Chateau Tahbilk Goulburn Valley Victoria Cabernet Sauvignon, 1986

This Cabernet from Tahbilk has been in the bottle for nearly 40 years, and I expected it to taste like an antique. Not so. The wine is drinking beautifully, showing the graces rather than the defects that come from aging.

Bright and dark, some browning at the edges. Cabernet smells of bright cherry and currants. Savory salinity that brings out subtle nuances. Tobacco and minerals. Has been aged in French oak, but I don't detect any oak influence at this stage. Blends beautifully with the flavors of red wine braised beef.

The label states that acidity is 6.15 g/L with a pH of 3.60 and 12.5% ABV. That's much more acidic than most wines today. And that may well be the reason it tastes so delicious after 39 years in the bottle.