Old Plains 2004 Power of One December 05

Tasting Note

Sydney Time

Old Plains 2004 Power of One December 05

After two hours in the glass the bouquet was still seriously broody and sulking for all it was worth, but I eventually managed to coax blackcurrant, spice (both pepper and cinnamon) earthy notes and vanillin/coffee French Oak. Upon first tasting, the wine was tight and hard work; bucket loads of approaching silky tannins, that sucked the sides of the mouth in, combined with very ripe

deeply-seated concentrated fruit, that delivered a gob full of strong blackberry, blackcurrant, spice and eventually liquorice emerged. A full-bodied wine, it has a firm consistency, rock solid structure and well developed complexity. As it opened it became more approachable but anyone buying it should realise it needs a big sleep. It seems to walk a knife edge of extraction, power and ripeness and if the winemaker has got it right, given 5+ years it could be terrific.

As I was not sure how this wine would develop or how much the impact of the ROTE closure had impacted on the wine, I decanted off a half a bottle to look at the next day. On day two the tannins had tamed down and the wine was much more approachable with massive amounts coffee (probably oak derived flavours) dominating the palate, with a substantial amount of mint on the persistent finish. Rated as Recommended with *** for vale now, this will either be terrific or undrinkable in six years. It is available from oldplains@twpo.com.au for $28 bottle (RRP $35) with free freight for dozen lots across Australia.