WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL 1985 VINTAGE AUSTRALIAN RED WINE - BAROSSA VALLEY

OVERVIEW:
A VINTAGE BOTTLE OF WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL FROM THE CELEBRATED 1985 VINTAGE, REPRESENTING A SIGNIFICANT ERA IN AUSTRALIAN PREMIUM WINEMAKING. WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL IS THE BENCHMARK WINE OF THE COMPANY'S PREMIUM TABLE WINE PORTFOLIO, EACH YEAR'S PRODUCTION STRICTLY LIMITED WITH A TRADITION OF WINNING TROPHIES AND MEDALS AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL WINE SHOWS.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- VINTAGE: 1985
- PRODUCER: WOLF BLASS WINES, BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
- WINE TYPE: RED WINE BLEND
- COMPOSITION: CABERNET SAUVIGNON (75%) FROM COONAWARRA, MERLOT AND CABERNET FRANC (20%) FROM LANGHORNE CREEK AND EDEN VALLEY, SHIRAZ (5%) FROM EDEN VALLEY
- BOTTLE HEIGHT: APPROXIMATELY 29 CM
- LABEL TYPE: GOLD FOIL WITH EMBOSSED WINGED CREST AND SHIELD DESIGN
- AWARD DOCUMENTATION: BACK LABEL DISPLAYS MULTIPLE GOLD MEDAL AWARDS FROM ROYAL MELBOURNE (1986), RUTHERGLEN (1986), CANBERRA (1987), ROYAL ADELAIDE (1987), COWRA (1987), RUTHERGLEN (1987), ROYAL ADELAIDE (1987), ROYAL HOBART (1987), ROYAL BRISBANE (1988), PLUS SILVER MEDAL AWARDS AND STONEWELL TROPHY FROM ROYAL ADELAIDE WINE SHOW

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
THE BOTTLE PRESENTS AS A FAIR EXAMPLE OF A 38-YEAR-OLD VINTAGE WINE. THE GLASS STRUCTURE REMAINS INTACT WITH NO CRACKS OR CHIPS OBSERVED. THE FOIL CAPSULE SHOWS SIGNIFICANT OXIDATION AND DETERIORATION CONSISTENT WITH FOUR DECADES OF STORAGE. THE LABEL EXHIBITS EXTENSIVE FOXING, DUST ACCUMULATION, AND SURFACE WEAR TYPICAL OF AGED BOTTLES STORED IN VARIABLE CONDITIONS. THE LIQUID LEVEL APPEARS NOTICEABLY LOW, SUGGESTING EITHER NATURAL EVAPORATION THROUGH A POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED CORK OR SEEPAGE OVER THE EXTENDED STORAGE PERIOD. DESPITE THE WEATHERED APPEARANCE, THE LABEL TEXT, VINTAGE DESIGNATION, AND AWARD STAMPS REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY LEGIBLE TO CONFIRM AUTHENTICITY AND PROVENANCE.

PROVENANCE AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
THE 1985 WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL REPRESENTS A MILESTONE VINTAGE FROM ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST DECORATED WINEMAKERS. THE BACK LABEL DOCUMENTATION OF MULTIPLE GOLD MEDALS FROM PRESTIGIOUS AUSTRALIAN WINE SHOWS—ROYAL MELBOURNE, RUTHERGLEN, ROYAL ADELAIDE, AND OTHERS—CONFIRMS THE CRITICAL ACCLAIM THIS VINTAGE ACHIEVED UPON RELEASE. THE COMPOSITION NOTES INDICATE THE CLASSIC BLACK LABEL BLENDING PHILOSOPHY: PREDOMINANTLY CABERNET SAUVIGNON FROM THE COOL COONAWARRA REGION, SUPPLEMENTED WITH MERLOT AND CABERNET FRANC FROM LANGHORNE CREEK AND EDEN VALLEY, WITH A SMALL PROPORTION OF SHIRAZ FOR COMPLEXITY.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE:
THIS BOTTLE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF AUSTRALIAN WINE HISTORY FROM THE MID-1980S, A PERIOD WHEN WOLF BLASS WAS ESTABLISHING ITS INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION. THE EXTENSIVE AWARD DOCUMENTATION ON THE LABEL PROVIDES PROVENANCE OF THE WINE'S QUALITY AT THE TIME OF RELEASE. HOWEVER, THE APPARENT LOW FILL LEVEL AND CORK CONDITION PRESENT UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE CURRENT DRINKABILITY AND CELLARING POTENTIAL OF THE CONTENTS. SERIOUS COLLECTORS OF AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE WINES OR WOLF BLASS DEVOTEES MAY FIND HISTORICAL AND COLLECTIBLE VALUE IN THIS DOCUMENTED EXAMPLE, THOUGH PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CORK AND LIQUID CONDITION WOULD BE ADVISABLE PRIOR TO ANY CONSIDERATION OF CONSUMPTION.

Item Size: Height: 40cm, Width: 30cm, Depth: 30cm, Weight: 2Kg

Condition: Fair

997520+6

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