February 18, 2024 - I think 2008 was hot for SA so I was worried this could be forward-developed and tired, but thankfully it's still in very good condition.
Colour is still pale to mid-yellow. Kerosene the dominant note on the nose but it's not overpowering, there's plenty of lime and lemon citrus alongisde it as well as some honeysuckle and other florals.
On the palate the lime is dominant and has a moxture of fresh lime and more developed Bickfords lime cordial. Also some lemon curd and honey. The wine has gained some weight with a roundness and texture in the mouth, though the acidity is strong and zippy, almost spritzy.
Great stuff and probably peaking now, at least for my taste. The acid is still strong so I don't think it's going to fall away too soon, but I think the current flavour profile is a good balance of fresh and developed fruit and I don't see a benefit waiting for the freshness to all turn mature.
December 31, 2023 - Great acidic structure and secondary notes. Needs food and it is such a good food wine.
May 13, 2022 - Jesus, an extreme ripper of an aroma right off the twist off. Smells a little reduced which is wild for some 13 year old Grosset, palate is just dynamite right from the get go. High acid, lime leaf, lime pith, peach and gasoline, almost has a white burg note that’s I’d attribute to oak, but this is just crazy. Medium/- extract on the palate. Damn, these easily have to be 25-30 year wines.
Such a great pair with plain rice.
October 10, 2021 - Screwcap, 13% alc. Brilliant, light yellow gold.
Intense lime, salt spray, browned toast, and a slight pyrotechnics note on the nose.
A penetrating and powerful palate, with piercing acidity. Excellent length. Don’t drink too cold.
September 26, 2021 - Looking good, as it should be, but this did surprise on the upside. Youthful green tinge amongst the gold yellow. Balanced, calm, long palate; only the faintest touches of kro. Minerals and citrus in touched but def has subtle touch. Then again, it's 13yrs old. There's another 3 to 5 years here.
August 11, 2021 - This was a joy to drink, and in a nice place at the moment. Sealed under screwcap, pale to medium straw in colour, slight kerosene and white nectarine and wet rock aromas; medium-bodied, flows with a classy texture, the wine is balanced on the palate, the acidity now seamlessly integrated, the wet rock and white nectarine shimmers on the midpalate, and nice length. Wonderful.
April 22, 2021 - Appearance: Medium gold.
On the nose: Medium+ intensity, petrol, fresh lemon, honey cake, honeycomb, cashew nuts, developing.
Palate: Dry, high acidity, med alcohol, med+ intensity, med body, lemon, honey cake, tingling, long finish.
Overall, very good wine. Can drink now, but suitable for ageing.
February 6, 2021 - Kerosene nose developing. Just on the right side of aroma and flavour.
September 3, 2020 - Decanted 1.5 hours. Dark yellow. Strongly mineral with kerosene notes on the nose. Brisk attack unfolds immediately into an interplay of flint stone minerality and tart lemon carried on an almost palpable base of floral inflected juice. There is a rather uncanny sense of massive extraction married with great finesse here. Lovely.
It's quite interesting to scan over the notes on this wine (dating back to some brave souls trying this in 2009!). There is a clear reflection of this wine's trajectory, and as Villon and Andrew have both mentioned recently, the strong acidity apparent in the wine's younger years is giving way to a rounder and fuller wine. I think this wine is only now starting to sing and can easily make another another 5-8 years.
April 30, 2020 - Still very bright with similar lime, green apple and mineral notes. I can't sense any signs of ageing at all, so am revising my drink by date by a few years. Lovely example of Riesling.