Last tasted in 2014 (when I cursed my indecent haste), the needle has barely moved.
Dark purple/black, only the slightest fade to crimson. A fanfare of blackberry and black currant on the nose. Mushroom, leather and tobacco, a begrudging concession to 20 years of age. Then trademark coal dust, bay leaf too. Regal and austere. The Cardinal may look magnificent in his richly embroidered robes but he exudes authority.
Medium to full bodied. The still vibrant palate flows long and sure. Plentiful tannins are finer now, but the vice grips just enough to remind you this is Wendouree here. Love it you should, but if tannins aren’t your thing, then mix a little fear in too. Machiavelli would approve.
Based on the still brilliant colour, potent fruit and tannin backbone, another 30 years lie ahead. At least (perfidious cork permitting).
Tasted alongside the magisterial 2013.
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Line up of 02 Shiraz, Shiraz Mataro and Cab Malbec along with 2001 Shiraz Malbec...All great wines and surprisingly young. This line up was not fair to the Cab based wine, but it held its own. Lovely, balanced fruit that flows into a long lovely finish. Its a puppy. Lots of years ahead
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Turkey day (Chicago, IL): This just kept changing (and getting better) as the night went on. At first, it was pretty clear this had a ton of pyrazines as well as some lovely black fruits. Then this starts to pick up some smokiness, as well as just more complexity, with the fruit showing more prominently. The green fades in and out, but it's always a presence. By the end, this had acquired some leathery notes that were pretty compelling too. It's so sad how the WA100 oozemonsters ruined Australian wine importing -- it's a whole damn continent and there's so much good wine if you put in just a slight bit of effort (granted Wendouree needs more than a slight bit of effort to acquire here in North America).
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Auction purchase - perfect cork Decanted for around 1-2 hours prior Heavy sediment. Wow what a nose! Camphor, menthol, eucalpyt, tobacco, leather, burnt toffee, black licorice forever. Tannins are still present but are beautifully integrated - structured & supple. A big wine! In the zone but potential for further development.
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Deep dark and ferrous. It has ripe plum and blackberry fruits that are perfectly countered by ironstone and earth notes. It is dense, muscular and chewy and has some wild herb and violet perfume as it breathes. Still a long way from its apogee but thoroughly enjoyable.
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Lovely blend of the cabernet structure and malbec savouriness. Fragrance when first poured, and some leanness, evolving into a well balanced wine, drinking well with rich food.
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Impenetrable black-ruby. Licorice, blackcurrant, mint and something almost spirity on the nose. Firm, structured palate with licorice, dark fruit and some meaty flavours. Quite drying with loads of chalky tannin, balanced acidity and controlled alcohol. Something quite different about this wine. Not sure I love it, but certainly some unique quality here. I'd like to try it again after it has properly matured (another 10 years?). Still very closed. Opened up a bit with a good decant and time in glass. (91+ Very good wine)
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Wonderfully classic Bordeaux nose of old berries, old wood, damp herbs and lead. And a little pong to boot. Tight palate took ages to unwind although to be fair decanting time was modest. More dense dark cabernet fruits and plenty of tannin, albeit quote well intergrated. Tannin just winning at this stage but this is probably the first Wendouree I've had at 10yrs that I actually thought I popped to early. Should go 18yrs+ with ease.
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7/5/2022 - Dr S Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last tasted in 2014 (when I cursed my indecent haste), the needle has barely moved.
Dark purple/black, only the slightest fade to crimson. A fanfare of blackberry and black currant on the nose. Mushroom, leather and tobacco, a begrudging concession to 20 years of age. Then trademark coal dust, bay leaf too. Regal and austere. The Cardinal may look magnificent in his richly embroidered robes but he exudes authority.
Medium to full bodied. The still vibrant palate flows long and sure. Plentiful tannins are finer now, but the vice grips just enough to remind you this is Wendouree here. Love it you should, but if tannins aren’t your thing, then mix a little fear in too. Machiavelli would approve.
Based on the still brilliant colour, potent fruit and tannin backbone, another 30 years lie ahead. At least (perfidious cork permitting).
Tasted alongside the magisterial 2013.
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12/13/2020 - salua wrote: 94 Points
Line up of 02 Shiraz, Shiraz Mataro and Cab Malbec along with 2001 Shiraz Malbec...All great wines and surprisingly young. This line up was not fair to the Cab based wine, but it held its own. Lovely, balanced fruit that flows into a long lovely finish. Its a puppy. Lots of years ahead
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11/28/2019 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
Turkey day (Chicago, IL): This just kept changing (and getting better) as the night went on. At first, it was pretty clear this had a ton of pyrazines as well as some lovely black fruits. Then this starts to pick up some smokiness, as well as just more complexity, with the fruit showing more prominently. The green fades in and out, but it's always a presence. By the end, this had acquired some leathery notes that were pretty compelling too. It's so sad how the WA100 oozemonsters ruined Australian wine importing -- it's a whole damn continent and there's so much good wine if you put in just a slight bit of effort (granted Wendouree needs more than a slight bit of effort to acquire here in North America).
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8/2/2019 - michael_cooke Likes this wine: 92 Points
Auction purchase - perfect cork
Decanted for around 1-2 hours prior
Heavy sediment.
Wow what a nose! Camphor, menthol, eucalpyt, tobacco, leather, burnt toffee, black licorice forever.
Tannins are still present but are beautifully integrated - structured & supple.
A big wine!
In the zone but potential for further development.
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5/7/2019 - robferguson1 wrote: 92 Points
Good as usual , lively gutsy, acquired taste .
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3/23/2019 - robferguson1 wrote: 92 Points
Gutsy as ever and almost black but good in its class
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11/29/2018 - robferguson1 wrote: 90 Points
Sometimes you are not in the mood, this hit my palate like a drink of coal dust, too heavy , too dense, legitimate style but not mine.
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11/8/2018 - robferguson1 wrote: 92 Points
Very good , muscles on muscles.
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9/9/2018 - robferguson1 wrote: 92 Points
Certain strong deep Aussie style , still young but it’s all here if u like the style
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8/10/2018 - robferguson1 wrote: 92 Points
Very heavy style but good nevertheless, still youthful.
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11/26/2016 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Deep dark and ferrous. It has ripe plum and blackberry fruits that are perfectly countered by ironstone and earth notes. It is dense, muscular and chewy and has some wild herb and violet perfume as it breathes. Still a long way from its apogee but thoroughly enjoyable.
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6/21/2015 - SimonPh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely blend of the cabernet structure and malbec savouriness. Fragrance when first poured, and some leanness, evolving into a well balanced wine, drinking well with rich food.
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6/30/2014 - G.M. wrote: 91 Points
Impenetrable black-ruby. Licorice, blackcurrant, mint and something almost spirity on the nose. Firm, structured palate with licorice, dark fruit and some meaty flavours. Quite drying with loads of chalky tannin, balanced acidity and controlled alcohol. Something quite different about this wine. Not sure I love it, but certainly some unique quality here. I'd like to try it again after it has properly matured (another 10 years?). Still very closed. Opened up a bit with a good decant and time in glass. (91+ Very good wine)
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2/20/2012 - StewartWent wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully classic Bordeaux nose of old berries, old wood, damp herbs and lead. And a little pong to boot. Tight palate took ages to unwind although to be fair decanting time was modest. More dense dark cabernet fruits and plenty of tannin, albeit quote well intergrated. Tannin just winning at this stage but this is probably the first Wendouree I've had at 10yrs that I actually thought I popped to early. Should go 18yrs+ with ease.
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