Orlando St. Hugo - 1998

[JMH]

This is a cab. sauv. from the Coonawarra region of Australia. Just finishing off the last glass of this now, and it's too good not to recommend picking some up if you get the chance. I don't have any experience in reviewing wine, so you'll have to bear with me.

It has a great balance of fruit, tannin and acidity on the palette, and the nose is an intense slightly sweetened (stewed?) fruit aroma. The fruit was berries and black currants. A restrained amount of oak which was good. Good long finish. It has become one of my favourite wines.

[Colt45]

I can't recall ever seeing this where I am in the U.S. Do you guys know if it is

exported?

I'll keep an eye out for it.

[habanablue]

Nice pick buddy! I have had quite a few St Hugo's before and have always been v good. Haven't had some for awhile but always have a deep rich texture compared to some other Cab Sauvs.

Good drinking!

[Ken Gargett]

st hugo is often underrated because it comes from orlando, the mob behind jacob's creek and there is a silly school of thought that big can never be good. st hugo is almost always excellent and excellent value. 98 was one of the very great vintages but would be hard to find now. they'd be on 04 or 05 i suspect.

[JMH]

» I can't recall ever seeing this where I am in the U.S. Do you guys know if

» it is

» exported?

» I'll keep an eye out for it.

Did a bit of searching and it seems that it's known as Jacob's Creek St. Hugo now, and it is available in the states.

Here's a list of Jacob's Creek wines available in the states [link=http://www.jacobscreek.com/apps/wine/WineList.php?WineCountryID=6]Link[/link] (it's part of the 'heritage' line)

Here's their distributor in the states [link=http://www.jacobscreek.com/apps/wine/WineCountryDistributor.php?WineCountryID=6]Link[/link]

[JMH]

» st hugo is often underrated because it comes from orlando, the mob behind

» jacob's creek and there is a silly school of thought that big can never be

» good. st hugo is almost always excellent and excellent value. 98 was one of

» the very great vintages but would be hard to find now. they'd be on 04 or

» 05 i suspect.

I agree, I think it's big, but not overpowering or unbalanced like some can be. Have you tried the '02? I just checked and we have a case of that as well as the '98, but probably won't be pulling any out for another few years.

[Ken Gargett]

»

» I agree, I think it's big, but not overpowering or unbalanced like some

» can be. Have you tried the '02? I just checked and we have a case of that

» as well as the '98, but probably won't be pulling any out for another few

» years.

without going back into the notes, wherever they might be, 98 and 02 are two of the very best vintages for st H. 96 would be another that would be close to ready now (be in no hurry with 98 or 02). the other one i love is one of the most underrated years - the other is 91 - in the last two decades, namely 99. happened to 99 and 91 bcaue both followed vry good, masively hyped yars - 98 and 90. often the wines from the unheralded year were even better, especially from 91.

[JMH]

» without going back into the notes, wherever they might be, 98 and 02 are

» two of the very best vintages for st H. 96 would be another that would be

» close to ready now (be in no hurry with 98 or 02). the other one i love is

» one of the most underrated years - the other is 91 - in the last two

» decades, namely 99. happened to 99 and 91 bcaue both followed vry good,

» masively hyped yars - 98 and 90. often the wines from the unheralded year

» were even better, especially from 91.

Really interesting, thanks ken.