Better than the bottle I had last year and much better than the CS from Mitolo that we drank alongside. I opened, the cork broke so I decanted through a vinturi. The nose was all fruit. The palate was dark berries, bramble, a touch of maple and spice. The finish was moderate to long.
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I found a 6 pack of this wine in my storage and realized it had been there for over 10 years. I retrieved it and gave a couple of bottles to my younger associates to try. My wife is always complaining that I always pour pinot noir when we have salmon so I decided to pop the cork on this one so there would be a difference and make her happy. Well the cork broke so I decanted it through a vinturi and let it sit for a couple of hours. The nose was all fruit. The palate was dark berries, bramble, a touch of maple and spice. The finish was moderate to long but a little on the thin side. I cannot see any upside to this wine. Might have been better 6 years ago but still is a decent wine. but I wouldn't keep them more than another year. or two.
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Nose was very off-putting. It opened up after a day, but it was nothing special. I don't remember how much we spent on it but it wasn't worth cellaring for 11 years.
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Smells headier than I expected and is heavily extracted, all of which bodes well for my tastes - but whilst it's big and juicy theres a green vine running around the edges and a lack of follow through and no wow personality.
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This is not a bad wine. However, I will agree with the most recent posts. It was a bit clumsy. It was big, fruity - but somehow it was out of balance and just seemed to be coming at you from many angles but not in a coordinated way. It is Australian - clearly - and has big fruit. However - this is not the wine it once was - a few years ago. I waited too long. Drink now.
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Awkward and clumsy in your face style. Over-the-top big flavors that are almost cloying. Rated it 87 out of deference for those who like this style Shiraz.
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Rich, a little pungent with kirsch, ripe plums and funk. Ballsy in an Australian style with a thick red colour, notes of mocha, engaging tannin and a lengthy finish - touch of bitterness at the end. An accomplished wine, if a bit aggressive. Plenty of alcohol in this number. Tread lightly.
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Another one of those wines where I wished I had purchased more, considering how well this has aged in the last three years. Medium (+)(+) ruby with hint of garnet on the edge. Medium (+) viscosity and dark legs. Medium (+) nose, with black cherries and black berries, chocolate, mocha, and sweet spice. The nose is developing. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity for a Shiraz (medium in absolute terms). Tannins are medium (+) yet well integrated. The alcohol is medium (+) at 14.5% but also well integrated. The mouthfeel is rich and pleasant, and the minerality is medium. Overall, it is full-bodied but with lots of elegance. The flavor intensity is medium (+), as is the length. This is a remarkably well balanced wine which is quite age-worthy. Drink now. It is definitely at its peak, although it's likely to show well for several years to come.
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Deep dark reddish violet with a wonderful nose of rich dark fruits, rich vanilla cream, pulverized igneous rocks and nail polish. A very rich and full flavored wine with notes of dark cherries, plums, blackberry puree, rich creamy oak, coffee and a hint of menthol with a very subtle but distinct impression of freshly ground Chinese ink. This is very smooth and well balanced for such a big wine. Quite a lot of sediments in the bottom of the bottle but it is drinking very well now. Very enjoyable, absolutely fantastic.
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This wine clobbers you with a heavy, extracted, fruit forward, ripe dark fruit, baking spice and green sappling scent. The rich, juicy palate has blackberry, kirsch, english breakfast tea, mint and some salty stewed tomato flavor. Grippy tannins provide balance and a long finish. If you like your wines big with a lot going on, this is for you. The more I drank, the less I liked it.
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I didn't think the oak was as prominent as previous tasters have mentioned. It was apparent only in a touch of vanilla, which I enjoyed. Primary element was dark cherries, but also blackberry and mocha. Medium finish. Opened up a bit more after about two hours and then was nicely balanced.
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Classic big oaky alchoholic Australian Shiraz. Pungent nose of blackberry, blueberry, toasty oak and vanilla. Mouthfeel was a little watery for the price, as I was expecting something fleshier. Nevertheless, strong finish, with lots of oak noticeable (not necessarily a good thing) and attractive berry and coffee fruit. Not my style but an excellent wine overall nonetheless. A good example of what it is.
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Big dark fruit up front, but none of the secondary characteristics one expects from the varietal, i.e. raw meat, blood, smoke, and yet there are some floral, herbal hints of lavendar and rosemary? The wine is remarkably big and rich on the palate. The fruit is really fresh and still HUGE, but as the mid-palate comes through the oak comes through as well. In fact it is so oak driven, that the finish is all vanilla. I could never get beyond how the wine becomes an oak driven, vanilla syrup mess. Time will hopefully improve some of the oak. 50+5+12+14+6
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Too bright to warrant a higher score...and if you consider the price point, this is rather disappointing. I am hoping the others I have don't have that 'homemade' brightness to it.
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I expected more for the price. Had this in a blind tasting and instantly identified the gigantic alcoholic Aussie Shiraz fruit bomb out of the bunch. Lush, fruity, almost sweet, it's a super-concentrated wine but doesn't stand out in the higher-end Aus Shiraz crowd to me.
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Deep dark purple fading to ruby garnet on the edge. Very concentrated, with lots of glycerin. Medium nose, with black fruit, mocha, cedar, and olive brine aromas. Blackberries, black plums and tart black cherries on the palate. Dry, with medium to high acidity for a Shiraz. Tannins are firm yet well integrated. The finish is medium to long, juicy and tart and keeps you wanting more. An excellent wine that probably needs a couple more years to reach it's peak, considering that these notes were taken on the third day! I am glad I have another bottle left.
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Purple to crimson color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of blueberries, grilled meat, currants and plums. Flavors of black berries, blueberries and plums. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Hold.
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Big Reds for Cool Evenings (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had blueberry and mushroom, leather, smoke, and a little pepper at the end. The palate was very rich, and slightly tannic. It had great fruit - blueberry, blackberry, and a bit of cherry. There was also toast, and earth, and it finished with a lot of pepper.
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Decanted 4 hrs. Dark purple, lavender edges. Nose of black currant, candied blueberry, vanilla, hint of leather, Rosemary. Black cherry soda on the palate, sour cherry and tart black fruit, blueberry, dark chocolate. Complex and surprisingly balanced due to pronounced acid and superbly integrated tannins. 94-95
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Deep purple in the glass, this wine shows savory notes on the nose including earth, leather and capsicum. The palate shows dense berry fruit, mocha and dark chocolate characters. Supple tannins on the finish.
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Deep, smooth, glycerine with a dark burnt walnut bitter acidic profile and a long finish. Shades of a sweet core, but structured with lots of acidity. B/B-
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5/17/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 90 Points
Better than the bottle I had last year and much better than the CS from Mitolo that we drank alongside. I opened, the cork broke so I decanted through a vinturi. The nose was all fruit. The palate was dark berries, bramble, a touch of maple and spice. The finish was moderate to long.
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10/30/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 89 Points
I found a 6 pack of this wine in my storage and realized it had been there for over 10 years. I retrieved it and gave a couple of bottles to my younger associates to try. My wife is always complaining that I always pour pinot noir when we have salmon so I decided to pop the cork on this one so there would be a difference and make her happy. Well the cork broke so I decanted it through a vinturi and let it sit for a couple of hours. The nose was all fruit. The palate was dark berries, bramble, a touch of maple and spice. The finish was moderate to long but a little on the thin side. I cannot see any upside to this wine. Might have been better 6 years ago but still is a decent wine. but I wouldn't keep them more than another year. or two.
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11/15/2019 - Torben Hald wrote: flawed
Mørke bær, lakrids, god syre
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4/20/2019 - WinoRick wrote: 92 Points
Bright, jammy, with some developed complexity. Different, but good.
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12/9/2017 - B&Cwine wrote: 79 Points
Nose was very off-putting. It opened up after a day, but it was nothing special. I don't remember how much we spent on it but it wasn't worth cellaring for 11 years.
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1/28/2017 - SlimShaney wrote: 90 Points
Smells headier than I expected and is heavily extracted, all of which bodes well for my tastes - but whilst it's big and juicy theres a green vine running around the edges and a lack of follow through and no wow personality.
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8/20/2016 - yvr2zrh wrote: 87 Points
This is not a bad wine. However, I will agree with the most recent posts. It was a bit clumsy. It was big, fruity - but somehow it was out of balance and just seemed to be coming at you from many angles but not in a coordinated way. It is Australian - clearly - and has big fruit. However - this is not the wine it once was - a few years ago. I waited too long. Drink now.
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12/8/2015 - bin905 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Awkward and clumsy in your face style. Over-the-top big flavors that are almost cloying. Rated it 87 out of deference for those who like this style Shiraz.
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11/2/2014 - peterk wrote: 87 Points
Meh - disappointing a bit lean and one-dimensional... Pretty good, but I expected more.
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9/25/2014 - dhammer53 wrote: 87 Points
What a hot and tannic mess. I slow-oxed this for 60 minutes. The wine tasted the same over the course of the next 3 hours. I was disappointed.
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3/16/2014 - Kerino wrote: 89 Points
Rich, a little pungent with kirsch, ripe plums and funk. Ballsy in an Australian style with a thick red colour, notes of mocha, engaging tannin and a lengthy finish - touch of bitterness at the end. An accomplished wine, if a bit aggressive. Plenty of alcohol in this number. Tread lightly.
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3/10/2014 - Garfield wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of violet and blackberry and has flavours of black pepper and blackberry with a medium/full body with a medium finish.
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9/15/2013 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another one of those wines where I wished I had purchased more, considering how well this has aged in the last three years. Medium (+)(+) ruby with hint of garnet on the edge. Medium (+) viscosity and dark legs. Medium (+) nose, with black cherries and black berries, chocolate, mocha, and sweet spice. The nose is developing. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity for a Shiraz (medium in absolute terms). Tannins are medium (+) yet well integrated. The alcohol is medium (+) at 14.5% but also well integrated. The mouthfeel is rich and pleasant, and the minerality is medium. Overall, it is full-bodied but with lots of elegance. The flavor intensity is medium (+), as is the length. This is a remarkably well balanced wine which is quite age-worthy. Drink now. It is definitely at its peak, although it's likely to show well for several years to come.
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8/11/2013 - Praxis wrote: 93 Points
Deep dark reddish violet with a wonderful nose of rich dark fruits, rich vanilla cream, pulverized igneous rocks and nail polish. A very rich and full flavored wine with notes of dark cherries, plums, blackberry puree, rich creamy oak, coffee and a hint of menthol with a very subtle but distinct impression of freshly ground Chinese ink. This is very smooth and well balanced for such a big wine. Quite a lot of sediments in the bottom of the bottle but it is drinking very well now. Very enjoyable, absolutely fantastic.
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4/13/2013 - bin905 wrote: 87 Points
This wine clobbers you with a heavy, extracted, fruit forward, ripe dark fruit, baking spice and green sappling scent. The rich, juicy palate has blackberry, kirsch, english breakfast tea, mint and some salty stewed tomato flavor. Grippy tannins provide balance and a long finish. If you like your wines big with a lot going on, this is for you. The more I drank, the less I liked it.
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3/2/2013 - mellison wrote: 83 Points
Just another hot weather Aussie Shiraz. Had it w/taco salad and ok but too heavy and too much alcohol. A $15 wine at best.
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2/3/2012 - LelouchViBritannia wrote: 91 Points
Freeload tour in Washington (Bellevue/Woodinville): Certainly needs more time to open up. Almost pitch black color, cedar, vanilla, and mocha. 91+
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8/30/2011 - JoeFriday wrote: 91 Points
I didn't think the oak was as prominent as previous tasters have mentioned. It was apparent only in a touch of vanilla, which I enjoyed. Primary element was dark cherries, but also blackberry and mocha. Medium finish. Opened up a bit more after about two hours and then was nicely balanced.
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8/28/2011 - fredman wrote: 88 Points
Good QPR at $22.00. Well-balanced, loads of fruit. Drinking well right now but should last for quite a few more years.
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4/10/2011 - Julius Squeezer wrote: 91 Points
Classic big oaky alchoholic Australian Shiraz. Pungent nose of blackberry, blueberry, toasty oak and vanilla. Mouthfeel was a little watery for the price, as I was expecting something fleshier. Nevertheless, strong finish, with lots of oak noticeable (not necessarily a good thing) and attractive berry and coffee fruit. Not my style but an excellent wine overall nonetheless. A good example of what it is.
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3/2/2011 - jeffu wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful full ripe fruit - I was getting dark cherry in the end. Very tasty.
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11/23/2010 - psirah wrote: 87 Points
Big dark fruit up front, but none of the secondary characteristics one expects from the varietal, i.e. raw meat, blood, smoke, and yet there are some floral, herbal hints of lavendar and rosemary? The wine is remarkably big and rich on the palate. The fruit is really fresh and still HUGE, but as the mid-palate comes through the oak comes through as well. In fact it is so oak driven, that the finish is all vanilla. I could never get beyond how the wine becomes an oak driven, vanilla syrup mess. Time will hopefully improve some of the oak.
50+5+12+14+6
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11/20/2010 - cummingstom1 wrote: 91 Points
excellant dark fruit
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9/20/2010 - jeffu wrote: 89 Points
Yummy Shiraz, very well balanced. Fairly fruity and heavy, but in a good way.
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7/15/2010 - Al-Vino wrote: 88 Points
Too bright to warrant a higher score...and if you consider the price point, this is rather disappointing. I am hoping the others I have don't have that 'homemade' brightness to it.
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5/26/2010 - dhammer53 wrote:
Enjoyed this at the end of a long picnic/wine BBQ.
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5/25/2010 - pvetsch wrote:
I expected more for the price. Had this in a blind tasting and instantly identified the gigantic alcoholic Aussie Shiraz fruit bomb out of the bunch. Lush, fruity, almost sweet, it's a super-concentrated wine but doesn't stand out in the higher-end Aus Shiraz crowd to me.
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4/18/2010 - TannicBeast wrote: 92 Points
Deep dark purple fading to ruby garnet on the edge. Very concentrated, with lots of glycerin. Medium nose, with black fruit, mocha, cedar, and olive brine aromas. Blackberries, black plums and tart black cherries on the palate. Dry, with medium to high acidity for a Shiraz. Tannins are firm yet well integrated. The finish is medium to long, juicy and tart and keeps you wanting more. An excellent wine that probably needs a couple more years to reach it's peak, considering that these notes were taken on the third day! I am glad I have another bottle left.
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11/26/2009 - jeffu wrote: 89 Points
Drank after Thanksgiving dinner - probably "wined" out by now, good, but didn't knock me over like previous tastings. Fruit forward.
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10/10/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted October 10, 2009 at a retail tasting.
Purple to crimson color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of blueberries, grilled meat, currants and plums. Flavors of black berries, blueberries and plums. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Hold.
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10/10/2009 - mmurry wrote: 92 Points
Big Reds for Cool Evenings (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had blueberry and mushroom, leather, smoke, and a little pepper at the end. The palate was very rich, and slightly tannic. It had great fruit - blueberry, blackberry, and a bit of cherry. There was also toast, and earth, and it finished with a lot of pepper.
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9/8/2009 - Bluedevil99 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 4 hrs. Dark purple, lavender edges. Nose of black currant, candied blueberry, vanilla, hint of leather, Rosemary. Black cherry soda on the palate, sour cherry and tart black fruit, blueberry, dark chocolate. Complex and surprisingly balanced due to pronounced acid and superbly integrated tannins. 94-95
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5/15/2009 - jamieirving wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple in the glass, this wine shows savory notes on the nose including earth, leather and capsicum. The palate shows dense berry fruit, mocha and dark chocolate characters. Supple tannins on the finish.
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4/27/2009 - Garfield wrote: 94 Points
Group favorite by far.
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3/1/2008 - MRichman wrote:
Deep, smooth, glycerine with a dark burnt walnut bitter acidic profile and a long finish. Shades of a sweet core, but structured with lots of acidity.
B/B-
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