Purchased way back when and perfectly cellared. Purple color with a red/blue tinted rim. Scents of cedar, cranberry, vanilla and cement lifted by a touch of VA, although this is complementary rather than vinegary. On the palate the tannins seem to be fully resolved. As I remember, this was a tannic beast in its youth. Now its fruit and flavor are carried by a good level of acidity. Finishes smooth, but lively, and a bit dry with fine grained tannins and cranberry flavors on the medium length finish. On a long slow decline as the once powerful blue - black fruit has faded. Best as an accompaniment to a piece of grilled beef. Old style Aussie Shiraz.
After a couple of days in the open bottle under a blanket of argon this has evolved positively. The fruit has come forward with a mouthful of juicy black raspberry. The acidity has calmed down and integrated as has the cedary oak both now in a supporting role leaving the wine much more balanced and enjoyable. This still has a long life ahead of it. Score revised upward to 90.
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Still a very nice vino at age 25! Fruit has hint of dark but mostly red fruit. Noticeable acidity but not too sharp, a lovely texture in the mouth ....only 1 remaining ....the end of the line! Enjoyed more than when tried in 2019 and 2017.
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Once a great wine but now past it’s best. Still plenty of red fruit flavour and some acidity but not a lot of body. Only have 2 remaining but not optimistic they will be better.
Its been eight years since our last published tasting notes of this vintage release. While still holding its own after 23 years, this too is showing its age as the berry fruits turn to tones of raisin, fig and tobacco.
Dark full flavor, over ripe berry, raisin, notes of blueberry, plum fruit, with spice and anise. Showing age on opening but opened and softened with a long full complex finish.
This frontal assault of raisiny fruits was a bit over the top for Bill, not for the feint of heart, but the blueberry tones still reveal themselves - almost bordering on notes of a Port, this was well suited for after dinner with the dark chocolate deserts and hearty cheeses over the grilled steak dinner.
When released, the winemaker triumphantly exclaimed that this "was a wine for your grandchildren" Well, I guess he assumed some sort of time machine was going to be invented between 1995 and 2017, cause this is well and truly dead and buried (perfectly cellared since release) and there ain't no grandkids yet!! By the time they do reach 18, any remaining bottles of this are in danger of the vile concoction eroding directly thru the glass, so BEWARE!!!
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Quaffed in a vertical with 94 and 97. Agree with the drunked I had this with - a bit syrupry. Could be better for the price point. Glad I had but wouldn't source again anytime soon. Has held itself together. Unlike deinking partner.
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Really quite surprising that this bottle was so good. Meaty, bloody old school Shiraz. I was expecting an over extracted, dried out fruit bomb, but this was well balanced with just enough acid, integrated tannin and some interesting developed fruit flavours. Nice.
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Fruit fading pretty badly here. Over the hill and drink up. I never found the greatness which Jeremy Oliver did in these - I always preferred the '98 and '92.
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Dark full flavor, over ripe berry, raisin, notes of blueberry, plum fruit, with spice and anise. Showing age on opening but opened and softened with a long full complex finish.
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Like others before me, variance between bottles with this wine is huge. Previously have found it to be an outstanding wine, but this one was good at best. Very sickly, definitely not moreish....
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Lots of sediment. Still a lively grape juice color. Nose of slightly musty oak and grapes. Similar palate, but with impressive, rich, dark chocolate and licorice. Delicious, long, sweet, fruity finish (blueberry and grape). Very nice, especially compared to the previous bottle, and might have earned an even higher score without the musty note.
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A ton of sediment in the bottle. In the glass, looks like dark cherry syrup. Nose of mineral, mushroom and mint. On the palate, it adds cigarette ash and sulfur plus a hint of dark fruit. Plenty of coarse tannins still evident. Long finish of stemmy bing cherry. Overall a bit thin and austere, hopefully an off bottle.
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One of the better recent bottles I had. Rich fruit, some structure still evident. Plums, spice and hints of coconuts. Fun wine and not as syrupy as the previous ones.
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YIKES!!! What happened here? Where did the structure go? This is sickingly sweet, syrupy and cloying. Almost painful to drink. My teeth hurt from all the sweetness. Could this be a bad bottle? To it's credit, it came a little better into balance the second day. 72 points first day. 82 points second day.
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Anita: Beaut. complex notes of dark blackberry and cassis; hints of exotique spice with cherry; boysenberry and some wet earth tones as well; Rich, well proportioned mth--glycerin in the attack, still good amount of tannins, well-int and full; struct/long fin. Wow! what a find. And still so good. Blows away the ’98 CNP (Vieux Chemin) from yesterday! Flavor and complexity is very good.
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NYC Group does Syrah (NYC): Lots of dark fruits and sweet oak accents. Complex wine, with very fine grain tannins. Much more refined than it was last year, but lacking the raw power it had last year. Perhaps it is in a weird phase?
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Extremely dark color. Aromas of black fruits leaped out of the bottle. Tasted like a barrel sample... WAY WAY too young. Very primary... no evidence of oak yet. Highly concentrated and tannic. Can age on both its tannins and acid. Very promising. After 3 days it became much more civilized and complex. A nice spiciness became apparent and a wine of great balance emerged. One for the cellar!
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11/9/2023 - Pinotfanbg wrote: 90 Points
Purchased way back when and perfectly cellared. Purple color with a red/blue tinted rim. Scents of cedar, cranberry, vanilla and cement lifted by a touch of VA, although this is complementary rather than vinegary. On the palate the tannins seem to be fully resolved. As I remember, this was a tannic beast in its youth. Now its fruit and flavor are carried by a good level of acidity. Finishes smooth, but lively, and a bit dry with fine grained tannins and cranberry flavors on the medium length finish. On a long slow decline as the once powerful blue - black fruit has faded. Best as an accompaniment to a piece of grilled beef. Old style Aussie Shiraz.
After a couple of days in the open bottle under a blanket of argon this has evolved positively. The fruit has come forward with a mouthful of juicy black raspberry. The acidity has calmed down and integrated as has the cedary oak both now in a supporting role leaving the wine much more balanced and enjoyable. This still has a long life ahead of it. Score revised upward to 90.
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4/29/2023 - Bonesetter wrote: flawed
Corked. A serious disappointment from a wine I had high hopes for.
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4/13/2020 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still a very nice vino at age 25!
Fruit has hint of dark but mostly red fruit. Noticeable acidity but not too sharp, a lovely texture in the mouth ....only 1 remaining ....the end of the line!
Enjoyed more than when tried in 2019 and 2017.
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4/23/2019 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au wrote: 90 Points
Once a great wine but now past it’s best.
Still plenty of red fruit flavour and some acidity but not a lot of body.
Only have 2 remaining but not optimistic they will be better.
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11/11/2018 - rmcnees wrote: 87 Points
Its been eight years since our last published tasting notes of this vintage release. While still holding its own after 23 years, this too is showing its age as the berry fruits turn to tones of raisin, fig and tobacco.
Dark full flavor, over ripe berry, raisin, notes of blueberry, plum fruit, with spice and anise. Showing age on opening but opened and softened with a long full complex finish.
This frontal assault of raisiny fruits was a bit over the top for Bill, not for the feint of heart, but the blueberry tones still reveal themselves - almost bordering on notes of a Port, this was well suited for after dinner with the dark chocolate deserts and hearty cheeses over the grilled steak dinner.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/11/family-dinner-features-vintage-napa.html
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5/25/2017 - felixp Does not like this wine: 50 Points
When released, the winemaker triumphantly exclaimed that this "was a wine for your grandchildren"
Well, I guess he assumed some sort of time machine was going to be invented between 1995 and 2017, cause this is well and truly dead and buried (perfectly cellared since release) and there ain't no grandkids yet!!
By the time they do reach 18, any remaining bottles of this are in danger of the vile concoction eroding directly thru the glass, so BEWARE!!!
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4/28/2017 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Does not like this wine:
Definitely past it and chose not to drink.
Sad to say but nowhere near the wine it was just 3 years ago.
Ish we didn't have 4 remaining.
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10/18/2014 - cshall wrote: 92 Points
Quaffed in a vertical with 94 and 97. Agree with the drunked I had this with - a bit syrupry. Could be better for the price point. Glad I had but wouldn't source again anytime soon. Has held itself together. Unlike deinking partner.
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3/16/2014 - TravisW Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really quite surprising that this bottle was so good. Meaty, bloody old school Shiraz. I was expecting an over extracted, dried out fruit bomb, but this was well balanced with just enough acid, integrated tannin and some interesting developed fruit flavours. Nice.
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10/14/2013 - ubercuvee wrote:
Fruit fading pretty badly here. Over the hill and drink up.
I never found the greatness which Jeremy Oliver did in these - I always preferred the '98 and '92.
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11/26/2011 - JCDR wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle in the collection....still wonderful.
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8/10/2011 - ubercuvee wrote: 87 Points
Nice but seriously devoid of complexity. I just want more nuance from my wine nowadays. Competent, uninspiring wine.
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5/9/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Dark full flavor, over ripe berry, raisin, notes of blueberry, plum fruit, with spice and anise. Showing age on opening but opened and softened with a long full complex finish.
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7/16/2007 - petitblanc wrote: flawed
This bottle was dead.
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7/6/2007 - Twitcher35 wrote: 83 Points
Like others before me, variance between bottles with this wine is huge. Previously have found it to be an outstanding wine, but this one was good at best. Very sickly, definitely not moreish....
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7/1/2007 - petitblanc wrote: 90 Points
Lots of sediment. Still a lively grape juice color. Nose of slightly musty oak and grapes. Similar palate, but with impressive, rich, dark chocolate and licorice. Delicious, long, sweet, fruity finish (blueberry and grape). Very nice, especially compared to the previous bottle, and might have earned an even higher score without the musty note.
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5/27/2007 - petitblanc wrote: 86 Points
A ton of sediment in the bottle. In the glass, looks like dark cherry syrup. Nose of mineral, mushroom and mint. On the palate, it adds cigarette ash and sulfur plus a hint of dark fruit. Plenty of coarse tannins still evident. Long finish of stemmy bing cherry. Overall a bit thin and austere, hopefully an off bottle.
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8/3/2006 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
One of the better recent bottles I had. Rich fruit, some structure still evident. Plums, spice and hints of coconuts. Fun wine and not as syrupy as the previous ones.
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6/15/2006 - mdefreitas wrote: 82 Points
Similar to my last bottle. Lots of fruit. Oily in texture, not much grip. I'm sure it will be better the second day.
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6/13/2006 - mdefreitas wrote: 82 Points
YIKES!!! What happened here? Where did the structure go? This is sickingly sweet, syrupy and cloying. Almost painful to drink. My teeth hurt from all the sweetness. Could this be a bad bottle? To it's credit, it came a little better into balance the second day. 72 points first day. 82 points second day.
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5/27/2005 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Anita: Beaut. complex notes of dark blackberry and cassis; hints of exotique spice with cherry; boysenberry and some wet earth tones as well; Rich, well proportioned mth--glycerin in the attack, still good amount of tannins, well-int and full; struct/long fin. Wow! what a find. And still so good. Blows away the ’98 CNP (Vieux Chemin) from yesterday! Flavor and complexity is very good.
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8/28/2003 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Dark full flavor, berry, blueberry, plum fruit, with spice and anise. Showing age on opening but opened and softened.
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3/4/2000 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Tight nose at first. Rich, toffee-like dark fruit. Liquor like ripe fruits with a bit more oak showing than on release. Nice, but oaky.
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6/9/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
NYC Group does Syrah (NYC): Lots of dark fruits and sweet oak accents. Complex wine, with very fine grain tannins. Much more refined than it was last year, but lacking the raw power it had last year. Perhaps it is in a weird phase?
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4/1/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
Extremely dark color. Aromas of black fruits leaped out of the bottle. Tasted like a barrel sample... WAY WAY too young. Very primary... no evidence of oak yet. Highly concentrated and tannic. Can age on both its tannins and acid. Very promising. After 3 days it became much more civilized and complex. A nice spiciness became apparent and a wine of great balance emerged. One for the cellar!
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