 as a retirement present and he hasn't had the good manners to share it with me yet. I've actually got the sneaking suspicion he has drunk it but it would be rude of me to ask.

While not having any myself I have read a lot about it as I have been a big fan of the Black Label over the years.

Everything I've read indicates 93 was a good vintage and the JR from that year was very good. You could certainly drink it now but assuming good storage it would last another 10 years especially as you have a magnum.

However, if you are asking if you should drink it now and you want to drink it now the answer is that yes, it should be drinking very well now.

Jeremy Oliver has a drinking window for the 1993 John Riddoch of 2001 to 2005 which makes this vintage relatively short lived.

93 is a lesser vintage,but JR is still a big wine even in a lesser vintage. For a magnum the aging process is slower. IMO, it is just in the drinking window now. I opened couple botytles of 88 JR last year, it is still youthful.

I had a standard bottle of John Riddoch 1993 about two years ago and it was fantastic drinking, still fresh as a daisy. It seemed to have more years left in it, but it is drinking so well that if I were you I would not hesitate and open it soon. I guess the magnum size would keep it fresh also.

1993 is generally considered a lesser year in Coonawarra although tastings of a number of wines from that year across several wine groups has shown them to be excellent wines. Wynns Black, Balnaves and Leconfield both Cabernet and Merlot have shone out.

Haven't had a 93 John Riddoch recently but a couple of years back it was humming nicely with lots of time to go. Well stored magnums will be less advanced of course.