The Auswine Forum

Does anyone have any experience with the Moss Wood Pinot Noir, particularly its ageing ability? I want to know if its worth trying a bottle of this (1988) vintage given recent comments about the inability of Oz Pinot to go much beyond 4-5 years and this being a respectable 15 years of age.

Thanks

PaulSheldon wrote:Does anyone have any experience with the Moss Wood Pinot Noir, particularly its ageing ability? I want to know if its worth trying a bottle of this (1988) vintage given recent comments about the inability of Oz Pinot to go much beyond 4-5 years and this being a respectable 15 years of age.

Thanks

Paul
This year I had the 1995 regular and the 1995 Pemberton and they were good complex savoury reds.
Moss Wood pinots are not sexy creatures they are savoury dry red table wines and dont really resemble pinot as we know it.
I wouldnt expect too much with the 1988.
Maybe you should keep your hands in your pockets with all due respect.
How much is it out of curiosity? and is it the customary 14%?
regards
michel

Hi paul - I'd agree with Michel - tried a 1991 Moss Wood pinot (from perfect provenance) in Dec 1999, and I found it a bit tired even then. A 1988 would definitely be a long shot -- you can do much better elsewhere (even a recent MW pinot maybe?)

Thanks for the advice guys, this was actually off a restaurant wine list, I am trying to find a decent red with some age for under $100. I will be the only one drinking it.

Oops, should have logged in first!

PaulSheldon wrote:Does anyone have any experience with the Moss Wood Pinot Noir, particularly its ageing ability? I want to know if its worth trying a bottle of this (1988) vintage given recent comments about the inability of Oz Pinot to go much beyond 4-5 years and this being a respectable 15 years of age.

Thanks

About 3 months ago I had the 1985, 1986 and 1988 MW Pinots. All were past their best and dried out. Marginally drinkable at best. Of the 3, I would rank them 86, 85, and 88. Mind you, I emailed MW asking their opinion - typically, like most wineries (in my experience) they replied that they should still be fine (do we expect them to say anything else?).

Dietmar wrote: I emailed MW asking their opinion - typically, like most wineries (in my experience) they replied that they should still be fine (do we expect them to say anything else?).

This is interesting, because having joined Tyrrells private bin list, I'm a little surprised at some of the shorter drinking windows they give their wines. They've got pretty much the whole 88 vintage marked as 'stuffed', and the 91 Vat 9, something Halliday called "a 30-year classic" they're calling 'at its peak' now. So they don't seem to be overestimating too much, if at all.

cheers,
Graeme

I've decided to look for something a bit more reliable, currently considering a 93 St Henri.