What a sleeper of a wine - I rarely drink this wine but it always positively surprises. Initially a bit sweet, almost syrupy, but this blew off to reveal a very good wine. It stood proudly with some excellent Bordeaux, top Nth Rhône & Aussie 1st Classifieds. Plum, chocolate, pepper, dry herbs. Lovely balance and structure.
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Aging gracefully, I'd say. Still rich on the nose, fresh on the palate, and deeply coloured. Lots of primary blackberry fruit, but also secondary notes of leather, earth, smoke, white pepper, and graphite on the finish. Juicy mouthfeel, attractive tannins, a balanced wine that was unmistakably an aussie shiraz but elegantly so.
68
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Cork was in great shape. This was an interesting one. One one hand, past its apogee and really in need of drinking. Upon opening, heavy raisin flavors, and strong acid. The wine felt tight though, which was unusual given its advanced age. With more air (30-60 minutes) it really strutted its stuff with a wonderfully complex aroma of sugared raisins, chocolate, plum, fig, tart black cherry, tobacco and leather. The aroma was just as splendid as the flavors. Long finish and maintained its strength, nearly port-like (though I didn't find the alcohol to be heavy). Concentrated, older wine that if well kept may make it another 5 years or longer. Showed no signs of dying even after the bottle was open for 4 hours.
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Consistent with earlier tasting, aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry fruits that turn to raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco turning to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered. Tonight, at twenty years, it was showing amazing resilience and still holding on, albeit showing some diminution from aging. https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/05/rosemount-balmoral-mclaren-vale-syrah_28.html
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Cork fell apart, which I consider part of the experience. Medium flavour, dark berries flavour, medium aroma. Pleasant but not great. It was drunk after a 99 Penfolds Bin 407 so it has trouble competing.
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Consistent with previously reported tasting notes from 2010 and 2012, this 2000 was dark inky purple/garnet colored, medium-full bodied. Aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry fruits that turn to raisin, tangy black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco turning to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered.
The colour has browned down to brick red. It has black cherry and loads of tabacco. The tannins are soft and fine. Good ength. Really enjoyable and nothing like the archetypical Aussie Shiraz.
Excellent aged Aussie shiraz. Youthful but mature, no hard edges. Still inky garnet to the edge. Cherry/plum nose with a very slight funk. Tannins well mannered, smooth but pleasantly firm mouth feel. Rich aged fruit flavors coat the tongue. Overall impression is richly flavorful, strong but softened by age. Most of all, well balanced (something I don't usually expect from Aussie syrahs) and deliciously pleasing. A nice surprise.
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At fifteen, this wine is aging gracefully and still holding its own, aging consistent with earlier notes back in 2010 and 2012 ...
Aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry fruits that turn to raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco turning to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered.
"Decanted" into a glass half an hour before drinking, then consumed over 3 days. Restrained fruit but still a distinctive blackcurrant flavour with little discernible oak. A very nicely balanced and silky feel in the mouth, although somewhat lacking in acidic backbone. Tanins have largely melted into the background so I guess it's on now the decline. Still a very pleasurable drink with none of that "over the top" fruit-forwardness that many Australian shiraz/syrahs go in for these days.
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Inky magenta with layered bleeding and a thin meniscus. Muted bouquet with berries, brambles and dusty leather. Big round pure jammy fruit heavy on raspberry liqueur. Dynamic medium finish. Very tasty -- almost dessert-like.
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Tonight this showed that usual dark inky purple color and medium to full body. It was extremely aromatic with complex flavorful blue berry and ripe black raspberry fruits. It did not, however like earlier notes, give way to ripe raisin, leather, earthiness, tar and tobacco with an aftertaste of smoke. It retained its vibrant fruits with hints of currant and plum turning to tones of vanilla, glycerin and mineral while the deep aromatics lingered on the long soft silky tannin finish.
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Slight bricking at the edge of the glass. On the nose blackberry and cassis, vanilla, slight spirituous notes, touches of sherbet (?) and autumn leaves. In the mouth blackberry, medium plus juicy acid, leather, medium minus tannin that is fine, vanilla and chocolate and a long finish. A wine that demonstrates a lovely balance between primary, secondary and tertiary characteristics - there is still some fruit there, the oak doesn't completely swamp it and the autumnal qualities and leather notes complement each other beautifully. Not the best wine in the world but in a very nice place for me at the moment.
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Getting tired. This bottle was at the end of its drinking window. Some nice leathery tobacco and dusty notes. Would have probably peaked about 2 years ago.
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Outstanding wine that has been well cellared. Drinking well now even though at the end of its window. Some decant time helps open things up, and then the richness comes through. A very well made wine.
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I have had the wine from 2005 this was the last bottle, the nose was menthol and eucalyptse like, not as it used to be, which worried me a bit. But, the taste was fine, much of the fruity-ness when younger was gone. The tannins mellowed, it was mature and time to drink. I don't think it will last another year. Bang for the buck since the 2004 purchase all bottles were enjoyable. Jammy and Fruity, yes. But most of the Aussie Syrahs are. Tons of sediment too. Decanted an hour.
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Decanted for sediment. Nice bricking on edges. Seemed to be at or near peak and drinking wonderfully. Nice leather at first that receded into the background and allowed the fruit to show through. Lingering finish. Wish I had more, but probably wouldn't hold on to them if I did.
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Dark inky purple color. Medium-full bodied. Aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry, raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco that turns to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered. While I gave it a 92 initially on opening, by the end of the night I gave it a 90.
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Explosive nose of eucalyptus, leather and beeswax, white pepper, plum and cranberry; lively, sweetness and weight, sève, good fruit; good length, gunpowder, a hint of austerity. An energetic, elegant Syrah - almost northern Rhône. Now - 2015.
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Nice complexity (smoked bacon, pepper, leather, chcolate, plummy and strawberry fruit) and depth; dry but rich, good structure with velvety tannins, good length. Drink now - 2015.
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Plums and pepper, eucalyptus and flint, saddle leather; round and ripe fruit, velvety tannins and nice freshness; juicy and lively, good length, no blockbuster but a classic Shiraz with good expression. Now - 2015.
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Needs food really - and plenty of air time. This baby was still fine the next afternoon - if anything it was significantly improved. At opening the same jamminess experienced with other bottles. The sweetness left it and it does reveal a smooth wine with plenty of fruit but perhaps a little lacking in interest.
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Aromatic, flavorful - ripe black raspberry, raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar and cedar that turns to an aftertaste of currant and a hint of plum. Starting to show age a bit. Drink over next year or so.
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Deep spicy, blackberry noise with a hint of chocolate. Sweet blackberry flavors with plenty of oak and fatty texture to stand up to the fruit. This was served with Morrocan lamb, and also tried with a bit of chocolate. This is one of the few wines that I believe actually complements chocolate, but it would also be wonderful with grilled meats.
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Much improved on previous bottle. Decanted & left for an hour. Jamminess and sweetness again on opening but this faded and revealed much more structure than before. Rich and deep. A little bit overblown but plenty of structure and integrated.
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I wish I hadn't consumed so many of these while they were young. Dark fruit, tannins well integrated, nice mouthfeel. This wine has matured nicely and to me seems just as satisfying as it did years ago, but in a different way. Almost half a bottle left to sample again this evening.
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Pretty classic stuff from McLaren Vale. Very ripe on the nose. A bit too jammy upon opening but opened up later on. Didn't have the complexity that I was hoping for. A bit too rich and dare I say it sweet. Nice depth and finish, very smooth and tannins not prominent but giving weight. I hope for more from the remaining bottles. I'll be decanting next time.
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Dark, showing just a hair of bricking on edges. Nice fruit on nose and in mouth. Little drying tannins, but these intergrated as the bottle was consumed. Cremy finish. Can go another couple years.
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A disappointment. Flavor profile was as expected for Aussie shiraz wiht dark fruit and menthol notes. Not overblown. Instead, was boring and pedestrian. Could have been many $20 Cali syrahs plus the menthol note. OK, but nothing memorable.
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Pop and pour. Still loads of plum up front, not the fruit bomb it was 2 years ago the last time we tried this one. It may have passed its prime, but still a good McLaren example. The finish has definitely dropped off. Tannins softened....
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Reductive nose and almost some soy sauce and umami atop a box of raisins. Forward but serious dark plummish fruit body with linings of pepper spices. Not big fruitbomb but big-boned with firm structure. Has pedigree but predictable. Increasingly got more milo-ish to the end.
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Could not decant, popped and poured. Color was dark and somewhat brown. The nose was all raisin and ove ripe. The taste though was good, cherry, spice and pepper with decent finish. Last third of the bottle, the nose opened and lost the raisin, replaced with cherry and some floral aromas. Needs decanting.
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Opened an hour before pouring. Inky black with some sediment. I haven't had previous bottles of this, but currently starting to resemble its Northern Rhone namesake. Still fruit forward, but possessing some of the meaty, savory characteristics of say a Cornas. Really tasty stuff, still going strong stored in bottle overnight.
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Opened and poured without decanting. Initial nose offered nothing, after 15 minutes it started to come alive. Beautiful blueberry and black licorice notes with a dark brooding color. A great mouthfeel with solid tannins, plenty of fruit, and balancing acids. Although there seems to be plenty of life left in this bottle it drinks very well now, but I would suggest decanting- the wine became much better over the hour it took to consume it.
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Very nice nose with ripe plums, blueberries and licorice. The mouths gets coat by very a massive fruit punch, but smooth and silky as well with nearly sweet tanins. The finish is very long! All in all a very good example of an ripe and fruit forwarded Australian Shiraz.
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Aged faded plum appearance; port-like nose, chocolate and stewed damson and plums. Smokey chocolate; complex fruits on the palate, nice filling mouthful. Good but nothing special.
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Decant for sediment. Dark, plum skin color with some softening on the edges. Sweet oak and blueberry on the nose with cigar, olive, and berry pie in the mouth. Secondary flavors of vanilla bean with a light floral element. Lingering finish that goes on and on.....Out of balance acidity is the only thing holding this one back from a better score. Nice components of both old world and new. Drink or hold for another 2-3.
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Erik's birthday. Had along side a 2001. Big difference. The 2000 had alot of earth on the nose and smooth drinking. The 2001 was syrupy, sweek tobacco on the nose and a little hot drinking. However, if the 2001 lays down a bit, could be good.
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Tuscany Cafe Closing Dinner (Tuscany Cafe, Toronto, Canada): Dark ruby/black colour. Aromas of coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, black licorice, and spice. Full-bodied, spicy, with pepper, dark chocolate, black licorice, and cream notes. Tannins are nicely integrated. Moderate-long finish, ~35-40s, with black fruit and pepper. Very nice wine. Drink now.
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Wow. Berries on the nose. Soft mouth. Dark fruit. Drank over 6 hours. At the end, mint and eucalyptus came through the warm fruit and soft spice. I don't usually drink an entire bottle in one evening, but I just couldn't stop myself. Good stuff with lots of life left.
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Australia and Rhone at Haukeland Sykehus (Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen, Norway): Rich and almost a bit plump on the nose. Not as sweet as the previous Australians, but sweeter than the 96. Aromas of vanilla and warm blackberries. Good. Very powerful, but a bit artificial, on the front palate. Fruity, and the tannins are not to rough. Long aftertaste, but a bit too much alcohol in the finish. I like the wine, but at this price (65$) it is a bit too expensive.
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Deep purple. some plums and cherries on the nose. a lush mouthful, full bodied. with minimal soft tannins and a medium pleasant finish. This was a very good shiraz, would rec early consumption as its peaking currently.
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Dark and inky in color with no bricking. Big syrah nose. The big, warm flavors spread like velvet on the tongue with a nice smokey note. There are still slightly dry tannins, so there is plaenty of life left in this.
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1/23/2024 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a sleeper of a wine - I rarely drink this wine but it always positively surprises. Initially a bit sweet, almost syrupy, but this blew off to reveal a very good wine. It stood proudly with some excellent Bordeaux, top Nth Rhône & Aussie 1st Classifieds. Plum, chocolate, pepper, dry herbs. Lovely balance and structure.
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12/25/2023 - hippoonroofeatingcake Likes this wine:
Aging gracefully, I'd say. Still rich on the nose, fresh on the palate, and deeply coloured. Lots of primary blackberry fruit, but also secondary notes of leather, earth, smoke, white pepper, and graphite on the finish. Juicy mouthfeel, attractive tannins, a balanced wine that was unmistakably an aussie shiraz but elegantly so.
68
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10/19/2023 - Texas Corkscrew wrote: 92 Points
Its hanging in there but need to drink.
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10/28/2022 - snaff wrote: 90 Points
Still holding up. Dusky berries, cedary notes, rich and smooth.
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8/3/2022 - corkus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Colour: brownish / garnet
Nose: Leather, musk, pepper, raisin, dark berry fruit. Very perfumed.
Palette: Menthol, blackberries, pepper, liquorice, milk chocolate, cream, raspberries, some earthiness.
Vey long, creamy and rich palette.
Absolutely superb, even after 23 years.
Wont improve, but if cellered well may last a few more years before it declines.
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8/28/2020 - CheviotCellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cork was in great shape. This was an interesting one. One one hand, past its apogee and really in need of drinking. Upon opening, heavy raisin flavors, and strong acid. The wine felt tight though, which was unusual given its advanced age. With more air (30-60 minutes) it really strutted its stuff with a wonderfully complex aroma of sugared raisins, chocolate, plum, fig, tart black cherry, tobacco and leather. The aroma was just as splendid as the flavors. Long finish and maintained its strength, nearly port-like (though I didn't find the alcohol to be heavy). Concentrated, older wine that if well kept may make it another 5 years or longer. Showed no signs of dying even after the bottle was open for 4 hours.
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5/29/2020 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with earlier tasting, aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry fruits that turn to raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco turning to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered. Tonight, at twenty years, it was showing amazing resilience and still holding on, albeit showing some diminution from aging.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/05/rosemount-balmoral-mclaren-vale-syrah_28.html
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1/26/2019 - Bsmith457 wrote: 91 Points
Cork fell apart, which I consider part of the experience. Medium flavour, dark berries flavour, medium aroma. Pleasant but not great. It was drunk after a 99 Penfolds Bin 407 so it has trouble competing.
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2/3/2018 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previously reported tasting notes from 2010 and 2012, this 2000 was dark inky purple/garnet colored, medium-full bodied. Aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry fruits that turn to raisin, tangy black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco turning to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/02/rosemount-balmoral-syrah-2000.html
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1/20/2017 - AEF Likes this wine: 91 Points
The colour has browned down to brick red. It has black cherry and loads of tabacco. The tannins are soft and fine. Good ength. Really enjoyable and nothing like the archetypical Aussie Shiraz.
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5/15/2016 - ratrop1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent aged Aussie shiraz. Youthful but mature, no hard edges. Still inky garnet to the edge. Cherry/plum nose with a very slight funk. Tannins well mannered, smooth but pleasantly firm mouth feel. Rich aged fruit flavors coat the tongue. Overall impression is richly flavorful, strong but softened by age. Most of all, well balanced (something I don't usually expect from Aussie syrahs) and deliciously pleasing. A nice surprise.
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1/21/2016 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 90 Points
At fifteen, this wine is aging gracefully and still holding its own, aging consistent with earlier notes back in 2010 and 2012 ...
Aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry fruits that turn to raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco turning to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2016/01/rosemount-balmoral-mclaren-vale-syrah.html
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1/28/2015 - Bsmith457 wrote: 89 Points
Deep purple, almost black colour. Tannin not too heavy, long finish. Restrained fruit.
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10/13/2014 - JeandeTroyes Likes this wine: 91 Points
"Decanted" into a glass half an hour before drinking, then consumed over 3 days. Restrained fruit but still a distinctive blackcurrant flavour with little discernible oak. A very nicely balanced and silky feel in the mouth, although somewhat lacking in acidic backbone. Tanins have largely melted into the background so I guess it's on now the decline. Still a very pleasurable drink with none of that "over the top" fruit-forwardness that many Australian shiraz/syrahs go in for these days.
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6/15/2014 - MissHighwater wrote: 90 Points
lovely rounded fully mature Australian Shiraz. A treat with Lamb.
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1/15/2014 - magyarsvensk wrote: 88 Points
Inky magenta with layered bleeding and a thin meniscus. Muted bouquet with berries, brambles and dusty leather. Big round pure jammy fruit heavy on raspberry liqueur. Dynamic medium finish. Very tasty -- almost dessert-like.
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11/15/2013 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tonight this showed that usual dark inky purple color and medium to full body. It was extremely aromatic with complex flavorful blue berry and ripe black raspberry fruits. It did not, however like earlier notes, give way to ripe raisin, leather, earthiness, tar and tobacco with an aftertaste of smoke. It retained its vibrant fruits with hints of currant and plum turning to tones of vanilla, glycerin and mineral while the deep aromatics lingered on the long soft silky tannin finish.
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7/24/2013 - Zingrrl wrote: 87 Points
Last legs. Still good, but drink up. Fruit has faded - almost has a Rhone quality.
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5/26/2013 - chatters wrote:
Slight bricking at the edge of the glass. On the nose blackberry and cassis, vanilla, slight spirituous notes, touches of sherbet (?) and autumn leaves. In the mouth blackberry, medium plus juicy acid, leather, medium minus tannin that is fine, vanilla and chocolate and a long finish. A wine that demonstrates a lovely balance between primary, secondary and tertiary characteristics - there is still some fruit there, the oak doesn't completely swamp it and the autumnal qualities and leather notes complement each other beautifully. Not the best wine in the world but in a very nice place for me at the moment.
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3/18/2013 - lifebreath wrote: 90 Points
Getting tired. This bottle was at the end of its drinking window. Some nice leathery tobacco and dusty notes. Would have probably peaked about 2 years ago.
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2/3/2013 - arossnz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinks amazingly well, might be a good time to break it out in 2013
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12/31/2012 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still quite heavy tannin, balanced by reasonable amount of fruit and a long finish.
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7/8/2012 - PSirah Tampa wrote: 93 Points
Still drinking very young- many years left. On the upside; wish I had more.....
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1/7/2012 - monkeylug wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding wine that has been well cellared. Drinking well now even though at the end of its window. Some decant time helps open things up, and then the richness comes through. A very well made wine.
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9/1/2011 - Dougak wrote: 89 Points
I have had the wine from 2005 this was the last bottle, the nose was menthol and eucalyptse like, not as it used to be, which worried me a bit. But, the taste was fine, much of the fruity-ness when younger was gone. The tannins mellowed, it was mature and time to drink. I don't think it will last another year. Bang for the buck since the 2004 purchase all bottles were enjoyable. Jammy and Fruity, yes. But most of the Aussie Syrahs are. Tons of sediment too. Decanted an hour.
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8/13/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Identical to my previous notes.
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7/3/2011 - bvwino wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for sediment. Nice bricking on edges. Seemed to be at or near peak and drinking wonderfully. Nice leather at first that receded into the background and allowed the fruit to show through. Lingering finish. Wish I had more, but probably wouldn't hold on to them if I did.
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6/4/2011 - OliverHM wrote: 83 Points
Needs to decant for at least an hour. Leathery, jammy, dry finish. Gets fruitier as it breathes
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6/4/2011 - OliverHM wrote: 80 Points
Needs at least an hour to decant...Leathery, jammy, gets fruitier as it breathes. Dry finish
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6/4/2011 - OliverHM wrote: 80 Points
Needs at least an hour to decant...Leathery, jammy, gets fruitier as it breathes.
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4/22/2011 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Dark inky purple color. Medium-full bodied. Aromatic, leather, slightly earthy aroma that gives way to complex flavorful blue fruit and ripe black raspberry, raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar, and tobacco that turns to an aftertaste of smoke, currant and a hint of plum. Over the course of the evening, the wine seemed to age as the berry fruits gave way to the more fig raisin aged feel while the deep aromatics lingered. While I gave it a 92 initially on opening, by the end of the night I gave it a 90.
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3/31/2011 - syrahz wrote: 91 Points
Still loving it. Dark berry fruits, plum, wonderful with food.
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3/17/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Explosive nose of eucalyptus, leather and beeswax, white pepper, plum and cranberry; lively, sweetness and weight, sève, good fruit; good length, gunpowder, a hint of austerity. An energetic, elegant Syrah - almost northern Rhône. Now - 2015.
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1/9/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
Nice complexity (smoked bacon, pepper, leather, chcolate, plummy and strawberry fruit) and depth; dry but rich, good structure with velvety tannins, good length. Drink now - 2015.
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12/19/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
Plums and pepper, eucalyptus and flint, saddle leather; round and ripe fruit, velvety tannins and nice freshness; juicy and lively, good length, no blockbuster but a classic Shiraz with good expression. Now - 2015.
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11/2/2010 - curtiy wrote: 90 Points
Still has life, 2 hours of air time, plenty of blackberry, plum jam on the palate. A lot of sediment recommend decanting.
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8/7/2010 - mark_m_owen wrote: 87 Points
Needs food really - and plenty of air time. This baby was still fine the next afternoon - if anything it was significantly improved. At opening the same jamminess experienced with other bottles. The sweetness left it and it does reveal a smooth wine with plenty of fruit but perhaps a little lacking in interest.
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8/2/2010 - rmcnees wrote:
Aromatic, flavorful - ripe black raspberry, raisin, black cherry, cassis, tar and cedar that turns to an aftertaste of currant and a hint of plum. Starting to show age a bit. Drink over next year or so.
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7/26/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 87 Points
Very evolved and drying, lacks energy and tension. Duff bottle? Retaste.
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5/11/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured. Not as fruit forward. Definitely has a savory soy sauce component which I didn't appreciate a year ago. Interesting but not great.
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4/27/2010 - Bandi wrote:
At its peak. Drink now.
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4/26/2010 - HenryW wrote: 82 Points
Menthol-dominated. Not much fruit.
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4/25/2010 - xyzsch wrote: 92 Points
Deep spicy, blackberry noise with a hint of chocolate. Sweet blackberry flavors with plenty of oak and fatty texture to stand up to the fruit. This was served with Morrocan lamb, and also tried with a bit of chocolate. This is one of the few wines that I believe actually complements chocolate, but it would also be wonderful with grilled meats.
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3/30/2010 - mark_m_owen wrote: 89 Points
Much improved on previous bottle. Decanted & left for an hour. Jamminess and sweetness again on opening but this faded and revealed much more structure than before. Rich and deep. A little bit overblown but plenty of structure and integrated.
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2/19/2010 - syrahz wrote: 90 Points
past its prime; still enjoyable
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11/7/2009 - syrahz wrote: 93 Points
I wish I hadn't consumed so many of these while they were young. Dark fruit, tannins well integrated, nice mouthfeel. This wine has matured nicely and to me seems just as satisfying as it did years ago, but in a different way. Almost half a bottle left to sample again this evening.
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10/28/2009 - mark_m_owen wrote: 86 Points
Pretty classic stuff from McLaren Vale. Very ripe on the nose. A bit too jammy upon opening but opened up later on. Didn't have the complexity that I was hoping for. A bit too rich and dare I say it sweet. Nice depth and finish, very smooth and tannins not prominent but giving weight. I hope for more from the remaining bottles. I'll be decanting next time.
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10/25/2009 - bvwino wrote: 92 Points
Dark, showing just a hair of bricking on edges. Nice fruit on nose and in mouth. Little drying tannins, but these intergrated as the bottle was consumed. Cremy finish. Can go another couple years.
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8/29/2009 - GuBe wrote: 89 Points
Berjaríkt, vottur af pipar og leðri. Nokkur tannín. Langteftirbragð.
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8/24/2009 - Armando B wrote: 85 Points
A disappointment. Flavor profile was as expected for Aussie shiraz wiht dark fruit and menthol notes. Not overblown. Instead, was boring and pedestrian. Could have been many $20 Cali syrahs plus the menthol note. OK, but nothing memorable.
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8/1/2009 - curtiy wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. Still loads of plum up front, not the fruit bomb it was 2 years ago the last time we tried this one. It may have passed its prime, but still a good McLaren example. The finish has definitely dropped off. Tannins softened....
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7/27/2009 - Bandi wrote:
Stating to show colour changes of age but still rather tannic and bitter. Hot. Pleased it is not jammy. Disappointed!
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7/27/2009 - Bandi wrote: flawed
TCA smell and taste
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6/30/2009 - Alex H wrote: 85 Points
Reductive nose and almost some soy sauce and umami atop a box of raisins. Forward but serious dark plummish fruit body with linings of pepper spices. Not big fruitbomb but big-boned with firm structure. Has pedigree but predictable. Increasingly got more milo-ish to the end.
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5/23/2009 - wfdeacon wrote: 89 Points
Could not decant, popped and poured. Color was dark and somewhat brown. The nose was all raisin and ove ripe. The taste though was good, cherry, spice and pepper with decent finish. Last third of the bottle, the nose opened and lost the raisin, replaced with cherry and some floral aromas. Needs decanting.
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5/16/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Opened an hour before pouring. Inky black with some sediment. I haven't had previous bottles of this, but currently starting to resemble its Northern Rhone namesake. Still fruit forward, but possessing some of the meaty, savory characteristics of say a Cornas. Really tasty stuff, still going strong stored in bottle overnight.
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4/11/2009 - GuBe wrote: 89 Points
Loftað í þrjá tíma.
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2/26/2009 - PSirah Tampa wrote: 93 Points
Opened and poured without decanting. Initial nose offered nothing, after 15 minutes it started to come alive. Beautiful blueberry and black licorice notes with a dark brooding color. A great mouthfeel with solid tannins, plenty of fruit, and balancing acids. Although there seems to be plenty of life left in this bottle it drinks very well now, but I would suggest decanting- the wine became much better over the hour it took to consume it.
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12/6/2008 - J2K wrote: 93 Points
Full body, nice heavy mouthfel, big dark fruit and a lot of pepper.
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11/9/2008 - Medo wrote: 92 Points
Very nice nose with ripe plums, blueberries and licorice. The mouths gets coat by very a massive fruit punch, but smooth and silky as well with nearly sweet tanins. The finish is very long! All in all a very good example of an ripe and fruit forwarded Australian Shiraz.
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2/1/2008 - sstitt wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for a good hour was a full-bodied wine very jammy with slight oak notes.
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1/24/2008 - TwoDogs wrote: 93 Points
Red pepper/blueberry mint nose and a wine that's ready to drink now!
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1/7/2008 - TwoDogs wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle of Shiraz. Sweet black licorice with blueberry. Became more lush with time .
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12/17/2007 - vespasian wrote:
Aged faded plum appearance; port-like nose, chocolate and stewed damson and plums. Smokey chocolate; complex fruits on the palate, nice filling mouthful. Good but nothing special.
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11/24/2007 - jnastynebr wrote: 91 Points
Decant for sediment. Dark, plum skin color with some softening on the edges. Sweet oak and blueberry on the nose with cigar, olive, and berry pie in the mouth. Secondary flavors of vanilla bean with a light floral element. Lingering finish that goes on and on.....Out of balance acidity is the only thing holding this one back from a better score. Nice components of both old world and new. Drink or hold for another 2-3.
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11/23/2007 - ELH wrote: 91 Points
Decanted; dark, rich berry aroma and flavor; full syrah body.
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6/26/2007 - Beachwine wrote:
Erik's birthday. Had along side a 2001. Big difference. The 2000 had alot of earth on the nose and smooth drinking. The 2001 was syrupy, sweek tobacco on the nose and a little hot drinking. However, if the 2001 lays down a bit, could be good.
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5/25/2007 - futronic wrote: 92 Points
Tuscany Cafe Closing Dinner (Tuscany Cafe, Toronto, Canada): Dark ruby/black colour. Aromas of coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, black licorice, and spice. Full-bodied, spicy, with pepper, dark chocolate, black licorice, and cream notes. Tannins are nicely integrated. Moderate-long finish, ~35-40s, with black fruit and pepper. Very nice wine. Drink now.
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5/2/2007 - Zingrrl wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Berries on the nose. Soft mouth. Dark fruit. Drank over 6 hours. At the end, mint and eucalyptus came through the warm fruit and soft spice. I don't usually drink an entire bottle in one evening, but I just couldn't stop myself. Good stuff with lots of life left.
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3/14/2007 - abbulf wrote:
Australia and Rhone at Haukeland Sykehus (Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen, Norway): Rich and almost a bit plump on the nose. Not as sweet as the previous Australians, but sweeter than the 96. Aromas of vanilla and warm blackberries. Good. Very powerful, but a bit artificial, on the front palate. Fruity, and the tannins are not to rough. Long aftertaste, but a bit too much alcohol in the finish. I like the wine, but at this price (65$) it is a bit too expensive.
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12/25/2006 - GuBe wrote: 89 Points
Kröftugt, langt eftirbragð
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11/15/2006 - DocSkinner wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful Syrah - incredible lush mouth feel, nice berry without being over fruity. Should definitely have bought more.
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10/28/2006 - wood wrote: 89 Points
Thick and fruity. Less nose, nice spicy fruit, decent length.
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4/11/2006 - NeuroDoc wrote: 92 Points
Deep purple. some plums and cherries on the nose. a lush mouthful, full bodied. with minimal soft tannins and a medium pleasant finish. This was a very good shiraz, would rec early consumption as its peaking currently.
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12/24/2005 - GuBe wrote: 87 Points
Mjög gott vín.
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11/24/2005 - rkorchid wrote: 94 Points
Dark and inky in color with no bricking. Big syrah nose. The big, warm flavors spread like velvet on the tongue with a nice smokey note. There are still slightly dry tannins, so there is plaenty of life left in this.
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7/22/2005 - lewisrise wrote: 94 Points
Deep ink color. Raspberry and cocoa with a hint of cedar. Very long finish, 60 seconds. Awesome shiraz!
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