| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.2 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 27 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by Condrieu82 on 3/24/2024 & rated 94 points: Pitch dark and still very young-looking in the glass. nose somewhat restrained, but plums and a lavender poured out after a good swirl. In the palate this is dense, with youthful acidity, black pepper, plums, bramble, earthy notes - still fresh and young, with medium tannins and a long ending with oak in it.
High-quality Australian Shiraz for sure - I had high expectations and this bottle met them all. 2002 is clearly a great vintage for Australia - and I am happy I have 5 more bottles of this beauty. Great now, will continue to develop for a while IMO and while last at least another decade at peak. (105 views) |
| | Tasted by Bull at a gate on 12/2/2023 & rated 95 points: Fruity, sweet well balanced and long finish. Drinking very well (245 views) |
| | Tasted by pdr_urrutia on 11/13/2020 & rated 87 points: Not bad, but not really my style. Big, jammy, sweet. Nose has baked spiced cherries, chocolate, and anise. Palate has kirsch, jammy plums, dark chocolate, and soft black licorice. (1089 views) |
| | Tasted by wineguy75 on 11/19/2018 & rated 92 points: Still pleasurable and round viscous red cherry fruit with spice notes , chocolate. I agree with darth taster below. drink up now. The alcohol is showing through and with time will become even more pronounced as primary fruit dissipates. Long decant is fine as better in subsequent days under argon storage. (1730 views) |
| | Tasted by YQUEM90 on 3/24/2017 & rated 95 points: Strong at 15. Simple decant. Give it 30+ minutes and it will be lovely. Paired nicely w/burgers and beef chili. (2541 views) |
| | Tasted by firstgrowth on 11/22/2016 & rated 84 points: A bit like Robitussin - hoping subsequent bottles are better (2464 views) |
| | Tasted by Collector1855 on 10/1/2016 & rated 90 points: During a Shiraz tasting dinner with friends. Tasted blind. Nose of dark fruit, berry, chocolate. Enters the palate rich, sweet and very full bodied. A big bruiser from Australia for sure. Too much for my taste. Alcohol 15.5% says it all. (2864 views) |
| | Tasted by Derek Darth Taster on 8/31/2016 & rated 91 points: Wednesday Wine Party Free & Easy (Chateau Davyd): Tasted blind.
Appearance is opaque deep blackish red colour. Thick legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of dark milky chocolate, coconut, black cassis, licorice, sweet concentrated candy, black fruits. Developed.
On the palate, off-dry!, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (15.5%), smooth fine medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of dark milky chocolate, mocha, silky yet concentrated sweet black cherries, blackberries, black cassis, licorice. Medium+ finish.
Very good quality. Rich and silky drink, too easy to drink for a 15.5% alc! Drink up. I think exclusive Old World drinkers would vomit this wine up though, if you force it down their throats. (2533 views) |
| | Tasted by kenv on 9/30/2014 & rated 93 points: Fully mature. Mellow and delicious. (2813 views) |
| | Tasted by kenv on 5/22/2014 & rated 92 points: Powerful nose of black fruits and dark chocolate. Thick and silky with rich fruit. Still some tannin. Big, but not too big. (2239 views) |
| | Tasted by jdesimone4 on 11/3/2013 & rated 91 points: definitely needed some time to open up; first sample was not nearly as good as 30-60 minutes in (2362 views) |
| | Tasted by kenv on 12/7/2012: Decanted for a few hours, it is still aggressive as hell. Big nose of blackberry fruit and spice. Thick and rich in the mouth, but with ferocious tannins and acidity in the mid-palate and finish. I hope it will come around in another 5 years or so, but I'm not so sure. Amy picks up a strong clove flavor and says it's very aggressive, "like having someone else's teenager to dinner." ;) Judgement reserved. Put away for 5-10 years. (3302 views) |
| | Tasted by schimmy23 on 2/5/2011 & rated 93 points: Our favorite of the 4 Macarthur had open today. Excellent blend with a perfect finish. They said it needs about 90 minutes right now so will be good for years in the cellar. (4486 views) |
| | Tasted by mukden on 12/7/2010 & rated 94 points: HOLY CRAP. Weighing in at 15.5% a/c and well and truly Parkerised; it was with some trepidation that I approached this monster. The a/c is there but not as burny and bad as you would expect. After that creamy black berries going more chocolatey after opening up. Very chewy and really quite impressive. Not european at all, but reminded me of Grange in its density. A density, however, that will probably never develop like a Bordeaux. But, recommended. (3744 views) |
| | Tasted by charbo on 3/28/2010: still big and chewy with cocoa espresso and big black fruit (3852 views) |
| | Tasted by viscalbarsa on 12/13/2009 & rated 91 points: Went very well with the salmon with vanilla oil. It's very elegant for a shiraz, but wildly overpriced (3489 views) |
| | Tasted by Larry Brooks on 4/13/2009 & rated 93 points: Group Third. Really nice. not so fruit forward and acidiic balance compared to the amon ra. (3363 views) |
| | Tasted by lk on 3/16/2009 & rated 95 points: Incredibly rich velvety big wine. Deep dark red color, well balanced, long finish. You want to keep coming back for more. (3336 views) |
| | Tasted by Animus on 9/20/2007 & rated 97 points: Fabulous complexicity, spicy, earthy with note of liqorice and oak, an incredible finish. Exceptional wine. (3673 views) |
| | Tasted by yanik on 1/5/2007 & rated 94 points: Rich, velvetly and full mouthfeel. Very good with a long finish (3932 views) |
| | Tasted by charbo on 12/18/2005 & rated 94 points: we opened this with the 02 emirge.( also a 4 hour decant) even bigger than the emirge. this wine is huge in texture almost like cough syrup. dark dark ink like in the glass. on the palate there was a thick chocolate creamy feel balanced nicely with blackberry liquer ,plum and a touch of spice. the finish was forever. (4327 views) |
| | Tasted by trankin on 11/4/2005 & rated 93 points: Acker Merrall 2002 Aussie Blind Shiraz Showdown (Amuse): Deep dark red, very thick. Sensual, smooth nose. Creamy, dark plum, slight spice. Dark chocolate, sweet fruit, blackberry, cassis. Big mouthfeel, very round. Excellent. (5318 views) |
| | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 11/10/2004 & rated 91 points: Tasting with winemaker. GSM blend with 75% Syrah. Very big fruit on the nose and first taste. Finish shows a bit more finesse and subtlety, but still a big wine. Reasonable balance for a wine at its alcohol level (15.5). (2437 views) |
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