Still fantastic and alas my last bottle. Tons of rich plum and chocolate. Mature but far from over the hill. Classic barossa style - big and unapologetic. Not a lot of acid but not flabby either. Tannins are very soft and the finish long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. Didn’t have high hopes for this but wow did it overachieve. Big dark stewed fruit, just as you would expect. Lacking acidity and a bit out of balance at this point, but wow did it really blow me away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good. In a nutshell: classic, high quality Australian Shiraz with an interesting menthol twist
Deep tawny color, clearly showing its age
Fairly intense aroma, mainly secondary and tertiary: cloves, biscuit, menthol. Some ripe plum left.
Full, juicy body and quite a long finish. Not much acid. Tannins very soft now. Flavour very similar to the nose - nutmeg, biscuit, menthol, a bit of plum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful perfumed nose. Very soft and velvety mouthfeel. Great depth of flavor. Dark cherry and chocolate with some white pepper on the finish. A real mouthful. This has a long finish. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was actually in a better place than last one.... a nice surprise, and it was indeed very good! Dark maroon with brown edges. Silky smooth, heavy body, alcohol more evident, but still lots of big dark fruits, especially blueberry with eucalyptus and oak also on the palate. Long legs, long finish. Great with Aussie Leg'o Lamb. Not meant for long term, so drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very good, but declining. Similar tasting notes as last time, however, the oak has become more prominent and the other flavors are more subdued. Fortunately, the alcohol level was not noticeable this time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is clearly at the end of its drinking window as the berry fruits are turning to ripe raisin fig tones. My last review was in 2013 when I remarked on the diminution of this wine from age relative to early notes from consumption when it was young.
Tonight this opened with a forward tone of sweet vanilla oakiness which burned off after a short while giving way and turning to the ripe raisin layer that is overtaking the fruits. The rest, as they say, is history. Drink up if you have any left.
Wow what a great bottle. Sadly my last bottle as every one has been very good. I love the HD reserves and this one is no exception. 12 years old and drinking young. Who says Aussie syrahs don't age. Not. E that's for sure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still good. Left to breathe for 1.5 hours before supper. Improved even more after another hour of air. Definitely still a great bottle, but drink up it wont last forever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Comparison tasting to Heathcote II 2004 - Interesting contrast to the bigger, bolder, more forward Heathcote. Henry's Drive was medium bodied, it's subdued fruits moderate but nicely balanced and polished - this was preferred by the girls - my rating and notes consistent with my tasting notes from two years ago ....
Dark ink color - medium full bodied - lighter and much more subdued than my earlier tasting note record, which was six years ago. This was not the full, thick extracted fruit with huge mouth-feel fruit bomb from that review. It still has the same flavor profile of currant and blackberry, a tone of black cherry giving way to tones of tea and tobacco with a hint of smoky sweet oak and vanilla on the long lingering silky tannin finish. My '90' rating was significantly reduced from my earlier '94' back in 2005 suggesting its time to drink younger and drink remaining bottle in the near term as they are past their prime and not improving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow-O 2 hours, served non-blind. Full ruby, little sign of age. Cork/fill in vg condition. Perhaps the mintiest, most eucalyptus filled bouquet I've ever come across in a wine. With constant swirling, some red-fruited aromas emerge together with a handful of herbal qualities, too. However, the mint stops there, as the palate is rich and juicy, and filled with bright cherry and raspberry flavors, the tannins and alcohol both fully resolved. Worked really well with bbq baby back ribs, slightly less so on its own. Showed more like '06 than '02, but still, it's time to drink up as this is not likely getting any better. 16,0% abv, thru 2015
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine. Good nose, good fruit, drinking well. Might be my last bottle. Have grown a bit away from Aussie wines but this is a good reason to drink Shiriaz.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another great bottle. Showing extremely well despite the fact it's 10 years old. Should hold for at least another five years perhaps more. Wish I had more of these in my cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ink color - medium full bodied - lighter and much more subdued than my earlier tasting note record, which was six years ago. This was not the full, thick extracted fruit with huge mouth-feell fruit bomb from that review. It still has the same flavor profile of currant and blackberry, a tone of black cherry giving way to a hint of caramel and a slight layer of 'heat' eucalyptus with a smoky sweet oak and vanilla on the long lingering silky tannin finish. It was a nice complement to hearty sharp cheddar, Bellavitano and blue artisan cheeses. My '90' rating was significantly reduced from my earlier '94' back in 2005 suggesting its time to drink younger and drink remaining bottle in the near term as they are past their prime and not improving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mixed Bag of Nice Reds (Edina): The biggest change from day one to day two all year. On day one it showed a ton of eucalyptuses along with blueberries, under brush, spice and minerals. A real big wine to say the least. Not real balanced but enjoyable. 91-92.
Day two is Wow! Balanced with licorice, coffee, floral, white pepper and light fruits. Good weight to the wine and medium finish. This wine needs a good six hour decant or try today and enjoy more tomorrow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Paired with mesquite shrimp tacos and it went extremely well - stands up nicely to spicy foods. Still the monster wine it's always been, perhaps starting it's decline but most certainly still very enjoyable. Dark cherries, chocolate, peppery spices, mild oak. The slightest tinge of browning on the rim. A bouquet that stills fills the room. Some heat on the very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
High Scoring Aussies Offline (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Dark purple/red color. loads of mint on the nose, eucalyptus, sweet nose, meat, menthol, cassis, blackberries and spices. The palate has black fruits with excellent body, black pepper, oak, menthol and medium plus finish. Really impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing Aussie Wines (Kevin's House): This wine was decanted 4 hours and vinturi systemed 3. Great wine with charcoal, pepper, menthol, oak and vanilla. Not a lot of fruit showing but very concentrated wine and thick. Long finish and impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still outstanding....has mellowed out considerably.....this is not an 'over the top' wine. It's very drinkable, the alcohol and oak are in the background....adding some dimension. I've had lots of Henry's Drive Shiraz's and the profiles amongst all of them are very similar. A huge dark fruit nose. Heavy bodied, but silky, and thick texture. On the palate is eucalyptus, mint, chocolate, black cherry (if you don't like those flavors, you probably won't like this wine). This one has an incredibly long finish and it's well structured. It keeps improving with air time. It actually went well with an Italian sausage sauce over whole wheat pasta and a blue cheese salad. It's also fantastic as a sipping wine before and/or after dinner. 93 now....drink now and over next 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very good but I wouldn't hold much longer. Rich, cocoa, blackberries, with a nice finish. Balanced. One of my favorite shiraz and IMO better than the Mollydooker COL made by the same folks which is more over the top, although you can taste a similar wine making style. Definitely not for traditionalists, but a wine I find myself enjoying down to the last drop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pungent to start. This got better with a significant amount of decanting but I still had to pour out the balance of the bottle. The Spectator is totally wrong here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awkward with lots of eucalyptus on the nose on the first night. It was overwhelming. On night two, it had settled down to something more enjoyable... but the euhalyptus still dominated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I didn't take notes on this bottle, as we were at a get-together and tasting notes weren't on the agenda. This wine is still packing plenty of fruit, and was liked by some at the evening event. But, to me this wine was disjointed. The early attack was pleasant, but the mid palate and finish had no harmony or satisfaction for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A monumental effort and the highest score I have given yet in CT, this has improved from the last bottle we had four or so years ago. I can easily see how this is too much for some, but for me this is serious, legendary Oz and clearly surpasses the OTT bomb efforts of MD COL that so many are raving about nowadays. Direct from cellar, aerate decant and immediate serve, this was singing from the get-go. Impenetrable black in color, full-bodied with obvious glycerin, significant sediment in the bottle. Massive and complex nose of blackberry liqueur, aged grilled meat and bouquet of dried flowers, camphor, tar, soy, earth, and despite so much blackness it still managed to have a hint of green mint adding freshness. Likewise, this coats the palate with teeth-staining layers of blackberry, meat, licorice, earth, pepper, and spices. The aged flavor profile seems to me to be at its pinnacle, but there is significant structure of super smooth tannins throughout that may support this for a while longer. The finish is extracted, deep and 45-50 seconds long. Best of all this did not show its 16 alcohol at all. After the party was over I found about a third of an ounce left in the decanter. Poured it into a glass and even this tiny amount was tongue coating and pleasing. The half glass I put aside for end of night hours after everyone left was unfazed and spectacular. This was our last bottle of '02, wish I had more, and will now have to carefully weigh when to open our last bottle of '01 Henry's Drive Reserve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted after a night in the refrigerator. Inky purple color signals what's to come. Nose shows eucaplyptus, coconut, bananas and Rhone-like meatiness with a touch of soy, with the alcohol presenting a nail polish aspect. Not sure, but there could be a little viognet in this. Palate is huge, with black fruits underneath some tropical fruits. Alcohol is overwhelming, and there is little acidic backbone to offset the fatness of the wine, leaving a cough syrupy impression. Tannins kick in a bit on the finish, but they're pretty subtle. I like big shirazes when they're well done, and I've had really good efforts from this producer in the past, but this is heavy, out of balance and overly alcoholic. In the end, it's a chore to drink. To be fair, this is a day old, so maybe it would have had more freshness yesterday to offset the heaviness today. Hope the remaining bottles are better. 5+12+13+5.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice bottle. Celebrating a new job or Barbara. Strong berry fruit on the nose. Good complexity and integrated flavors of spice and dark fruit.. Very smooth after about 30 minutes. Great bottle. Wish I had a few more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hides it's 16% alcohol well. Dark thick red-purple with lots of sediment. Chocolate and blackberries and a velvety mouthfeel. Balanced, sweet, concentrated with some oak and simply delicious even if not particularly complex. This tasting note is based on several tastings where it was always consistent from the 2003 (1st date with my now-wife) until 2006. Not recommended for folks that don't like new world wines. Recommend drinking now as I'm not sure how this will age?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The epitome of great Aussie Shiraz. Full bodied, awesome wine. Blueberry, raspberry, mint, currant. Massive fruit bomb style. Ridiculous stuff. If you prefer this style, this is some good shit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aussie Wines Offline (Canyon Lodge American Grill - Laguna, CA): Looking back on my previous note on this wine, I have to conclude that this wine was heat damaged -- perhaps not severely, but enough to consider it flawed. Notes of York Peppermint Patties, hoisin sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Both Eric Anderson and I commented that it tasted a rather "stewy." Quite a shame too, because I had given this wine 92-93 points the last time I tasted it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my last bottle and I think it is either in a bad spot or starting to really crack up. The wine did not have any of the lush fruit that was evident in earlier bottles. The oak was the prodominent smell/flavor. The bottle was not corked so I can only say that it was an off bottle or just not meant for long term aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I still think this wine is a one trick pony. My girlfriend liked this much better than me. The wine smelled of mint and Eucalyptus with black fruits. The wine is not nearly as heavy as before and the tannins seemed more prevalent. I am not sure if the wine is beginning to crack up or just in an awkward stage. Not bad but not great. I have to say that my tastes have moved to Bordeaux and Chateauneuf de Pape since I purchased these bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saturday night with a few Pinots and fish on the grill: In my quest to determine whether (in my opinion) the wines of Sarah and Sparky Marquis that I have seen fit to cellar are, in fact, starting to fall apart a bit, I popped this bruiser to check in on its evolution. Yes, I enjoy behemoth Shiraz from South Australia. Yes, I also enjoy cooler climate wines from Australia. Yes, I have had this wine before - on probably 10+ occasions since its release. And no, this wine is not in a pleasurable stage right now. It very much resembles the disastrous showing of the 02 Shirvington a few days ago and exhibits many of the same flaws, although to be fair, it is not so repugnant as to be undrinkable. The nose, again, smells of candy corn with some estery notes of banana. The weight in the mouth is still there, but the flavors are disjointed and out-of-balance - blackberries bordering on the rotten, sweet black currant, hints of sweet clove, and wood, omnipresent wood. We popped this at close to cellar temperature, and it only got worse with air as it warmed to ambient temperature. In its defense, the finish was an improvement on the recent Shirvington, showing a bit less ofthe heat and furniture polish notes. Also, the wine did not seem as evolved and still had a bit of grip, although as this last bit fades, I wonder what will remain. Purchased upon release by yours truly and stored appropriately since. My cellar sits at 55 so if anything, a warmer cellar may yield an even more evolved bottle. Incidentally, FWIW, and perplexingly enough, a 2003 MP Shiraz (yep, the entry level bottle, albeit a different vintage) was, by comparison, a thoroughly delicious drink although I took no notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of mint, blackberries and boysenberries. Tastes of leather, earth, mint, tobacco and blueberries. Fully extracted without noticeable alcohol. Dense mouthfeel. 30 second finish. Quite nice for a Aussie Shiraz. Much better the last time I had this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the best HD Reserve shiraz I've consumed. Better than the '01 which is better than the '00. Had a beautiful eucalipis nose. Needs at least a couple of hours of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is a one trick pony. The wine was full of glycerin, black fruits and alcohol. I rated my last bottle 92, but I don't know if my palate has changed or the wine was just not that great given the hype. The tannins were non-existent and the finsh was fine, but this wine just did not do it for me. The was no complexity that I have come to crave.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a huge wine and the first bottle of 4. It is dark purple and smelled and tasted of black fruits, pepper and spice. The fruit dominated the wine and the tannins were almost non-existent. A great wine, but not 95 or 96 points. A 1994 Elderton Command I had blew it away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What can I say - I love this stuff. Full throttle, petal to the metal but somehow delicious. I liked it so much I had to go buy some 03 regular Henry's Shiraz the next day. Watch out - very high alcohol - I was definitely feeling it after a half bottle of this wine. I think this is ready to drink now or over the next several months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is amazing stuff. The label says it has 16% alcohol but you don't smell the alcohol, nor does it taste the slightest bit hot. It has a heady nose of vanilla, pumpkin, cream, nutmeg and prunes. In the glass, it is dark purple, inky and opaque. It has tremendous extraction and richness with mouth-coating glycerin, but it is smooth with no jagged edges. Tannins are sweet and hardly noticeable. It would go very well with some blue cheese or Stilton, and would be great fun to sip on its own -- though I can't imagine this would ever be a wine to have with dinner. It is port-like, but absolutely dry. It is so unusual in its collection of characteristics that it makes me wonder: "is this wine alchemy? Or, is it a new alien wine-synthesizing process?" I'd give it a higher rating, but it's a bit (!?!) too flashy for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
($52) Dinner in Las Vegas at Bistro Baccus: Interesting nose has the characteristic sweet vanilla oak milkshake liqueur nose of a Marquis Philips wine along with a nice, piercing mint note in the middle. Sweet and rich, but a bit flabby next to the Pride Cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/31/2024 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still fantastic and alas my last bottle. Tons of rich plum and chocolate. Mature but far from over the hill. Classic barossa style - big and unapologetic. Not a lot of acid but not flabby either. Tannins are very soft and the finish long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2023 - HeavyPourWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sunday night dinner in Marietta (Sommelier Guild of Atlanta) (Marietta, GA): This was the WOTN for several at the dinner. Although it was decent, this was probably my least favorite red of the evening. ALCOHOL! and I could just not get past how hot it was...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2023 - lgkurta Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. Didn’t have high hopes for this but wow did it overachieve. Big dark stewed fruit, just as you would expect. Lacking acidity and a bit out of balance at this point, but wow did it really blow me away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2021 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good. In a nutshell: classic, high quality Australian Shiraz with an interesting menthol twist
Deep tawny color, clearly showing its age
Fairly intense aroma, mainly secondary and tertiary: cloves, biscuit, menthol. Some ripe plum left.
Full, juicy body and quite a long finish. Not much acid. Tannins very soft now. Flavour very similar to the nose - nutmeg, biscuit, menthol, a bit of plum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2020 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very smooth and velvety; great balance; medium sweet nose; wonderful old-style Shiraz.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2018 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful perfumed nose. Very soft and velvety mouthfeel. Great depth of flavor. Dark cherry and chocolate with some white pepper on the finish. A real mouthful. This has a long finish. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2017 - BradE wrote:
This did not impress.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2016 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep brooding beery color and flavor. Really paired well with spicy Korean food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2015 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle was actually in a better place than last one.... a nice surprise, and it was indeed very good! Dark maroon with brown edges. Silky smooth, heavy body, alcohol more evident, but still lots of big dark fruits, especially blueberry with eucalyptus and oak also on the palate. Long legs, long finish. Great with Aussie Leg'o Lamb. Not meant for long term, so drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2015 - wine4ever wrote: 88 Points
Still very good, but declining. Similar tasting notes as last time, however, the oak has become more prominent and the other flavors are more subdued. Fortunately, the alcohol level was not noticeable this time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - rmcnees wrote: 85 Points
This is clearly at the end of its drinking window as the berry fruits are turning to ripe raisin fig tones. My last review was in 2013 when I remarked on the diminution of this wine from age relative to early notes from consumption when it was young.
Tonight this opened with a forward tone of sweet vanilla oakiness which burned off after a short while giving way and turning to the ripe raisin layer that is overtaking the fruits. The rest, as they say, is history. Drink up if you have any left.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/05/henrys-drive-reserve-shiraz-2002.html
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2014 - ottawalawyer wrote: 92 Points
Still very intense Aussie Shiraz. Getting to the end of its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - maitredgreg2 wrote: 96 Points
95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2014 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow what a great bottle. Sadly my last bottle as every one has been very good. I love the HD reserves and this one is no exception. 12 years old and drinking young. Who says Aussie syrahs don't age. Not. E that's for sure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2014 - elsonyeung Likes this wine: 89 Points
Full licorice, lots of fruit, plum flavours. Drink asap, will flatten out very soon. Decanted for 3+ hours and definitely didn't need that long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - ottawalawyer wrote: 91 Points
Still good. Left to breathe for 1.5 hours before supper. Improved even more after another hour of air. Definitely still a great bottle, but drink up it wont last forever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2013 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 90 Points
Comparison tasting to Heathcote II 2004 - Interesting contrast to the bigger, bolder, more forward Heathcote. Henry's Drive was medium bodied, it's subdued fruits moderate but nicely balanced and polished - this was preferred by the girls - my rating and notes consistent with my tasting notes from two years ago ....
Dark ink color - medium full bodied - lighter and much more subdued than my earlier tasting note record, which was six years ago. This was not the full, thick extracted fruit with huge mouth-feel fruit bomb from that review. It still has the same flavor profile of currant and blackberry, a tone of black cherry giving way to tones of tea and tobacco with a hint of smoky sweet oak and vanilla on the long lingering silky tannin finish. My '90' rating was significantly reduced from my earlier '94' back in 2005 suggesting its time to drink younger and drink remaining bottle in the near term as they are past their prime and not improving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Slow-O 2 hours, served non-blind. Full ruby, little sign of age. Cork/fill in vg condition. Perhaps the mintiest, most eucalyptus filled bouquet I've ever come across in a wine. With constant swirling, some red-fruited aromas emerge together with a handful of herbal qualities, too. However, the mint stops there, as the palate is rich and juicy, and filled with bright cherry and raspberry flavors, the tannins and alcohol both fully resolved. Worked really well with bbq baby back ribs, slightly less so on its own. Showed more like '06 than '02, but still, it's time to drink up as this is not likely getting any better. 16,0% abv, thru 2015
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - MC wrote:
off bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Excellent wine. Good nose, good fruit, drinking well. Might be my last bottle. Have grown a bit away from Aussie wines but this is a good reason to drink Shiriaz.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
Another great bottle. Showing extremely well despite the fact it's 10 years old. Should hold for at least another five years perhaps more. Wish I had more of these in my cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Holding up and drinking well. Decanted an hour. Fruit may be fading a bit but still with a nice nose and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Outstanding and drinking well.
Decanted an hour. Great fruit, alcohol pretty much blown off, nice finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2012 - ottawalawyer wrote: 90 Points
Still good, almost past its prime. A great example of Aussie Shiraz.
Definitely much better after over 1 or 2 hours of decanting (or aerator).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
An excellent Aussie shiraz. Drinking well. Fruit may be fading but still full bodied and goes well with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Lush fruit is muted but still with a nice nose with hints of chocolate and cherry. Very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Excellent Shiraz
Still drinking well
Great fruit and finish but a tad too much glycerin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2011 - ogres3 wrote:
Very good wine. May be a little much to have with turkey. Lots of fruit and not shy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2011 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Dark ink color - medium full bodied - lighter and much more subdued than my earlier tasting note record, which was six years ago. This was not the full, thick extracted fruit with huge mouth-feell fruit bomb from that review. It still has the same flavor profile of currant and blackberry, a tone of black cherry giving way to a hint of caramel and a slight layer of 'heat' eucalyptus with a smoky sweet oak and vanilla on the long lingering silky tannin finish. It was a nice complement to hearty sharp cheddar, Bellavitano and blue artisan cheeses. My '90' rating was significantly reduced from my earlier '94' back in 2005 suggesting its time to drink younger and drink remaining bottle in the near term as they are past their prime and not improving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Mixed Bag of Nice Reds (Edina): The biggest change from day one to day two all year. On day one it showed a ton of eucalyptuses along with blueberries, under brush, spice and minerals. A real big wine to say the least. Not real balanced but enjoyable. 91-92.
Day two is Wow! Balanced with licorice, coffee, floral, white pepper and light fruits. Good weight to the wine and medium finish. This wine needs a good six hour decant or try today and enjoy more tomorrow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2011 - ogres3 wrote:
Excellent. Great fruit without being over the top. Still with a surprising (and a bit too much) amount of alcohol. Probably good for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2011 - wine4ever wrote: 92 Points
Paired with mesquite shrimp tacos and it went extremely well - stands up nicely to spicy foods. Still the monster wine it's always been, perhaps starting it's decline but most certainly still very enjoyable. Dark cherries, chocolate, peppery spices, mild oak. The slightest tinge of browning on the rim. A bouquet that stills fills the room. Some heat on the very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2011 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 87 Points
Very jammy. Some menthol and pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2011 - pearlsdad wrote:
Port like. Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
High Scoring Aussies Offline (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Dark purple/red color. loads of mint on the nose, eucalyptus, sweet nose, meat, menthol, cassis, blackberries and spices. The palate has black fruits with excellent body, black pepper, oak, menthol and medium plus finish. Really impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Amazing Aussie Wines (Kevin's House): This wine was decanted 4 hours and vinturi systemed 3. Great wine with charcoal, pepper, menthol, oak and vanilla. Not a lot of fruit showing but very concentrated wine and thick. Long finish and impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
Why did I stop buying HD Shiraz. It was a mistake that's for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 95 Points
Always great. Rich, chocolate covered cherries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2010 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Needed quite a bit of time to open up but once it did it was nice. Still a big wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2010 - wine4ever wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with last bottle, no decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2010 - Jack wrote: 88 Points
Good rich fruit but was a little hot and messy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2009 - wine4ever wrote: 93 Points
Still outstanding....has mellowed out considerably.....this is not an 'over the top' wine. It's very drinkable, the alcohol and oak are in the background....adding some dimension. I've had lots of Henry's Drive Shiraz's and the profiles amongst all of them are very similar. A huge dark fruit nose. Heavy bodied, but silky, and thick texture. On the palate is eucalyptus, mint, chocolate, black cherry (if you don't like those flavors, you probably won't like this wine). This one has an incredibly long finish and it's well structured. It keeps improving with air time. It actually went well with an Italian sausage sauce over whole wheat pasta and a blue cheese salad. It's also fantastic as a sipping wine before and/or after dinner. 93 now....drink now and over next 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2009 - MattJ wrote: 94 Points
Still very good but I wouldn't hold much longer. Rich, cocoa, blackberries, with a nice finish. Balanced. One of my favorite shiraz and IMO better than the Mollydooker COL made by the same folks which is more over the top, although you can taste a similar wine making style. Definitely not for traditionalists, but a wine I find myself enjoying down to the last drop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - pikemasterflash wrote: 85 Points
Pungent to start. This got better with a significant amount of decanting but I still had to pour out the balance of the bottle. The Spectator is totally wrong here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2009 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Much better than the last bottle...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2008 - budman wrote: 91 Points
Awkward with lots of eucalyptus on the nose on the first night.
It was overwhelming. On night two, it had settled down to something more enjoyable...
but the euhalyptus still dominated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2008 - ogres3 wrote:
really an excellent bottle of wine - not a huge fruit bomb but smooth full bodied with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2008 - WaltH wrote: 84 Points
I didn't take notes on this bottle, as we were at a get-together and tasting notes weren't on the agenda. This wine is still packing plenty of fruit, and was liked by some at the evening event. But, to me this wine was disjointed. The early attack was pleasant, but the mid palate and finish had no harmony or satisfaction for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2008 - Vinacull wrote: 96 Points
A monumental effort and the highest score I have given yet in CT, this has improved from the last bottle we had four or so years ago. I can easily see how this is too much for some, but for me this is serious, legendary Oz and clearly surpasses the OTT bomb efforts of MD COL that so many are raving about nowadays. Direct from cellar, aerate decant and immediate serve, this was singing from the get-go. Impenetrable black in color, full-bodied with obvious glycerin, significant sediment in the bottle. Massive and complex nose of blackberry liqueur, aged grilled meat and bouquet of dried flowers, camphor, tar, soy, earth, and despite so much blackness it still managed to have a hint of green mint adding freshness. Likewise, this coats the palate with teeth-staining layers of blackberry, meat, licorice, earth, pepper, and spices. The aged flavor profile seems to me to be at its pinnacle, but there is significant structure of super smooth tannins throughout that may support this for a while longer. The finish is extracted, deep and 45-50 seconds long. Best of all this did not show its 16 alcohol at all. After the party was over I found about a third of an ounce left in the decanter. Poured it into a glass and even this tiny amount was tongue coating and pleasing. The half glass I put aside for end of night hours after everyone left was unfazed and spectacular. This was our last bottle of '02, wish I had more, and will now have to carefully weigh when to open our last bottle of '01 Henry's Drive Reserve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2008 - DLT wrote: 85 Points
Tasted after a night in the refrigerator. Inky purple color signals what's to come. Nose shows eucaplyptus, coconut, bananas and Rhone-like meatiness with a touch of soy, with the alcohol presenting a nail polish aspect. Not sure, but there could be a little viognet in this. Palate is huge, with black fruits underneath some tropical fruits. Alcohol is overwhelming, and there is little acidic backbone to offset the fatness of the wine, leaving a cough syrupy impression. Tannins kick in a bit on the finish, but they're pretty subtle. I like big shirazes when they're well done, and I've had really good efforts from this producer in the past, but this is heavy, out of balance and overly alcoholic. In the end, it's a chore to drink. To be fair, this is a day old, so maybe it would have had more freshness yesterday to offset the heaviness today. Hope the remaining bottles are better. 5+12+13+5.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2008 - dsimmons wrote: 94 Points
Very nice bottle. Celebrating a new job or Barbara. Strong berry fruit on the nose. Good complexity and integrated flavors of spice and dark fruit.. Very smooth after about 30 minutes. Great bottle. Wish I had a few more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2008 - MattJ wrote: 95 Points
Hides it's 16% alcohol well. Dark thick red-purple with lots of sediment. Chocolate and blackberries and a velvety mouthfeel. Balanced, sweet, concentrated with some oak and simply delicious even if not particularly complex. This tasting note is based on several tastings where it was always consistent from the 2003 (1st date with my now-wife) until 2006. Not recommended for folks that don't like new world wines. Recommend drinking now as I'm not sure how this will age?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2008 - texaswino wrote: 97 Points
The epitome of great Aussie Shiraz. Full bodied, awesome wine. Blueberry, raspberry, mint, currant. Massive fruit bomb style. Ridiculous stuff. If you prefer this style, this is some good shit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: flawed
Aussie Wines Offline (Canyon Lodge American Grill - Laguna, CA): Looking back on my previous note on this wine, I have to conclude that this wine was heat damaged -- perhaps not severely, but enough to consider it flawed. Notes of York Peppermint Patties, hoisin sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Both Eric Anderson and I commented that it tasted a rather "stewy." Quite a shame too, because I had given this wine 92-93 points the last time I tasted it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2007 - ogres3 wrote: 90 Points
Overwhelming to some extent. Very Australian. Needs to be decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2007 - Big Dog wrote: 85 Points
This is my last bottle and I think it is either in a bad spot or starting to really crack up. The wine did not have any of the lush fruit that was evident in earlier bottles. The oak was the prodominent smell/flavor. The bottle was not corked so I can only say that it was an off bottle or just not meant for long term aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2007 - Big Dog wrote: 91 Points
I still think this wine is a one trick pony. My girlfriend liked this much better than me. The wine smelled of mint and Eucalyptus with black fruits. The wine is not nearly as heavy as before and the tannins seemed more prevalent. I am not sure if the wine is beginning to crack up or just in an awkward stage. Not bad but not great. I have to say that my tastes have moved to Bordeaux and Chateauneuf de Pape since I purchased these bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2007 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
No where near as good as the last bottle. Seems to be going through a difficult stage. Still very tasty but not just as good as previous bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2007 - Moorese wrote: 76 Points
Saturday night with a few Pinots and fish on the grill: In my quest to determine whether (in my opinion) the wines of Sarah and Sparky Marquis that I have seen fit to cellar are, in fact, starting to fall apart a bit, I popped this bruiser to check in on its evolution. Yes, I enjoy behemoth Shiraz from South Australia. Yes, I also enjoy cooler climate wines from Australia. Yes, I have had this wine before - on probably 10+ occasions since its release. And no, this wine is not in a pleasurable stage right now. It very much resembles the disastrous showing of the 02 Shirvington a few days ago and exhibits many of the same flaws, although to be fair, it is not so repugnant as to be undrinkable. The nose, again, smells of candy corn with some estery notes of banana. The weight in the mouth is still there, but the flavors are disjointed and out-of-balance - blackberries bordering on the rotten, sweet black currant, hints of sweet clove, and wood, omnipresent wood. We popped this at close to cellar temperature, and it only got worse with air as it warmed to ambient temperature. In its defense, the finish was an improvement on the recent Shirvington, showing a bit less ofthe heat and furniture polish notes. Also, the wine did not seem as evolved and still had a bit of grip, although as this last bit fades, I wonder what will remain. Purchased upon release by yours truly and stored appropriately since. My cellar sits at 55 so if anything, a warmer cellar may yield an even more evolved bottle. Incidentally, FWIW, and perplexingly enough, a 2003 MP Shiraz (yep, the entry level bottle, albeit a different vintage) was, by comparison, a thoroughly delicious drink although I took no notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2007 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
great wine with very good intensity but still good structure - delicious but not quite as fantastic as the 01.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Australia Day Wine Celebration (Outback Steakhouse, Los Angeles, CA): Notes of chocolate mint and black fruits, with some pepper on the finish. 92-93 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2006 - kstoddard wrote: 93 Points
Nose of mint, blackberries and boysenberries. Tastes of leather, earth, mint, tobacco and blueberries. Fully extracted without noticeable alcohol. Dense mouthfeel. 30 second finish. Quite nice for a Aussie Shiraz. Much better the last time I had this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2006 - Screameagle wrote: 93 Points
One of the best HD Reserve shiraz I've consumed. Better than the '01 which is better than the '00. Had a beautiful eucalipis nose. Needs at least a couple of hours of decanting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2006 - Big Dog wrote: 90 Points
This wine is a one trick pony. The wine was full of glycerin, black fruits and alcohol. I rated my last bottle 92, but I don't know if my palate has changed or the wine was just not that great given the hype. The tannins were non-existent and the finsh was fine, but this wine just did not do it for me. The was no complexity that I have come to crave.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2006 - Big Dog wrote: 92 Points
This is a huge wine and the first bottle of 4. It is dark purple and smelled and tasted of black fruits, pepper and spice. The fruit dominated the wine and the tannins were almost non-existent. A great wine, but not 95 or 96 points. A 1994 Elderton Command I had blew it away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2005 - trankin wrote: 96 Points
Acker Merrall 2002 Aussie Blind Shiraz Showdown (Amuse): Dark purple, semi-thick. Nose of black pepper, raspberry, cocoa. Rounded spice, silky but spicy at the same time. Vanilla, chocolate, smooth oak. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2005 - texaswino wrote: 95 Points
Big, rich, deep and smokey. Love this stuff. Hides the 16% alc. pretty well. Very nice stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2005 - SlagHeap wrote: 91 Points
What can I say - I love this stuff. Full throttle, petal to the metal but somehow delicious. I liked it so much I had to go buy some 03 regular Henry's Shiraz the next day. Watch out - very high alcohol - I was definitely feeling it after a half bottle of this wine. I think this is ready to drink now or over the next several months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2003 - PaulH wrote: 93 Points
This is amazing stuff. The label says it has 16% alcohol but you don't smell the alcohol, nor does it taste the slightest bit hot. It has a heady nose of vanilla, pumpkin, cream, nutmeg and prunes. In the glass, it is dark purple, inky and opaque. It has tremendous extraction and richness with mouth-coating glycerin, but it is smooth with no jagged edges. Tannins are sweet and hardly noticeable. It would go very well with some blue cheese or Stilton, and would be great fun to sip on its own -- though I can't imagine this would ever be a wine to have with dinner. It is port-like, but absolutely dry. It is so unusual in its collection of characteristics that it makes me wonder: "is this wine alchemy? Or, is it a new alien wine-synthesizing process?" I'd give it a higher rating, but it's a bit (!?!) too flashy for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2003 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($52) Dinner in Las Vegas at Bistro Baccus: Interesting nose has the characteristic sweet vanilla oak milkshake liqueur nose of a Marquis Philips wine along with a nice, piercing mint note in the middle. Sweet and rich, but a bit flabby next to the Pride Cabernet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment