Dinner at Sennett. Drank in Grassl Cru. Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour going garnet. Legs. Nose pronounced intensity, with aromas of chocolatey earth, integrated oak toast coffee mocha, deep black cherries, boysenberries, bit of mushroom. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), silky medium tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet black cherries, blackberries, boysenberries, coffee mocha, dark chocolate earth, sweet spice. More sweet Ribena flavours with more air. Long finish. Good quality well aged Barossa Shiraz. No black pepper at all actually despite the label name. Not jammy and keeps it all under good control. I would say good time to drink up.
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This has held up marvelously well. Certainly no ooze monster material here. I though surely there was some cabernet here. It’s clearly new world, with some candied red fruit on the nose and not much to distinguish syrah - no meat, lavender, not much black pepper despite its namesake. So nothing Northern Rhone about it, but the wine was a very nice drink and could easily be confused for a Napa cab from the same era.
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good waxy cork; inky dark still - no bricking; heady still-youthful plum nose; Shed the oak leaving (almost too) sweet red & plum fruit, hint of dill; very fine tannins. Don't think it'll improve
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I believe this is our last bottle of the old guard wines under this label. Glorious from the first sip, delicate fruit, silky tannin, extremely expressive... and demonstrated staying power thru a second evening! I believe they have recycled the same name but for a lesser wine these days! Exceptional!
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Perhaps when I opened a bottle last (2016) or the bottle before that (2014) they were going through a "closed period"? But wow, all I can say about this most recent bottle was (apart from the cork which I had to chisel out) was how young and fresh it tasted. A hint of savory on the nose, bright cherry fruit on the palate, acids nicely integrated, smooth (but ok, somewhat tart) finish. I'm still impressed by the number of CT holdings but maybe these folks know something? I would still vote to drink on the NOW side of sooner or later.
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This old gem is getting, well.........old. I would still open a bottle of this wine anytime, though I think I am down to one or none in the cellar, which is fine as this has peaked. A great life for this wine.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch, plum and raspberry. Flavors of raspberry, plum and a little bit of cherry. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
Throwing a little sediment at this point so decant if you wish and serve immediately. Needs only minimal air if that.
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As others have said, started off with cedar but very closed.
Needs at least an hour to decant. After that, soft tannins remained and gentle flavors emerged. While past it's prime, we still noted the eponymous pepper that appears to be hit or miss now.
Drink by end of year.
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Savory notes on the nose while the palate was savory/fruity (with a tilt towards the fruit side of things). Tannins are gone, acids poking through, lots of fruit notes and little "aged tones", still the short finish on this particular bottles renders it something less than 90+ territory....
Recent reviews by others remain strong (but funny how they were either from Australia or the UK, hmmm no home country/ex-penal colony bias there eh? ) so for the 587 remaining bottles, all I can say it GOOD DRINKING!!
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Everything has come together for this wine. The fruit has mellowed with blackberry, plum, dark cherry, tobacco, mocha. The tannins are silky and the acidity is soft. This is a well rounded wine right now, drinking perfectly. There's no sign of fading either, so I'd suggest another 3 to 5 years.
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Blueberry, blackberry and cedar on the palate. Lots of layers in this wine, the tannins are softened but still firm. There is still a youthful element, but I would suggest that it is now in its prime. The fruit is concentrated but not overpowering, and works with the medium body. Very enjoyable.
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Pop an pour, some initial funk in the first few minute but dissipated within the first 30 minutes. This wine is a reddish black with orangey rim in color with a slighty muddied appearance with bits of fine tannin particles. Sweet fruity nose with notes of roasted meats, leathery spices and integrated oak. The palate is quite smooth, well-integrated, medium full-bodied and mellow with good aromatic red and blue brambly fruits, cooked meat, some menthol, minerals and a slight touch of oak. Unfortunately, the I did not detect any substantial black pepper component in this wine as the name suggests. I venture to guess that this wine is in its last legs. Drink up and enjoy while there is still life in this venerable 12 year old wine.
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Popped and poured. Followed over >3 hours. Tremendous sediment despite bottle being stood up for 1 week.
Initially, this wine was reticent, with darker red, slight blue fruit profile. Medium cigar ash, mint, eucalyptus, fine tannins, no alcohol. Finished medium. 4 hours later, cigar ash vanished and really nice fruit with cedar box, striking minerality and a long finish emerged.
Next time, I'm decanting this wine properly for sediment, using my micron filter, and finally for aeration.
I disagree with previous posters. A bit of effort due to sediment, but lovely nonetheless! I think this is a fine example of an aging, nicely maturing, Aussie shiraz. Some may consider that statement oxymoronic. If so, please send me your old Oz bones - I'll take 'em!
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(Tasted at the Ozzy Smack Down - a veritable sludge fest!)
Talked about in the same breath as Grange by many local Aussies, this is wanna-be stuff unfortunately. Starting to leak around the edges, the fruit was fading and the acids starting to play a more prominent role as the wine starts to wobble.
Huge holdings among Cellar Tracker members, I think we are going to have a lot of unhappy campers unless they open this stuff soon.
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Warm garnet color. Complex nose if blackberry and fig jam with a hint of eucalyptus. Full mouth feel with complex dark fruit notes. Long finish with some acidity. Would say this wine has legs to 2015+
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Good bouquet of Shiraz. Palate a bit tight and tough. Some bitterness. Not deep or lush enough. Spicy and bitter herbs. Very bitter finish. Not a huge fan of this - though I usually love the E&E Black Peppers.
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Decanted and poured. It's been about 18 months since I opened the previous bottle and I think it has hit its sweet spot. Beautiful bottle of wine - luscious mouthfeel, wonderful fruit, and the finish is even longer than I remember. This was my last bottle and I am sorry to see it go.
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Dark purple color and loads of blueberry, blackberry, and roasted notes followed by some espresso. Touches of white pepper and some other spices are matched by enormous amounts of concentration and firm yet supple tannins. Smooth creamy mouthfeel rounds out this very interesting Shiraz which possesses surprisingly good balance. Will hold for 3-5 more years.
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Not bad. Straight forward spicy darker red cherries, black pepper, dark cocoa. A big wine. Not too much elegance or intrigue overall. Still some nice rich qualities. Could probably have guessed this was Aussie Shiraz blind. Didn't have the cleanest finish either. Not bad, just not that great and over scored.
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Dark reddish orange in appearance with the nose of dark fruits, peppery spice and oak. This wine is big and bold dominated primarily with savory black fruits, black pepper, a heavy dose of oak with nuances of earthy menthol and cedar. The alcoholic component is quite pronouced which gives it a fortified feel. Nonetheless this wine tastes remarkably fresh and zippy despite it’s age.
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At BWC tasting. Black fruits and some woody oak on the nose. Good balance on the palate with decent acidity, and blackberries/pepper notes. Finish had a more creamy, cassis feel. Solid, my #3.
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Boerne Wine Club - Australia (Scenic Loop Cafe): Moderately dark purple still, with barely some fading at the rim. I think this still had had some nice primary sweet blackberry fruit, and some brine (that I sense in many syrahs) but without some of the bacon fat of some of the over the top wines. Not elegant by any stretch, but a fairly nicely balanced shiraz with a few years on it. ****
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This wine just gets better & better. 9 months since the last bottle has improved it and another couple of years, I think, will make it even better. Decanted, but let it sit for 2 or 3 hours to bring out it's best. Wonderful flavors, balanced tannins, and a beautiful long finish, that leaves you wanting more.
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Tasted double blind. The nose has depth with rich and brooding dark fruit and licorice. The palate continues the dark fruit and licorice theme. Good, lingering finish.
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Dark burgundy color, with a clear ruby hue. Oak, oak, & more oak on the nose, and not much else. Palate was rather restrained for an Aussie Shiraz, at least initially. Good purity--though not necessarily depth--of fruit. Blackberries mostly. Also didn't find much black pepper, which was disappointing. Appreciably tart, and somewhat tannic, finish. The bottle's second half was "bigger", due perhaps to air & time. Last glass finished like a slightly better balanced Mollydooker. Did pair well with bacon-wrapped filets, well-trimmed baked potatoes & fresh corn on the cob. That said, even at this price, not sure I'd go back for more. [14.5% abv.; $30.00].
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Decanted 1 hour. Very dark, dark purple, with a ruby rim. Nose of wood, black pepper (duh) and some blackberry fruit. Tons of structure in the mouth, with a sweet vanilla and pepper attack, full mid-palate with blackberry fruit and more pepper, and a long finish of espresso and pepper. Quite acidic, this still has some tannins kicking around that dry the mouth slightly on the finish. Holds it's 14.5% alcohol quite well, as I detected no trace of heat in nose or mouth. This wine begs for a grilled medium-rare steak...sure wish I had one right now! If I had another bottle, I would hold this wine another 3-4 years, as it will continue to develop complexity.
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Pulled cork three hours before pouring, but left in bottle - no decanter in hotel room. Beautiful varietal nose and a deep red color. Raspberries and black pepper flavors with balanced tannins.
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Floral mouthful of cherry and blackberry with nice amounts of pepper. Some dark espresso. Nice polished tannin and good sense of balance. Very nice. - Tasted at Marché Bacchus 10/16/10
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Decanted 4 hours. Ripe dark purple fruit - plums, blue stoney fruit, black pepper spice. Kept getting better with each hour open. Masculine styling with less smoked meat aromas and more of that dark spice. Palate shows excellent balance. Dark spiced raspberry cider, more black pepper and anise lead to a surprisingly supple finish showcasing sweet well integrated tannins, only a touch of heat and moderate acidity. Can't believe Parker gave this an 82, but I don't quite go with the 94 of Spectator either.
The wine has escaped up the side of the cork and the wine was affected. Notwithstanding, it was still a pleasant drink. I have more and hope to be more fulsome with the next bottle.
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Fantastic with bone-in rib eye, grass fed, and sweet white corn. Big red fruit; bell pepper and cherry. Looking forward to letting the other two bottles I have develop.
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Not as sweet and concentrated as many other Aussie shiraz at its price point. This wine could actually pair with food given its less overbearing nature. Not particularly complex or special however, and I was shocked when I saw the price I had paid for it while entering this review on CT- poor QPR.
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Nose is heavy cherry hints of plum. Sweet. Strong nose. Taste was tart but not dry. Oak is present but not overpowering. Vibrant entry after 1hr decant. Full bodied and dull finish. Lingers but is very transparent. Lacks complexity but is stout. Overpriced.
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Pitch black color, Aromas of Blackberry, cream de cassis, coconut, chocolate. Full bodied, dense and focused. Finishes up long leaving tons of dark fruits. - JD93
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I agree with what has been said that this wine is somewhat hollow on the midpalate. it does however have incredible length. A well sturctured Oz Shiraz with nice fruit and tannins are present. Overpriced in my opinion.
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Popped and served. Obviously very young at this point and the wine did open up ever so slightly over a 3 hour period. This is super dark purple in color. The nose is heavily dominated with oak and a touch of spice and black pepper. In the mouth, this is again, very oak driven centered on a dark fruit core. This wine was not overly impressive. Day 2 notes: Meat juice, blueberries, some minerality and a woodiness fills the nose. This is a medium body wine with mints, plums and a distinct oakiness in the mouth. A moderate finish with round tannins. Day 2 Score 89. This wine could use a couple years in bottle or will benefit from extended decanting now. Unfortunately, it is much too oak dominated for it to be a good cellar choice.
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Aromatic, super-ripe blackberry, toast, leather, meat and mineral nose. Full and rich palate with ripe berry flavours and a distinct earthy streak running up the middle; long, refined finish. 4.5/5
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2/10/2023 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Dinner at Sennett. Drank in Grassl Cru. Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour going garnet. Legs.
Nose pronounced intensity, with aromas of chocolatey earth, integrated oak toast coffee mocha, deep black cherries, boysenberries, bit of mushroom. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), silky medium tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet black cherries, blackberries, boysenberries, coffee mocha, dark chocolate earth, sweet spice. More sweet Ribena flavours with more air. Long finish.
Good quality well aged Barossa Shiraz. No black pepper at all actually despite the label name. Not jammy and keeps it all under good control. I would say good time to drink up.
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11/6/2021 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
This has held up marvelously well. Certainly no ooze monster material here. I though surely there was some cabernet here. It’s clearly new world, with some candied red fruit on the nose and not much to distinguish syrah - no meat, lavender, not much black pepper despite its namesake. So nothing Northern Rhone about it, but the wine was a very nice drink and could easily be confused for a Napa cab from the same era.
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1/30/2021 - SadEdjo wrote: 91 Points
good waxy cork; inky dark still - no bricking; heady still-youthful plum nose; Shed the oak leaving (almost too) sweet red & plum fruit, hint of dill; very fine tannins. Don't think it'll improve
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12/15/2020 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 97 Points
I believe this is our last bottle of the old guard wines under this label. Glorious from the first sip, delicate fruit, silky tannin, extremely expressive... and demonstrated staying power thru a second evening! I believe they have recycled the same name but for a lesser wine these days! Exceptional!
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2/8/2020 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 90 Points
Perhaps when I opened a bottle last (2016) or the bottle before that (2014) they were going through a "closed period"? But wow, all I can say about this most recent bottle was (apart from the cork which I had to chisel out) was how young and fresh it tasted. A hint of savory on the nose, bright cherry fruit on the palate, acids nicely integrated, smooth (but ok, somewhat tart) finish. I'm still impressed by the number of CT holdings but maybe these folks know something? I would still vote to drink on the NOW side of sooner or later.
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3/26/2018 - eddo & penny Likes this wine: 89 Points
must drink it now... fruit is going...
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3/25/2018 - jsebiri wrote:
This old gem is getting, well.........old. I would still open a bottle of this wine anytime, though I think I am down to one or none in the cellar, which is fine as this has peaked. A great life for this wine.
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11/4/2017 - Gnieboer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Same as previous though it seemed a bit less was there.
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10/8/2017 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very similar notes to last time. This is a very rounded wine where all components are in harmony. Delicious. No significant signs of ageing either.
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4/11/2017 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Kirsch, plum and raspberry. Flavors of raspberry, plum and a little bit of cherry. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
Throwing a little sediment at this point so decant if you wish and serve immediately. Needs only minimal air if that.
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3/26/2017 - Gnieboer Likes this wine: 90 Points
As others have said, started off with cedar but very closed.
Needs at least an hour to decant. After that, soft tannins remained and gentle flavors emerged. While past it's prime, we still noted the eponymous pepper that appears to be hit or miss now.
Drink by end of year.
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9/24/2016 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
Savory notes on the nose while the palate was savory/fruity (with a tilt towards the fruit side of things). Tannins are gone, acids poking through, lots of fruit notes and little "aged tones", still the short finish on this particular bottles renders it something less than 90+ territory....
Recent reviews by others remain strong (but funny how they were either from Australia or the UK, hmmm no home country/ex-penal colony bias there eh? ) so for the 587 remaining bottles, all I can say it GOOD DRINKING!!
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9/7/2016 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Everything has come together for this wine. The fruit has mellowed with blackberry, plum, dark cherry, tobacco, mocha. The tannins are silky and the acidity is soft. This is a well rounded wine right now, drinking perfectly. There's no sign of fading either, so I'd suggest another 3 to 5 years.
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8/2/2016 - michelvl wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with my previous notes.
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1/4/2016 - michelvl wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with my previous notes
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11/14/2015 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blueberry, blackberry and cedar on the palate. Lots of layers in this wine, the tannins are softened but still firm. There is still a youthful element, but I would suggest that it is now in its prime. The fruit is concentrated but not overpowering, and works with the medium body. Very enjoyable.
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11/12/2015 - Acohen Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, rich with dark fruit, cedar with nice pepper and dark notes
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11/5/2015 - Praxis wrote: 92 Points
Pop an pour, some initial funk in the first few minute but dissipated within the first 30 minutes. This wine is a reddish black with orangey rim in color with a slighty muddied appearance with bits of fine tannin particles. Sweet fruity nose with notes of roasted meats, leathery spices and integrated oak. The palate is quite smooth, well-integrated, medium full-bodied and mellow with good aromatic red and blue brambly fruits, cooked meat, some menthol, minerals and a slight touch of oak. Unfortunately, the I did not detect any substantial black pepper component in this wine as the name suggests. I venture to guess that this wine is in its last legs. Drink up and enjoy while there is still life in this venerable 12 year old wine.
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8/26/2015 - michelvl wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with previous notes
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2/23/2015 - Marebear wrote:
$96.00
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2/23/2015 - dneville Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious and ready to drink!
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1/16/2015 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Followed over >3 hours. Tremendous sediment despite bottle being stood up for 1 week.
Initially, this wine was reticent, with darker red, slight blue fruit profile. Medium cigar ash, mint, eucalyptus, fine tannins, no alcohol. Finished medium. 4 hours later, cigar ash vanished and really nice fruit with cedar box, striking minerality and a long finish emerged.
Next time, I'm decanting this wine properly for sediment, using my micron filter, and finally for aeration.
I disagree with previous posters. A bit of effort due to sediment, but lovely nonetheless! I think this is a fine example of an aging, nicely maturing, Aussie shiraz. Some may consider that statement oxymoronic. If so, please send me your old Oz bones - I'll take 'em!
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9/28/2014 - albrigsr wrote:
This has faded from my earlier tastings. Still a decent wine but the fruit has faded.
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1/25/2014 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
(Tasted at the Ozzy Smack Down - a veritable sludge fest!)
Talked about in the same breath as Grange by many local Aussies, this is wanna-be stuff unfortunately. Starting to leak around the edges, the fruit was fading and the acids starting to play a more prominent role as the wine starts to wobble.
Huge holdings among Cellar Tracker members, I think we are going to have a lot of unhappy campers unless they open this stuff soon.
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6/30/2013 - Ornumsi wrote: 93 Points
Warm garnet color. Complex nose if blackberry and fig jam with a hint of eucalyptus. Full mouth feel with complex dark fruit notes. Long finish with some acidity. Would say this wine has legs to 2015+
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6/8/2013 - JMeski Likes this wine: 92 Points
So sad this wine is now gone. It was one of the finest Barossa Valley shiraz's I've had in a long, long time.
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4/27/2013 - Rob-Rah Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Good bouquet of Shiraz. Palate a bit tight and tough. Some bitterness. Not deep or lush enough. Spicy and bitter herbs. Very bitter finish. Not a huge fan of this - though I usually love the E&E Black Peppers.
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3/12/2013 - Nancypantzie wrote:
- Garnet color.
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3/1/2013 - joefel Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and poured. It's been about 18 months since I opened the previous bottle and I think it has hit its sweet spot. Beautiful bottle of wine - luscious mouthfeel, wonderful fruit, and the finish is even longer than I remember. This was my last bottle and I am sorry to see it go.
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1/9/2013 - Squirrelled wrote: 93 Points
Dark purple color and loads of blueberry, blackberry, and roasted notes followed by some espresso. Touches of white pepper and some other spices are matched by enormous amounts of concentration and firm yet supple tannins. Smooth creamy mouthfeel rounds out this very interesting Shiraz which possesses surprisingly good balance. Will hold for 3-5 more years.
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9/4/2012 - jlaws7lh wrote: 89 Points
Good, but not great. Decanted for 3 hours. Kind of straight forward and boring.
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8/18/2012 - jfmontreal wrote: 93 Points
Belle structure, puissant et un fut de chêne qui s'intègre très bien à ce stade. Excellent Shiraz, légèrement vanillé qui est prêt à boire.
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7/28/2012 - mgstull Likes this wine: 94 Points
Red purple to rim. Coats the palate with creamy red and blue fruit, violets, and white pepper. Maturing nicely.
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6/13/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 88 Points
Not bad. Straight forward spicy darker red cherries, black pepper, dark cocoa. A big wine. Not too much elegance or intrigue overall.
Still some nice rich qualities. Could probably have guessed this was Aussie Shiraz blind. Didn't have the cleanest finish either. Not bad, just not that great and over scored.
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4/25/2012 - Praxis wrote: 92 Points
Dark reddish orange in appearance with the nose of dark fruits, peppery spice and oak. This wine is big and bold dominated primarily with savory black fruits, black pepper, a heavy dose of oak with nuances of earthy menthol and cedar. The alcoholic component is quite pronouced which gives it a fortified feel. Nonetheless this wine tastes remarkably fresh and zippy despite it’s age.
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12/11/2011 - macker100 wrote: 90 Points
At BWC tasting. Black fruits and some woody oak on the nose. Good balance on the palate with decent acidity, and blackberries/pepper notes. Finish had a more creamy, cassis feel. Solid, my #3.
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12/11/2011 - cos65 wrote:
Boerne Wine Club - Australia (Scenic Loop Cafe): Moderately dark purple still, with barely some fading at the rim. I think this still had had some nice primary sweet blackberry fruit, and some brine (that I sense in many syrahs) but without some of the bacon fat of some of the over the top wines. Not elegant by any stretch, but a fairly nicely balanced shiraz with a few years on it. ****
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11/29/2011 - duncanmacster wrote:
A hint of Brett.
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11/23/2011 - philipithomas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Raspberry
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8/9/2011 - joefel Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine just gets better & better. 9 months since the last bottle has improved it and another couple of years, I think, will make it even better. Decanted, but let it sit for 2 or 3 hours to bring out it's best. Wonderful flavors, balanced tannins, and a beautiful long finish, that leaves you wanting more.
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7/16/2011 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
Tasted double blind. The nose has depth with rich and brooding dark fruit and licorice. The palate continues the dark fruit and licorice theme. Good, lingering finish.
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6/19/2011 - Bacchant wrote: 88 Points
Dark burgundy color, with a clear ruby hue. Oak, oak, & more oak on the nose, and not much else. Palate was rather restrained for an Aussie Shiraz, at least initially. Good purity--though not necessarily depth--of fruit. Blackberries mostly. Also didn't find much black pepper, which was disappointing. Appreciably tart, and somewhat tannic, finish. The bottle's second half was "bigger", due perhaps to air & time. Last glass finished like a slightly better balanced Mollydooker. Did pair well with bacon-wrapped filets, well-trimmed baked potatoes & fresh corn on the cob. That said, even at this price, not sure I'd go back for more. [14.5% abv.; $30.00].
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12/30/2010 - RPerro wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Very dark, dark purple, with a ruby rim. Nose of wood, black pepper (duh) and some blackberry fruit. Tons of structure in the mouth, with a sweet vanilla and pepper attack, full mid-palate with blackberry fruit and more pepper, and a long finish of espresso and pepper. Quite acidic, this still has some tannins kicking around that dry the mouth slightly on the finish. Holds it's 14.5% alcohol quite well, as I detected no trace of heat in nose or mouth. This wine begs for a grilled medium-rare steak...sure wish I had one right now! If I had another bottle, I would hold this wine another 3-4 years, as it will continue to develop complexity.
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11/5/2010 - joefel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pulled cork three hours before pouring, but left in bottle - no decanter in hotel room. Beautiful varietal nose and a deep red color. Raspberries and black pepper flavors with balanced tannins.
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10/18/2010 - vegasoenophile wrote: 94 Points
Floral mouthful of cherry and blackberry with nice amounts of pepper. Some dark espresso. Nice polished tannin and good sense of balance. Very nice.
- Tasted at Marché Bacchus 10/16/10
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10/12/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Ripe dark purple fruit - plums, blue stoney fruit, black pepper spice. Kept getting better with each hour open. Masculine styling with less smoked meat aromas and more of that dark spice. Palate shows excellent balance. Dark spiced raspberry cider, more black pepper and anise lead to a surprisingly supple finish showcasing sweet well integrated tannins, only a touch of heat and moderate acidity. Can't believe Parker gave this an 82, but I don't quite go with the 94 of Spectator either.
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9/19/2010 - duncanmacster wrote: flawed
The wine has escaped up the side of the cork and the wine was affected. Notwithstanding, it was still a pleasant drink. I have more and hope to be more fulsome with the next bottle.
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8/28/2010 - JMeski wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic with bone-in rib eye, grass fed, and sweet white corn. Big red fruit; bell pepper and cherry. Looking forward to letting the other two bottles I have develop.
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5/31/2010 - Mark Brandon wrote: 91 Points
Just excellent with Kobe burgers and Gorgonzola. Agree with the general comments.
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3/12/2010 - Acohen wrote: 91 Points
Very nice tannins and dark fruit that will last for quite some time. Great finish
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1/8/2010 - overthetop wrote:
Drank @ Bernie & Chris'. Auction bottle. Lovely!
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12/12/2009 - DenisLee wrote:
Not bad at all. But hugely overpriced.
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10/17/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Not as sweet and concentrated as many other Aussie shiraz at its price point. This wine could actually pair with food given its less overbearing nature. Not particularly complex or special however, and I was shocked when I saw the price I had paid for it while entering this review on CT- poor QPR.
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10/9/2009 - txfireman wrote: 90 Points
Nose is heavy cherry hints of plum. Sweet. Strong nose. Taste was tart but not dry. Oak is present but not overpowering. Vibrant entry after 1hr decant. Full bodied and dull finish. Lingers but is very transparent. Lacks complexity but is stout. Overpriced.
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8/30/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Decanted for two hours.
Rich and chewy with very long finish...good but not great.
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5/9/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
Pitch black color, Aromas of Blackberry, cream de cassis, coconut, chocolate. Full bodied, dense and focused. Finishes up long leaving tons of dark fruits. - JD93
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4/5/2009 - df1962 wrote:
Deep purple/black core. Lovely blackberry coffee licorice nose. Smoky mocha blackberry flavours. Soft yet chewy elegant finish. Young but drinkable. Excellent.
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12/4/2008 - redderthanred wrote:
Great stuff, not as good as the 2002, but damn close...very rich, dense, mouth-coating!
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11/22/2008 - mikee123 wrote: 90 Points
I agree with what has been said that this wine is somewhat hollow on the midpalate. it does however have incredible length. A well sturctured Oz Shiraz with nice fruit and tannins are present. Overpriced in my opinion.
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7/12/2008 - JSwick wrote: 87 Points
Nose of blackberry, raspberry, dill, and pepper. Palate is very acidic and not as big as I would have thought. A bit hollow in the mid palate.
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3/10/2008 - lzhu wrote:
Dark of purple color. Nose of black pepper, quite earthy. Taste oaky,black berries in honey.
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3/9/2008 - LesterKwong wrote: 90 Points
Popped and served. Obviously very young at this point and the wine did open up ever so slightly over a 3 hour period. This is super dark purple in color. The nose is heavily dominated with oak and a touch of spice and black pepper. In the mouth, this is again, very oak driven centered on a dark fruit core. This wine was not overly impressive. Day 2 notes: Meat juice, blueberries, some minerality and a woodiness fills the nose. This is a medium body wine with mints, plums and a distinct oakiness in the mouth. A moderate finish with round tannins. Day 2 Score 89. This wine could use a couple years in bottle or will benefit from extended decanting now. Unfortunately, it is much too oak dominated for it to be a good cellar choice.
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10/25/2007 - winefool wrote: 89 Points
WS NYWE Grand Tastings; 10/25/2007-10/26/2007 (Marriott Marquis): No black pepper in this vintage! Quite acidic with decent red and black fruit. Not up to the better vintage level.
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2/6/2007 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromatic, super-ripe blackberry, toast, leather, meat and mineral nose. Full and rich palate with ripe berry flavours and a distinct earthy streak running up the middle; long, refined finish.
4.5/5
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