Phil's impromptu tasting fun (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): From Coravin. Jammy, black and blue fruits, alcohol prickle, sweet spice. Juicy, dense, black fruits are baked, woody tannins, it's better on the palate than the nose but not for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
a very typical Henschke cedar box but in a much mature form.... every element became more complex, the nose, from start to finish has the 'dirty' Barossa/Eden feel to it --> starting to take on a bit of French character but still retains as a true Aussie wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex nose, immediate red fruit with a high tone (possible VA) that takes time to reduce so that blackcurrant comes through. Decanted for an hour or so. Its glossy and smooth with medium acidity and well integrated tannins. The palate is rich dried red fruit, raisins, cocoa and leather. This was an auction bottle so storage may have been an issue, but it certainly was quite evolved for me - possibly past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly good at 20. As others have said deep dark color and rich blue fruit with the tannin resolved. Probably will not improve but a pleasure to drink today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Curiously wonderful ! Far too rich by rights for a Cab - but gorgeous nonetheless. Fruit cake and port on the palate - but retains an elegance despite the wine's generosity. There is also the signature purity and focus of Cabernet. Although the structure has softened there is still sufficient tension behind the massive fruit that renders this wine so pleasurable. Dark fruits, leather and kirsch. Long and complex. Drinking perfectly now, will last but I don't think it will improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really liked this wine - drinkable and satisfying. Wonderful big soft blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, with a touch of menthol. There are also tertiary notes of leather, earth and raisons. Delicious, generous, opulent. Tannins now soft, acidity medium, full bodied. Long and complex. Drink now and over the next 5 years. 14.5% ABV Bordeaux mix.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep inky garnet almost black. Black fruit with a touch of camphor and cedar on the nose. Long palate, black berries, licorice with sour cherry. Smokey tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. Red fruit, eucalyptus, tart berries, dark cherries, and some bubblegum notes on the nose. Well integrated, finely grained tannins with red berries, and cherries on the palate. Quite interesting and long finish. This also got better and better with time in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Beth Novak Milliken, Spottswoode Estate (The Library, Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Served blind amongst 13 mainly Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignons. Older colour but still fresh-looking (although it turns out to be 10 years younger than most of the preceding wines). Nose is linear in a Lafite way and almost graphite...elevated, aloof and very elegant/sophisticated. Similar on the palate.....you are with a very good Cabernet Sauvignon here. Initially low-toned resonance and reverberance on the finish that then just grows and grows. I wrote "Napa for sure" and 92-94 points.
This was only one of two non-Napas wine out of 13 and really stood out as one of the very best. Beth was surprised and impressed as she had it as a a Napa too. Thanks for bringing, Alec!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
SLDS March 2017 (Rocket): Strong on the DMS with blackcurrant, mint and violets. Medium intensity on the palate, this comes across as ripe and full, without having the interest to back it up in this particular bottle. Hope to try a better bottle someday.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep red brown. Savoury complexity on the nose. Dried herbs, liquorice, tobacco, notes of tar, cooked red meat and bitter chocolate. Velvet mouthfeel with balanced dusty tannins and terrific length. A quality cabernet in a great drinking window. Classy stuff. Drink now - 2026.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought this to the wine-tasting dinner. Poped at the restaurant and bottle breath around 2 hours before drinking. Ruby in color. Great and complex on nose with red fruits, currants, smoke and herbs. Powerful and concentrated with grainy tannin. Massive fruits, oak and leather in palate. Very well-structured. Bitter finish. Better to wait for another couple of years and it will become a fablous stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby red with a brownish tinge. Bouquet of intense blackcurrant and dark red fruits and alcohol (13.5%). Still astringent when opened, but double decanting two hours before serving took the edge off. Still heavily oaked and remarkably fruity, young and fresh. Medium length. Definitely à point. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Again very consistent with notes below. This is a really good ;fruit driven new world Bordeaux blend. No need to rush but great now. Case wine on Hugh Johnson scale
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredibly young, but already drinking beautifully and a really tremendous wine. Beautiful dark fruited and cassis flavours over softer notes of violets, herbs, leather and eucalyptus with an amazing mouthfeel that manages to show both incredible power and a silky, polished elegance at the same time. An incredibly long finish that stays with you a good while never giving any indication of the 14.5% alcohol here. Absolutely stunning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose aggressively reaches out of the glass and grabs you with tar, herbs and red berries. The mid-pilate is just lovely with integrated tannins giving structure to tar, chocolate, herbs, and ripe fruit. the cab franc gives this a delightful balance and bite...no fruit bomb here. The finish is at least 60 seconds, and holds the berries as well as the herbs.
A real winner!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruit, cassis, current, undergrwoth and cigar with floral lift. Nice balance. Sweet tannins are fine and integrated. Great length. Complexity, length and balance in a fruit-driven style. Pleasant. 18,5/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Negociants Icon Tasting (Petroleum Club): At first I didn't know how to perceive this one. The nose isn't all that pleasant. Vegetal notes of bell pepper, herbs, and almost underripe tomato. As it opens, more red spicy fruits come out. ANyway, the palate holds quite a different quality. Velvety and rich with elegant red plum, cherry fruit. Starting to take on a slight earthy tone as well. Seamless finish. Hints of tobacco as well. 90-92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/31/2023 - chatters wrote:
Phil's impromptu tasting fun (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): From Coravin. Jammy, black and blue fruits, alcohol prickle, sweet spice. Juicy, dense, black fruits are baked, woody tannins, it's better on the palate than the nose but not for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2023 - HarveyManfrenjensenden Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine shows enormous promise of things to come. Delightful right now, it could well be a blockbuster in another 5-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2022 - Fatdoi Likes this wine: 93 Points
a very typical Henschke cedar box but in a much mature form.... every element became more complex, the nose, from start to finish has the 'dirty' Barossa/Eden feel to it --> starting to take on a bit of French character but still retains as a true Aussie wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2022 - Doc Malvern wrote: 90 Points
Complex nose, immediate red fruit with a high tone (possible VA) that takes time to reduce so that blackcurrant comes through. Decanted for an hour or so. Its glossy and smooth with medium acidity and well integrated tannins. The palate is rich dried red fruit, raisins, cocoa and leather. This was an auction bottle so storage may have been an issue, but it certainly was quite evolved for me - possibly past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2022 - kiwivino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly good at 20. As others have said deep dark color and rich blue fruit with the tannin resolved. Probably will not improve but a pleasure to drink today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2021 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Curiously wonderful ! Far too rich by rights for a Cab - but gorgeous nonetheless. Fruit cake and port on the palate - but retains an elegance despite the wine's generosity. There is also the signature purity and focus of Cabernet. Although the structure has softened there is still sufficient tension behind the massive fruit that renders this wine so pleasurable. Dark fruits, leather and kirsch. Long and complex. Drinking perfectly now, will last but I don't think it will improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2021 - Philip67 wrote: 94 Points
I really liked this wine - drinkable and satisfying. Wonderful big soft blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, with a touch of menthol. There are also tertiary notes of leather, earth and raisons. Delicious, generous, opulent. Tannins now soft, acidity medium, full bodied. Long and complex. Drink now and over the next 5 years. 14.5% ABV Bordeaux mix.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2021 - sgsh100 wrote: 93 Points
Deep inky garnet almost black. Black fruit with a touch of camphor and cedar on the nose. Long palate, black berries, licorice with sour cherry. Smokey tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2020 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind. Red fruit, eucalyptus, tart berries, dark cherries, and some bubblegum notes on the nose. Well integrated, finely grained tannins with red berries, and cherries on the palate. Quite interesting and long finish. This also got better and better with time in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still a superb Cabernet dominant blend. Lovely fruit, nice acidity and soft mouthfeel. Tannins totally integrated and full lengthy finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2018 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dinner with Beth Novak Milliken, Spottswoode Estate (The Library, Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): Served blind amongst 13 mainly Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignons. Older colour but still fresh-looking (although it turns out to be 10 years younger than most of the preceding wines). Nose is linear in a Lafite way and almost graphite...elevated, aloof and very elegant/sophisticated. Similar on the palate.....you are with a very good Cabernet Sauvignon here. Initially low-toned resonance and reverberance on the finish that then just grows and grows. I wrote "Napa for sure" and 92-94 points.
This was only one of two non-Napas wine out of 13 and really stood out as one of the very best. Beth was surprised and impressed as she had it as a a Napa too. Thanks for bringing, Alec!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2017 - Fatdoi Likes this wine: 92 Points
slightly overrated for price tag even with great vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points
SLDS March 2017 (Rocket): Strong on the DMS with blackcurrant, mint and violets. Medium intensity on the palate, this comes across as ripe and full, without having the interest to back it up in this particular bottle. Hope to try a better bottle someday.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2016 - RayOB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
Maturing nicely. Not too loud with notes of tobacco, tar, cassis and spice. Should last another 10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2016 - R.L.Griffin wrote: 93 Points
Deep red brown. Savoury complexity on the nose. Dried herbs, liquorice, tobacco, notes of tar, cooked red meat and bitter chocolate. Velvet mouthfeel with balanced dusty tannins and terrific length. A quality cabernet in a great drinking window. Classy stuff. Drink now - 2026.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2015 - Fatdoi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not much note, decanted for 6 hours. Medium body, sweet berries and old cigar box.. very nice finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2014 - Ivan Ma wrote: 92 Points
Bought this to the wine-tasting dinner. Poped at the restaurant and bottle breath around 2 hours before drinking. Ruby in color. Great and complex on nose with red fruits, currants, smoke and herbs. Powerful and concentrated with grainy tannin. Massive fruits, oak and leather in palate. Very well-structured. Bitter finish. Better to wait for another couple of years and it will become a fablous stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - Winestein wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red with a brownish tinge. Bouquet of intense blackcurrant and dark red fruits and alcohol (13.5%). Still astringent when opened, but double decanting two hours before serving took the edge off. Still heavily oaked and remarkably fruity, young and fresh. Medium length. Definitely à point. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2013 - dron_ap wrote: 93 Points
great new world bordeaux. On its peak now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2013 - Sonoffalstaff wrote: 92 Points
Again very consistent with notes below. This is a really good ;fruit driven new world Bordeaux blend. No need to rush but great now. Case wine on Hugh Johnson scale
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2013 - rchunter Likes this wine: 93 Points
A fine elegant wine with excellent bouquet (2013)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2009 - rich01 wrote: 95 Points
Fabulous stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2009 - salil wrote: 95 Points
Incredibly young, but already drinking beautifully and a really tremendous wine. Beautiful dark fruited and cassis flavours over softer notes of violets, herbs, leather and eucalyptus with an amazing mouthfeel that manages to show both incredible power and a silky, polished elegance at the same time. An incredibly long finish that stays with you a good while never giving any indication of the 14.5% alcohol here. Absolutely stunning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2009 - huntly wrote: 93 Points
The nose aggressively reaches out of the glass and grabs you with tar, herbs and red berries. The mid-pilate is just lovely with integrated tannins giving structure to tar, chocolate, herbs, and ripe fruit. the cab franc gives this a delightful balance and bite...no fruit bomb here. The finish is at least 60 seconds, and holds the berries as well as the herbs.
A real winner!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2009 - thierrynz wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit, cassis, current, undergrwoth and cigar with floral lift. Nice balance. Sweet tannins are fine and integrated. Great length. Complexity, length and balance in a fruit-driven style. Pleasant. 18,5/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 92 Points
Negociants Icon Tasting (Petroleum Club): At first I didn't know how to perceive this one. The nose isn't all that pleasant. Vegetal notes of bell pepper, herbs, and almost underripe tomato. As it opens, more red spicy fruits come out. ANyway, the palate holds quite a different quality. Velvety and rich with elegant red plum, cherry fruit. Starting to take on a slight earthy tone as well. Seamless finish. Hints of tobacco as well. 90-92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment