Very Munch drinkable. Tones of sour cherrys and red berries. Storeingtones of old tannins. Short aftertaste. Longing fore compagnion of red meat. Some White pepper Razy bottle.
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PnP, no decant. Wow surprisingly still good. Has mellowed out with fruit upfront. Some dryness but not overwhelming. Great wine being 12 yrs old and less than $12.
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Drinking fantastic right now. One of the best value wines of all time. Dark red in color with a hint of orange on the rim. Great nose. Plum and spice up front with vanilla on the back end. Very nice finish.
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- Garnet color and aromas of rose, black pepper, raisin and burnt toast. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and strawberry jam with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.
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The wine is a deep, dark maroon color. The very nice nose has blackberries, cherries, tobacco, dried herbs, meat juices, dark chocolate, and a touch of earthiness. This has medium body, soft, ripe tannins, and good acidity. This is not a big, in your face Aussie Shiraz, it is actually on the subtle and nuanced side of the aisle. Nice spicy, earthy fruit on the palate with some dried herbs coming in on the back end. The finish has very nice length, again featuring the same elements from the palate. This is very tasty and enjoyable.
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Very smooth. Most of the fruit and spice have left this as this is the 3rd bottle I have had in the past 6 months with similar notes. Goes down very easily and is enjoyable
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deep dark chocolate, tobacco notes. certainly not fruit forward at all. finishes a bit hot. it may be over the hill perhaps at this point. the dark fruits are fading. enjoyable. drink up.
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Used to be our standby Aussie Shiraz. Saved one bottle to compare years later, and it still stands up to some pricier stuff. A little heat for sure, but very solid dark blueberry, with hints of tar and tobacco. The '06 is Lehmann's best I've had so far, with other vintages closer to a score of 87. 89+ pts.
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Kleur granaatrood, geur geconcentreerd fruit,vanille en leer. Smaak rood fruit, zwarte bramen, hout en peper, tannines nu duidelijk wat ronder, beter in balans. Vol van body en redelijk lange afdronk.
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Ditto ... Cette bouteille aurait nécessité d'être carafée car son vieillissement était moint évolué que la première bouteille ... Je vais doter ma fille, qui apprécie de plus en plus les vins, d'une carafe à la première occasion ...
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Avons dégusté cette bouteille, sans l'avoir carafé, avec un filet de porc farci de pancetta et de fromage brie ... Une couleur grenat plus foncée que la moyenne, beaucoup de jambe, fruits noirs mûrs dominant à l'odorat ... Les tanins sont soyeux au goût, presque gouleyants, sur les fruits toujours avec une pointe de boisé en rétro olfaction ... La finale perdure longtemps pour un vin de ce rang ... Je dois absolument remettre d'autres bouteilles de ce produit en cave car j'ai pris un grand plaisir à savourer ce vin ...
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Stumbled across this in my cellar and paired with mildly spicy italian sausage and sauteed zucchini with a tomato basil marinara. After 20 minutes to breath, this is the most memorable Shiraz I have had in 2011. Definitely jammy with a nice mouth feel and a smooth lingering finish that demanded I have more. Wonder where I can find another bottle of this 2006 vintage. I think I may have originally bought it at Costco.
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Dark and subtle for a shiraz. The fruit is there but shy. No complaints at $12, but, paired with lamburgers and with a 2005 Ferrand CDR (@ $17) as another option, it was the CDR for me, easily. (The other choice was an inexpensive but much-too-sweet merlot from the NYT Wine Club.)
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Nicely dark ruby. Blueberry, oak, pepper, and cassis on the nose. Medium bodied, slightly tart cranberries, plums, some zingy cherries, smooth tannins, smoke, chocoalte, and a short to medium finish. Not nearly as over-the-hill as the last one. In fact, a nice, good value quaffer.
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Prunes chocolate spices Not sure it is the temperature but it is quite closed and less fruit forward on the palate.(than on the nose) Very oak driven but not rude Recommend some air time
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This review is a review of two Shirazes from Barossa, Australia.
The Battle of the Shiraz
Tonight’s battle will be between Nine Stones Barossa Shiraz 2008 and Peter Lehmann of the Barossa Shiraz 2006.
So let’s get to it, but first some introductions.
Coming in with a screw top cap and at $11 on sale at Mahan’s is the Nine Stones Barossa Shiraz. It has received ratings as low as 92 from Wine Spectator and as high as 94 from the Wine Enthusiast.
And in this corner with a screw top and at $12 on sale at Mahan’s is the Peter Lehmann of the Barossa Shiraz 2006. The Lehmann has received ratings as low as 89 from James Halliday and as high as 91 from the Wine Spectator, and Wine Spectator said it was a Smart Buy in 2009. Still, Peter Lehmann comes in as the underdog.
What makes the battle exciting is that they are both from Barossa, Australia.
Let the contest begin.
All right guys. Clink glasses and come out drinking.
The glasses of wine come out slowly and present their colors and menisci.
The Nine Stones is black cherry in color and 98% opaque and it has a deep meniscus. The Peter Lehmann has a similar color but it’s darker but not much. They are almost identical, but the Lehmann has a taller meniscus. The meniscus is the only way I can tell them apart.
Round Two. The Nose.
Here come the noses. Peter Lehmann leads with a dark, musky nose, but with some sweet plums, or plums and vanilla. And there might be a hint of cola, too, as my girlfriend nose says.
The Nine Stones nose is much different. It’s earthier and hardier, but it is also sweet but with sweet green apples. There also might be some cloves and something like cantaloupe or a light citrus. (Maybe it’s a tomato.)
As I rapidly go back and forth between the two, they actually share that same earthy, muskiness. Is that the odor of Barossa?
I think I like the Lehmann’s nose a bit better, but not much, and only because it’s more floral. There is nothing wrong with either nose.
Round Three. The Tasting.
Finally, all that matters – the tasting.
Oh the Nine Stone is so yummy. It’s drier than I remember, but it still has the three-part finish: pepper followed by tannins followed by fruit, maybe something like an orange with cloves like a traditional Xmas present (my girlfriend picked up on that). I also pick up raspberries and dark cherries before the finish – you know, in the mouth. And there’s a hint of chocolate. Last time this wine was fruitier and there was more chocolate.
Now, the Lehmann. That’s as I remember it – big, dark, and tart. It’s not at all like the nose. The finish is quite bitter. This seems closer to a typical Shiraz in body and size. The Nine Stones isn’t nearly as big and is small for Shiraz. The Lehmann has blueberries up front and there is dark, baker’s chocolate on the finish.
How can these wines come from the same valley?
I like the Lehmann. If it wasn’t in the Battle of the Shiraz, it would seem good. 89 points good. But in this battle, I’m digging the Nine Stone much, much more. The Lehmann’s is almost too much for me. Maybe it needs some food to tame it. I like the Nine Stones fruitiness much more.
Big nose on opening. Decant 1 hour. Deep blood red. On the nose an interesting hint if mint over the predominant tobacco. The palette is pomegranate, tobacco, chocolate. Over dinner of lamb it developed at caramel.
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Dark garnet color, nice clarity; moderate nose with smoky, meaty espresso, chocolate; on the palate fruit of dried currants, smooth texture, medium weight, no great length.
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Decent on the nose and palate. The finish is disappointing, however, and lacks the punch, tartness, and bold fruit that I like in my favorite Aussie Shiraz cuvees. Will cellar my other bottle for another year.
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Inky garnet. Pepper, carmelized cranberry, and musty redwood nose. Light to medium bodied, prunes, figs, black olives, oak, rounded tannins, a touch of heat, and a medium length, raisiny finish. More mature and complex than I expected.
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Different bottle of wine than my previous encounter. Much less Barossa fruit and more oak. even at 14.5% alc it was a tad hot. out of balance but still good with nice tannins - just wish it had the fruit that you expect when you drink this. won't be buying a again.
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Stevige, typisch Australische Shiraz, met wat peper, tannines worden hopelijk nog wat ronder, wat vlakke afdronk. Op basis van de prijs echter een prima wijn.
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Carmine red, with a faint brownish rim. Lots of chocolate and alcohol. Jammy dark fruit and some earthiness. Smooth start, medium body, warm spicy finish.Velvety, smooth tannic structure. Good.
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highly extracted, deep Aussie fruit bomb. I would not drink this with food - it is more like a cocktail. For the money, this is very nice. Just be aware of what you are getting. no adic, oaky-berried front and mid, slightly bitter ending.
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Twist and pour ... Since we first purchased a case of this low-cost Shiraz last October, based on its high rating, it has smoothed out considerably. The alcohol is better-integrated, and the tannins no longer have "sharp" edges. This a very competent Shiraz, and, as everyone else has said, great QPR for the very low price tag (approx. $10/bottle). That being said, this is a very one-dimensional wine that is highly fruit-shy. There's nothing special or extraordinary about it. It's a decent table wine, but no more.
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Tasted in flight (Cathay Pacific) two different days. Reaction much influenced by food accompaniment. Nose rather muted at altitude but black cherries evident. Professional wine making evident in structure and fruit/tannins integration, but individuality I've noted in previous examples not very evident. I have been known to press this as a great value shiraz, but one of the samples was just "pleasant, mass-market" according to my notes. Score is partly lifted by my memories of it at ground level
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Drank at Shiraz/syrah wine tasting. went up against other australians and french hermitages. tied for first. felt less over stated this time with more complexity than many of the other Syrahs
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I guess it's not surprising that there is some significant bottle variation in such a large run. This last bottle was miles better than the others we'd tried. It had all of the personality and non of the harshness, or noticeable alcohol, the others had. This was the first time I'd understood this wine's high rating.
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Notes taken about 1 hour after opening. Nose has raspberries and vanilla oak along with some smokiness. Not overly complex, but nice mouth feel and good balance of fruit, strong tannins on the finish. Interesting and decent for the price.
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Had to try at $12 WS#54/100. Have always respected Harvey Steinman. THIS IS A LIGHTWEIGHT SHIRAZ?SYRAH from anywhere. Paled in comparison tp the 04 Finca Sandoval Manchuela we pitted it against. Thumbs down!
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Very smoky, campfire nose with earth and black cherry. Some raspberry and veggie too. Taste: Subtle caramel toffee, butterscotch icecream in the finish. Medium oak, dry and medium body. Solid quick finish with soft tannin and some nice wild flower to this wine. Milk cocholate, leather, raspberry, cherry, and red plum. Truffle oil kind of earthiness. Good acidity and structure, and has some Viogner in it?
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A nice garnet red color. Blackberries, cherries, espresso, and vanilla on the nose. Full body with good acidity and solid, ripe tannins. Loads of sweet berries, chocolate, and a bit of spicy oak on the palate. Good length on the finish with the spicy berries lingering nicely but a touch too much oak outlasting the fruit. A good Aussie shiraz with structure rather than syrup.
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For the (very small amount of) money this is a respectable Shiraz, but it's not outstanding, by any means. A little bit too tannic and a little bit fruit-shy. Lacks richness and complexity.
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Chocolaty oak with juicy, tangy black raspberry and hints of coffee which fades to a very tangy, orangy finish. Medium, slightly chalky tannins. The berry flavor was a bit overwhelmed by pizza leaving the mostly acidic orange; it was better without food.
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other notes are correct - for a lower priced Aussie Shiraz it shows good (relative) balance but is still a bit oaky and alcoholic. definitely needs food and perhaps a bit of air.
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Fabulous. One of the best Shiraz I have enjoyed. The nose was complex and fruity with dark berry aromas. The taste is full and complex with fruits and some earthy flavors. It lingered nicely.
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Nicely balanced wine. Elegant by Aussie shiraz standards. Interesting flavors of mint, eucalyptus and some attractive greenness. Real nice QPR. Top 100 wine? I don't know about that but I can see their thinking: balanced, interesting flavors, widely available, and under $15.
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Very light bodied and mellow for an Aussie Shiraz. Got mostly a light, slightly sour cherry. Quite enjoyable, but not what you'd expect from an Aussie Shiraz. Very good deal at Costco for $9.99
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Mmmmmm. Excellent Aussie Shiraz, beautifully crafted. This is big and round. Smokey spice, with a wonderfully long finish. Decant for an hour and then enjoy!
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Excellent for the money, but a bit too soft for my liking and not that far off from 'Yellowtail' in my opinion, very good but certainly not what I would expect in a 91 PT Top 100 wine, I would take any number of Portuguese/Spanish wines that are in and around this price range anyday over this, but that may be just me - Dark, well concentrated with a nose of soft plum, blueberry, cherry, chocolate and vanilla, nicely balanced, a bit soft and lacking in complexity for my taste, smooth and sweet on the palate with medium length, nice for the money (88 Points).
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Not sure what's going on here, but this bottle wasn't nearly as good as the last one. Perhaps bottle variation is the culprit. This bottle was way oakier than the last bottle. Hardly seems like the same wine. Didn't like this one much at all. Agree with Dalziel's assessment below.
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I expected a overly touted sub-90 wine. This was a pleasant surprise. I won't speak to the nose as I was in a kitchen cooking chicken parmagiana. The taste, entirely unaired, was very nice. The impression is honeyed dark berries, that persisted to the finish. It made me question why I have a cellar full of 95-100 rated wines when this sort of bottle is more than fine for food or sipping. It might not be a blockbuster of the decade. It is, however, exactly what I think of for a potable wine. At the price point, why buy all that other stuff? Going back for a couple cases in the morning.
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Sweet dark fruits on the nose with rich new oak undertones. Heady, alcoholic palate is overwhelmed by woody, oaky finish; good bite but no complexity. Considerable power for the price, but lacking in real character.
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Although its youth is apparent when first opening the bottle, this is a very well made wine and this becomes apparent as the wine oxidizes. Before we knew it we had drunk the whole bottle.
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Dyp rød med lys kant. Markert nese med mye røde frukter, plommer, treverk og alkohol. God balanse i smaken, svært fyldig og nokså søt. Mjuke tanniner og lang smak. Litt i søteste laget til å være elegant, men en typisk aussie shiraz
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Typical New world: very fruity and heavily oaked, high on alcohol (14.5%). Very obvious aroma of coffee and chocolate. Tannins are quite soft, the balance and the finish are not so bad. Many people may consider this a wine deserving 85 or more. I give it only 83 because it is really not my style. For me this kind of wine tastes a bit artificial with flavours that seem forced into the wine. No real personality or terroir, just like most other wines based on fruit and oak. In other words, nothing special!
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Last bottle I had on hand of this Award winner. Dark black to rose red at the rim. Real nice red and bramble fruit on the nose. This carries to the frontal attack with some mild oak, chocolate and spice characters. You cannot beat this shiraz. It's not a total fruit bomb, and is flexible enough to match with alot of food choices. Well worth the ratings it gets and the QPR.
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deep garnet color in the glass with some redness/brick color. nose is deep fragrant dark chocolate. emhasizes alot of chocolate. body is medium. on the palate this again emphasizes deep dark chocolate, dark plums, a hint of smoke and a hint of oak. i think this is a delicious shiraz. you cannot beat the price. you can get it for 12$ or less. will be buying more.
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Very good QPR. Nice for everyday drinking. Nothing complex but then nothing offensive, either. Hey, it's 13 bucks. A little air gives it a slight boost.
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Purchased for $13. Nothing too special here... it's your typical Aussie Shiraz. Loads of dark fruit and oak. A lot of oak/vanilla. Blackberry, blueberry and "brambly" fruit. Everything is in balance and it is an enjoyable wine... just "more of the same". Very Good
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Definite after the peak. This is still a very drinkable Shiraz, but clearly past its prime. Still alot of bramble red berry fruit and vanilla oak, to pair off hamburgers and party fair.
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Impressed with the silky feel in the mouth, very mellow ready to drink now. Fruit on the nose, blackberry, plum, with chocolate notes. I will buy again. Good value.
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An inoffensive, but underwhelming, Australian Shiraz. Typical and forgettable. Integrated a bit on decanting, but still not worth buying again - there are enough wines with something right, no need to settle for nothing wrong
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This wine is a tasty shiraz that's not overpowering, frutiy with a medium body and good complexity. The acid on the finish is what keeps this wine from being great.
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Consistent with previous. At a $12 Fire Sale price, there is alot of good red fruit in this bottling. Very pleased with the value point of this Shiraz!
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this wine delivers i generous amount of fruit on a hefty frame. jammy berry preserves. although the wine is stylish, it is to be enjoyed mostly for its qpr.
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Menthol and tart berry on the nose. On the palate, gamey and meaty flavors with tart red currant. Very smooth with fine tannins leading to a 20+ second finish with just a touch of heat. Not a "fruit bomb" Shiraz for sure -- more of an elegant and serious one. Excellent wine and a no-brainer QPR for $13 at Costco. Wow, much better than I anticipated -- good stuff. Makes me wonder what a couple of years of bottle age will do for it.
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Deep Garnet red/semi-clear.Heat, leather, tobacco and cherry on the nose. Integrated an smooth cherry-cola and vanilla extract on the attack. The heat blows off in 30-45 min. This is very juciy fruit, and farily food friendly. A nice QPR at $13.50!
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We enjoyed this Shiraz once again. Popped & poured this bottle at a party. It needed a little breathing for the 1st few minutes, but then opened up nicely. It is a smooth, robust wine, and an outstanding value at $14. Tastes of blackberry, a bit of subtle peppery tones, but not overpowering. Plan to buy more.
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Haven't had an Aussie shiraz for a while and forgot how tasty they can be; gorgeous fragrant nose with tons of pepper, spice, blackcurrants and black raspberries; nice acidity, with voluptuous black fruit, more pepper and spice, chocolate, and a touch of vanilla and butterscotch; smooth but visible tannins, with a long, long finish ending in interesting green notes. Had this with grilled ribeyes and college kid wine newbie, and this is the first red wine he's really liked (he's a whiz at craft beer, however). Great as a pop and pour, and even better the second day. So very tasty and a great QPR.
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Strong alcohol at first. With air, plums and herbs on nose, tart black fruit on plate with hint of ripe cherry sweetness. Finishes with herbs and smoke. Paired nicely with BBQ ribs. Lacks power & depth of better Barossas but very good QPR. Worth a look.
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Good Value. Purchased a couple bottles at Costco. Opened and let breathe a couple hours. Some plum on the nose. Spicy, smokey, and I taste chocolate. Smooth. Paired well with a prime new york cut off the bar-b. Will purchase more as I think this will pair well with a lamb rack and rosemary petite reds :)
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color: eggplant purple; nose: ripe oak and cherry; taste: medium and jammy mouthfeel, fruity plum on mid-palate, lingering chocolate finish. Overall: I guess this one is a "fruit bomb", as Gary Vaynerchuk calls them, but I like it. Nice nose, tasty, and finishes long. Stands on its own without food, but also would be tasty with grilled fare. Good value for money ($13.50 at Costo) and worth buying again.
another bottle - 10/31/09: as above, but noting a toasted cocoa finish; not velvety smooth like other Barossa shirazes, but still an 88 and on my buy-again list esp. when I can find it sale-priced as now at $12 (Calvert Woodley in DC)
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Boysenberry, black currant on the nose. Blackberry, blueberry, plum attack followed by more dark fruit and vanilla. Smooth tannins on the finish with some cedar and celery. Simple and tasty.
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3/24/2024 - ssekdad wrote: 84 Points
Way past it's time. No fruit left.
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11/5/2020 - jonr Likes this wine: 85 Points
Very Munch drinkable. Tones of sour cherrys and red berries. Storeingtones of old tannins. Short aftertaste. Longing fore compagnion of red meat. Some White pepper
Razy bottle.
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1/23/2018 - ksilinskie Likes this wine: 89 Points
PnP, no decant. Wow surprisingly still good. Has mellowed out with fruit upfront. Some dryness but not overwhelming. Great wine being 12 yrs old and less than $12.
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2/7/2016 - ctjared wrote:
Surprisingly good. Fruit has mellowed and get balanced
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11/6/2015 - IlonaN wrote: 88 Points
Very well made wine with tons of structure. Held up and was still ripe and densely savory on the 5th day after opening.
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11/7/2014 - onealkr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking fantastic right now. One of the best value wines of all time. Dark red in color with a hint of orange on the rim. Great nose. Plum and spice up front with vanilla on the back end. Very nice finish.
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8/28/2014 - Wine Poor Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is drinking really well now. Nice black fruit notes with well integrated tannin grip. Medium body and finish. wish I had more of this vintage.
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8/26/2014 - prism wrote: 89 Points
Great QPR at the <US$12 I paid. Spicy, fun; paired well with grilled marinated flank steak; a hit.
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6/27/2014 - Wine Poor wrote: 89 Points
a decent shiraz to go with grilled burgers.
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5/26/2014 - Zed57 wrote: 91 Points
Still drinking amazingly well. Like it even better
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12/20/2013 - jayrod wrote: 86 Points
Better than the last bottle but it is on the dowmslope. Drink up!!!!
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12/13/2013 - jayrod wrote: 84 Points
This bottle was on the downslope, if you have any (based on my last two) it is time to drink.
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12/7/2013 - Scotty M wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color and aromas of rose, black pepper, raisin and burnt toast. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and strawberry jam with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.
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10/12/2013 - jayrod wrote: 89 Points
This shiraz has aged quite nicely. Lovely fruit and subdued tannins. Excellent value that has rewarded patience.
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9/29/2013 - Zed57 wrote: 91 Points
Really good. A smokey blackberry nose and palate it is a joy to drink. It is at is peak so don't wait!
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6/27/2013 - gharbour wrote: 87 Points
Not as good as I remembered this from last time. Maybe starting down.
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6/9/2013 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good inexpensive wine. Not over the hill, but drink.
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5/27/2013 - Wine Poor Likes this wine: 89 Points
A decent Shiraz for the price.
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3/27/2013 - gajalaa Likes this wine: 88 Points
Full body with nose of blackberry and chocolate. The palate of plum and cherry. finishes with firm tannins.
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1/9/2013 - joet626 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Spicy and tasty. The finish was extremely short, hence the 89 but ther mouthfeel and taste were very good.
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12/21/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 90 Points
The wine is a deep, dark maroon color. The very nice nose has blackberries, cherries, tobacco, dried herbs, meat juices, dark chocolate, and a touch of earthiness. This has medium body, soft, ripe tannins, and good acidity. This is not a big, in your face Aussie Shiraz, it is actually on the subtle and nuanced side of the aisle. Nice spicy, earthy fruit on the palate with some dried herbs coming in on the back end. The finish has very nice length, again featuring the same elements from the palate. This is very tasty and enjoyable.
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11/29/2012 - joet626 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very smooth. Most of the fruit and spice have left this as this is the 3rd bottle I have had in the past 6 months with similar notes. Goes down very easily and is enjoyable
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10/29/2012 - joet626 wrote: 88 Points
smooth but not much fruit
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10/23/2012 - drbill wrote:
deep dark chocolate, tobacco notes. certainly not fruit forward at all. finishes a bit hot. it may be over the hill perhaps at this point. the dark fruits are fading. enjoyable. drink up.
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9/29/2012 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote: 89 Points
Used to be our standby Aussie Shiraz. Saved one bottle to compare years later, and it still stands up to some pricier stuff. A little heat for sure, but very solid dark blueberry, with hints of tar and tobacco. The '06 is Lehmann's best I've had so far, with other vintages closer to a score of 87. 89+ pts.
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8/16/2012 - Marianok wrote: 91 Points
Very smooth shiraz! Great stuff!
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6/4/2012 - gmbdds wrote: 89 Points
Notes of cherry, plum, earth and sweet tobacco. Quite enjoyable. If blind I would have called it a CdR and not a Barossa shiraz.
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6/1/2012 - Mic Mac wrote: 92 Points
Great wine, right in the zone. Full bodied (just) with dark fruitcake and plum flavours. Traditional Barossa Shiraz in a good place.
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4/20/2012 - joet626 wrote: 88 Points
sort of bland tasting. smooth in texture but not much left
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3/31/2012 - Dickydick wrote: 90 Points
Kleur granaatrood, geur geconcentreerd fruit,vanille en leer. Smaak rood fruit, zwarte bramen, hout en peper, tannines nu duidelijk wat ronder, beter in balans. Vol van body en redelijk lange afdronk.
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3/30/2012 - Pour Boy wrote: 87 Points
Decent but not outstanding Shiraz. Lots of jam, for sure. All that's missing is the peanut butter.
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1/28/2012 - Bro wrote: 88 Points
Ditto ... Cette bouteille aurait nécessité d'être carafée car son vieillissement était moint évolué que la première bouteille ... Je vais doter ma fille, qui apprécie de plus en plus les vins, d'une carafe à la première occasion ...
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1/28/2012 - Bro wrote: 90 Points
Avons dégusté cette bouteille, sans l'avoir carafé, avec un filet de porc farci de pancetta et de fromage brie ... Une couleur grenat plus foncée que la moyenne, beaucoup de jambe, fruits noirs mûrs dominant à l'odorat ... Les tanins sont soyeux au goût, presque gouleyants, sur les fruits toujours avec une pointe de boisé en rétro olfaction ... La finale perdure longtemps pour un vin de ce rang ... Je dois absolument remettre d'autres bouteilles de ce produit en cave car j'ai pris un grand plaisir à savourer ce vin ...
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1/25/2012 - WilD wrote: 86 Points
See my previous notes. Needs some air to mellow the initial acid. Good QPR.
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9/15/2011 - SapphireDirewolf wrote: 92 Points
Stumbled across this in my cellar and paired with mildly spicy italian sausage and sauteed zucchini with a tomato basil marinara.
After 20 minutes to breath, this is the most memorable Shiraz I have had in 2011. Definitely jammy with a nice mouth feel and a smooth lingering finish
that demanded I have more. Wonder where I can find another bottle of this 2006 vintage. I think I may have originally bought it at Costco.
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9/3/2011 - prism wrote: 88 Points
Dark and subtle for a shiraz. The fruit is there but shy. No complaints at $12, but, paired with lamburgers and with a 2005 Ferrand CDR (@ $17) as another option, it was the CDR for me, easily. (The other choice was an inexpensive but much-too-sweet merlot from the NYT Wine Club.)
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7/22/2011 - DTWOB wrote: 90 Points
Very well integrated at this point in its life!
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6/20/2011 - ctjared wrote:
After some air, very nice indeed. Jammy, not too oaky, great mouthfeel and a long finish.
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5/12/2011 - merryberry wrote: 89 Points
Nicely dark ruby. Blueberry, oak, pepper, and cassis on the nose. Medium bodied, slightly tart cranberries, plums, some zingy cherries, smooth tannins, smoke, chocoalte, and a short to medium finish. Not nearly as over-the-hill as the last one. In fact, a nice, good value quaffer.
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5/12/2011 - leonardo_de_araujo wrote: 87 Points
Prunes chocolate spices
Not sure it is the temperature but it is quite closed and less fruit forward on the palate.(than on the nose)
Very oak driven but not rude
Recommend some air time
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3/29/2011 - jtinto wrote: 85 Points
Consistent across vintages. Pretty boring.
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3/19/2011 - WilD wrote: 86 Points
See previous notes. Good easy drinking Shiraz. Velvetty glass of wine, dark purpled. Needs some air. Good quality for the money.
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2/12/2011 - wildcat fan wrote: 90 Points
Just real fine
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12/24/2010 - thelinebreak wrote: 89 Points
This review is a review of two Shirazes from Barossa, Australia.
The Battle of the Shiraz
Tonight’s battle will be between Nine Stones Barossa Shiraz 2008 and Peter Lehmann of the Barossa Shiraz 2006.
So let’s get to it, but first some introductions.
Coming in with a screw top cap and at $11 on sale at Mahan’s is the Nine Stones Barossa Shiraz. It has received ratings as low as 92 from Wine Spectator and as high as 94 from the Wine Enthusiast.
And in this corner with a screw top and at $12 on sale at Mahan’s is the Peter Lehmann of the Barossa Shiraz 2006. The Lehmann has received ratings as low as 89 from James Halliday and as high as 91 from the Wine Spectator, and Wine Spectator said it was a Smart Buy in 2009. Still, Peter Lehmann comes in as the underdog.
What makes the battle exciting is that they are both from Barossa, Australia.
Let the contest begin.
All right guys. Clink glasses and come out drinking.
The glasses of wine come out slowly and present their colors and menisci.
The Nine Stones is black cherry in color and 98% opaque and it has a deep meniscus. The Peter Lehmann has a similar color but it’s darker but not much. They are almost identical, but the Lehmann has a taller meniscus. The meniscus is the only way I can tell them apart.
Round Two. The Nose.
Here come the noses. Peter Lehmann leads with a dark, musky nose, but with some sweet plums, or plums and vanilla. And there might be a hint of cola, too, as my girlfriend nose says.
The Nine Stones nose is much different. It’s earthier and hardier, but it is also sweet but with sweet green apples. There also might be some cloves and something like cantaloupe or a light citrus. (Maybe it’s a tomato.)
As I rapidly go back and forth between the two, they actually share that same earthy, muskiness. Is that the odor of Barossa?
I think I like the Lehmann’s nose a bit better, but not much, and only because it’s more floral. There is nothing wrong with either nose.
Round Three. The Tasting.
Finally, all that matters – the tasting.
Oh the Nine Stone is so yummy. It’s drier than I remember, but it still has the three-part finish: pepper followed by tannins followed by fruit, maybe something like an orange with cloves like a traditional Xmas present (my girlfriend picked up on that). I also pick up raspberries and dark cherries before the finish – you know, in the mouth. And there’s a hint of chocolate. Last time this wine was fruitier and there was more chocolate.
Now, the Lehmann. That’s as I remember it – big, dark, and tart. It’s not at all like the nose. The finish is quite bitter. This seems closer to a typical Shiraz in body and size. The Nine Stones isn’t nearly as big and is small for Shiraz. The Lehmann has blueberries up front and there is dark, baker’s chocolate on the finish.
How can these wines come from the same valley?
I like the Lehmann. If it wasn’t in the Battle of the Shiraz, it would seem good. 89 points good. But in this battle, I’m digging the Nine Stone much, much more. The Lehmann’s is almost too much for me. Maybe it needs some food to tame it. I like the Nine Stones fruitiness much more.
Nine Stones easily wins this one for me. 93-89.
http://thelinebreak.wordpress.com/2010/12/24/in-pursuit-of-the-juiciest-wine-day-seventy-four/
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12/13/2010 - gharbour Likes this wine: 88 Points
Big nose on opening. Decant 1 hour. Deep blood red. On the nose an interesting hint if mint over the predominant tobacco. The palette is pomegranate, tobacco, chocolate. Over dinner of lamb it developed at caramel.
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12/10/2010 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Dark garnet color, nice clarity; moderate nose with smoky, meaty espresso, chocolate; on the palate fruit of dried currants, smooth texture, medium weight, no great length.
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12/3/2010 - Pour Boy wrote: 87 Points
Decent on the nose and palate. The finish is disappointing, however, and lacks the punch, tartness, and bold fruit that I like in my favorite Aussie Shiraz cuvees. Will cellar my other bottle for another year.
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11/24/2010 - jpayne wrote: 89 Points
This wine in all vintages is consistently good. Deep color, great flavors.
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11/5/2010 - czar33 wrote: 85 Points
Hum. Une amertume persistante gâche l'expérience. Où est le fruit du shiraz? Pas charmeur du tout. Je me demande si la bouteille était ok.
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10/13/2010 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 89 Points
Great QPR.
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9/30/2010 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 90 Points
This wine, in many vintages, justs continues to impress for its value. Deep fruit aromas and a complex taste.
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9/10/2010 - PieterHaag wrote: 80 Points
Krachtig, fruit, typisch nieuwe wereld
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8/25/2010 - merryberry wrote: 87 Points
Inky garnet. Pepper, carmelized cranberry, and musty redwood nose. Light to medium bodied, prunes, figs, black olives, oak, rounded tannins, a touch of heat, and a medium length, raisiny finish. More mature and complex than I expected.
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8/23/2010 - Normones wrote: 86 Points
Different bottle of wine than my previous encounter. Much less Barossa fruit and more oak. even at 14.5% alc it was a tad hot. out of balance but still good with nice tannins - just wish it had the fruit that you expect when you drink this. won't be buying a again.
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8/20/2010 - Maznoc wrote: 87 Points
Very nice - but a bit heavy on the "fruit punch" tones on the palate.
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7/25/2010 - The_garr wrote: 88 Points
Kind of a woody taste
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7/18/2010 - Dickydick wrote: 86 Points
Stevige, typisch Australische Shiraz, met wat peper, tannines worden hopelijk nog wat ronder, wat vlakke afdronk. Op basis van de prijs echter een prima wijn.
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7/16/2010 - TimmyR wrote:
Carmine red, with a faint brownish rim. Lots of chocolate and alcohol. Jammy dark fruit and some earthiness. Smooth start, medium body, warm spicy finish.Velvety, smooth tannic structure. Good.
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7/14/2010 - hubas wrote: 80 Points
Quite a smoky wine, with a bit to much acidity.
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7/8/2010 - DRS-Inc wrote: 88 Points
Had w/dinner, but is good on its own w/o food. Inky/opaque color w/maroon tint. Let breathe for 1-1/2 hrs. (just about right).
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7/1/2010 - harrisxlt@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
OK for the price
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6/12/2010 - denisontb wrote: 87 Points
Good Shiraz, decent QPR. We enjoyed it, and had it with ribs. Lehman is a consistent producer, and we'll buy more. Good everyday spicy red.
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5/31/2010 - T.U wrote: 85 Points
Weinakademie Aufbaukurs II; 3/15/2010-7/5/2010 (Wien): Optischer Eindruck: dunkles rubinrot; Geruch: sauber, würzig, leicht gereift, trocken, fruchtig, Holz im Hintergrund, noch etwas verschlossen; Geschmack: trocken, fruchtig, mittlere Komplexität, grobkörnige Tannine Quantität mittel, rotbeerige Frucht, Süße, Holz; kraftvoller Abgang, Säure im Abgang, Frucht bleibt am Gaumen hängen
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5/24/2010 - Normones wrote: 90 Points
highly extracted, deep Aussie fruit bomb. I would not drink this with food - it is more like a cocktail. For the money, this is very nice. Just be aware of what you are getting. no adic, oaky-berried front and mid, slightly bitter ending.
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5/23/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 89 Points
solid QPR at $12
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5/17/2010 - markandsusanw wrote: 86 Points
Twist and pour ... Since we first purchased a case of this low-cost Shiraz last October, based on its high rating, it has smoothed out considerably. The alcohol is better-integrated, and the tannins no longer have "sharp" edges. This a very competent Shiraz, and, as everyone else has said, great QPR for the very low price tag (approx. $10/bottle). That being said, this is a very one-dimensional wine that is highly fruit-shy. There's nothing special or extraordinary about it. It's a decent table wine, but no more.
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4/25/2010 - rharlow wrote: 85 Points
Decent Wednesday night pizza wine. Nothing special. Not memorable.
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4/23/2010 - jmcmchi wrote: 87 Points
Tasted in flight (Cathay Pacific) two different days. Reaction much influenced by food accompaniment. Nose rather muted at altitude but black cherries evident. Professional wine making evident in structure and fruit/tannins integration, but individuality I've noted in previous examples not very evident. I have been known to press this as a great value shiraz, but one of the samples was just "pleasant, mass-market" according to my notes. Score is partly lifted by my memories of it at ground level
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4/3/2010 - winepups wrote: 88 Points
Drank at Shiraz/syrah wine tasting. went up against other australians and french hermitages. tied for first. felt less over stated this time with more complexity than many of the other Syrahs
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4/1/2010 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 88 Points
I guess it's not surprising that there is some significant bottle variation in such a large run. This last bottle was miles better than the others we'd tried. It had all of the personality and non of the harshness, or noticeable alcohol, the others had. This was the first time I'd understood this wine's high rating.
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3/25/2010 - brythephotoguy wrote: 88 Points
Notes taken about 1 hour after opening. Nose has raspberries and vanilla oak along with some smokiness. Not overly complex, but nice mouth feel and good balance of fruit, strong tannins on the finish. Interesting and decent for the price.
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3/16/2010 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 80 Points
Had to try at $12 WS#54/100. Have always respected Harvey Steinman. THIS IS A LIGHTWEIGHT SHIRAZ?SYRAH from anywhere. Paled in comparison tp the 04 Finca Sandoval Manchuela we pitted it against. Thumbs down!
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3/14/2010 - Corgoson wrote: 90 Points
Very smoky, campfire nose with earth and black cherry. Some raspberry and veggie too. Taste: Subtle caramel toffee, butterscotch icecream in the finish. Medium oak, dry and medium body. Solid quick finish with soft tannin and some nice wild flower to this wine. Milk cocholate, leather, raspberry, cherry, and red plum. Truffle oil kind of earthiness. Good acidity and structure, and has some Viogner in it?
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3/5/2010 - cortisj2 wrote: 89 Points
Intese fruit warm a little oak dark plum ans chocolate drinks well now.
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3/3/2010 - cpsmith33 wrote: 89 Points
good value and classic australian shiraz like everyone has said...a little too much alcohol/heat, otherwise solid.
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2/25/2010 - cbbrown3 wrote: 90 Points
A nice garnet red color. Blackberries, cherries, espresso, and vanilla on the nose. Full body with good acidity and solid, ripe tannins. Loads of sweet berries, chocolate, and a bit of spicy oak on the palate. Good length on the finish with the spicy berries lingering nicely but a touch too much oak outlasting the fruit. A good Aussie shiraz with structure rather than syrup.
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2/19/2010 - tanninbomb wrote: 89 Points
Classic Aussie Shiraz -- dark berry, chocolate, coffee. Nice.
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2/17/2010 - markandsusanw wrote: 85 Points
For the (very small amount of) money this is a respectable Shiraz, but it's not outstanding, by any means. A little bit too tannic and a little bit fruit-shy. Lacks richness and complexity.
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2/14/2010 - benlisch wrote: 85 Points
Chocolaty oak with juicy, tangy black raspberry and hints of coffee which fades to a very tangy, orangy finish. Medium, slightly chalky tannins. The berry flavor was a bit overwhelmed by pizza leaving the mostly acidic orange; it was better without food.
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2/11/2010 - winepups wrote: 82 Points
other notes are correct - for a lower priced Aussie Shiraz it shows good (relative) balance but is still a bit oaky and alcoholic. definitely needs food and perhaps a bit of air.
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2/7/2010 - dpohlman wrote: 92 Points
This is an amazing value!
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2/6/2010 - rjdoan wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous. One of the best Shiraz I have enjoyed. The nose was complex and fruity with dark berry aromas. The taste is full and complex with fruits and some earthy flavors. It lingered nicely.
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2/1/2010 - pkatz wrote: 90 Points
Nicely balanced wine. Elegant by Aussie shiraz standards. Interesting flavors of mint, eucalyptus and some attractive greenness. Real nice QPR. Top 100 wine? I don't know about that but I can see their thinking: balanced, interesting flavors, widely available, and under $15.
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1/31/2010 - Deputy wrote: 88 Points
Opened up after about 20 minutes - great leading fruit and a nice smooth finish. Well-integrated tannins.
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1/25/2010 - weiny wrote: 93 Points
herbe kirschfrucht. so muss ein shiraz für mich schmecken
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1/21/2010 - Grillgod wrote: 89 Points
Very light bodied and mellow for an Aussie Shiraz. Got mostly a light, slightly sour cherry. Quite enjoyable, but not what you'd expect from an Aussie Shiraz. Very good deal at Costco for $9.99
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1/16/2010 - Kellious wrote: 87 Points
needs time, needs food, dark fruit, berries, toast, leather, would be great with a nice juicy steak.
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1/16/2010 - Steve in St Cloud wrote: 89 Points
Very nice. Nice fruit - sour cherries - and balance with tannin. Should continue to develop. Great pairing with meat loaf.
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1/11/2010 - Maznoc wrote: 90 Points
Mmmmmm. Excellent Aussie Shiraz, beautifully crafted. This is big and round. Smokey spice, with a wonderfully long finish. Decant for an hour and then enjoy!
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12/31/2009 - JClarksen wrote: 88 Points
Very good for the price. Very strong plum tastes with a light dark chocolate undertone. I will buy this again.
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12/29/2009 - Tarrant wrote: 88 Points
Excellent for the money, but a bit too soft for my liking and not that far off from 'Yellowtail' in my opinion, very good but certainly not what I would expect in a 91 PT Top 100 wine, I would take any number of Portuguese/Spanish wines that are in and around this price range anyday over this, but that may be just me - Dark, well concentrated with a nose of soft plum, blueberry, cherry, chocolate and vanilla, nicely balanced, a bit soft and lacking in complexity for my taste, smooth and sweet on the palate with medium length, nice for the money (88 Points).
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12/28/2009 - PIntag wrote: 85 Points
This bottle considerably better than the last one. Still a bit too oaky and alcoholic for my tastes, though.
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12/27/2009 - GregGH wrote: 90 Points
had previous years that tasted green -- liked this year - great QPR
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12/25/2009 - wine4all wrote:
drank on Christmas Eve at Carmen's
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12/18/2009 - PIntag wrote: 81 Points
Not sure what's going on here, but this bottle wasn't nearly as good as the last one. Perhaps bottle variation is the culprit. This bottle was way oakier than the last bottle. Hardly seems like the same wine. Didn't like this one much at all. Agree with Dalziel's assessment below.
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12/18/2009 - mgb02158 wrote: 89 Points
Significant improvement on the 2nd day.
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12/17/2009 - pfrichar wrote: 88 Points
Actually better on day 2. Good extraction, dark fruits.
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12/12/2009 - sonofabacchus wrote: 90 Points
I expected a overly touted sub-90 wine. This was a pleasant surprise. I won't speak to the nose as I was in a kitchen cooking chicken parmagiana. The taste, entirely unaired, was very nice. The impression is honeyed dark berries, that persisted to the finish. It made me question why I have a cellar full of 95-100 rated wines when this sort of bottle is more than fine for food or sipping. It might not be a blockbuster of the decade. It is, however, exactly what I think of for a potable wine. At the price point, why buy all that other stuff? Going back for a couple cases in the morning.
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12/8/2009 - Madidus wrote: 85 Points
Sweet dark fruits on the nose with rich new oak undertones. Heady, alcoholic palate is overwhelmed by woody, oaky finish; good bite but no complexity. Considerable power for the price, but lacking in real character.
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12/7/2009 - VinoGalore wrote: 90 Points
Although its youth is apparent when first opening the bottle, this is a very well made wine and this becomes apparent as the wine oxidizes. Before we knew it we had drunk the whole bottle.
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12/1/2009 - WilD wrote: 86 Points
Good easy drinking Shiraz. Velvetty glass of wine, dark purpled. Needs some air. Good quality for the money.
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12/1/2009 - Esteban wrote: 88 Points
Shiraz très joufflue. Texture ample et alcool assez présent. Manque un peu de complexité (épices, animale) pour que ce soit vraiment intéressant.
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11/30/2009 - harryt wrote: 85 Points
Dyp rød med lys kant. Markert nese med mye røde frukter, plommer, treverk og alkohol. God balanse i smaken, svært fyldig og nokså søt. Mjuke tanniner og lang smak. Litt i søteste laget til å være elegant, men en typisk aussie shiraz
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11/28/2009 - SmoothPalate wrote: 83 Points
Typical New world: very fruity and heavily oaked, high on alcohol (14.5%). Very obvious aroma of coffee and chocolate. Tannins are quite soft, the balance and the finish are not so bad. Many people may consider this a wine deserving 85 or more. I give it only 83 because it is really not my style. For me this kind of wine tastes a bit artificial with flavours that seem forced into the wine. No real personality or terroir, just like most other wines based on fruit and oak. In other words, nothing special!
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11/26/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz - same notes as before
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11/25/2009 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle I had on hand of this Award winner. Dark black to rose red at the rim. Real nice red and bramble fruit on the nose. This carries to the frontal attack with some mild oak, chocolate and spice characters. You cannot beat this shiraz. It's not a total fruit bomb, and is flexible enough to match with alot of food choices. Well worth the ratings it gets and the QPR.
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11/24/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shriaz - on sale now for $15; great everyday wine - good berry & spice.
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11/20/2009 - syrahz wrote: 90 Points
Nice Shiraz for everyday drinking. Very good QPR.
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11/20/2009 - drbill wrote:
deep garnet color in the glass with some redness/brick color. nose is deep fragrant dark chocolate. emhasizes alot of chocolate. body is medium. on the palate this again emphasizes deep dark chocolate, dark plums, a hint of smoke and a hint of oak. i think this is a delicious shiraz. you cannot beat the price. you can get it for 12$ or less.
will be buying more.
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11/12/2009 - syrahz wrote: 90 Points
Very good QPR. Nice for everyday drinking. Nothing complex but then nothing offensive, either. Hey, it's 13 bucks. A little air gives it a slight boost.
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11/8/2009 - DrewWyman wrote: 89 Points
A nice aussie Shiraz. Big with lots of dark fruit and oak. Decent QPR @13.50
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11/8/2009 - mwagner7700 wrote:
Purchased for $13. Nothing too special here... it's your typical Aussie Shiraz. Loads of dark fruit and oak. A lot of oak/vanilla. Blackberry, blueberry and "brambly" fruit. Everything is in balance and it is an enjoyable wine... just "more of the same". Very Good
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10/31/2009 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 91 Points
Just really nice. Lots of mouth feel and fruit aroma. Very balanced.
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10/31/2009 - mpricher wrote: 88 Points
Definite after the peak. This is still a very drinkable Shiraz, but clearly past its prime. Still alot of bramble red berry fruit and vanilla oak, to pair off hamburgers and party fair.
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10/24/2009 - SapphireDirewolf wrote: 89 Points
Impressed with the silky feel in the mouth, very mellow ready to drink now. Fruit on the nose, blackberry, plum, with chocolate notes. I will buy again. Good value.
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10/24/2009 - Charlesaf3 wrote: 87 Points
An inoffensive, but underwhelming, Australian Shiraz. Typical and forgettable. Integrated a bit on decanting, but still not worth buying again - there are enough wines with something right, no need to settle for nothing wrong
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10/11/2009 - tmiusa wrote: 86 Points
This wine is a tasty shiraz that's not overpowering, frutiy with a medium body and good complexity. The acid on the finish is what keeps this wine from being great.
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10/11/2009 - mpricher wrote: 89 Points
Another consistent Shiraz from this producer. Great QPR and 2007 appears to continue the trend!
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10/10/2009 - mpricher wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous. At a $12 Fire Sale price, there is alot of good red fruit in this bottling. Very pleased with the value point of this Shiraz!
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10/8/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 89 Points
Very good QPR
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10/6/2009 - scheune wrote: 91 Points
Typischer Shiraz mit schoener rauchiger Note. Sehr gut ausbalanciert
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9/21/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz for the $ - same notes as before; great everyday wine
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9/19/2009 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
this wine delivers i generous amount of fruit on a hefty frame. jammy berry preserves. although the wine is stylish, it is to be enjoyed mostly for its qpr.
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9/15/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz for the $ - same notes as before
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9/14/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 88 Points
Cathay Pacific Flight - Jakarta to Hong Kong (35,000 Feet Over The South China Seas): Solid performer. Not too dark. Rich almost sweet and dry tannins sweep across the rich food. Big controlled classic fruits, good finish. Great value.
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9/13/2009 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Menthol and tart berry on the nose. On the palate, gamey and meaty flavors with tart red currant. Very smooth with fine tannins leading to a 20+ second finish with just a touch of heat. Not a "fruit bomb" Shiraz for sure -- more of an elegant and serious one. Excellent wine and a no-brainer QPR for $13 at Costco. Wow, much better than I anticipated -- good stuff. Makes me wonder what a couple of years of bottle age will do for it.
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9/13/2009 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Deep Garnet red/semi-clear.Heat, leather, tobacco and cherry on the nose. Integrated an smooth cherry-cola and vanilla extract on the attack. The heat blows off in 30-45 min. This is very juciy fruit, and farily food friendly. A nice QPR at $13.50!
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9/9/2009 - Matt T wrote: 88 Points
Very good qpr. Nice, full bodied, but not over the top, Shiraz.
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9/8/2009 - cummingstom1 wrote: 88 Points
blackberry, plum, chocolate -- very nice
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9/7/2009 - denisontb wrote: 90 Points
We enjoyed this Shiraz once again. Popped & poured this bottle at a party. It needed a little breathing for the 1st few minutes, but then opened up nicely. It is a smooth, robust wine, and an outstanding value at $14. Tastes of blackberry, a bit of subtle peppery tones, but not overpowering. Plan to buy more.
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9/3/2009 - denisontb wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Shiraz. We really enjoyed it. Robust & slightly peppery. Excellent with steak. We're going to buy more !
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8/31/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz for the $ - need to find some more; same notes as before
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8/22/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 89 Points
VG shiraz - same notes as before
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8/18/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz - loads of smoke & spice; should have left to breathe for a while
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8/10/2009 - wahoo70 wrote: 90 Points
Haven't had an Aussie shiraz for a while and forgot how tasty they can be; gorgeous fragrant nose with tons of pepper, spice, blackcurrants and black raspberries; nice acidity, with voluptuous black fruit, more pepper and spice, chocolate, and a touch of vanilla and butterscotch; smooth but visible tannins, with a long, long finish ending in interesting green notes. Had this with grilled ribeyes and college kid wine newbie, and this is the first red wine he's really liked (he's a whiz at craft beer, however). Great as a pop and pour, and even better the second day. So very tasty and a great QPR.
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8/5/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz for the $ - good berry & spice, but not too heavy
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7/29/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz - same notes as before
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7/27/2009 - Bluedevil99 wrote: 87 Points
Strong alcohol at first. With air, plums and herbs on nose, tart black fruit on plate with hint of ripe cherry sweetness. Finishes with herbs and smoke. Paired nicely with BBQ ribs. Lacks power & depth of better Barossas but very good QPR. Worth a look.
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7/25/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz - not as big as some other shiraz; good berry & spice
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7/17/2009 - Keelaay wrote: 88 Points
Rates high on WS (90ish?). Not quite up there for me.
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6/12/2009 - Heelacious wrote:
This came off way too hot initially. Mellowed after being open a few hours, but initial impression kinda wrecked it. No score and no notes.
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6/12/2009 - SapphireDirewolf wrote: 89 Points
Good Value. Purchased a couple bottles at Costco. Opened and let breathe a couple hours. Some plum on the nose. Spicy, smokey, and I taste chocolate. Smooth.
Paired well with a prime new york cut off the bar-b. Will purchase more as I think this will pair well with a lamb rack and rosemary petite reds :)
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5/24/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 88 Points
Nice wine, decent value
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5/7/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 88 Points
VG shiraz for the $ - not a really "big" shiraz, but good berry & spice
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4/30/2009 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
VG shiraz for the $; Drinkable when opened - very typical; did not disappoint
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4/12/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 88 Points
Nice deep dark color, mild nose, big bold taste of dark fruits and a hint of vanilla and chocolate.
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4/11/2009 - Apiciusny wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyable Shiraz. Nothing exceptional, nothing unpleasant. (Whym Restaurant, $39)
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4/5/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 88 Points
Expected more - had a bit of a bite past mid palate. Maybe lay down a few more months.
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4/3/2009 - Epic Tale wrote: 88 Points
color: eggplant purple; nose: ripe oak and cherry; taste: medium and jammy mouthfeel, fruity plum on mid-palate, lingering chocolate finish. Overall: I guess this one is a "fruit bomb", as Gary Vaynerchuk calls them, but I like it. Nice nose, tasty, and finishes long. Stands on its own without food, but also would be tasty with grilled fare. Good value for money ($13.50 at Costo) and worth buying again.
another bottle - 10/31/09: as above, but noting a toasted cocoa finish; not velvety smooth like other Barossa shirazes, but still an 88 and on my buy-again list esp. when I can find it sale-priced as now at $12 (Calvert Woodley in DC)
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3/14/2009 - evenv Likes this wine: 83 Points
Very full-bodied, peppered. Great finish.
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3/8/2009 - DTWOB wrote: 86 Points
Very representative of a nice Shiraz with balance and complexity. Could drink this all night long.
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3/5/2009 - billyg wrote: 88 Points
Boysenberry, black currant on the nose. Blackberry, blueberry, plum attack followed by more dark fruit and vanilla. Smooth tannins on the finish with some cedar and celery. Simple and tasty.
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2/23/2009 - whineoh3 wrote: 86 Points
Good QPR
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2/3/2009 - bahiadave wrote:
quite good
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