Apple compote, some aged signs with cocoa and sherried notes but there is excellent perfume and some brioche. The palate has plenty of age to it as well but the acidity still zings and lends a real freshness to the wine even at this stage of its life.
Spice and ginger with just a touch of kero, caramel and fresh citrus notes. The nose is great but the palate isn't quite as interesting for me. It is quite clean and has nicely cleansing acidity but the fruit is dropping away and it's not especially complex. I like it a lot but don't love this bottle.
Lemon, some soapy floral notes, sesame and oak aromas. Palate is still rather youthful, there is a lovely streak of rich fruit and really good length. Plenty of time remaining to drink good bottles.
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
94A. Disgorged 1983. Spearmint, blackberry, chocolate, some dusty earth and leather with raspberry and cola - the nose is multi layered and though it is intense there is a lot to it. The palate is straight off all about the fruit density, it is luscious but it remains deliciously fresh and clear with vibrance thanks to the acidity and light spritz - it actually seems much younger than it is. Amazing!
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Charcoal, cherry, cedar, earthy spices and a leather element certainly on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and seamless, there is a little bit of red fruit remaining alongside good structure and length. This is immensely easy to drink and like.
Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes
Mint, iron, dusty notes and a little bit of raspberry. Impressive tannic spine remains and holds the wine up, but I don't find it especially interesting. Holding but not going anywhere.
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
A wine in a legendary series (1949-1955 Treasure Chest) that I had been hoping to try for a long, long time. With high expectations - the initial aromas of well worn leather, coffee and moss give way over time to emerging sweet blueberry along with smoke, eucalpyt and a ever so light floral note. The fruit still has a tone of purity on the palate - quite amazing really. A spine of soft tannin based structure remains and guides the fruit. Immense class and balance to it. In as good condition as one could possibly hope for from this wine of such high reputation and age. Hard to score but I had a go!
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Soy, violet, vegemite and tobacco. Thin on the palate, it is less obviously "old" but it definitely has a caramel note to it. Fading hard if not already faded away.
From the "Ashman's Vineyard". Sweaty saddle, earthy, cherry and game - its very much what I think of when older Hunter Valley wines are mentioned. Palate is very savoury and I appreciate this style and the interest it provides. The tannins are holding well, though the fruit won't last forever - very good but time to drink!
Went through Penfolds Clinic in 2012. Quite herbal/briary, there is a touch of florality and some iodine. I like the palate quite a bit, it shows some real restraint with a touch of sweet fruit to play off against the light tannins that remain. Better than a previous bottle (probably thanks to a top up at the clinic) but still only just good, and was shown up by an excellent bottle of the '78 to follow.
Went through Penfolds Clinic in 2012. A nicely youthful nose of raspberry, menthol and licorice. Generous fruit power, there is surprising plushness and it is balanced by excellent acidity. On song tonight, the top up from the clinic probably gave it a nice little lift.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Out of magnum. Menthol, cedar, both black and red currant plus some pepper and spice. Didn't feel like this was unapproachable, there is plenty of tannic kick but there is a lot of fruit depth and intensity showing, as well as great drive and length. In a good spot but will improve for some time out of magnum.
Lifted nose of honeycomb, orange peel, floral and toffee - there is some old oak in the background. The palate is rounded rather than being outright sweet, the fruit still has some punch to it and the acidity keeps it all in focus. The palate isn't as complex as the nose but it's really good drinking.
Very sadly this had some cardboardy TCA, seemed like a really solid wine in behind - fig, apricot, spice and gingerbread. The palate isn't totally stripped and still has some richness to it but it does dip away on the finish.
Pre-dates 1973 as it uses imperial measurements. Caramel, raising, chocolate and toast. The palate has nice intensity with a real lusciousness to the fruit. Wants for some complexity but it's a fine wine to drink regardless.
1988 Gosset Champagne Célebris 91 Points
France, Champagne
Apple compote, some aged signs with cocoa and sherried notes but there is excellent perfume and some brioche. The palate has plenty of age to it as well but the acidity still zings and lends a real freshness to the wine even at this stage of its life.
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1973 Leo Buring Riesling Show Reserve DWC 17 Eden Valley 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Spice and ginger with just a touch of kero, caramel and fresh citrus notes. The nose is great but the palate isn't quite as interesting for me. It is quite clean and has nicely cleansing acidity but the fruit is dropping away and it's not especially complex. I like it a lot but don't love this bottle.
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1976 Orlando Riesling Gold Ribbon Selected Late Picking Auslese Flawed
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Oxidized.
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1994 Tyrrell's Chardonnay Vat 47 91 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Lemon, some soapy floral notes, sesame and oak aromas. Palate is still rather youthful, there is a lovely streak of rich fruit and really good length. Plenty of time remaining to drink good bottles.
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1965 Seppelt Shiraz Sparkling Burgundy Great Western 95 Points
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
94A. Disgorged 1983. Spearmint, blackberry, chocolate, some dusty earth and leather with raspberry and cola - the nose is multi layered and though it is intense there is a lot to it. The palate is straight off all about the fruit density, it is luscious but it remains deliciously fresh and clear with vibrance thanks to the acidity and light spritz - it actually seems much younger than it is. Amazing!
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1976 Mildara Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Charcoal, cherry, cedar, earthy spices and a leather element certainly on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and seamless, there is a little bit of red fruit remaining alongside good structure and length. This is immensely easy to drink and like.
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1978 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 65 88 Points
Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes
Mint, iron, dusty notes and a little bit of raspberry. Impressive tannic spine remains and holds the wine up, but I don't find it especially interesting. Holding but not going anywhere.
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1955 Woodley's Cabernet Sauvignon Treasure Chest Series Dry Red 96 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
A wine in a legendary series (1949-1955 Treasure Chest) that I had been hoping to try for a long, long time. With high expectations - the initial aromas of well worn leather, coffee and moss give way over time to emerging sweet blueberry along with smoke, eucalpyt and a ever so light floral note. The fruit still has a tone of purity on the palate - quite amazing really. A spine of soft tannin based structure remains and guides the fruit. Immense class and balance to it. In as good condition as one could possibly hope for from this wine of such high reputation and age. Hard to score but I had a go!
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1959 Rhinecastle Bin 120 Burgundy Flawed
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Soy, violet, vegemite and tobacco. Thin on the palate, it is less obviously "old" but it definitely has a caramel note to it. Fading hard if not already faded away.
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1973 Tyrrell's Shiraz Vat 55 88 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
From the "Ashman's Vineyard". Sweaty saddle, earthy, cherry and game - its very much what I think of when older Hunter Valley wines are mentioned. Palate is very savoury and I appreciate this style and the interest it provides. The tannins are holding well, though the fruit won't last forever - very good but time to drink!
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1977 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri Claret 87 Points
Australia, South Australia
Went through Penfolds Clinic in 2012. Quite herbal/briary, there is a touch of florality and some iodine. I like the palate quite a bit, it shows some real restraint with a touch of sweet fruit to play off against the light tannins that remain. Better than a previous bottle (probably thanks to a top up at the clinic) but still only just good, and was shown up by an excellent bottle of the '78 to follow.
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1978 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri Claret 92 Points
Australia, South Australia
Went through Penfolds Clinic in 2012. A nicely youthful nose of raspberry, menthol and licorice. Generous fruit power, there is surprising plushness and it is balanced by excellent acidity. On song tonight, the top up from the clinic probably gave it a nice little lift.
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1990 Wendouree Shiraz 92 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Out of magnum. Menthol, cedar, both black and red currant plus some pepper and spice. Didn't feel like this was unapproachable, there is plenty of tannic kick but there is a lot of fruit depth and intensity showing, as well as great drive and length. In a good spot but will improve for some time out of magnum.
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1976 Brown Brothers Riesling Noble Riesling 92 Points
Australia, Victoria
Lifted nose of honeycomb, orange peel, floral and toffee - there is some old oak in the background. The palate is rounded rather than being outright sweet, the fruit still has some punch to it and the acidity keeps it all in focus. The palate isn't as complex as the nose but it's really good drinking.
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1956 Mount Pleasant Wines Sauternes Flawed
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Very sadly this had some cardboardy TCA, seemed like a really solid wine in behind - fig, apricot, spice and gingerbread. The palate isn't totally stripped and still has some richness to it but it does dip away on the finish.
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NV Lindeman's Raisin Liqueur Muscat 89 Points
Australia
Pre-dates 1973 as it uses imperial measurements. Caramel, raising, chocolate and toast. The palate has nice intensity with a real lusciousness to the fruit. Wants for some complexity but it's a fine wine to drink regardless.
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