Tasted with a 2006 Eligo to see the difference. On its own the Entity was certainly a good wine, rather on the Pinot side of Shiraz (lots of sweet reddish fruit, very clean and pure, thoroughly enjoyable now). No sign of any decline after 15 years in the cellar. The Eligo was significantly different: much more complex, though probably still developing. Black fruit and softening tannins, not (yet) as easy to enjoy as the Entity but promising to become a great wine. It doesn’t have the specific mouth-feel of an RWT but seems more complex and even bigger. A master winemaker’s creation.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted with a 1995 Grange, which was in perfect condition and fully characteristic. Plainly not as good (no surprise at a tenth the price) but very enjoyable in a lighter, simpler style, with no shortage of fruit and fair body and depth. Without the direct comparison it would be a classic, very well made Barossa Shiraz. A better comparison a few days later was a 2002 St Henri, originally made as a less oaked sibling to Grange but still rather bigger and apparently fresher than the Entity. Not sure how long the Entity will last. Must try the same vintage of Eligo next time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Top class. 13 years on, still a big wine. Taking on a red brick colour, there is still some fruit to complement the secondary characters. Smooth tannin, worth the wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely ruby robe encapsulates this full bodied beauty of a Barossa beast. There’s real power and vigour still in this 13 year old wine, it’s drinking really well, and I suggest it’s not yet reached it’s peak of maturity. There’s a whiff of new leather and pronounced notes of cloves and black cherries on the nose, that follow right on through to the palate, where they’re joined by some juicy blackberries and a generous shake of black pepper. An abundance of fine grained tannins coat the mouth and there’s a slight red beet earthiness tempered by sweet rich cocoa - a complex cacophony of seasonings that should dance on and on...until 2026.
Decanted 1hr. With beefsteak & sweet potato. 9 years since the previous bottle & this has really come on beautifully. Big & bold in true Aussie style, but no overt oak to spoil the party and a really lovely acidic spine to keep everything fresh & moorish. I thought I was over Australian Shiraz but this was delicious.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bien que les vins d'Australie ne soient plus vraiment dans ma palette, celui-ci a bien paru, bien que confituré, le vin a pris sa place apres un passage en carafe et s'est developpé tout au long de la soirée. Hate de revisité dans quelques années.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taking an initial sip and then looking at my previous note from 09/30/11, not much has changed. This is still fruit forward but there's an herbal driven savory edge. Acidic and still comes off very fresh. Bottled under cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, dark fruit. Blackberry compote, savory nougat, black pepper. This is not heavy and the pure, dark fruit lingers on the palate. Several years of good drinking ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Refined, yet lively, with enough structure to make it interesting. Love the style. Blackberry, cinnamon, kirsch, rose and a hint of ash scent. Tart cherry, mint and mocha flavor with just the right amount of ripe tannins. Very satisfying. After breathing, the fruit seemed to subside, and the earth and oak notes were somewhat more prominent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine should have a lot going for it but has lost the plot. In its youth - aged 3-4 - it was fabulous, thrilling and focused. But not any more. This is a wine that - while not falling apart - has deteriorated in that it has become a bit diffuse. It still has some that Barossa shiraz magic lurking there but is really clunky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruity and oaky. Smooth, but turn to be a little bit acidic after sometimes. Enjoyable, but defeated by Chateau Boutisse the same night in terms of QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perhaps I am missing something but while this Shiraz had rich dark fruit along with chewy tannins, it lacked the depth and finish I expect from 90+ point Shiraz. Wish the fruit had more expression, but still a nice wine to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Got this for a bit over $15 on clearance and with a coupon, but the downside was it was sitting on an unrefrigerated retail rack for at least 4 years and it definitely showed signs of that. The secondaries seemed muted and instead got a little flabbiness as the tannins were soft, but I have no doubt this would have shown at least as good as my TN of 3/11 had it been stored properly. Still, a great wine at $15.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not bad, but I found it a bit disappointing. Has a dense mouthfeel, but maybe a bit too much oak or just over extraction. I got the feeling that there were flavors in there that were being subdued. Some blue fruit and savory notes, but lacking some of the complexity and acidity that I prefer in a Syrah. Perhaps it might have opened up more with decanting though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not getting what the last taster did. The brambly is still there but has integrated nicely with a real dark red fruit character. The alcohol note has subsided, yet I still pick up a pepper note on the nose. While I'm not going to say this is fantastic, it certainly is quite good. For me at least it's hit the peak. Seems like the fruit notes are starting to attenuate and the tannin has integrated.
What fingers said.
PS came back to it two days later and it held together nicely. It wasn't oxidized and still had really good fruit character and no heat. I wish I had more of these. Excellent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blueberry, currant, mocha and vanilla. Still needed two hour decant to "unwind". I'm hoping there's another 2-3 years of development in the cellar for the fruit to evolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intense red to dark fruit nose with notes of plum, raspberry, olive, smoke, dusty wood, toffee, Fullbodied and finely structured palate of mid-intense rich plummy fruit, balancing acidity and nice savoury compliments. Olives, smoke, wood and stone fruits towards the lengthy finish. Definitely good stuff. Very yummy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really excellent Barossa Shiraz: notably well integrated, fineness of tannins and moorish ness of fruit were particularly impressive. No fruit bomb; instead it had impressive balance to match delicious fruit. Drunk over two nights with no noticeable decline on night two. Recommended wine with years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Over 3 years since the last bottle and I can still concur with that 2009 review. Has possibly stretched out a little bit now and is not so fat and luscious. Drinking really nice these days and I see no reason to hold much longer.
Exceptional, and all-round favorite. Perfectly balanced with a wonderful nose of blueberry/blackberry liquoir. Full bodied, with a fruit-forward taste and strong cream overtone. Long, long finish, with a balance that matches the nose, taste and finish to an unusual degree. Leaving a wonderful memory that lasts for days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Heavily fruit forward but starting to develop some interesting earthy secondary characteristics. A bit brambly, hit just a hint of green. This actually helps its fruit profile. Very dark in color, not quite black but leading towards an assessment that this is full power shiraz. However it was not overly alcoholic and and really good balance. One fellow taster nailed it as tasting of Penfolds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NIght one, forgettable. Nite II. Bit of blueberries and teriyaki? In the mouth silky then some real unusual blueberry candy scent & taste, strange. Got some spice cake in there, but rich, smooth, finishes in the front. I get some really weird secondary flavors w this, all of them not of this world. Not impressive effort by JD. I got these on auction so who knows. Can't say if I should wait 2 years or drink them 2 years ago...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork was inky dark red. Great concentration. Not much in the way of tannins left. Still great structure. I wouldn't wait much longer to drink, although I think it will be nice for 3-5 years to come
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted after an hour in a decanter. First bottle of the '06 that I have tried. Very dark purple and opaque. Tight nose of black fruit. Tart blueberry flavor with noticeable tannins. There is a touch of bell pepper in there also. It is a little austere at this point. It needs a lot more time ... two hours later and this wine has loosened up considerably. The extra air time has turned it into a completely different wine. The fruit has come forward and it has mellowed into something very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was a bit underwhelmed with this - it just lacked a bit of complexity to me. Blackfruits, licorice, spice and mocha oak. Enjoyable drinking but lacking the x factor. I wouldn't be keeping this - I reckon its probably at the top of its game.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It won our Christmas 5 continent syrah/shiraz blind tasting, beating the likes of Favia Quarzo 2006. Not my favorite, but the group's. Comparable: Bobby Abreu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had friends round for dinner and drank a bottle of the 2007, followed by a second one of the 2006. The 2007 was decanted a couple of hours beforehand. It was sensational - a peak experience and one of the best wines of the year.
Deep nose with lots of black and red fruit, some floral notes and a generous amount of spice. Silken texture. Fabulous palate with layer upon layer of flavours and strands. Black and red berries, plums, cherries, mulberries, smoke, cinnamon & nutmeg. A whisper of oak. Very intense. Beautiful balance. Very long finish.
We ate a leg of lamb (hoggett more than lamb if you want to be precise) roasted with spices moroccan style following a recipe of Nigel Slater’s. which uses cumin, paprika and thyme in the spice rub on the lamb. I tweaked the recipe by using white wine instead of water in the roasting pan. I used a good viognier/marsanne blend by Murray Vineyards. Very intense, like a good Condrieu.. The peach/apricot/almond, character of the wine melded seamlessly into the Moroccan flavours. End result was sensational.
The pairing of the 2007 Entity with the spicy, herby savoury lamb was brilliant.
When the 2007 was finished, I opened a bottle of the 2006. I decanted it, but it did not get to spend much time in the decanter. It tasted much younger than the 2007 and too young to be drunk. I don’t know how much of the difference was down to the different vintage and how much to the difference in decanter time.
Scores: Entity 2007 = 96 Entity 2006 = 90 but expect to improve with more time in bottle and/or longer decanter time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruit forward profile but plenty of old world character in here as well. Blueberry and savory herb nose. Berry fruit with complimentary oak and tannins and a distinct rosemary herbal tinged finish. Plenty of fresh acidity as well. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Interesting wine - was expecting something bigger and bolder, with fruit, spice, tannins and heat. This is a much more reserved wine, good fruit, nice balance, smooth tannins, no noticeable alcohol. An enjoyable bottle, just not quite what I expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Refuse to rate. I have been sick with sinus infection. Tasted GREAT but not the character that has been consistent with this wine. Would be unfair to score it.
Fell apart VERY badly day two. Undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It's been two and half years since my last bottle and this wine could still go another 5-6 years easily. Tannins have mellowed a bit and it's still bursting with fruit. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted briefly mostly to warm the wine from cellar temp. Thick, rich texture of plum, blackberry, and blueberry fruit. Full bodied, low to medium acidity, and a long, smooth finish without any significant heat. Yes, this has gobs of fruit, but is balanced and a joy to drink. One of the few Aussies I still buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite nice. I prefer the GSM (Plexus), but the syrah here is lovely. Notes of iron, some meat, relatively full-bodied. Has complexity and at a good price point. His wines rarely disappoint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
GOTTA LOVE this wine. All previous notes apply except this one is drinking strong and beautiful right out of the gate. If I didn't know better, as stated in other notes, I would have guessed this to be a CdP or big bold CdR. VERY nicely balanced with a Big nose of mocha, dark chocolate, vanilla, some oak, leather with dark, eggplant purple, color and a light brick rim. Dark berries still medium legs. Velvety smooth on the palate with cherries and dark fruit on the tongue and mid palate and expressive spice. Fully integrated tannins and strong spicy lingering finish with some pucker tannins.
Day two: Interestingly today as before there are more aromatics and now, while still in that CdP mode, it does reflect some greater fruit typical of Aussie Shiraz. More like a big fruit forward CdR or CdP. Still fabulous wine and a true Aussie favorite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Continues to develop slowly but surely in the short time since last TN. Quite an exuberant and oaky nose still, but this now packs very pure bitter black licorice on the palate in spades. Some nice early smoky complexity starting to come through, although at this stage perhaps a little linear. Resolves to a juicy and spicy medium+ finish. Still with many years ahead of it, definitely worth following the evolution of this wine. Comfortably out-performs its price band.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Prevous notes apply, however, I would add leather and more spice than other bottles. Medium legs. Acts as if it is too young with big acidity and medium tannins and allot of pepper. Great potential here but maybe it just needs allot more air time. Will come back later to see. Oops, just noted that decanting helped allot with early bottles so off I go to decant and taste again later.
WOW, day two I felt I was back in Chateauneuf des Pape drinking a Mount Redon or Naly's. Full bodied and expressive with tobacco, leather, dark fruit. Great structure, smooth and subtle tannins and great balance in acidity and spice. Well worth the 92 I gave it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very typical of Barossa valley fruit but with the style of a great southern Rhone. Big purple wine with strong supple legs, dark fruit, berries, dark chocolate and notes of menthol, tobacco, cassis. Intersting aromas of insence and asian spice. Allot going on with this wine with very smooth tannins and acidity with great structure. Can't say enough about the greatness of this wine. Maybe it's because I'm on my second bottle of wine but I love this wine :-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very well put together and balanced. On opening was leaning heavily towards the plum side of the fruit spectrum but after being open for an hour started to pick up coffee, chocolate and earth notes also.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
yes, spice berry leather big and bold, but a balance and elegance which made it very drinkable and enjoyable. Good Ozzy shiraz. Like to see where it goes in 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Really big rich nose of very sweet and ripe blackberry jam. Just a hint of dark soy and vanilla oak. A little smoky bacon fat? Very young palate but a real sense of quality fruit. More cassis and an overt plummy layer. Some caramel comes through on the finish, which is of decent length. Robust tannins need some time to settle but cetainly improving. Really very good and I'm sure some air time will beef up a score a little, but really this needs some time. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark chocolate, leather, red meat, cassis, tobacco, berries, some sulphur(match strike) oak and vanilla on the nose. Light legs, dark purple. Medium body with integrated tannins and spice, very smooth with cherries on the finish with more spice. Very Rhone in style but almost light for an Aussie shiraz but drinking well. Still young and may improve over time however. Alas, patience is a virtue.
Day two. Still going strong and smooth. More plum/prune but excellent still. More aromatics than day 1.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark deep purple in color with big bold legs reflective of the 14+ ABV. Pop and pour Dark fruit, chocolate, cassis, tobacco, vanilla and agree with the sweet oak on the nose. Very smooth tannins with spice and bright acidity on the tongue but just the tip of the tongue. Mid palate somewhat flat. Spice lingers on the finish. I am going to set this aside and drink later after decanting for an hour or so, then I will score it.
Ok, decanted and came back 1.5 hours later. All the alcohol on the nose has blown off. Color has deepened and legs consistent with first pour. Now the nose is expressing cedar box, black currant and dark chocolate and still the sweet oak persists. The wine has mellowed in tannins but the spice and acidity persist. The only real difference from the pop and pour is that the aromatics have opened and the wine has mellowed and balanced out somewhat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! Maybe the best Shiraz I have had to date. (NOTE: I don't drink Shiraz any more expensive than this, so keep that in mind). Wonderfully balanced, gobs and gobs of delicious fruit exploding on the palette, just the right amount of oak, and all and all just a picture perfect example of what Barossa Shiraz is all about! Like the notes below said, this wine does need to breathe, as after about an hour of air this wine came alive and had this really enticing backdrop of carrotcake-like spice. Great stuff!
IMPORTANT: Although many of the notes below imply that these needs to breathe eternally, my wife and I found that although it DEFINITELY needs some decanting, after about 1 1/2-2hrs it started to lose some of its wonder, it lost some of its depth and became a bit bitter. I say almost exactly an hour of air and then drink it up or put it back in the bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Whoa...that's a powerful nose after coming off of a Cote Rotie. Black licorice and thick, tarry purple and black fruit. Alcohol noticeable. On the palate, again, in this field whoa...Seems like some sweet oak? The alchohol stands out to me, but it could just be the field. A bit overpowering for me tonight.
Note: Out of bordeaux glass (because of the rest of the field).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
If you are not decanting this wine, your missing it. Pop and pour notes - No nose, taste like cold climate syrah, dark cherry, eucalyptus, medium bodied, mild finish.
After 1 hour decanting, Totally different wine, sweet cherry tobacco nose, cedar dark cherry mocha, full bodied, with a medium finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is not a gentle and loving experience. If this wine was a lover, then it wouldn't caress you and take you to dinner and whisper in your ear - no, this is more like the first night in prison with your new cellmate "The Bison".
This is not to say that The Bison doesn't have his sensetive side - it will just take a few years to shine through. For now a deep wine with a very muscular nose - blueberries, vanilla, oak, some alcohol - in the mouth (just like The Bison) this is big and chewy but there is a deep aftertaste of quality here. This is without doubt as young as a pup - give it 8-10 years and I think the quality will start to shine. Good to very good, just needs time to find its gentle and more femine side - just like The Bison.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very oaky and round nose, with sweet aromas of cotton candy and a bit of olive. Surprisingly refreshing and light on the palate with dark, musty fruit and some meaty savoriness. Solid tannins as well. Not terribly interesting, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am give this wine the same score because I don't think it is good enough to be 95-pointer but it is damn good juice. It's more than a year since I had the last bottle and this stuff is aging remarkably well. Tannins continue to soften nicely and the fruits are not as jammy but the integration is blending beautifully. Have over a half case left I will drink another bottle in the next 2 weeks and let the others sit for another year before I come back to them.
I am hoping this wine can top 96 points in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark brooding still. Ink black fruit sits on a bed of tar, alch, sweet vanilla. Liquid fruit on the palate, great mough feel. Solid full finish, lingering nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Notes pretty much as before, with elegant black and blue berries, but this bottle was a little more subdued and straightforward. That said, this is a great Aussie wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maybe too early...I hope so. Deep opaque purple. Really kept getting better with airtime. Last sips on day 2 were best. Early impression: completely flabby. Some meat, well made but hollow, nothing delineated. At the far end: some nice persistence to the finish. Violet notes with acidity but nothing leaps out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very berry purple. Opened this out of curiosity more than in the expectation it would be ready to drink. Pop 'n pour. Big and quite lush nose of black fruit and brambles, plenty of oak but also some depth and complexity. There is a little burn to the nose but this is largely covered by the saturated fruit. Do I sense a fruit bomb coming up? Actually no. Very tight but a solid structure impresses. Dominated by plum and dark currant conserve with plenty of flashy oak treatment. Excellent concentration but showing some heat. Very nice balance and real promise but this thing is nowhere near ready to drink.
Will edit note after some air time.
EDIT : 24 hours in decanter. Nose has taken on a savoury and appetising note, reminiscent of a very ripe Rhone syrah. Huge full-bodied whack of red and blackcurrants and berries on the attack but the finish is a little tough and green. A little over-extracted? OK so mabe this is a bit more fruit bomb than I had hoped, but probably unfair to judge this infant too harshly. Still believe this has a very promising future, but on this evidence 88+ is as far as I can go if you open one now. Will be interesting to see how it develops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dense and rich, with meaty blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Added exotic spices only with time in the air. A little less bright and powerful than previous bottles have been, this one came off as slightly closed. It only got exciting with the last glass, after being open 3 to 4 hours. Decant! This is a favorite: more balanced, savory, and restrained than the stereotypical Aussie shiraz.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.5% ABV. $30. Better than the Plexus for sure. Slightly peppery nose initially. Low key, rather soft black and red berry fruits. Turns a little tangy in the finish. Overall very plush. Medium-full bodied, no hard edges. Not especially interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little darker ruby than '05, 95% opaque. Great aromas of sweet currant, prune, vanilla, and strong egg nog. Very thick and unctious and ,to use the cliche, fruit forward. hides alcohol very well (esp compared to '05). Super finish that lends extra oak nuance. I think if it was chilled and served blind, the popular guess would be Chardonnay (5+12+17+8) = 92 WOTN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Melaka Roadtrip: Big black fruits. No qualms about it , this is a true blue aussie...but did have interessting layers of flavours. Smoky, slight tarry, some meatiness and spices. The sweet ripe fruits reminiscent of aussie grenache but the spiciness giving it away as a Shiraz. Still it was very much like a rhone but more modernistic. Heavyweight ...too heavy for the food we had. This has tannins and enough acidity to complement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for two hours. Jammy raspberry up front with earthy/cedar undertones on the nose. Picked this up on the palate with black licorice on the finish. It took some time to open up but know it will improve with cellar time. At $35 USD, felt it was a good QPR and will buy some more to hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OC Poker for Wine II/CT Virtual Tasting IV (Wine Cellar Club, Irvine, CA): Looking at my notes on this wine, I should have known it was an Aussie right off the bat. Nose shows very dense and over extracted blue and blackberries, and sweet oak. This carries over into the palate with some tar and tobacco notes out of the finish. If ever there was a BIG Shiraz, this is it. Not quite as over the top as the Dead Arm, but still very dense and rich. Overall impressions: Not my thing, so it's hard to say, but I think if you like this style this could be a wine that you would enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple-garnet color of deep depth, and a small amount of superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine. Ripe fruits and big-time pepper on the bouquet, as well as a hint of sandalwood. Medium-full bodied on the palate with a nice acid/tannin balance. Tight and a bit hot, with flavors of loganberry, pepper and underbrush. This puppy needs time.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Cellar Tracker Worldwide Virtual Tasting Event; 5/1/2009-5/3/2009: Decanted and took a whiff after 2 hours-nose of grape bubble gum with some heat. Started drinking after 4 hours decanted. Full bodied with a mix of red berry and dark fruit but also some old world flavors of leather and tobacco. Acidity is fantastic and leads into a medium tannic finish which is very long. The finish lingers with more of the old world earthy flavors then the fruit. Also picking up some floral, perfume aspects. I like the complexity of the different flavors especially for an Aussie Shiraz. This still has time to evolve as I decanted for 4 hours and it was really opening up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Corked it and opened today. Still great, nose has a little alcohol but also spice from the wine, not alcohol. Palate has a plushness which is lifted by great acidity. Some peppery spice, some logan berry (?) Slightly chewy finish but in a good way. Something feels northern Rhone about this. Really good and a wine I will buy again having had a different vintage a month ago and was also impressed.
3rd night and like the Sequel, starting to fade. It doesn't seem to get the lift from the acidity it did the previous two nights, fruit's still there but I guess 48 hours open to the air has taken its toll.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Melaka Trip; 5/1/2009-5/2/2009 (Melaka, Malaysia): This was also drank as part of the VCTE IV. I thought this was excellent. Started out rather primary, with sweet blackberries and blueberries, a little soda-like, along with flowers, licorice, plums and the tiniest touch of loam. The palate carried off where the nose left off, with a sweet, buttery oakiness along with more sweet berries, a touch of spice and a little pepper. Quite the typical Aussie Shiraz I thought, clean palate, fresh acid, fine tannins and great balance notwithstanding. With a little time in the glass though, the wine did a Cinderella and transformed into something positively Cote Rotie-ish - the berries and perfumed flowers were still there, but the nose took on a nice savoury, roast meat character along with rather classic garrigue notes - rosemary, thyme and mint. The palate also fleshed out and opened up, taking on more weight and gravitas. Again, nice savoury meat tones were there, lingering nicely especially at the fine finish along with a bit of smoke. Very round and complete wine, with plenty of substance. Very nice indeed after that little while to air, but I dare say it would do even better with another 5-6 years in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red fruits with a rich, roasted character. A bit simplstic on the palate but just opened. I like the acidity which gives it some nerve that I don't usually see from Australia. Finely balanced. Certainly fits its $40 asking tag.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous note: this is a beautifully powerful and balanced wine, with juicy mixed berry and cherry, cassis, and some earthy-brambly-tobacco-spicy complexity. I really like this. More open and generous than the previous bottle, apparently; this seemed ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
seems darker in style compared to the 2005 vintage, with decanting, the aromas opened up with berry and spice, flavors of round, dark fruit, cinnamon and hints of soil on a lasting finish, great balance, beautiful Australian shiraz, excellent choice to match with a steak, killer value (@$25 on sale)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hour decant. Beautiful deep dark blackish hue. The nose is a very pretty subdued elegant soft cassis and warm blueberry pie. Very nice. The palate brings those qualities forward and adds to it with its silky mouth feel, very low-key slight sweet fruits with the red cassis, blueberries, boysenberry, and pomegranate. Nice notes of soy, slight black pepper, exotic Asian spices, and cedar. The tannins were in check, but surely present and this will be amazing in 2-3 years with no danger of decline anytime before my retirement date. A wonderful long and pleasing aftertaste that went beyond the 60 second mark, this has so much going for it. It has the Aussie profile but brought down 2 notches. I really enjoyed the glossiness and elegant structure. A great deal at $32 to boot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose: great creamy nose filled with all sorts of berries, black cherries, crushed pepper, spices, cranberries, with bits of camphor and smoke. Beautifully balanced and wide open that is very fragrant and deep.
taste: good full bodied shiraz. Silky and polished with good medium tannins providing tones of black cherries, anisette, dark berries, crushed pepper, spice tones, and bits of sour cranberries. Great smooth texture accompanies this wine
overall: lush, but far from overdone, there is some real class to this shiraz. Great full feel and very fragrant on the nose, this has a lot of class and one can see where the grange class comes from. This isn't a mini grange, it's certainly its own wine and shows off what John Duval can do. This is certainly australian, but for those that bitch and moan about aussie wines, this isn't anywhere near that level. Will be quite an interesting wine to revisit years down the road as it certainly has the tannin for aging
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a great wine! Wonderful berry aromas followed by a firm mid palate with a classic new world silky Australian Shiraz finish. Outstanding QPR at 36USD/bottle. Reminiscent of the '02 Mitolo GAM. If you like Oz wines with some kick without being overly powerful, this is the shiznit, or in this case the Shiraznit(hehe).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of blackberry and black cherry, pepper and asian spice, in an elegant style (for an Australian shiraz, anyway) with well balanced tannins and acidity. Outstanding wine, but perhaps too young and tight yet. May buy more (it's a fair value), but I think I'll hold 'em a year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Every time I drink this wine I am amazed at how good it is for just $30. Granted it's no Grange even though John Duval makes it. It has just the perfect balance of big Australian style fruits and plenty of complexities that keeps me coming back for more. On the nose the fruit is very prominent with loads loads of berries and cherry with hint of mint and basil. In the mouth it is just velvet but not overwhelmingly creamy and sweat like some of the Molly Dooker wines. Tannins are soft and plenty. Finishes a bit short for a wine this big but will hold its own compared to wines twice as expensive.
Is great now and will get even better in a few years.
Buy, drink, repeat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/20/2021 - swiftr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted with a 2006 Eligo to see the difference. On its own the Entity was certainly a good wine, rather on the Pinot side of Shiraz (lots of sweet reddish fruit, very clean and pure, thoroughly enjoyable now). No sign of any decline after 15 years in the cellar. The Eligo was significantly different: much more complex, though probably still developing. Black fruit and softening tannins, not (yet) as easy to enjoy as the Entity but promising to become a great wine. It doesn’t have the specific mouth-feel of an RWT but seems more complex and even bigger. A master winemaker’s creation.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2020 - swiftr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted with a 1995 Grange, which was in perfect condition and fully characteristic. Plainly not as good (no surprise at a tenth the price) but very enjoyable in a lighter, simpler style, with no shortage of fruit and fair body and depth. Without the direct comparison it would be a classic, very well made Barossa Shiraz. A better comparison a few days later was a 2002 St Henri, originally made as a less oaked sibling to Grange but still rather bigger and apparently fresher than the Entity. Not sure how long the Entity will last. Must try the same vintage of Eligo next time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2020 - Fatdoi Likes this wine: 92 Points
dark, savory and sweet note, shows no signs of going down..... a very easy drinking full bodied shiraz
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2019 - Gritty Likes this wine: 93 Points
Top class. 13 years on, still a big wine. Taking on a red brick colour, there is still some fruit to complement the secondary characters. Smooth tannin, worth the wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2019 - apounds Likes this wine:
Very solid wine that held up very well with time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2019 - Katimbibe Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely ruby robe encapsulates this full bodied beauty of a Barossa beast. There’s real power and vigour still in this 13 year old wine, it’s drinking really well, and I suggest it’s not yet reached it’s peak of maturity. There’s a whiff of new leather and pronounced notes of cloves and black cherries on the nose, that follow right on through to the palate, where they’re joined by some juicy blackberries and a generous shake of black pepper. An abundance of fine grained tannins coat the mouth and there’s a slight red beet earthiness tempered by sweet rich cocoa - a complex cacophony of seasonings that should dance on and on...until 2026.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/24/2018 - dave747400 wrote: 91 Points
Double decanted. In line with previous note. New world bombast in a smart suit. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2018 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good but not great.
Probably near end of its best years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/1/2018 - dave747400 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1hr. With beefsteak & sweet potato. 9 years since the previous bottle & this has really come on beautifully. Big & bold in true Aussie style, but no overt oak to spoil the party and a really lovely acidic spine to keep everything fresh & moorish. I thought I was over Australian Shiraz but this was delicious.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2018 - VinCapitan wrote: 91 Points
dark plum, dark chocolate, with light coffee, cedar, black olive and slightly affected with some wet newspaper underpinning the wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2017 - Swifty2 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Thick purple. Fruit nose. Big velvety palate. Long acidic stalky finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2017 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich and full-bodied, but not over-the-top.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2017 - Vinobc wrote: 91 Points
Plum on the nose, fruit initially on the palate, with a long acidic finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2017 - risaacs wrote: flawed
Corked...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (4)
2/18/2017 - paul canet wrote: 90 Points
Bien que les vins d'Australie ne soient plus vraiment dans ma palette, celui-ci a bien paru, bien que confituré, le vin a pris sa place apres un passage en carafe et s'est developpé tout au long de la soirée. Hate de revisité dans quelques années.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2017 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Taking an initial sip and then looking at my previous note from 09/30/11, not much has changed. This is still fruit forward but there's an herbal driven savory edge. Acidic and still comes off very fresh. Bottled under cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich dark fruit, spice, green pepper, tar flavor with smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2016 - bin905 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Eucalyptus and kirsch scent. Decadent, rich and smooth with dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, spice and mint flavor and ample ripe tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2015 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich and velvety - I think this wine has developed really well and is now coming into its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2015 - bin905 wrote: 89 Points
Voluptuous, juicy, jammy, chunky and loaded with tobacco, cherry and mint flavor. Finishes with ample ripe tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Youthful still! Hard to avoid drinking this stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2015 - signotim Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep, dark fruit. Blackberry compote, savory nougat, black pepper. This is not heavy and the pure, dark fruit lingers on the palate. Several years of good drinking ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2015 - bin905 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Refined, yet lively, with enough structure to make it interesting. Love the style. Blackberry, cinnamon, kirsch, rose and a hint of ash scent. Tart cherry, mint and mocha flavor with just the right amount of ripe tannins. Very satisfying. After breathing, the fruit seemed to subside, and the earth and oak notes were somewhat more prominent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2015 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 88 Points
This wine should have a lot going for it but has lost the plot. In its youth - aged 3-4 - it was fabulous, thrilling and focused. But not any more. This is a wine that - while not falling apart - has deteriorated in that it has become a bit diffuse. It still has some that Barossa shiraz magic lurking there but is really clunky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2014 - MEKWINE wrote: 87 Points
disappointing on its own, quite flabby. served a chicken curry with this wine, vastly improved the experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2014 - kwattro Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, good balance and rounded wine. Scent of dark cherry and five spice, very nice wine indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2014 - guy12 wrote: 85 Points
Good not great. A bit short on the finish, too acidic. Too early meethinks
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2014 - JChan wrote: 87 Points
Fruity and oaky. Smooth, but turn to be a little bit acidic after sometimes. Enjoyable, but defeated by Chateau Boutisse the same night in terms of QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2014 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 45-60 minutes. Lots of black fruit which is a little jammy. Finish was chalky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2014 - oropeza Likes this wine: 88 Points
Black fruit nose and mouth. Limited depth. Long finish. Good, but also a good example of why Aussie Shiraz are not my favorites.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2013 - Schiffy wrote: 88 Points
Perhaps I am missing something but while this Shiraz had rich dark fruit along with chewy tannins, it lacked the depth and finish I expect from 90+ point Shiraz. Wish the fruit had more expression, but still a nice wine to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2013 - vinole wrote: 89 Points
Got this for a bit over $15 on clearance and with a coupon, but the downside was it was sitting on an unrefrigerated retail rack for at least 4 years and it definitely showed signs of that. The secondaries seemed muted and instead got a little flabbiness as the tannins were soft, but I have no doubt this would have shown at least as good as my TN of 3/11 had it been stored properly. Still, a great wine at $15.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - fredman wrote: 92 Points
One hour decant. Full body, nice upfront fruit, everything in harmony, mild tannins, long finish, good QPR. Nothing negative to report.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2013 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not bad, but I found it a bit disappointing. Has a dense mouthfeel, but maybe a bit too much oak or just over extraction. I got the feeling that there were flavors in there that were being subdued. Some blue fruit and savory notes, but lacking some of the complexity and acidity that I prefer in a Syrah. Perhaps it might have opened up more with decanting though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2013 - Barnaby33 wrote:
Not getting what the last taster did. The brambly is still there but has integrated nicely with a real dark red fruit character. The alcohol note has subsided, yet I still pick up a pepper note on the nose. While I'm not going to say this is fantastic, it certainly is quite good. For me at least it's hit the peak. Seems like the fruit notes are starting to attenuate and the tannin has integrated.
What fingers said.
PS came back to it two days later and it held together nicely. It wasn't oxidized and still had really good fruit character and no heat. I wish I had more of these. Excellent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2013 - bwaverley wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry, currant, mocha and vanilla. Still needed two hour decant to "unwind". I'm hoping there's another 2-3 years of development in the cellar for the fruit to evolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2013 - avp wrote:
Intense red to dark fruit nose with notes of plum, raspberry, olive, smoke, dusty wood, toffee,
Fullbodied and finely structured palate of mid-intense rich plummy fruit, balancing acidity and nice savoury compliments. Olives, smoke, wood and stone fruits towards the lengthy finish.
Definitely good stuff. Very yummy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2012 - Softie wrote: 92 Points
Really excellent Barossa Shiraz: notably well integrated, fineness of tannins and moorish ness of fruit were particularly impressive. No fruit bomb; instead it had impressive balance to match delicious fruit. Drunk over two nights with no noticeable decline on night two. Recommended wine with years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2012 - fingers wrote:
Over 3 years since the last bottle and I can still concur with that 2009 review. Has possibly stretched out a little bit now and is not so fat and luscious. Drinking really nice these days and I see no reason to hold much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/9/2012 - bin905 wrote: 91 Points
Rich, cherry, blueberry, pepper, cinnamon, licorice, coffee and caramel flavors with plentiful ripe tannins and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2012 - WinePlanner Likes this wine: 96 Points
Exceptional, and all-round favorite. Perfectly balanced with a wonderful nose of blueberry/blackberry liquoir. Full bodied, with a fruit-forward taste and strong cream overtone. Long, long finish, with a balance that matches the nose, taste and finish to an unusual degree. Leaving a wonderful memory that lasts for days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2012 - nogohawk wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple with loads of berry & a bit of spice - nice long finish - VG shiraz
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2012 - Barnaby33 wrote:
Heavily fruit forward but starting to develop some interesting earthy secondary characteristics. A bit brambly, hit just a hint of green. This actually helps its fruit profile. Very dark in color, not quite black but leading towards an assessment that this is full power shiraz. However it was not overly alcoholic and and really good balance. One fellow taster nailed it as tasting of Penfolds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2012 - tplskylrk wrote: 89 Points
NIght one, forgettable. Nite II. Bit of blueberries and teriyaki? In the mouth silky then some real unusual blueberry candy scent & taste, strange. Got some spice cake in there, but rich, smooth, finishes in the front. I get some really weird secondary flavors w this, all of them not of this world. Not impressive effort by JD. I got these on auction so who knows. Can't say if I should wait 2 years or drink them 2 years ago...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2012 - redfeet wrote: 92 Points
Cork was inky dark red. Great concentration. Not much in the way of tannins left. Still great structure. I wouldn't wait much longer to drink, although I think it will be nice for 3-5 years to come
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2012 - tantotinto wrote: 90 Points
Tasted after an hour in a decanter. First bottle of the '06 that I have tried. Very dark purple and opaque. Tight nose of black fruit. Tart blueberry flavor with noticeable tannins. There is a touch of bell pepper in there also. It is a little austere at this point. It needs a lot more time ... two hours later and this wine has loosened up considerably. The extra air time has turned it into a completely different wine. The fruit has come forward and it has mellowed into something very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2012 - azzah wrote: 87 Points
I was a bit underwhelmed with this - it just lacked a bit of complexity to me. Blackfruits, licorice, spice and mocha oak. Enjoyable drinking but lacking the x factor. I wouldn't be keeping this - I reckon its probably at the top of its game.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2011 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 90 Points
It won our Christmas 5 continent syrah/shiraz blind tasting, beating the likes of Favia Quarzo 2006. Not my favorite, but the group's. Comparable: Bobby Abreu.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - stamford wrote: 90 Points
Had friends round for dinner and drank a bottle of the 2007, followed by a second one of the 2006. The 2007 was decanted a couple of hours beforehand. It was sensational - a peak experience and one of the best wines of the year.
Deep nose with lots of black and red fruit, some floral notes and a generous amount of spice. Silken texture. Fabulous palate with layer upon layer of flavours and strands. Black and red berries, plums, cherries, mulberries, smoke, cinnamon & nutmeg. A whisper of oak. Very intense. Beautiful balance. Very long finish.
We ate a leg of lamb (hoggett more than lamb if you want to be precise) roasted with spices moroccan style following a recipe of Nigel Slater’s. which uses cumin, paprika and thyme in the spice rub on the lamb. I tweaked the recipe by using white wine instead of water in the roasting pan. I used a good viognier/marsanne blend by Murray Vineyards. Very intense, like a good Condrieu.. The peach/apricot/almond, character of the wine melded seamlessly into the Moroccan flavours. End result was sensational.
The pairing of the 2007 Entity with the spicy, herby savoury lamb was brilliant.
When the 2007 was finished, I opened a bottle of the 2006. I decanted it, but it did not get to spend much time in the decanter. It tasted much younger than the 2007 and too young to be drunk. I don’t know how much of the difference was down to the different vintage and how much to the difference in decanter time.
Scores:
Entity 2007 = 96
Entity 2006 = 90 but expect to improve with more time in bottle and/or longer decanter time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2011 - tplskylrk wrote:
was not what i was hoping for. seemed a bit off. will reserve a score for next bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2011 - Racer117 wrote: 91 Points
Fruit forward profile but plenty of old world character in here as well. Blueberry and savory herb nose. Berry fruit with complimentary oak and tannins and a distinct rosemary herbal tinged finish. Plenty of fresh acidity as well. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2011 - daniel.jay wrote: 90 Points
Interesting wine - was expecting something bigger and bolder, with fruit, spice, tannins and heat. This is a much more reserved wine, good fruit, nice balance, smooth tannins, no noticeable alcohol. An enjoyable bottle, just not quite what I expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2011 - benny wrote: 92 Points
will get better with time. needs air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2011 - VLSPV wrote:
Craft
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2011 - BillyT wrote:
Refuse to rate. I have been sick with sinus infection. Tasted GREAT but not the character that has been consistent with this wine. Would be unfair to score it.
Fell apart VERY badly day two. Undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2011 - bundydavis wrote: 92 Points
It's been two and half years since my last bottle and this wine could still go another 5-6 years easily. Tannins have mellowed a bit and it's still bursting with fruit. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2011 - vinole Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted briefly mostly to warm the wine from cellar temp. Thick, rich texture of plum, blackberry, and blueberry fruit. Full bodied, low to medium acidity, and a long, smooth finish without any significant heat. Yes, this has gobs of fruit, but is balanced and a joy to drink. One of the few Aussies I still buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2011 - kenthargis wrote: 91 Points
Quite nice. I prefer the GSM (Plexus), but the syrah here is lovely. Notes of iron, some meat, relatively full-bodied. Has complexity and at a good price point. His wines rarely disappoint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2010 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
GOTTA LOVE this wine. All previous notes apply except this one is drinking strong and beautiful right out of the gate. If I didn't know better, as stated in other notes, I would have guessed this to be a CdP or big bold CdR. VERY nicely balanced with a Big nose of mocha, dark chocolate, vanilla, some oak, leather with dark, eggplant purple, color and a light brick rim. Dark berries still medium legs. Velvety smooth on the palate with cherries and dark fruit on the tongue and mid palate and expressive spice. Fully integrated tannins and strong spicy lingering finish with some pucker tannins.
Day two: Interestingly today as before there are more aromatics and now, while still in that CdP mode, it does reflect some greater fruit typical of Aussie Shiraz. More like a big fruit forward CdR or CdP. Still fabulous wine and a true Aussie favorite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2010 - MightyMilburn wrote: 90 Points
Stadig lukket.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2010 - Khamen wrote: 91 Points
Continues to develop slowly but surely in the short time since last TN. Quite an exuberant and oaky nose still, but this now packs very pure bitter black licorice on the palate in spades. Some nice early smoky complexity starting to come through, although at this stage perhaps a little linear. Resolves to a juicy and spicy medium+ finish. Still with many years ahead of it, definitely worth following the evolution of this wine. Comfortably out-performs its price band.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
No notes but I remember this being good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2010 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Prevous notes apply, however, I would add leather and more spice than other bottles. Medium legs. Acts as if it is too young with big acidity and medium tannins and allot of pepper. Great potential here but maybe it just needs allot more air time. Will come back later to see. Oops, just noted that decanting helped allot with early bottles so off I go to decant and taste again later.
WOW, day two I felt I was back in Chateauneuf des Pape drinking a Mount Redon or Naly's. Full bodied and expressive with tobacco, leather, dark fruit. Great structure, smooth and subtle tannins and great balance in acidity and spice. Well worth the 92 I gave it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2010 - AlexGarner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cloudwine Australian shiraz dozen tasting (Cloudwine South Melbourne): A big nose of chocolate and leather and a relatively soft palette of tobacco. This wine ahas a spicy depth and complexity and the texture is spectacular.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2010 - bmwcarl wrote:
A nice, not over-the-top shiraz, but not particularly memorable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2010 - eudora wrote: 92 Points
Big big big. Purple color, massive flavors, lots of oak. This wine is in a clunky stage, but shows promise for those patient enough to wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2010 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Very typical of Barossa valley fruit but with the style of a great southern Rhone. Big purple wine with strong supple legs, dark fruit, berries, dark chocolate and notes of menthol, tobacco, cassis. Intersting aromas of insence and asian spice. Allot going on with this wine with very smooth tannins and acidity with great structure. Can't say enough about the greatness of this wine. Maybe it's because I'm on my second bottle of wine but I love this wine :-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2010 - cmr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very well put together and balanced. On opening was leaning heavily towards the plum side of the fruit spectrum but after being open for an hour started to pick up coffee, chocolate and earth notes also.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2010 - flerve wrote:
Nice big Shiraz with rich fruit and good oak, but didn't wow me for the price. PNP, maybe should have decanted
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2010 - moany rhoney wrote: 91 Points
yes, spice berry leather big and bold, but a balance and elegance which made it very drinkable and enjoyable. Good Ozzy shiraz. Like to see where it goes in 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2010 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Another tasty one. A bigger, more powerful wine than the previous bottles, but otherwise consistent. Big black fruit, exotic spices.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2010 - VHJV wrote: 86 Points
Oaky, jammy and somewhat unbalanced at the moment. Probably gets better with cellaring. For Aussie fans, but not my style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2010 - Khamen wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. Really big rich nose of very sweet and ripe blackberry jam. Just a hint of dark soy and vanilla oak. A little smoky bacon fat? Very young palate but a real sense of quality fruit. More cassis and an overt plummy layer. Some caramel comes through on the finish, which is of decent length. Robust tannins need some time to settle but cetainly improving. Really very good and I'm sure some air time will beef up a score a little, but really this needs some time. 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2010 - BillyT wrote: 90 Points
Dark chocolate, leather, red meat, cassis, tobacco, berries, some sulphur(match strike) oak and vanilla on the nose. Light legs, dark purple. Medium body with integrated tannins and spice, very smooth with cherries on the finish with more spice. Very Rhone in style but almost light for an Aussie shiraz but drinking well. Still young and may improve over time however. Alas, patience is a virtue.
Day two. Still going strong and smooth. More plum/prune but excellent still. More aromatics than day 1.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2010 - BillyT wrote: 91 Points
Dark deep purple in color with big bold legs reflective of the 14+ ABV. Pop and pour Dark fruit, chocolate, cassis, tobacco, vanilla and agree with the sweet oak on the nose. Very smooth tannins with spice and bright acidity on the tongue but just the tip of the tongue. Mid palate somewhat flat. Spice lingers on the finish. I am going to set this aside and drink later after decanting for an hour or so, then I will score it.
Ok, decanted and came back 1.5 hours later. All the alcohol on the nose has blown off. Color has deepened and legs consistent with first pour. Now the nose is expressing cedar box, black currant and dark chocolate and still the sweet oak persists. The wine has mellowed in tannins but the spice and acidity persist. The only real difference from the pop and pour is that the aromatics have opened and the wine has mellowed and balanced out somewhat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2010 - OTTnMIA wrote: 92 Points
Wow! Maybe the best Shiraz I have had to date. (NOTE: I don't drink Shiraz any more expensive than this, so keep that in mind). Wonderfully balanced, gobs and gobs of delicious fruit exploding on the palette, just the right amount of oak, and all and all just a picture perfect example of what Barossa Shiraz is all about! Like the notes below said, this wine does need to breathe, as after about an hour of air this wine came alive and had this really enticing backdrop of carrotcake-like spice. Great stuff!
IMPORTANT: Although many of the notes below imply that these needs to breathe eternally, my wife and I found that although it DEFINITELY needs some decanting, after about 1 1/2-2hrs it started to lose some of its wonder, it lost some of its depth and became a bit bitter. I say almost exactly an hour of air and then drink it up or put it back in the bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2010 - al-Zabba wrote:
Whoa...that's a powerful nose after coming off of a Cote Rotie. Black licorice and thick, tarry purple and black fruit. Alcohol noticeable. On the palate, again, in this field whoa...Seems like some sweet oak? The alchohol stands out to me, but it could just be the field. A bit overpowering for me tonight.
Note: Out of bordeaux glass (because of the rest of the field).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Its there for $40.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2010 - jc510 wrote: 94 Points
If you are not decanting this wine, your missing it. Pop and pour notes - No nose, taste like cold climate syrah, dark cherry, eucalyptus, medium bodied, mild finish.
After 1 hour decanting, Totally different wine, sweet cherry tobacco nose, cedar dark cherry mocha, full bodied, with a medium finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2010 - pjaines wrote:
This is not a gentle and loving experience. If this wine was a lover, then it wouldn't caress you and take you to dinner and whisper in your ear - no, this is more like the first night in prison with your new cellmate "The Bison".
This is not to say that The Bison doesn't have his sensetive side - it will just take a few years to shine through. For now a deep wine with a very muscular nose - blueberries, vanilla, oak, some alcohol - in the mouth (just like The Bison) this is big and chewy but there is a deep aftertaste of quality here. This is without doubt as young as a pup - give it 8-10 years and I think the quality will start to shine. Good to very good, just needs time to find its gentle and more femine side - just like The Bison.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2010 - rhit wrote: 87 Points
Very oaky and round nose, with sweet aromas of cotton candy and a bit of olive. Surprisingly refreshing and light on the palate with dark, musty fruit and some meaty savoriness. Solid tannins as well. Not terribly interesting, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - kietkopelli wrote: 94 Points
I am give this wine the same score because I don't think it is good enough to be 95-pointer but it is damn good juice. It's more than a year since I had the last bottle and this stuff is aging remarkably well. Tannins continue to soften nicely and the fruits are not as jammy but the integration is blending beautifully. Have over a half case left I will drink another bottle in the next 2 weeks and let the others sit for another year before I come back to them.
I am hoping this wine can top 96 points in a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - kietkopelli wrote: 94 Points
I am give this wine the same score because I don't think it is good enough to be 95-pointer but it is damn good juice. J
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 91 Points
Dark brooding still. Ink black fruit sits on a bed of tar, alch, sweet vanilla. Liquid fruit on the palate, great mough feel. Solid full finish, lingering nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
Day 3. Still dark. Licorice and a bit of sour fruit on the nose. Big burnt chocolate and coffee mouth filling fruit. Big finish. 3 days good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2009 - pgm wrote: 90 Points
Notes pretty much as before, with elegant black and blue berries, but this bottle was a little more subdued and straightforward. That said, this is a great Aussie wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2009 - ljl203 wrote: 88 Points
Maybe too early...I hope so. Deep opaque purple. Really kept getting better with airtime. Last sips on day 2 were best. Early impression: completely flabby. Some meat, well made but hollow, nothing delineated. At the far end: some nice persistence to the finish. Violet notes with acidity but nothing leaps out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2009 - Khamen wrote: 88 Points
Very berry purple. Opened this out of curiosity more than in the expectation it would be ready to drink. Pop 'n pour. Big and quite lush nose of black fruit and brambles, plenty of oak but also some depth and complexity. There is a little burn to the nose but this is largely covered by the saturated fruit. Do I sense a fruit bomb coming up? Actually no. Very tight but a solid structure impresses. Dominated by plum and dark currant conserve with plenty of flashy oak treatment. Excellent concentration but showing some heat. Very nice balance and real promise but this thing is nowhere near ready to drink.
Will edit note after some air time.
EDIT : 24 hours in decanter. Nose has taken on a savoury and appetising note, reminiscent of a very ripe Rhone syrah. Huge full-bodied whack of red and blackcurrants and berries on the attack but the finish is a little tough and green. A little over-extracted? OK so mabe this is a bit more fruit bomb than I had hoped, but probably unfair to judge this infant too harshly. Still believe this has a very promising future, but on this evidence 88+ is as far as I can go if you open one now. Will be interesting to see how it develops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2009 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Dense and rich, with meaty blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Added exotic spices only with time in the air.
A little less bright and powerful than previous bottles have been, this one came off as slightly closed. It only got exciting with the last glass, after being open 3 to 4 hours. Decant!
This is a favorite: more balanced, savory, and restrained than the stereotypical Aussie shiraz.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Please see prior note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 88 Points
14.5% ABV. $30. Better than the Plexus for sure. Slightly peppery nose initially. Low key, rather soft black and red berry fruits. Turns a little tangy in the finish. Overall very plush. Medium-full bodied, no hard edges. Not especially interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Decanted for about two hours.
Interesting wine, young and awkward...I've had better for less...but not bad, we're not going to seek this one out after our last one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2009 - tendring wrote: 84 Points
Wine Education Service - Masters of Australian Shiraz (LSE): Inky without age.
Oaky, stalky, jammy fruit, youthful.
Tobacco, fruit, spice, tannic, needs cellaring for 5 - 10 years, quite long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2009 - fingers wrote: 92 Points
A little darker ruby than '05, 95% opaque. Great aromas of sweet currant, prune, vanilla, and strong egg nog. Very thick and unctious and ,to use the cliche, fruit forward. hides alcohol very well (esp compared to '05). Super finish that lends extra oak nuance. I think if it was chilled and served blind, the popular guess would be Chardonnay (5+12+17+8) = 92 WOTN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2009 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
Melaka Roadtrip: Big black fruits. No qualms about it , this is a true blue aussie...but did have interessting layers of flavours. Smoky, slight tarry, some meatiness and spices. The sweet ripe fruits reminiscent of aussie grenache but the spiciness giving it away as a Shiraz. Still it was very much like a rhone but more modernistic. Heavyweight ...too heavy for the food we had. This has tannins and enough acidity to complement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2009 - grobbins wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for two hours. Jammy raspberry up front with earthy/cedar undertones on the nose. Picked this up on the palate with black licorice on the finish. It took some time to open up but know it will improve with cellar time. At $35 USD, felt it was a good QPR and will buy some more to hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2009 - jhannah27 wrote:
OC Poker for Wine II/CT Virtual Tasting IV (Wine Cellar Club, Irvine, CA): Looking at my notes on this wine, I should have known it was an Aussie right off the bat. Nose shows very dense and over extracted blue and blackberries, and sweet oak. This carries over into the palate with some tar and tobacco notes out of the finish. If ever there was a BIG Shiraz, this is it. Not quite as over the top as the Dead Arm, but still very dense and rich. Overall impressions: Not my thing, so it's hard to say, but I think if you like this style this could be a wine that you would enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2009 - grafstrb wrote: 91 Points
Cellar Tracker Virtual Tasting IV & OCP4W II (Wine Cellar Club in Irvine, CA): -- double-decanted before the event: received a 3 hour decant the night before the event --
-- tasted blind: served 7th out of 11 --
Purple-garnet color of deep depth, and a small amount of superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine. Ripe fruits and big-time pepper on the bouquet, as well as a hint of sandalwood. Medium-full bodied on the palate with a nice acid/tannin balance. Tight and a bit hot, with flavors of loganberry, pepper and underbrush. This puppy needs time.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2009 - J2K wrote: 93 Points
4th Cellar Tracker Worldwide Virtual Tasting Event; 5/1/2009-5/3/2009: Decanted and took a whiff after 2 hours-nose of grape bubble gum with some heat. Started drinking after 4 hours decanted. Full bodied with a mix of red berry and dark fruit but also some old world flavors of leather and tobacco. Acidity is fantastic and leads into a medium tannic finish which is very long. The finish lingers with more of the old world earthy flavors then the fruit. Also picking up some floral, perfume aspects. I like the complexity of the different flavors especially for an Aussie Shiraz. This still has time to evolve as I decanted for 4 hours and it was really opening up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2009 - Wrighty wrote: 93 Points
Virtual Community Tasting Event (VCTE) IV; 5/1/2009-5/3/2009 (At Home, Hong Kong): Popped and poured last night and impressive. Wonderful freshness couple with great fruit.
Corked it and opened today. Still great, nose has a little alcohol but also spice from the wine, not alcohol. Palate has a plushness which is lifted by great acidity. Some peppery spice, some logan berry (?) Slightly chewy finish but in a good way. Something feels northern Rhone about this. Really good and a wine I will buy again having had a different vintage a month ago and was also impressed.
3rd night and like the Sequel, starting to fade. It doesn't seem to get the lift from the acidity it did the previous two nights, fruit's still there but I guess 48 hours open to the air has taken its toll.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2009 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Melaka Trip; 5/1/2009-5/2/2009 (Melaka, Malaysia): This was also drank as part of the VCTE IV. I thought this was excellent. Started out rather primary, with sweet blackberries and blueberries, a little soda-like, along with flowers, licorice, plums and the tiniest touch of loam. The palate carried off where the nose left off, with a sweet, buttery oakiness along with more sweet berries, a touch of spice and a little pepper. Quite the typical Aussie Shiraz I thought, clean palate, fresh acid, fine tannins and great balance notwithstanding. With a little time in the glass though, the wine did a Cinderella and transformed into something positively Cote Rotie-ish - the berries and perfumed flowers were still there, but the nose took on a nice savoury, roast meat character along with rather classic garrigue notes - rosemary, thyme and mint. The palate also fleshed out and opened up, taking on more weight and gravitas. Again, nice savoury meat tones were there, lingering nicely especially at the fine finish along with a bit of smoke. Very round and complete wine, with plenty of substance. Very nice indeed after that little while to air, but I dare say it would do even better with another 5-6 years in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - drgrape wrote: 93 Points
Dry with great color. Maybe still a little young. This is a very nice wine and a good value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2009 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Aussie Shiraz (Waterford Wines Milwaukee): Coffee, espresso nose. Really a darker wine showing the roast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Red fruits with a rich, roasted character. A bit simplstic on the palate but just opened. I like the acidity which gives it some nerve that I don't usually see from Australia. Finely balanced. Certainly fits its $40 asking tag.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2009 - jmetvoice wrote:
Preferred this one to the Plexus. Great balance between fruit and oak. (Dedalus Private Tasting)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2009 - dave747400 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 4hrs.
Big but refined Aussie fruit bomb. Seems to have a lot of material in there bound into the fruit, so may age well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2008 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous note: this is a beautifully powerful and balanced wine, with juicy mixed berry and cherry, cassis, and some earthy-brambly-tobacco-spicy complexity. I really like this. More open and generous than the previous bottle, apparently; this seemed ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2008 - whits wrote: 93 Points
seems darker in style compared to the 2005 vintage, with decanting, the aromas opened up with berry and spice, flavors of round, dark fruit, cinnamon and hints of soil on a lasting finish, great balance, beautiful Australian shiraz, excellent choice to match with a steak, killer value (@$25 on sale)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2008 - King Cab wrote: 93 Points
2 hour decant. Beautiful deep dark blackish hue. The nose is a very pretty subdued elegant soft cassis and warm blueberry pie. Very nice. The palate brings those qualities forward and adds to it with its silky mouth feel, very low-key slight sweet fruits with the red cassis, blueberries, boysenberry, and pomegranate. Nice notes of soy, slight black pepper, exotic Asian spices, and cedar. The tannins were in check, but surely present and this will be amazing in 2-3 years with no danger of decline anytime before my retirement date. A wonderful long and pleasing aftertaste that went beyond the 60 second mark, this has so much going for it. It has the Aussie profile but brought down 2 notches. I really enjoyed the glossiness and elegant structure. A great deal at $32 to boot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
nose: great creamy nose filled with all sorts of berries, black cherries, crushed pepper, spices, cranberries, with bits of camphor and smoke. Beautifully balanced and wide open that is very fragrant and deep.
taste: good full bodied shiraz. Silky and polished with good medium tannins providing tones of black cherries, anisette, dark berries, crushed pepper, spice tones, and bits of sour cranberries. Great smooth texture accompanies this wine
overall: lush, but far from overdone, there is some real class to this shiraz. Great full feel and very fragrant on the nose, this has a lot of class and one can see where the grange class comes from. This isn't a mini grange, it's certainly its own wine and shows off what John Duval can do. This is certainly australian, but for those that bitch and moan about aussie wines, this isn't anywhere near that level. Will be quite an interesting wine to revisit years down the road as it certainly has the tannin for aging
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2008 - mikee123 wrote: 92 Points
What a great wine! Wonderful berry aromas followed by a firm mid palate with a classic new world silky Australian Shiraz finish. Outstanding QPR at 36USD/bottle. Reminiscent of the '02 Mitolo GAM. If you like Oz wines with some kick without being overly powerful, this is the shiznit, or in this case the Shiraznit(hehe).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2008 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Lots of blackberry and black cherry, pepper and asian spice, in an elegant style (for an Australian shiraz, anyway) with well balanced tannins and acidity. Outstanding wine, but perhaps too young and tight yet. May buy more (it's a fair value), but I think I'll hold 'em a year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2008 - bundydavis wrote: 92 Points
Big, fruity Aussie shiraz. My kind of wine. Needs a few years to fully develop. Decanted for 2.5 hours. Great QPR!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2008 - kietkopelli wrote: 94 Points
Every time I drink this wine I am amazed at how good it is for just $30. Granted it's no Grange even though John Duval makes it. It has just the perfect balance of big Australian style fruits and plenty of complexities that keeps me coming back for more.
On the nose the fruit is very prominent with loads loads of berries and cherry with hint of mint and basil. In the mouth it is just velvet but not overwhelmingly creamy and sweat like some of the Molly Dooker wines. Tannins are soft and plenty. Finishes a bit short for a wine this big but will hold its own compared to wines twice as expensive.
Is great now and will get even better in a few years.
Buy, drink, repeat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2008 - risaacs wrote: 92 Points
Just a baby. Should cost more, I'm glad it doesn't. This will just get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment