| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.3 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 210 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by Ridgerunner on 3/22/2024 & rated 94 points: likely should still decant for 90 minutes. This is an incredible wine right in its prime. (222 views) |
| | Tasted by Duncan H on 3/15/2024 & rated 89 points: Drank with Jonathan G and Matthew over dinner at home. Still very powerful and full bodied. D found it a bit monolithic. (191 views) |
| | Tasted by IndyTom on 2/8/2024 & rated 90 points: This bottle was actually better than the one I drank last year. Decanted for about an hour. Still has nice dark fruit. My last bottle may last another year, but it is drinking too well to wait. (348 views) |
| | Tasted by Joelene on 2/6/2024 & rated 91 points: Still drinking nicely (344 views) |
| | Tasted by J @ y H @ c k on 2/3/2024 & rated 93 points: opened, decanted for an hour, and then followed for a few hours. This is what I love about Aussie Shiraz, with the extra factor that the bottle was autographed by D'Arry Osborne when I met him at Zachy's about 18 years ago. When the roughness subsides and the fruit emerges from hiding, this is an outstanding wine. I had finished most of my 1998 Aussie Shiraz and I found this one just sitting there and begging to be opened. I had a bunch of 375s that are long gone and I had lost track of this one. No blueberry pie filling, unless you spend too much time drinking a blend of fecal notes, cat piss and the dirt in the corral. The tannin is 95%+ resolved into a sweet accompaniment to a cherry/raspberry velvet that crosses the tongue and slides effortlessly towards the throat. The nose is subtle fruit and effortless, with a small bit of violet floral aroma. The only thing that keeps this wine from the exceptional characterization is that the finish was "only" of average length. I wish I had bought more. This is at its peak, or perhaps a year or two short of it, so if you've got 'em, smoke 'em. (314 views) |
| | Tasted by Madera16 on 1/1/2024: At Blue Water Bay. Still alive. Loads of sotolon on the finish. Still has a remarkable amount of tannic grip. It feels past its prime, but it was still an interesting wine. (332 views) |
| | Tasted by IndyTom on 6/19/2023 & rated 89 points: Still drinking nicely. Some fruit remains. (758 views) |
| | Tasted by 911henrik on 4/21/2023: Nice (766 views) |
| | Tasted by yaCellar on 11/25/2022 flawed bottle: Dry cork. Oxidation . (969 views) |
| | Tasted by gparker777 on 11/6/2022 & rated 90 points: Deep purple hue. Nose of blackberry plum leather. Soft initial palate laden with dark fruits, leather chocolate and evidence of past tannins.Lost its freshness and vibrancy now but a convincing wine that fills the mouth with tertiary flavours, minerality eucalyptus, cigar box and a really long chewy finish. (959 views) |
| | Tasted by GeorgeSW on 8/25/2022 & rated 91 points: Time to drink up, still dark fruit on nose upon opening , tannins dissipating but still firm, turning slightly brackish .fruit flavour maturing dried berry. (1030 views) |
| | Tasted by wee30 on 8/10/2022 flawed bottle: Lightly corked. Would have been ok if not. (785 views) |
| | Tasted by tanduybui on 2/17/2022 & rated 93 points: “Very drinkable” was what my wife said and she is correct.
Based on this bottle, this wine has a fair way to go and this is also supported by the wine tasting I did at d’Arenberg in recent times. This wine has 15% and yet, it was balanced and well proportioned. Just to going to show, just because a wine has a high alcohol number, it does not mean it cannot be a good wine.
Typical McLaren Vale shiraz, dark fruits, chocolate, mocha and combined with a high degree of refined tannins to give a very savoury notes. Lovely finish - a wine of wonderful balance. It may not have the cool factors and elegance of some modern day shiraz but it is just as good. Lacked the sophistication and complexity of top notch shiraz and hence the score.
Drink now or 8+ years. (1213 views) |
| | Tasted by no leashes on 4/17/2021 & rated 89 points: Still plenty of fruit left, but it felt a bit disjointed and not really as well integrated as previous bottles. Black fruit, earthy tannins. (1823 views) |
| | Tasted by Vitispulmonus on 2/8/2021 & rated 94 points: After reading the other notes, it sounds like there is a lot of variability in the bottles at this point. Decided to open mine up and it was excellent. Plenty of fruit and soft tannins. Long finish. Very much enjoyed over three nights Probably best on nights two and three. (1849 views) |
| | Tasted by Black Duck on 12/25/2020 & rated 86 points: Left this one too long. Cork was good. Color showing brown tannins. Surprisingly nose was okay. Let it sit for 3 hours. Unfortunately taste showed too much tannins with a grainy finish. Not undrinkable, but nevertheless disappointing given I’d waited so long to try this gem.
If you have one, drink now as it’s already too late. (1689 views) |
| | Tasted by wineoracle on 12/5/2020 & rated 92 points: Almost black in the glass. Strongly perfumed nose of blackberry jam. Dark sweet cherries and blackberries on the palate with minerality and a smooth finish.
I was very surprised at how good this was. Drank from 375ml bottle. (1718 views) |
| | Tasted by Biskuit on 8/30/2020 & rated 92 points: What do you know, this has finally come around! Well integrated, the bottle age has served it well. (1858 views) |
| | Tasted by eyesnwine on 5/30/2020 flawed bottle: Badly corked. NR. (1401 views) |
| | Tasted by chatters on 5/28/2020: Pulled out of the wine-fridge and decanted whilst having a bit of a Coravin root around some other bottles then served to accompany Oxtail stew and spuds. On the nose it's initially a bit oxidised with a creamed meat underpin that does not smell particularly pleasant. Much agitation helped it to show some plummy baked black fruits and lots of sweet spice. On the palate it has what feels like adjusted acidity, that oxidised note vying with baked, almost pruny, plums, plentiful of oaky tannic grip, alcohol heat on the finish. Not particularly pleasant. I think I will store the rest of it in the fridge for a couple of nights and see if it improves... (1453 views) |
| | Tasted by wine247365 on 4/25/2020 & rated 88 points: Enjoyable aged MV Shiraz. I really appreciate how well d’Arenbergs wines from here age. This has sediment to be strained so I advise standing the bottle up at least two days before drinking. Round weighty tannins on the palate, with aromas and flavors of a new dry rubber, creosote, asphalt presence I enjoy, bit of brambles, damp Fall forest earth tones, and canned black cherries. I think it’s passing it’s peak so will drink my next one soon. USD48 is a worthwhile QPR! (1385 views) |
| | Tasted by jmkamil on 4/6/2020 & rated 93 points: I wasn't expecting much when I opened one of my remaining half bottles. Boy, was I wrong! Great rich nose, dark vibrant color and a taste that stood up to and complemented Rib Eye roast. My wife gets tannin headaches but no problem with this bottle as the tannins have aged and integrated so well. A great way to shelter in place. Glad I've got still more in the cellar. (1390 views) |
| | Tasted by jreis on 1/10/2020: Deep purple color with just a hint of bricking at the rim. Nice nose of blackberry jam, smoky meat and oregano. Nice balanced attack with a hit of blackberry fruit balanced with a nice limestone mineral note. A little bit of a hole in the mid palate, but then a really nice finish with a blend of black fruit and a savory, spicy oregano note. (1570 views) |
| | Tasted by LexTine on 9/7/2019 & rated 90 points: We opened a bottle of the 2003 last night. Despite questionable storage, this bottle had a fresh nose of black fruit and spices. Little change in color at the edge of the glass. Vibrant fruit for a wine off this age. Benefiting from mellow tannins. Probably at peak but no signs of deterioration. (1780 views) |
| | Tasted by Stevere on 7/10/2019 & rated 95 points: From other reviews it appears some other viewers have gotten corked bottles. This one was fine. Beyond fine- it was great. Dark berry fruit presents in a lovely balance with modest tannins. This is a rich wine, but certainly not a fruit bomb like some other Aussie wines of lesser pedigree. Substantial structure and some residual acidity made it pair well with food. (1916 views) |
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