12/7/2022 - hongjiu wrote:

Still drinking nicely, actually.

7/25/2021 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Peppery finish

4/23/2021 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Still drinking nicely. Ridiculous. Paired with a lamb merguez. Killer.

11/10/2019 - hongjiu wrote:

Heavy plum jam gave way to lighter notes after an hour or so. Past its peak, I expect.

5/19/2019 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

This is a neo-Bourgone classic. Mushroom and a hint of barnyard, brick color and luxurious palate. Not a hint of the typical WA strawberry-in-everything. Glad I waited this long to crack it.

4/23/2019 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. The tannins have smoothed out nicely.

1/29/2019 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

This is still drinking nicely, with peppery notes more prominent than in its youth.

11/5/2018 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Notably jammy and more consistent with being on the decline than I had expected. Better hurry up and try the next bottle for confirmation.

8/18/2018 - hongjiu wrote:

Would you believe, still drinking. Peppery, fruit lost in the tannins that still come to play after all this time, but drinkable.

8/10/2018 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Past its prime but still enjoyable.

4/26/2018 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Still going strong.

1/27/2018 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Smooth but a bit thin even after 1-2 hours. Lacks the character of ‘06 (so far). Maybe a little young yet? Alternatively, if you prefer softer cabs or Cabernet + Sangiovese blends, this may be drinking a treat.

8/19/2017 - hongjiu wrote:

Delightful cracked pepper and floral bouquet.

7/1/2017 - hongjiu wrote:

Believe it or not, still going strong. Fruit is dense and only modestly lacking in punch.

4/24/2017 - hongjiu wrote:

This vintage has tasted more tannic and less integrated than '05. Today opened 2.5 hours ahead vs 1-1.5 normally...made a huge difference.

3/11/2017 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

非常好！

2/12/2017 - hongjiu wrote:

Very berry. Less serene than '05 with big fruit punch that gradually recedes 2+ hours after opening.

12/21/2016 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Still quite drinkable after a double-decant but clearly on the way down.

11/28/2016 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Smooth and rich, more notable for what it doesn't exude: no barnyard, no mushroom, no black pepper.

6/25/2015 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Surprisingly has yet to go downhill. Green grass is no longer the dominant bouquet and taste: tangy lemon has come forward. Drank well with chicken and chorizo stew.

5/19/2015 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Mushroomy barnyard Burgundy nose to start, which quickly disappeared as it warmed up. Next was the usual Central Otago strawberry followed by an abrupt shift into unleaded petrol territory: both smell and the aftertaste that overwhelmed a tight mouthfeel. This lasted about 15 minutes as it reached room temperature and was not at all pleasant. Finally the long legs down the glass announced a return of more subtle berry fruit and the loamy mushroom flavour.

12/27/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

Superlative

12/5/2014 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Decanted and returned to bottle 1.5 hrs. Started with light tannins and a petroleum nose, now chewy hints of tobacco with dried plum. Pleasingly dry.

12/3/2014 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Slightly peppery with subdued jammy underpinning. In its maturity and drinking nicely.

11/7/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

Still drinking nicely

9/20/2014 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

An unassuming mix of rich red berries and a hint of vanilla. Smooth finish. Enjoyed even by the zinfandel hater in my family. Not an in-your-face like some of its cousins.

9/6/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

Still has good acidity at its advanced age. Tiny bit of honeysuckle and pear, worked well with fried scallops.

8/22/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

Still going strong.

7/24/2014 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Strong tobacco flavor with a honeysuckle topnote. Not much resemblance to traditional Cape pinotage with the notable exception of the rich mouth feel. An enjoyable variation on the theme.

5/23/2014 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Peaking. An hour after decanting it was smooth and delicious, berry nose fading into laid-back jammy plum and fig richness.

4/19/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

Still youngish

4/19/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

- Crimsom color and aromas of alcohol and has flavours of black pepper - Faded beauty

3/13/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

RIP

2/21/2014 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Although a gentle blend of Stellenbosch's best, I guess I must be heathen in my flavour expectations having not found my bottle to be excessively hot or otherwise dead on arrival. In fairness it peaked about four hours after opening; soft tannin, well-behaved pinotage, elegant cabernet. A good companion for the grilled lamb chops.

2/2/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

Still going strong but the, er, acrid pungency has become more pronounced as the fruit has softened.

2/2/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

- Violet color.

2/2/2014 - hongjiu wrote:

- Ruby color and aromas of mushroom. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of dusty - Good but not great like the last one I tried. It did improve after breathing for 2+ hours but the barnyard taste and nose were still holding back the fruit.

11/29/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

How this wine has mellowed from its cracked pepper and fine-grade sandpaper beginnings in 2008. The pepper nose is still there but the party-in-my-mouth experience is long gone, replaced by a slow finish more reminiscent of a GSM blend than syrah by itself. There is something resembling freshly laundered, soap-smelling clothes on the nose that blends into a subdued but still pebbled finish. Sad to see my last bottle of this vintage, but time to look forward to my 2010s.

9/27/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

- Purple color and aromas of prune and alcohol. It's high in alcohol and has flavours of raspberry and blackberry with a full body. Flabby texture with a short finish - Overpowered by alcohol at first and then a smooth interregnum of dense berry at 2 hours followed by a descent into flabby self-pity at 4.5 hours. A bit of a disappointment after all these years of waiting.

9/6/2013 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Poured wonderfully after opening with a richness this didn't have a few years ago and a rough, peppery contribution that I assume comes from the merlot. Not much nose but a hint of blackberry and a bit of cigar box. After a few more hours, sweaty heat and weak, jammy berry. Drink fast, and quickly too: this one may be headed downhill.

7/26/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

Fantastic. End of an era.

7/13/2013 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Fantastic. Seven years' wait has paid off. Deep, rich peachy fruit with a hint of lavender. A sticky in its prime.

6/22/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

- Violet color with slow forming legs. It's in total harmony with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Booyah. In its prime. I grabbed this by accident thinking it was one of the '96s I need to finish off. Tiny blackberry nose, rich tobacco and slightly blueberry fruit flavoring that is as steady as she goes.

6/22/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

- Yellow color with medium forming legs. It's overly acidic and has flavours of lemon and orange blossom with a medium/full body. Narrow texture - Started balanced with oak and citrus notes equilibrating each other. Acidity became more noticeable as it warmed and detracted from the overall experience. Otherwise, a restrained and slightly elegant wine with unexpectedly modest finish. Appeals to those who may be put off by "big" chards.

4/27/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

Bright and slightly berry after the first hour, over-ripe prune by the third hour.

4/19/2013 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Flinty with a touch of lemon zest and honeysuckle...until we started into the Nepalese curries. By the end of the meal it tasted curiously sweet like a chenin blanc without a hint of acidity. Decent pairing.

3/9/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

Sauternes-like yellow gold color with a nose of honeysuckle. The caramel/butterscotch late-in-life flavors are there but so is the buttery flavor that is less prominent at younger stages. My chardonnay-avoiding wife jumped right in.

3/3/2013 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Still going strong though though tannins a bit sharp.

1/20/2013 - hongjiu wrote:

- Brick color with slow forming legs and aromas of raspberry and has flavours of black currant and honey with a medium body. Linear texture with a short finish - Full nose of raspberry gives way to honey and more subdued cherry and blackberry. This was nonetheless surprisingly balanced for a primitivo. Enjoyed over three days, only began to show bottle age at the end.

12/29/2012 - hongjiu Likes this wine:

Still pleasing.