WINE MAINTENANCE

Some of the earlier bottlings of Black Stump from the 1990s are offered in a maintained state.

Traditionally this sort of process has come about from the use of the natural cork closure. Some wineries that have wanted to keep special historical wines for many decades will re-cork them from time to time. This might also include topping up if the levels are down.

In recent times Penfolds have offered the "Grange Clinics" where people bring along their old bottles of Grange and a winemaker opens the bottles, checks their condition, tops up if necessary with a more recent vintage, and then recork.

Due to the bottle design, when a cork closure has been used originally, then a cork is used to reseal when maintained. There are a number of choices in cork for today's winemaker. A matured wine is in a delicate state so the process is carried out very carefully with minimal disturbance. The wines remain on any sediment that has been thrown over time, so are still best decanted when opened.

Although the Black Stump bottles are not particularly old, and the fill levels are good, this is more of a "preventative maintenance", primarily for purposes of guaranteeing a consistent product. It ensures that all wines are in a good drinking condition. If some people want to cellar the wines for longer, then the new closure will facilitate this also.

For the maintained Black Stumps the "Diam" cork has been selected. Any problem of cork taint, failure or degradation second time around is at the least minimised, possibly eliminated. Importantly, this closure does not require to be kept moist by lying the wine on it's side.

Therefore, all things considered, it is recommended to store your maintained Black Stumps standing up.
The date of maintenance has been notated on the label.

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