Purchased on release, always stored @55degrees and down to my last bottle from the original 24. Not heavy or syrupy but Still a massive, fat-boy banging on all cylinders in the style that's a bit hard to find these days. Intense wild blueberry, black raspberry, cassis packing the midpalate and finishing long with the same along with nuances of baking spice. In a word, Delicious!
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Consistent with earlier tasting notes. Still holding its own at fifteen. No hurry to empty cellar. http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/10/favorite-aussie-shiraz-flinders-2005.html
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My wife and I shared a bottle of this in 2011. This bottle surpassed that. Sadly, it's the last bottle. Served with beef stew and my wife's homemade sourdough bread. What a killer wine to go with delicious food shared with good friends. The wine was the star, loved by everyone.
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I've not had a bottle of the 2005 Flinders Run for nearly 5 years and all I can say is the wait was worth it. Back when I initially purchased my half-dozen bottles I rated this about 91/92 but the extra bottle time has certainly rewarded patience. Parker rated this 95 in 2008 and I'd say he nailed it. Buy as much as you can if you can find it.
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Friday evening "Bring what you want" (Kevin and Vicki's house): Smoke, smoked cedar, puple fruit, a little alcohol, tar, chocolate. This wine is very much in your face Aussie shiraz, big and clunky. I'm surprised it has not calmed down more after 11 years. 89, but it is not my style.
Last Minute Friday WTDS (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark purple red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. Smoke, wood, creosote, scorched earth, blackberry, eucalyptus. Big, sappy blackberry, spicy, but it was still balanced otherwise. I didn't enjoy as much as previous bottles - though the transition tonight was a bit tough for this show well too.
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Deep burgundy. Great nose with plum, lead, pepper. Pleasing mouthfeel with smooth integrated tannins (not a lot) and black fruit with earth and mushroom. Nice complexity. A HINT of cassis or jam. Pleasant finish. Tasted after 1 hr decant to be served with rubbed grilled pork tenderloin. Not a big fan of Aussie shiraz and this was bought when first started with wine. Still not a fan but this seems like a good bottle. Gets heavier as the night progressed...
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By far the best (and last) of my original 6 bottles. The edge is gone but not the robust body and bright fruit. Was absolutely spectacular with an after dinner cigar. Pleasantly surprised by the fruit, especially after the previous bottle some months ago.
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Most improved over five years. Shed some over-exuberant primary fruit leaving still-energetic but more sophisticated elements like the iced americano finish.
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While more subdued than the bigger '06, it retains all the nuances and character it exhibited in its youth - nicely balanced, polished, and flavorful. While the fruit is not as big and bold as its follow on vintage, the '05 still holds full, dense, complex layers of blue and black berry fruits, accented by licorice, hints of black pepper, and tones of black tea and what Parker refers to as 'pain grillé' which is the French word for 'toast'.
Enjoyed everything about this wine except the screw cap. Deep ruby hues. Lush complex fruit that is integrated and not overwhelming. Long finish. A bit better on night two.
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Bright, medium purple in the glass. Nose smells of raisin. Overripe fruit on the palate suggests this is on the downside. Drinkable still with heavy, aromatic cheeses.
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Good Friday Eve Tasting Dinner (Jan's Place, St. Paul, MN): Very dark purple-red color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. This was big, with ripe fruits, blackberry, black raspberry, cedarbox, some roasted meat, blackberry liqueur, smoke. The palate is rich and concentrated, great black fruit with a little blue fruit after an hour; tar, pepper, crushed rock, and oak. Tannins are round and integrated, long finish. Certainly the most fruit forward of the bunch, but not at all jammy. This has evolved very in the 4 years since last tasting . Very tasty. 93+pts.
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Delicious. Concentrated, jammy and silky tannins. The fruit is boysenberry and there is game and saddle leather on the palate. This is 15% alcohol bu it isn't "hot" at all. Had this with a steak and it was a great pairing. Really liked this a lot.
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This is in a very nice place at the moment and likely to stay there for a while, given the screw cap closure. The nose has developed a black raspberry/black cap spiciness, (for those of you who may have grown up in the Northeast) along with red cherries and subtle cedar notes (perhaps from the french oak?). The mid palate continues to luxuriate in a melange of red and black fruits that have achieved a harmonious balance. Still juicy and satisfying in its roundness its echos are softer and dryer, from those of a few years ago. The alcohol is well integrated overall. Nice stuff.
I tasted this against a 2112 MollyDooker/Blue eyed Boy that had a fatter/darker fruit profile that also showed well after an hour or two but was a good bit different from the '07 that I look forward to tasting again soon.
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The color is deep magenta. It begins with a pungent eucalyptus, pepper and rose scent. The palate has mouth-filling, viscous, ripe dark fruit, tobacco, tar and licorice flavor with commensurate full round tannins and a long finish. If I had a greater affinity for this style of wine I would rate it one or two points higher.
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Dark inky colour - full bodied, rich thick chewy - symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a layer of mocha accented by hints of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the long full soft finish. At eight years old, this wine is holding its own although the fruit may be starting to fall off a bit and lose some of its tongue coating dense richness, but its still delicious.
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decanted (medium amount of sediment) and poured with an aerator. Started out a bit sweet, but over 30 minutes the sweetness was blanced with tannins. Juicy red fruit. Matched well with crock pot brisket
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This was a lot better than I expected. Every now and then I like one of these big big Aussie wines, and this one did the trick. Ruby red, almost brilliant around the glass rim. Legs ran slowly also and fat. Fruit is enormous; nothing subtle about this wine. cries out for a big steak or pizza perhaps. semi bitter on this finish but that is the syrah grape. Wish I had one more. Ready now but feels like the fruit can really go the distance. Recommended.
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Big, chewy and full of current, black raspberry and cassis. Oak really comes through along with some caramel on the finish. Deep inky color in the glass. There is however a significant amount of sediment forming despite being filtered and aerated. I did not allow this to breathe for long before pouring and as a result, some of the astringent, medicinal notes were apparent in this bottle. Unclear whether this is a result of limited air or some bottle variation.
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One of our absolute favorite wines with a huge QPR (Quality Price Ratio). Dark inky colour - full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy - symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a layer of mocha accented by hints of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the long full soft finish. Now seven years old with a bit of age, this wine is smoother, more polished and more approachable than earlier tastings when young.
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Once again delicious from the nose to the toes. Has settled into a nice place and is beginning to mellow out a little, show some secondary complexity and throwing a bit of sediment. I rated this a 93 in part due to its unmistakeable consistency in what it delivers. In past I've given higher scores to syrahs/Shiraz that I thought special but wouldn't as much today if I drank them again in the same state they were in then.
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Significantly improved since the last bottle. Has softened nicely and lost some of its earlier medicinal edge. Deep, purple color. Full of fruit on the front palate with a bit of a spicy finish. Medium tannins.
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1 hr decant. This is a very good wine from an overall value perspective. Nose of deep dark ripe berries and a little heat. Smooth and rich in the mouth with no particularly long finish. very good everyday wine.
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Was really affected by this wine the first time I tasted it. Good times. My previous notes still apply, although this bottle didn't seem to be as dense as the last one.
Still, in a nutshell, really nice concentrated fruit, with dose of just enough acid to keep it lively, as well as some of the sweetest toasty oak around. The oak is noticeable, but NOT overbearing - really compliments the wine.
I like this wine.
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BBQ with Big Reds (Judith's House): Dark purple red color. Nose of black fruits, blackberry, Mulberry, anise, spice, pepper, oak. Palate is full with good tannins and almedium finish. I did get a bit of heat on the nose of this which mostly blew off. Very good with the ribs as well. 92pts.
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A prototypical big aussie. I like the big wines, but this had too much oak for me over the two nights it was consumed. I've had better bottles for less $$, but this was still enjoyable.
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We drank this with grilled ribeye steaks on 8/2/10. It had a great bouquet of blackberry, licorice, spice, smoke, cedar, black olive and grilled meat aromas. The palate was smooth, spicy and luscious with flavors of blackberry, plum, licorice, spice and black olives. 90+
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Drank on June 2nd 2010, but just realized I left no public note. I liked this wine - I guess I would say that this turned out to be what I had hoped for from the D'Arenberg Dead Arm. The Dead Arm disappointed, but the Flinders Run was fabulous, at a much lower price, was a MUCH better wine, in my view.
Really nice, almost jet black purple to the eye, solid all the way through, and dark purple on the edges. Really astonishing concentration, but not syrupy like some I've tried. Let me stress, this is a HUGE wine, and some people may not like that style, but I have tasted many OTHER big wines that are over-extracted, and THIS is NOT one of them.
It is SUPERBLY well-integrated and balanced.
Fabulous nose, black fruit, berries, cherry and a cedar backbone. Just wanted to eat it up.
On the tongue, it followed through with the promise made to the nose. Nicely balanced all the way, strong in each department, so none stood out unseemingly. The fruit tasted fresh, not over-ripe or heavy, even though it clearly was packing power. The alcohol did not stand out, but fit in nicely. Exellent finish.
I think Robert Parker said it best in his review which I saw after writing this - for such a BIG wine "it's remarkably light on its feet"! Well said - the wine is truly remarkable.
While this was nice right now - I feel it will take very well to a few more years in cellar. It's got the gumption, and the freshness.
P.S. Just found another case of this - Yay! Hope I can resist temptation and make them last another 10 years!
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I have drunk this wine many times and it has been consistently lovely, though apparently not to everyone's taste. It is thick, with slow legs that are deep ruby, classic to most Shiraz, but this one is inky even compared to its brothers. While it isn't an Oak-monster, the nose is almost completely Oak and black pepper with a hint of the fruit bomb that it will be. It takes about an hour for it to open fully, but at that point it is huge...blackberry and strawberry jam dominate the palate, with a hint of red current. It is a thick, satin texture with a long finish that is precisely what you expected when you were staring at the legs. If you want a monster to enjoy a smoldering piece of flesh, this will be a friend you want invite to that party.
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Dark inky colour. Full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' burnt sugar and cedar on the soft finish.
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This wine is remarkable in its bigness and its thick, rich, mouthfeel. Some might think it is a fruit bomb, but I believe they missing the balance of the tannins and the deep notes of earthy flavors. Even steak might be dwarfed by this wine and requires a ribeye to combat its bigness.
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Consistently excellent (screwcap) if you like big spicey Aussie shiraz. This is fairly dry, framed with light smooth tannins and well integrated oak and spice. For some, it borders on over the top bigness, but I think it's just rich w/o getting heavy or syrupy. The fruits/spice we all look for are there, some peeking out, some in your face...not like some St.Bernard slobbering you with a lick, more like a warm but gentle embrace. Has kicked ass in several blind tastings against french, CA, WA and other Aussie syrahs, some double the price of the Flinders
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A bit of a downtick from the last bottle (which was a 92), but still a solid effort. Bouquet definintely improved with time, taking on a nice currant profile. This is traditional Aussie Shiraz with a bit more, feels like it could really sing but never seems to get there.
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Dark and inky colour. Tannins are disappearing, leaving some unbalanced sweetness. sweetness settled out a bit on 3rd day. Sweet currant. Was expecting more
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This bordered on great wine the second night - smooth and well integrated, rich in classic Aussie Shiraz flavor. Could not decant the first night, it needed the extra air.
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Dark inky colour. Full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' burnt sugar and cedar on the soft finish.
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wow! Big,focused,rich,spicey on all cylinders w/o an over-extracted heaviness that's inflicted on too many wines, especially Cally along w/ a few WA cabs
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Smells like chocolate covered cherry. There is definitely presence of Yankee oak but it is not overdone. Red & blue fruit fill the rich palate but you never get the sense of surmaturite. There is a very nice solid transition from the mid palate to the finish which is broad & mineraly. With some time there is a bit more orange rind on the nose that comes to play. Lovely with a grilled steak tonight. I like this quite a bit and there is definitely enough here to warrant some cellar time. Good QPR.
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Dark inky colour. Medium to full bodied, elegant rich thick symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the soft finish.
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This was big, heavy, and borderline overextracted, showing a sweet and dense bitterness beneath the blackberry and blueberry fruit compote. This is the kind of wine that makes 95-pt. WA scores into caricatures. I'll revisit my score on Day 2, but Day 1 is 86-87 by virtue of being too much. Day 2: yep, still strikes me as overripe, overextracted, and quick to oxidize.
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Loved this. Yes I was in Vegas, yes it went REALLY fast. Tasting notes weren't taken, but great appreciation was had by all...glad I have another in the cellar, wish I had more.
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A thick and rich pour of dark red wine from Australia. Its nose is open, with chocolate, oak, fruit. The taste is fruit up front, very fresh with a mild but lasting tannin. This is a delightful Shiraz well rounded and tasty. I will be cellaring more of this as it will get even better with age. 93
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I'm not a big fan of Australian Shiraz; this bottle was a gift. I wasn't expecting much, especially when I saw the screwcap closure. Nor was I impressed by my first taste when I opened the bottle. But after an hour or so of exposure to air, the wine softened a bit and began to show a fruity, almost jammy flavor. There's nothing subtle about this wine; it's a big, overpowering, in-your-face kind of stunner. The nose is powerful, hot, fruity, and alcoholic; the taste is fruity and complex, with a finish redolent of oak and leather. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy a wine that hits your senses like a ton of bricks, give this one a try.
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Spicey blackberries on the powerful nose; rich and creamy black fruits, pepper and tar in the mouth; very long, slightly hot, tannic finish. Maybe tannins will soften with time? Closer to the ideal than, say, marquis philips, but still not quite there. Would love to see this flavor profile/intesnity in a more nervy style, kind of like NSG on steroids.
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Dark, jammy. Grape soda on the nose. A bit of menthol. Seemed nicely balanced at first. Got sweeter as it opened up. But the heat seemed to overpower if later too. Interesting.
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This is another big Aussie wine. Very fruit forward with a distinct taste of cherries. Very full in the mouth but no wow factor. A pretty good wine but just too jammy for my tastes. Much prefer something a little more subtle with greater sophistication. For everyday drinking would take the Little Ox at $16.5o to this at $28.
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Very sweet (it stood up to incredibly rich chocolate cake) but there probably is structure somewhere in there behind all the fruit. Not for the old world crowd, but pretty tasty, pleasant drink
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Very Good Chewy fruit bomb. Grape jelly on the initial attack, with lots of other berries as well. If that's what you're in the mood for.. go for it. I love fruit bombs, but could have no more than 2 glasses of this.
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Screw cap--which makes me wonder how this is supposed to age. Unusually high fill, almost to the brim of the neck. This was black, viscous looking stuff. Went through several stages in the glass. When poured I got overwhelming candy and oak. After a few minutes it seemed to close and I got meat juices, toasty oak, and vanilla. After about half an hour it began to reopen with strong berry (miracle fruit?) and oak flavors. This had some acid and tannins that kept this from being a cloying fruit bomb. Overall, it was enjoyable and different--but I'm not sure that I would ever call this a favorite or a "stand by."
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A very typical 90-point Australian fruit forward shiraz to me -- the wine is made "correctly" and exhibits the amazing fruit and deep color of a nectar-laden southern Aussie shiraz, but lacked the depth and complexity (and roundness) of some of the better shiraz examples. Still, at $25, I guess you shouldn't expect a $50 shiraz.
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Popped/poured. Not ready to go without some air. Incredible nose of dark fruit, spice and brown sugar. On the palate, has some of the same chalky/mineral tendencies as the 1998 Ebenezer opened this weekend, which is a bit distracting for me. The menthol/chalk/minerals in the last 3 Aussie Shiraz I've opened isn't my style. I prefer some of the stuff from Glaetzer and Kilikanoon, where the center stage is more completely dominated by fruit, vanilla and oak. That said, this is a well made wine with obvious quality for those who align with that flavor profile. Big but focused, as one of the professional reviewers stated, is a good description.
UPDATE: Even 90 minutes serves to affect this positively. MUCH better day 2, with the earlier minerality gone, replaced by more supple fruit, which is tightly focused while still providing a very long finish. Rating based on second day. 90-92 points on opening. This one morphed from "pretty good" to one of my favorite Shiraz from Australia.
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(Screw cap) Drank without decant during dinner. Very Good to Excellent. A Good QPR. Pros -- A Big Fruit Bomb with some perfume, long long fruity finish. Tannic and Dry. I regret it was opened so young ( Friend bought it in Seattle ) Cons -- Too Big At 15%, the black fruits pretty much covered all the other secondary tastes. Not as much complexity as I hope for.
This could be much better with time, but its a mystery how it will age.
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Tasted with Bob and Terence @ Austrailan wine tasting. All thought that it was the best tasted throughout, but it overwhelmed palate for everything afterward (even Black Pepper Shiraz). It had been decanted for about 5 hours at that point. Needs more time decanting, and probably more time in the bottle.
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11/25/2021 - MoreWinePlease Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased on release, always stored @55degrees and down to my last bottle from the original 24. Not heavy or syrupy but Still a massive, fat-boy banging on all cylinders in the style that's a bit hard to find these days. Intense wild blueberry, black raspberry, cassis packing the midpalate and finishing long with the same along with nuances of baking spice. In a word, Delicious!
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5/9/2020 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with earlier tasting notes. Still holding its own at fifteen. No hurry to empty cellar.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/10/favorite-aussie-shiraz-flinders-2005.html
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10/26/2019 - syrahz Likes this wine: 95 Points
My wife and I shared a bottle of this in 2011. This bottle surpassed that. Sadly, it's the last bottle.
Served with beef stew and my wife's homemade sourdough bread. What a killer wine to go with delicious food shared with good friends. The wine was the star, loved by everyone.
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6/26/2017 - skifree wrote: 85 Points
Lots of dark fruit, lots of vanillin oak. No longer my style of wine. More sediment than I expected for a screw top.
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6/25/2017 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 93 Points
I am glad I saved this one bottle, it aged beautifully and drinking very well now. Very good balance, berries, medium finish.
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2/28/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was much better than the previous bottle, which may have been a bit cooked. Very approachable Shiraz, well balanced and inoffensive.
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1/20/2017 - Quiet Lion wrote: 88 Points
Asphalt nose and lots of berries, short finish, drinkable but not great.
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7/5/2016 - msh305 Likes this wine: 96 Points
I've not had a bottle of the 2005 Flinders Run for nearly 5 years and all I can say is the wait was worth it. Back when I initially purchased my half-dozen bottles I rated this about 91/92 but the extra bottle time has certainly rewarded patience. Parker rated this 95 in 2008 and I'd say he nailed it. Buy as much as you can if you can find it.
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6/4/2016 - galewskj Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Friday evening "Bring what you want" (Kevin and Vicki's house): Smoke, smoked cedar, puple fruit, a little alcohol, tar, chocolate. This wine is very much in your face Aussie shiraz, big and clunky. I'm surprised it has not calmed down more after 11 years. 89, but it is not my style.
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6/3/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Last Minute Friday WTDS (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark purple red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. Smoke, wood, creosote, scorched earth, blackberry, eucalyptus. Big, sappy blackberry, spicy, but it was still balanced otherwise. I didn't enjoy as much as previous bottles - though the transition tonight was a bit tough for this show well too.
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12/9/2015 - dkwins wrote: 89 Points
Nothing special. I enjoy a rich Shiraz and this just wasn't it. It wasn't terrible, but difficult to distinguish fruit and just dull.
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11/9/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid good full bodied shiraz. Drinking well. Red and black fruit. Decent finish.
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11/1/2015 - jsebiri wrote:
good stuff , very Oz Shiraz , lots of berry fruit , for the price point this wine is right up there with best in value chain.
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10/29/2015 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent with earlier tasting notes ... and as good as ever at ten years of age.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/10/flinders-run-southern-flinders-ranges.html
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9/8/2015 - mkubow wrote: 91 Points
Drank with a group of friends and it was very well like by all. Drinking great.
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6/6/2015 - chifred wrote: 90 Points
Deep burgundy. Great nose with plum, lead, pepper. Pleasing mouthfeel with smooth integrated tannins (not a lot) and black fruit with earth and mushroom. Nice complexity. A HINT of cassis or jam. Pleasant finish. Tasted after 1 hr decant to be served with rubbed grilled pork tenderloin. Not a big fan of Aussie shiraz and this was bought when first started with wine. Still not a fan but this seems like a good bottle. Gets heavier as the night progressed...
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5/25/2015 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
By far the best (and last) of my original 6 bottles. The edge is gone but not the robust body and bright fruit. Was absolutely spectacular with an after dinner cigar. Pleasantly surprised by the fruit, especially after the previous bottle some months ago.
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11/29/2014 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Most improved over five years. Shed some over-exuberant primary fruit leaving still-energetic but more sophisticated elements like the iced americano finish.
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10/25/2014 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
While more subdued than the bigger '06, it retains all the nuances and character it exhibited in its youth - nicely balanced, polished, and flavorful. While the fruit is not as big and bold as its follow on vintage, the '05 still holds full, dense, complex layers of blue and black berry fruits, accented by licorice, hints of black pepper, and tones of black tea and what Parker refers to as 'pain grillé' which is the French word for 'toast'.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/10/favorite-aussie-shiraz-flinders-2005.html
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10/15/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed everything about this wine except the screw cap. Deep ruby hues. Lush complex fruit that is integrated and not overwhelming. Long finish. A bit better on night two.
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5/16/2014 - wconnolly wrote: 84 Points
Bright, medium purple in the glass. Nose smells of raisin. Overripe fruit on the palate suggests this is on the downside. Drinkable still with heavy, aromatic cheeses.
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4/17/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Good Friday Eve Tasting Dinner (Jan's Place, St. Paul, MN): Very dark purple-red color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. This was big, with ripe fruits, blackberry, black raspberry, cedarbox, some roasted meat, blackberry liqueur, smoke. The palate is rich and concentrated, great black fruit with a little blue fruit after an hour; tar, pepper, crushed rock, and oak. Tannins are round and integrated, long finish. Certainly the most fruit forward of the bunch, but not at all jammy. This has evolved very in the 4 years since last tasting . Very tasty. 93+pts.
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4/4/2014 - gavinesq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious. Concentrated, jammy and silky tannins. The fruit is boysenberry and there is game and saddle leather on the palate. This is 15% alcohol bu it isn't "hot" at all. Had this with a steak and it was a great pairing. Really liked this a lot.
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2/16/2014 - MoreWinePlease Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is in a very nice place at the moment and likely to stay there for a while, given the screw cap closure. The nose has developed a black raspberry/black cap spiciness, (for those of you who may have grown up in the Northeast) along with red cherries and subtle cedar notes (perhaps from the french oak?). The mid palate continues to luxuriate in a melange of red and black fruits that have achieved a harmonious balance. Still juicy and satisfying in its roundness its echos are softer and dryer, from those of a few years ago. The alcohol is well integrated overall. Nice stuff.
I tasted this against a 2112 MollyDooker/Blue eyed Boy that had a fatter/darker fruit profile that also showed well after an hour or two but was a good bit different from the '07 that I look forward to tasting again soon.
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1/28/2014 - bin905 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The color is deep magenta. It begins with a pungent eucalyptus, pepper and rose scent. The palate has mouth-filling, viscous, ripe dark fruit, tobacco, tar and licorice flavor with commensurate full round tannins and a long finish. If I had a greater affinity for this style of wine I would rate it one or two points higher.
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1/19/2014 - jdoakpark wrote: 93 Points
So beautiful. Delicate and softened with a huge bouquet go flavor. Love it.
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12/23/2013 - Wamrod wrote: 92 Points
Very fine Aussie Shiraz. Extremely rich yet vibrant. Not cloying.
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10/27/2013 - Not404 wrote: 92 Points
Great value wine.
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8/22/2013 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark inky colour - full bodied, rich thick chewy - symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a layer of mocha accented by hints of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the long full soft finish. At eight years old, this wine is holding its own although the fruit may be starting to fall off a bit and lose some of its tongue coating dense richness, but its still delicious.
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5/25/2013 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 90 Points
decanted 2 days ahead of time (smal amount of sediment). Slightly sweet balanced with tannins. Juicy red fruit.
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3/25/2013 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 90 Points
decanted (medium amount of sediment) and poured with an aerator. Started out a bit sweet, but over 30 minutes the sweetness was blanced with tannins. Juicy red fruit. Matched well with crock pot brisket
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12/29/2012 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
Still sweet fruit but more balanced as the sweetness seems to be less with time.
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11/20/2012 - pmarlo wrote: 93 Points
This was a lot better than I expected. Every now and then I like one of these big big Aussie wines, and this one did the trick. Ruby red, almost brilliant around the glass rim. Legs ran slowly also and fat. Fruit is enormous; nothing subtle about this wine. cries out for a big steak or pizza perhaps. semi bitter on this finish but that is the syrah grape. Wish I had one more. Ready now but feels like the fruit can really go the distance. Recommended.
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11/1/2012 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with my previous notes.
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10/18/2012 - briquette wrote: 85 Points
syrupy mess
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10/14/2012 - wconnolly wrote: 88 Points
Big, chewy and full of current, black raspberry and cassis. Oak really comes through along with some caramel on the finish. Deep inky color in the glass. There is however a significant amount of sediment forming despite being filtered and aerated. I did not allow this to breathe for long before pouring and as a result, some of the astringent, medicinal notes were apparent in this bottle. Unclear whether this is a result of limited air or some bottle variation.
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10/2/2012 - Vinobruin wrote: 92 Points
Very nice wine - sorry, was enjoying to much for notes - classic Shiraz flavors. No signs of aging. Try at least one now if you're holding several
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5/13/2012 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of our absolute favorite wines with a huge QPR (Quality Price Ratio). Dark inky colour - full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy - symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a layer of mocha accented by hints of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the long full soft finish. Now seven years old with a bit of age, this wine is smoother, more polished and more approachable than earlier tastings when young.
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5/5/2012 - christianjhenry@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful bottle showing some more complex flavors, typical Australian Shiraz profile.
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5/4/2012 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 93 Points
Once again delicious from the nose to the toes. Has settled into a nice place and is beginning to mellow out a little, show some secondary complexity and throwing a bit of sediment. I rated this a 93 in part due to its unmistakeable consistency in what it delivers. In past I've given higher scores to syrahs/Shiraz that I thought special but wouldn't as much today if I drank them again in the same state they were in then.
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4/29/2012 - ron m wrote:
Generic shiraz, dense and concetrated as expected, big and intense. OK with grilled meats, I suppose.
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1/31/2012 - JonGray wrote:
nice, sharp, full berry - would buy again. alittle young
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1/25/2012 - kchwd wrote: 90 Points
drinking very well now. juicy dark fruits, full body, soft tannins, long finish. oh to go into the way back machine and get more of this!
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1/24/2012 - sirswami wrote: 89 Points
Not as enjoyable as my last experience with this wine, seemed overly extracted with a lot more sediment - I would not sit on these much much longer...
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1/18/2012 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
improving with age, sweetness not in background, heavy dark fruit, minor tannins. woudl probably be best with juicy BBQ.
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1/17/2012 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 92 Points
Still delivering the rich fat and tasty fruit that's harmonized a bit over the years. Thank the wine gods for Stelvin screw caps.
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12/1/2011 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
consistant with previous
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11/24/2011 - wconnolly wrote: 89 Points
Significantly improved since the last bottle. Has softened nicely and lost some of its earlier medicinal edge. Deep, purple color. Full of fruit on the front palate with a bit of a spicy finish. Medium tannins.
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8/15/2011 - gwkozar wrote: 91 Points
bottle significantly improving with age. sweetness not in background, heavy dark fruit, minor tannins.
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6/19/2011 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
slightly less sweet finish than previous bottles. time has treated it well.
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2/10/2011 - gwkozar wrote: 91 Points
better blanced. needs 15-30 minutes to breath.
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1/2/2011 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
white pepper, blueberry, viscous, fulll-bodied, medium finish, not complex. well liked by group.
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1/1/2011 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
white pepper, dark cherry, blackberry, viscous, medium finish. not complex. group liked it a lot.
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12/27/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
great with pork chop. overripe sweet start, then toned down a bit after 20 minutes with blackberry, spice
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12/5/2010 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 89 Points
1 hr decant. This is a very good wine from an overall value perspective. Nose of deep dark ripe berries and a little heat. Smooth and rich in the mouth with no particularly long finish. very good everyday wine.
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11/25/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Good overall with pepper, cherry, blackberries and floral notes. Medium finish but lacks the intensity of many better Aussie Shiraz wines.
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11/16/2010 - Wamrod wrote: 90 Points
Was really affected by this wine the first time I tasted it. Good times. My previous notes still apply, although this bottle didn't seem to be as dense as the last one.
Still, in a nutshell, really nice concentrated fruit, with dose of just enough acid to keep it lively, as well as some of the sweetest toasty oak around. The oak is noticeable, but NOT overbearing - really compliments the wine.
I like this wine.
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11/16/2010 - Wayne Richmon wrote: 92 Points
Needed about 30 minutes to open up but was delicious with a blackened filet mignon.
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8/22/2010 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
BBQ with Big Reds (Judith's House): Dark purple red color. Nose of black fruits, blackberry, Mulberry, anise, spice, pepper, oak. Palate is full with good tannins and almedium finish. I did get a bit of heat on the nose of this which mostly blew off. Very good with the ribs as well. 92pts.
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8/13/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 90 Points
needs grilled meat to pair off with.
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8/13/2010 - bmwcarl wrote:
A prototypical big aussie. I like the big wines, but this had too much oak for me over the two nights it was consumed. I've had better bottles for less $$, but this was still enjoyable.
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8/2/2010 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
We drank this with grilled ribeye steaks on 8/2/10. It had a great bouquet of blackberry, licorice, spice, smoke, cedar, black olive and grilled meat aromas. The palate was smooth, spicy and luscious with flavors of blackberry, plum, licorice, spice and black olives. 90+
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7/29/2010 - Wamrod Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank on June 2nd 2010, but just realized I left no public note. I liked this wine - I guess I would say that this turned out to be what I had hoped for from the D'Arenberg Dead Arm. The Dead Arm disappointed, but the Flinders Run was fabulous, at a much lower price, was a MUCH better wine, in my view.
Really nice, almost jet black purple to the eye, solid all the way through, and dark purple on the edges. Really astonishing concentration, but not syrupy like some I've tried. Let me stress, this is a HUGE wine, and some people may not like that style, but I have tasted many OTHER big wines that are over-extracted, and THIS is NOT one of them.
It is SUPERBLY well-integrated and balanced.
Fabulous nose, black fruit, berries, cherry and a cedar backbone. Just wanted to eat it up.
On the tongue, it followed through with the promise made to the nose. Nicely balanced all the way, strong in each department, so none stood out unseemingly. The fruit tasted fresh, not over-ripe or heavy, even though it clearly was packing power. The alcohol did not stand out, but fit in nicely. Exellent finish.
I think Robert Parker said it best in his review which I saw after writing this - for such a BIG wine "it's remarkably light on its feet"! Well said - the wine is truly remarkable.
While this was nice right now - I feel it will take very well to a few more years in cellar. It's got the gumption, and the freshness.
P.S. Just found another case of this - Yay! Hope I can resist temptation and make them last another 10 years!
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7/19/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 89 Points
Big, fruit wine. best with th right food, like BBQ meat.
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6/17/2010 - dhw wrote:
a bit on the sweet side
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5/30/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 88 Points
double decanted 3 days ahead
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5/30/2010 - dan_hess Likes this wine: 95 Points
I have drunk this wine many times and it has been consistently lovely, though apparently not to everyone's taste. It is thick, with slow legs that are deep ruby, classic to most Shiraz, but this one is inky even compared to its brothers. While it isn't an Oak-monster, the nose is almost completely Oak and black pepper with a hint of the fruit bomb that it will be. It takes about an hour for it to open fully, but at that point it is huge...blackberry and strawberry jam dominate the palate, with a hint of red current. It is a thick, satin texture with a long finish that is precisely what you expected when you were staring at the legs. If you want a monster to enjoy a smoldering piece of flesh, this will be a friend you want invite to that party.
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5/22/2010 - ljl203 wrote: 90 Points
Super inky purple color. Chocolate and herbs on the palette, nice acid and rolling tannins. Very classy and well-made.
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5/21/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 89 Points
consistant with prvious
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5/1/2010 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark inky colour. Full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' burnt sugar and cedar on the soft finish.
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4/17/2010 - dan_hess Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is remarkable in its bigness and its thick, rich, mouthfeel. Some might think it is a fruit bomb, but I believe they missing the balance of the tannins and the deep notes of earthy flavors. Even steak might be dwarfed by this wine and requires a ribeye to combat its bigness.
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3/14/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 89 Points
decanted the night before for 6 hours in flask then rebottled, candyish palate disappeared but tannins still minimal
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3/14/2010 - DHJ1968 wrote:
Tannins have softened a bit, otherwise consistent with prior note.
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2/2/2010 - gwkozar wrote: 88 Points
consitant with previous bottles
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1/25/2010 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 93 Points
Consistently excellent (screwcap) if you like big spicey Aussie shiraz. This is fairly dry, framed with light smooth tannins and well integrated oak and spice. For some, it borders on over the top bigness, but I think it's just rich w/o getting heavy or syrupy. The fruits/spice we all look for are there, some peeking out, some in your face...not like some St.Bernard slobbering you with a lick, more like a warm but gentle embrace. Has kicked ass in several blind tastings against french, CA, WA and other Aussie syrahs, some double the price of the Flinders
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12/26/2009 - ljl203 wrote: 89 Points
At the Cunnings for Xmas dinner. More subdued and thin fruit than last time. Blackberries, spice, and oak.
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12/1/2009 - wineislife wrote: 90 Points
A bit of a downtick from the last bottle (which was a 92), but still a solid effort. Bouquet definintely improved with time, taking on a nice currant profile. This is traditional Aussie Shiraz with a bit more, feels like it could really sing but never seems to get there.
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11/23/2009 - gwkozar wrote: 88 Points
Dark and inky colour. Tannins are disappearing, leaving some unbalanced sweetness. sweetness settled out a bit on 3rd day. Sweet currant. Was expecting more
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9/5/2009 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
This bordered on great wine the second night - smooth and well integrated, rich in classic Aussie Shiraz flavor. Could not decant the first night, it needed the extra air.
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8/14/2009 - rmsanz wrote: 89 Points
Fruit bomb: dark fruit and little else. Hedonistic and satisfying.
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6/22/2009 - rmcnees wrote: 95 Points
Dark inky colour. Full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' burnt sugar and cedar on the soft finish.
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6/19/2009 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 94 Points
wow! Big,focused,rich,spicey on all cylinders w/o an over-extracted heaviness that's inflicted on too many wines, especially Cally along w/ a few WA cabs
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6/6/2009 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 92 Points
consistent - great flavor of chocolate. a little short on the end, typical of a shiraz
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5/14/2009 - bon vivant wrote:
Smells like chocolate covered cherry. There is definitely presence of Yankee oak but it is not overdone. Red & blue fruit fill the rich palate but you never get the sense of surmaturite. There is a very nice solid transition from the mid palate to the finish which is broad & mineraly. With some time there is a bit more orange rind on the nose that comes to play. Lovely with a grilled steak tonight. I like this quite a bit and there is definitely enough here to warrant some cellar time. Good QPR.
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4/18/2009 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark inky colour. Medium to full bodied, elegant rich thick symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the soft finish.
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4/1/2009 - pgm wrote: 86 Points
This was big, heavy, and borderline overextracted, showing a sweet and dense bitterness beneath the blackberry and blueberry fruit compote.
This is the kind of wine that makes 95-pt. WA scores into caricatures. I'll revisit my score on Day 2, but Day 1 is 86-87 by virtue of being too much.
Day 2: yep, still strikes me as overripe, overextracted, and quick to oxidize.
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3/25/2009 - wineislife wrote: 92 Points
Loved this. Yes I was in Vegas, yes it went REALLY fast. Tasting notes weren't taken, but great appreciation was had by all...glad I have another in the cellar, wish I had more.
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3/24/2009 - gwkozar wrote: 86 Points
tannins have disappeared, like a zinfandel, full, fresh, but not a syrah
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3/1/2009 - ljl203 wrote: 91 Points
Outstanding fresh and vibrant Shiraz. Cherry strawberry rhubarb and vanilla oak. Really singing.
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2/16/2009 - EJZ wrote: 89 Points
Very good bottle of wine. Typical Shiraz in most ways, very deep color, fruit forward and easy to drink.
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1/9/2009 - OregonWineGeeks wrote: 93 Points
A thick and rich pour of dark red wine from Australia. Its nose is open, with chocolate, oak, fruit.
The taste is fruit up front, very fresh with a mild but lasting tannin. This is a delightful Shiraz well rounded and tasty. I will be cellaring more of this as it will get even better with age. 93
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1/4/2009 - daver852 wrote: 91 Points
I'm not a big fan of Australian Shiraz; this bottle was a gift. I wasn't expecting much, especially when I saw the screwcap closure. Nor was I impressed by my first taste when I opened the bottle. But after an hour or so of exposure to air, the wine softened a bit and began to show a fruity, almost jammy flavor. There's nothing subtle about this wine; it's a big, overpowering, in-your-face kind of stunner. The nose is powerful, hot, fruity, and alcoholic; the taste is fruity and complex, with a finish redolent of oak and leather. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy a wine that hits your senses like a ton of bricks, give this one a try.
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12/31/2008 - cpdwines wrote: 90 Points
Started off with chocolate, then after time berries/fruit. Eventually, it was like drinking caramel. Very enjoyable.
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11/19/2008 - DHJ1968 wrote:
Spicey blackberries on the powerful nose; rich and creamy black fruits, pepper and tar in the mouth; very long, slightly hot, tannic finish. Maybe tannins will soften with time? Closer to the ideal than, say, marquis philips, but still not quite there. Would love to see this flavor profile/intesnity in a more nervy style, kind of like NSG on steroids.
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11/11/2008 - briquette wrote: 90 Points
like drinking syrup--a little overextracted for me
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10/30/2008 - mpastoret wrote: 88 Points
very nice. definite taste of grape (jammy) and oaky. will be better in two years (2010).
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10/4/2008 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 92 Points
Great fruit and a long finish
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9/8/2008 - uncdebo wrote: 89 Points
The fruit just keeps coming. Decanted 2 hrs and a little young, but not bad at the moment. Pure cassis on the nose and grape on the palate.
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9/3/2008 - cjboffoli wrote: 90 Points
Dark, jammy. Grape soda on the nose. A bit of menthol. Seemed nicely balanced at first. Got sweeter as it opened up. But the heat seemed to overpower if later too. Interesting.
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8/29/2008 - bin905 wrote: 90 Points
Complex, well-structured, tobacco and mocha flavors.
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8/23/2008 - Matt T wrote: 89 Points
Black and viscous. This is your classic fruit bomb. Oak and sugar.
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8/20/2008 - mellison wrote: 90 Points
This is another big Aussie wine. Very fruit forward with a distinct taste of cherries. Very full in the mouth but no wow factor. A pretty good wine but just too jammy for my tastes. Much prefer something a little more subtle with greater sophistication. For everyday drinking would take the Little Ox at $16.5o to this at $28.
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8/7/2008 - ojeffso wrote:
my wine guy, who is not a big aussie fan recommended. overdone and monolithic.
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7/21/2008 - Mr T wrote:
Very sweet (it stood up to incredibly rich chocolate cake) but there probably is structure somewhere in there behind all the fruit. Not for the old world crowd, but pretty tasty, pleasant drink
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6/28/2008 - RonB wrote:
Good nose and fruit with long finish
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6/7/2008 - pkbackman wrote: 87 Points
Very Good
Chewy fruit bomb. Grape jelly on the initial attack, with lots of other berries as well. If that's what you're in the mood for.. go for it. I love fruit bombs, but could have no more than 2 glasses of this.
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5/29/2008 - Matt T wrote: 89 Points
Screw cap--which makes me wonder how this is supposed to age. Unusually high fill, almost to the brim of the neck. This was black, viscous looking stuff. Went through several stages in the glass. When poured I got overwhelming candy and oak. After a few minutes it seemed to close and I got meat juices, toasty oak, and vanilla. After about half an hour it began to reopen with strong berry (miracle fruit?) and oak flavors. This had some acid and tannins that kept this from being a cloying fruit bomb. Overall, it was enjoyable and different--but I'm not sure that I would ever call this a favorite or a "stand by."
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5/19/2008 - MTC wrote: 93 Points
Very sweet. Nicely balanced. A bit thick. I would like to see a couple of more years of maturity.
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5/10/2008 - lopezn wrote: 93 Points
Excellent Shriaz! Typical spice and berries on the nose and explosive on the palate. Long time since I had a bottle this good at this price.
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4/20/2008 - Alekos wrote: 88 Points
15% alcohol. Very ripe strawberries and raspberries, high alcohol. Too young to tell its true potential. Try again in 4 or 5 years.
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4/19/2008 - jdoakpark wrote: 92 Points
did not disappoint....again
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4/18/2008 - jdoakpark wrote: 93 Points
again...fruit and finish of a champ..great bottle....best with an hour or two of air before tasting.
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4/11/2008 - jdoakpark wrote: 93 Points
Awesome....dark fruit nose....great mouthfeel and thick juicy texture...long lasting finish...wow.
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4/4/2008 - dionysis wrote: 90 Points
A very typical 90-point Australian fruit forward shiraz to me -- the wine is made "correctly" and exhibits the amazing fruit and deep color of a nectar-laden southern Aussie shiraz, but lacked the depth and complexity (and roundness) of some of the better shiraz examples. Still, at $25, I guess you shouldn't expect a $50 shiraz.
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3/31/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 94 Points
Popped/poured. Not ready to go without some air. Incredible nose of dark fruit, spice and brown sugar. On the palate, has some of the same chalky/mineral tendencies as the 1998 Ebenezer opened this weekend, which is a bit distracting for me. The menthol/chalk/minerals in the last 3 Aussie Shiraz I've opened isn't my style. I prefer some of the stuff from Glaetzer and Kilikanoon, where the center stage is more completely dominated by fruit, vanilla and oak. That said, this is a well made wine with obvious quality for those who align with that flavor profile. Big but focused, as one of the professional reviewers stated, is a good description.
UPDATE: Even 90 minutes serves to affect this positively. MUCH better day 2, with the earlier minerality gone, replaced by more supple fruit, which is tightly focused while still providing a very long finish. Rating based on second day. 90-92 points on opening. This one morphed from "pretty good" to one of my favorite Shiraz from Australia.
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2/13/2008 - LelouchViBritannia wrote: 89 Points
(Screw cap) Drank without decant during dinner. Very Good to Excellent. A Good QPR.
Pros -- A Big Fruit Bomb with some perfume, long long fruity finish. Tannic and Dry. I regret it was opened so young ( Friend bought it in Seattle )
Cons -- Too Big At 15%, the black fruits pretty much covered all the other secondary tastes. Not as much complexity as I hope for.
This could be much better with time, but its a mystery how it will age.
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2/6/2008 - gwkozar wrote: 94 Points
Tasted with Bob and Terence @ Austrailan wine tasting. All thought that it was the best tasted throughout, but it overwhelmed palate for everything afterward (even Black Pepper Shiraz). It had been decanted for about 5 hours at that point. Needs more time decanting, and probably more time in the bottle.
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