3/2/2019 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Delving into the “Ready To Drink Report,” an eight year old chardonnay is always a lucky dip, nevertheless, the Premium from Bass Phillip doesn’t disappoint.

Clear gold colour, passion fruit and vanilla oak on the nose, hint of burnt sugar. On the palate, vanillan oak and sweet citrus flavours, orange, lemon zest acidity on the long finish.

Noted when last tasted in 2014, the balance of oak and fruit. As a mature wine the oak has added character to every glass.

4/16/2017 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Spritz from the open front and centre before inky black fruit one hour open. Effervescent across the tongue.

8/6/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Double decanted before heading to the restaurant.
Long Diam in Fevre Grand Crus, no hint of Premox at five years of age. May be a different result at eight.
Crystal clear pour in the tasting glass.
This is saline, seashells and salt spray.
Great juice for oysters, white anchovies, fresh prawns, squid or calamari, any dish served with a liberal squeeze of fresh lemon will be an excellent pair.
Refreshingly pure to its origins, neither the fruit presence of Les Preuses nor the stoney minerality of Les Clos, this shares the middle ground.
Neither the weight of the best vintages, nor the length set aside, this is still an enjoyable glass of underlying quality.

7/23/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes.
Opaque bright garnet red in colour.
Aniseed dominates the nose.
Medium body, ripe fruit, blackberry, liquorice, black pepper, smooth mocha tannins envelope, acidity freshens the finish.
Needs one hour open, drinking better with air. Not on par with the last bottle.
This may have years to go, 2020+

7/20/2016 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Out of the cellar and into the fridge for two hours.
Popped and poured at the table.
Transparent liquid gold in the glass.
Vouvray honey wafts from the get go, biscuit and bale, mandarin rind, lime zest.
Silken golden lava flows deliciously on the tongue.
Tropical island flavours sell a summer's island holiday to your palate.
One and a half hours open the juice is on song. Lightly honeyed undertones set the course, sweet dried apricots, ride over a plate of ripe orchard fruit with apples and oranges followed by a refreshingly citrus zest endlessly caressing the long finish, all at a sprightly 31 years young.

6/3/2016 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Decanted 30 minutes prior to serving. Drinking beautifully at one hour open.
Opaque black heart of dark red lightens towards a burnt orange translucent rim.
Menthol, cassis, raisins, dark chocolate initial thoughts rising from the glassware.
Leather, blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate and mocha fine tannins intoxicate the palate and smooth the way to refreshing acidity through the endless finish, at 26 years of age.

5/8/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Transparent pale lime straw in colour.
French oak, lees works well with the white stone fruit nose.
Light to medium bodied. Medium mild fruit and oak driven palate then followed by citrus washing over meal with lemon/ lime zest acidity freshening. Flint and white stone fruit carry the long finish.

3/18/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Transparent bright ruby, cherry red in colour.
Peppermint, licorice, cherry ripe.
Light bodied, cola, gravel tannins, teeth cleansing acidity brightens, drying leather finish. One hour open milk chocolate.

3/13/2016 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Opaque medium garnet with blood orange rim.
Gorgeous wood spice, forest floor, dusky and floral all at once.
Medium body, sweet cherry, red berries long clean finish.

24hrs in the fridge and the last two glasses were delicious. Well cellared and long lived.

2/28/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Transparent pale gold.
Minor oak, lime zest aromas.
Mineral entry when cold, lighter bodied wine even at 10 years of age, light fruit palate, sweet citrus flavours, towards nectarine, minor lemon and lime which graduates through to a lemon zest, sherbet long finish.

2/27/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Normally enjoy my Ata Rangi from 6-8 years of age and they are a full blooded NZ Pinot much like their Rugby team that takes no quarter. I have the highest expectations for the '13 vintage and opened a half bottle due to the polarising CT reviews about tannin.

The winemaker states 30-40% whole bunch and expresses a desire to showcase 'tannin ripeness.'

I make no judgement on the wine at three years of age but note over 2 hours both beautiful aromas and delicious fruit were overpowered by tannin and would hope given time will integrate successfully.

1/6/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes.
Translucent medium- dark garnet in colour.
Spice, black cherry, quince
Black cherry, blood plum, then a spicy lift thru the long freshening finish. Milk chocolate or hints of caramel entertain. Tannins have softened. Delish' with bolognese and pasta.
Drinking well after an hour open and looks to have a long life ahead.

1/5/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes.
Translucent bright blood red with maturing colour.
Heady licorice, aniseed, red berry aromas, gorgeous.
Mid-weight palate, red cherry, hint of strawberry fruits give way to tobacco mid palate, still fresh at 12 years of age, offering complexity even for Conterno's entry level Barolo. Ready from the first pour and improved over two hours. Thoroughly enjoyable and showing good provenance for its age compared to some CT tasting notes.

1/5/2016 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes.
Opaque dark garnet in colour, black heart.
Aniseed, new leather, dark berry, graphite nose.
Blackberry, raspberry, black cherry all showing a riper vintage, then chocolate, mild acidity freshens, light cigar box and the delicious finish completes.
Mid-weight palate and more generous over two hours open. Great pairing with roast eye fillet.

12/3/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Very quaffable, began quite earthy and with an hour in the decanter to smooth the edges, enjoyable with both duck and suckling lamb.

11/11/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Transparent pale gold in colour.
Pear, grapefruit and a little beeswax.
Citrus fruit palate first, seductive mouthfeel, mineral acidity, lacking the fruit drive to nail Grand Cru Chablis.

11/11/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Transparent pale gold in colour.
Aromatic spicy green apple and pear jumps from the glass, grapefruit fresh and zesty.
Rich, voluptuous, grapefruit palate with citrus, zesty saline acidity and salivating long finish. Very good.

11/6/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Transparent pale gold in colour.
A little bottle variation amongst my stash, I did prefer the 2010 finding more fruit flavour to balance the oak over the 2012, however, a second and third bottle have confirmed the '12 is just as good.
This bottle opened last night proven a little tight on open lacking fruit on both the nose and palate. 24 hours later it's opened quite nicely. Citrus perfumed salinity on the nose. Medium bodied, flavoursome grapefruit, citrus, white stone fruit balance with underlying salivating mineral acidity and prodigious finish. More some and fleshy as it warms in the glass, oak and lees in the background add another level.

11/5/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Dark translucent garnet in colour.
Aromatic briar, menthol, twiggy nose blasts from the glass.
Medium full bodied, milk chocolatey smooth tannins, sweet cherry medium fruit, chocolatey smooth delivery with a lifted brighter acidity at the mocha powdery finish. Like desert in a glass.

11/5/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Transparent mid pale gold, still a hint of green.
Lemon, lime citrus nose, underlying petroleum from the open blows off after a while in the glass.
Medium bodied, rolled gold and supple mouthfeel, luxurious.
Mineral acidity flows like the current from front to back and on to the finish where you feel like you're sucking on a stone from deep beneath the Eden Valley vines.
Medium citrus flavour, orange notes of sweetness to be found amongst the steely lemon and lime, grapefruit and lime zest finish.

11/4/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Translucent dark garnet in colour.
Aromatic aniseed wafts above the glass, dark chocolate, fantastic nose.
Medium full bodied, silken entry, French oak spice, so balanced, enthralling delivery, rolls from front to back, dark cherry and lots of it build through the crescendo of the long rolling finish. A delicious wine. Head and shoulders above the competition in both Australian Pinot Noir and the 2010 vintage. OK, big call. Mount Mary head to head will be a night to remember.
May I also include Bass Phillip Premium, all three exude quality.

10/24/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

30 minutes in the decanter.
Transparent green/ gold in colour.
Aromatic nose of integrated oak and citrus fruit.
Mid-weight palate, white stone fruits to the fore, followed by citrus freshening and mineral acidity into the long finish. Oak finesse adds depth and a comparatively lighter treatment than the '12.

10/11/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

No note. Good quaffable style.

8/15/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Into the decanter for an hour.
No sediment.
Aniseed, blackberry, dark chocolate, pepper and vanilla. Lively nose for a poor vintage.
Light body and refreshing tipple when compared to Rockford's usual fare.
Grenache flavours, mocha, pepper in the background, clean and crisp acidity, some green notes towards the finish. Early drinking vintage, and more so from the Rockford stable than of 2011.

8/1/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

One hour in the decanter.
Transparent ruby red in colour.
Pronounced nose of roses, briar, and dusty sweetness. Delicious bouquet.
Light palate, but develops weight from front to back.
Initial cranberry, sweet red cherries, minor acidity, tannin toward the back palate is clean into the finish. Light white pepper lifts the fruit with more briar rather than forest floor, never losing it's welcomed sweetness not found in so many sour cherry pinots. Not two dimensional at all, the longer in the glass, the more interest is found.
Let this breathe, it's a stayer at only 4 yrs of age.
94 first, 93 on a revisit.

5/1/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Two hour decant.
Medium opaque garnet centre.
French oak spice, bramble, forest floor, dusty spices. A wine I could sniff all night.
Cherry, strawberry, medium plus fruit, delicious, medium acidity develops through the mid palate to freshen the long strawberry finish. Mild chewy tannins permeate through the long finish. A young wine, wonderful pure fruit, much interest and a pleasure to drink.

5/1/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

30 minute decant.
Transparent pale white gold in colour.
Lively nose of ripe white stone fruits and grapefruit, nectarine and light French oak spice. One hour open pineapple.
Medium bodied, lush mouthfeel, mineral and ripe, excellent tension with freshening medium minus acidity, citrus tang, balanced, with interest.
Wonderful wine, complex and light oak treatment.

5/1/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

One hour in the decanter.
Deep golden Amber in colour.
Full bodied goodness, rich without the weight of desert wines.
Sweet mango, honey, papaya, rock melon, passion fruit, mineral.
Mild lime pith acidic undercurrent carries throughout the palate to the fine endless finish.
Lively and fresh, improved weight through to two hours open, very enjoyable in its youth with much to come.

4/18/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.
78 Penfold Road
Rosslyn Park, South Australia, 5072, Australia.

20 years old.
Transparent burnt orange, deep golden rim.
Toffee aromas, Christmas cake, figs, honeyed, chocolate, caramel, creme brûlée, strawberry. Deliciously smooth, not a hair out of place.

4/18/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.
78 Penfold Road
Rosslyn Park, South Australia, 5072, Australia.

Tasting glass arranged by Martin and Patrick.

Black impenetrable heart and dark ruby rim.
Primary fruit nose, young buoyant, vanillin.
Medium full bodied, great fruit weight, delish sweet black and red fruit flavours. Seamless mid palate with mocha tannins through the finish.

Blackberry, no Ribena, dark cherry. Enjoyable smokey aromas from 5 hours open.

4/18/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.
78 Penfold Road
Rosslyn Park, South Australia, 5072, Australia.

Double decanted by our sommelier Patrick.

94% Shiraz 6% Cabernet. 14% alcohol.

Black opaque heart, dark garnet rim, showing less age than expected. Well cellared and youthful.
Heady nose of cassis fruit, blackberry spice, caramel mocha undertones, new leather.
Silky mouthfeel, bold fruit flavour without the heaviness of lessor marques. Chocolate, vanilla, balanced and delicious.

Two hours open, blood plum, blackberry, expresso, chocolatey tannins mid palate, mild acidity freshens through the long stalky tannin, blueberry finish. Plush fruit and black pepper spice to the last drop!

4/18/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.
78 Penfold Road
Rosslyn Park, South Australia, 5072, Australia.

Poured a tasting glass.
Transparent clear gold.
Medium plus fruit, white stone fruit, mild oak mid palate and finish, well integrated, lemon, lime finish.

4/18/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant.
78 Penfold Road
Rosslyn Park, South Australia, 5072, Australia.

Popped and poured.
Pale transparent gold in colour.
Medium fruit palate, mellow mouthfeel, white stone fruits, mid palate nectarine, mild oak spice as it warms in the glass, lime. Mild acidity refreshes the long lemon, lime finish.

30 minutes open and warming in the glass, bolder fruit flavour, some tropical notes and oak presence which structures the wine rather than distracting from it. Enjoyable presence in the glass. Bold yet in stark contrast to the salinity and crisp structure of Chablis. Still, my preferences are moving towards Chablis.

4/18/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

The Playford
120 North Terrace,
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.

Opened and drank over 2 hours, chilled, with a champagne stopper.
Super fine mousse from first to last drop.
Bread, tangerines, oranges, apple, lemon, sweet grapefruit, perfect sweetness without the sour notes to lessen the experience. Supple, medium bodied with time open, fuller flavours, strawberry, peachy mineral/ sherbet long finish. Delicious mouthful.

4/17/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Apothecary 1878
118 Hindley St,
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia

375ml half bottle.

Poured two glasses.

From the open, muted nose, light fruit and light palate weight.
Left the glasses for two hours and came back to the wine intermittently to observe time in glass equal to increased fruit weight and body.

Two hours open, youthful appearance, purple rim, opaque black heart.
Aniseed, French oak spice from the glass.
Medium fruit weight. Red and black descriptors of strawberry, black currant, red cherry, leather, balanced acidity refreshes on the ever improving finish towards three hours. Last glass bursting with cabernet fruit. This requires years in the cellar to see its best.

4/17/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015.

Apothecary 1878
118 Hindley St,
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 Australia.

Tropical nose, some sulphur.
Almond meal, white peach, hint of tropical flavours.
Balanced, minimal acidity, refreshing, a little matchstick as it warms on the table, and long lemon zest finish. Good quaff ability at five years of age.

4/17/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Barossa Vintage Festival 2015

Lunch With A Barossa Legend
Wolf Blass Visitor Centre
97 Sturt Highway
Nuriootpa, South Australia, 5355 Australia.

Stephen and Prue Henschke's Table.

Poured from Magnum.

Orange rim, dark garnet in colour, showing an aged appearance.
French oak spice well integrated at 14 years of age. Secondary sweet aromas rise from the glass, underlying black currant. A wine you could spend all evening with.

Dark plum, black currant. Plush delivery, well balanced with minor acidity to keep the fruit in check. Enjoyable long finish leaves you looking for a refill.

Much pleasure to be found in this vintage. Compared with 2001 Mount Mary Quintet and Cullen Diana Madeline, the Mount Edelstone is showing more Bordeaux characters than either of the two.

Two hours open, black pepper spice finish.

Stephen Henschke describes the Eden Valley characters as crushed black pepper and sage.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Purple rim black heart in colour.
Silky, medium weight fruit, ahead of the Mount Edelstone on quality, more of everything and better delivery. Balanced as a young wine, spice to enjoy, nothing over run or over rought. A seamless delivery of quality, pristine fruit. Lovely mocha mid palate. Long finish, a wine of heart, excellent tannin integration.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Purple rim, opaque black heart.
Delicate nose, not as fragrant as the above two.
Medium full body, medium full fruit, primary and delicious, mocha, balanced, minimal acidity, characteristic of all the Henschke's tasted today. Mild smooth tannins, supple.
Vintage of the 21st century, alongside 2002.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Well developed secondary nose, fragrant, full, fortified, spice.
Medium full bodied, mid palate five spice, blackberry, 25 year old vines, cuttings from the Hill of Grace vineyard. 15 year drinking window.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Great nose, punching above its price point.
Georgeous front palate, mid palate depth, medium tannins, needs decanting, medium fruit weight, Cabernet franc and Merlot to the fore.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Purple darkness, black heart in colour.
Highly perfumed nose, raspberry, ribena.
Medium full bodied, easy drinking, mild acidity, Shiraz fruits first, then Grenache sweetness.
Pizza/ pasta suggested pairing.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Heady aromas, almost Shiraz characteristics, dark fruits.
Sweet black fruits, very balanced, mild acidity underneath. Dark cherry, blood plum, hint of blackberry, very accessible now without decanting.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Oak nose, medium full body, enticing flavour, complex, nutty, French oak spice mid palate, 10 plus years for cellaring. Easy drinking. White stone fruits, balanced sweetness.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Oak nose. Plush palate. Hint of tropical fruits, balanced sweetness, minimal citric acidity. Steely finish.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Bright acidity, sweet, clean fruit, nicer than Yalumba Galway Pipe. Nuttiness in the finish.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

Disgorged 2014.
Festive. Interesting. Sparkling Shiraz including vintages to 20 years of age. Sweetness and surprise, enjoyable aperitif for something different.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

More accessible bouquet at this young age.
Medium fruit, red but more towards black fruits. Medium light acidity, plush mouthfeel, clean refreshing, and readily accessible as an early drinking wine. Stellar vintage.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:

Lighter vintage, medium bodied at best, slightly heavier than the Rod and Spur above. Readily accessible as a 'go to' wine now. Red fruits, plum, mild acidity, refreshing and verging on crisp, yet displays nice mouthfeel and easy drinking.

4/16/2015 - MyCellar01 wrote:

54% Cabernet 46% Shiraz
Very nice easy drinking, immediately accessible. Light body reflecting the vintage, dry not sweet and enjoyable.

A foil to Penfold's 389. Would like to see this from 2012 with greater fruit weight and drink along side the 389.