Pitch dark and still very young-looking in the glass. nose somewhat restrained, but plums and a lavender poured out after a good swirl. In the palate this is dense, with youthful acidity, black pepper, plums, bramble, earthy notes - still fresh and young, with medium tannins and a long ending with oak in it. High-quality Australian Shiraz for sure - I had high expectations and this bottle met them all. 2002 is clearly a great vintage for Australia - and I am happy I have 5 more bottles of this beauty. Great now, will continue to develop for a while IMO and while last at least another decade at peak.
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Not bad, but not really my style. Big, jammy, sweet. Nose has baked spiced cherries, chocolate, and anise. Palate has kirsch, jammy plums, dark chocolate, and soft black licorice.
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Still pleasurable and round viscous red cherry fruit with spice notes , chocolate. I agree with darth taster below. drink up now. The alcohol is showing through and with time will become even more pronounced as primary fruit dissipates. Long decant is fine as better in subsequent days under argon storage.
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During a Shiraz tasting dinner with friends. Tasted blind. Nose of dark fruit, berry, chocolate. Enters the palate rich, sweet and very full bodied. A big bruiser from Australia for sure. Too much for my taste. Alcohol 15.5% says it all.
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Wednesday Wine Party Free & Easy (Chateau Davyd): Tasted blind. Appearance is opaque deep blackish red colour. Thick legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of dark milky chocolate, coconut, black cassis, licorice, sweet concentrated candy, black fruits. Developed. On the palate, off-dry!, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (15.5%), smooth fine medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of dark milky chocolate, mocha, silky yet concentrated sweet black cherries, blackberries, black cassis, licorice. Medium+ finish. Very good quality. Rich and silky drink, too easy to drink for a 15.5% alc! Drink up. I think exclusive Old World drinkers would vomit this wine up though, if you force it down their throats.
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Decanted for a few hours, it is still aggressive as hell. Big nose of blackberry fruit and spice. Thick and rich in the mouth, but with ferocious tannins and acidity in the mid-palate and finish. I hope it will come around in another 5 years or so, but I'm not so sure. Amy picks up a strong clove flavor and says it's very aggressive, "like having someone else's teenager to dinner." ;) Judgement reserved. Put away for 5-10 years.
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Our favorite of the 4 Macarthur had open today. Excellent blend with a perfect finish. They said it needs about 90 minutes right now so will be good for years in the cellar.
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HOLY CRAP. Weighing in at 15.5% a/c and well and truly Parkerised; it was with some trepidation that I approached this monster. The a/c is there but not as burny and bad as you would expect. After that creamy black berries going more chocolatey after opening up. Very chewy and really quite impressive. Not european at all, but reminded me of Grange in its density. A density, however, that will probably never develop like a Bordeaux. But, recommended.
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we opened this with the 02 emirge.( also a 4 hour decant) even bigger than the emirge. this wine is huge in texture almost like cough syrup. dark dark ink like in the glass. on the palate there was a thick chocolate creamy feel balanced nicely with blackberry liquer ,plum and a touch of spice. the finish was forever.
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Acker Merrall 2002 Aussie Blind Shiraz Showdown (Amuse): Deep dark red, very thick. Sensual, smooth nose. Creamy, dark plum, slight spice. Dark chocolate, sweet fruit, blackberry, cassis. Big mouthfeel, very round. Excellent.
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Tasting with winemaker. GSM blend with 75% Syrah. Very big fruit on the nose and first taste. Finish shows a bit more finesse and subtlety, but still a big wine. Reasonable balance for a wine at its alcohol level (15.5).
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3/24/2024 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pitch dark and still very young-looking in the glass. nose somewhat restrained, but plums and a lavender poured out after a good swirl. In the palate this is dense, with youthful acidity, black pepper, plums, bramble, earthy notes - still fresh and young, with medium tannins and a long ending with oak in it.
High-quality Australian Shiraz for sure - I had high expectations and this bottle met them all. 2002 is clearly a great vintage for Australia - and I am happy I have 5 more bottles of this beauty. Great now, will continue to develop for a while IMO and while last at least another decade at peak.
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12/2/2023 - Bull at a gate Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fruity, sweet well balanced and long finish. Drinking very well
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11/13/2020 - pdr_urrutia wrote: 87 Points
Not bad, but not really my style. Big, jammy, sweet. Nose has baked spiced cherries, chocolate, and anise. Palate has kirsch, jammy plums, dark chocolate, and soft black licorice.
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11/19/2018 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still pleasurable and round viscous red cherry fruit with spice notes , chocolate. I agree with darth taster below. drink up now. The alcohol is showing through and with time will become even more pronounced as primary fruit dissipates. Long decant is fine as better in subsequent days under argon storage.
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3/24/2017 - YQUEM90 wrote: 95 Points
Strong at 15. Simple decant. Give it 30+ minutes and it will be lovely. Paired nicely w/burgers and beef chili.
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11/22/2016 - firstgrowth wrote: 84 Points
A bit like Robitussin - hoping subsequent bottles are better
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10/1/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 90 Points
During a Shiraz tasting dinner with friends. Tasted blind. Nose of dark fruit, berry, chocolate. Enters the palate rich, sweet and very full bodied. A big bruiser from Australia for sure. Too much for my taste. Alcohol 15.5% says it all.
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8/31/2016 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Wednesday Wine Party Free & Easy (Chateau Davyd): Tasted blind.
Appearance is opaque deep blackish red colour. Thick legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of dark milky chocolate, coconut, black cassis, licorice, sweet concentrated candy, black fruits. Developed.
On the palate, off-dry!, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (15.5%), smooth fine medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of dark milky chocolate, mocha, silky yet concentrated sweet black cherries, blackberries, black cassis, licorice. Medium+ finish.
Very good quality. Rich and silky drink, too easy to drink for a 15.5% alc! Drink up. I think exclusive Old World drinkers would vomit this wine up though, if you force it down their throats.
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9/30/2014 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fully mature. Mellow and delicious.
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5/22/2014 - kenv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Powerful nose of black fruits and dark chocolate. Thick and silky with rich fruit. Still some tannin. Big, but not too big.
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11/3/2013 - jdesimone4 Likes this wine: 91 Points
definitely needed some time to open up; first sample was not nearly as good as 30-60 minutes in
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12/7/2012 - kenv wrote:
Decanted for a few hours, it is still aggressive as hell. Big nose of blackberry fruit and spice. Thick and rich in the mouth, but with ferocious tannins and acidity in the mid-palate and finish. I hope it will come around in another 5 years or so, but I'm not so sure. Amy picks up a strong clove flavor and says it's very aggressive, "like having someone else's teenager to dinner." ;) Judgement reserved. Put away for 5-10 years.
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2/5/2011 - schimmy23 wrote: 93 Points
Our favorite of the 4 Macarthur had open today. Excellent blend with a perfect finish. They said it needs about 90 minutes right now so will be good for years in the cellar.
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12/7/2010 - mukden wrote: 94 Points
HOLY CRAP. Weighing in at 15.5% a/c and well and truly Parkerised; it was with some trepidation that I approached this monster. The a/c is there but not as burny and bad as you would expect. After that creamy black berries going more chocolatey after opening up. Very chewy and really quite impressive. Not european at all, but reminded me of Grange in its density. A density, however, that will probably never develop like a Bordeaux. But, recommended.
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3/28/2010 - charbo wrote:
still big and chewy with cocoa espresso and big black fruit
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12/13/2009 - viscalbarsa wrote: 91 Points
Went very well with the salmon with vanilla oil. It's very elegant for a shiraz, but wildly overpriced
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4/13/2009 - Larry Brooks wrote: 93 Points
Group Third. Really nice. not so fruit forward and acidiic balance compared to the amon ra.
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3/16/2009 - lk wrote: 95 Points
Incredibly rich velvety big wine. Deep dark red color, well balanced, long finish. You want to keep coming back for more.
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9/20/2007 - Animus wrote: 97 Points
Fabulous complexicity, spicy, earthy with note of liqorice and oak, an incredible finish. Exceptional wine.
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1/5/2007 - yanik wrote: 94 Points
Rich, velvetly and full mouthfeel. Very good with a long finish
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12/18/2005 - charbo wrote: 94 Points
we opened this with the 02 emirge.( also a 4 hour decant) even bigger than the emirge. this wine is huge in texture almost like cough syrup. dark dark ink like in the glass. on the palate there was a thick chocolate creamy feel balanced nicely with blackberry liquer ,plum and a touch of spice. the finish was forever.
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11/4/2005 - trankin wrote: 93 Points
Acker Merrall 2002 Aussie Blind Shiraz Showdown (Amuse): Deep dark red, very thick. Sensual, smooth nose. Creamy, dark plum, slight spice. Dark chocolate, sweet fruit, blackberry, cassis. Big mouthfeel, very round. Excellent.
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11/10/2004 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Tasting with winemaker. GSM blend with 75% Syrah. Very big fruit on the nose and first taste. Finish shows a bit more finesse and subtlety, but still a big wine. Reasonable balance for a wine at its alcohol level (15.5).
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