Asperg Wine Syndrome Tasting Group: Pre X-Mas tasting (Private Location): Glass: Zalto Burgundy Tasted double blind. Clear, medium deep garnet. Intersting nose, some menthol, cool, ethereal. On the palate quite fine, despite the 14,5% abv rather elegant, fruity, spicy, some menthol and spices. A bit lean, nice texture and good length. Drinks nicely still. 91
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Popped n poured in Copake. Generous nose of coffee and some forest elements. Medium to full bodied, still good amount of red and black fruit here. Some oaky vanilla, and some meat, leather and tar. Round mouthfeel, a bit hot. Overall, surprisingly good wine and very well-preserved.
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what a wonderful wine. Bought a case upon release and managed to discipline myself until now to finish the dozen. A wine that outperformed the top reviews it received. Lovely fruit, nose, balance, light tannins and great long finish. If you are lucky to have any of this, enjoy it now.
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somewhat of a disappointment, secondary notes of cedar predominate over the fruit, round mouth feel, soft tannins, fading much more than it should, drink up, this is not going to get better.
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Tasting really good right now !! A perfect cork after two decades in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Popped and poured this balanced wine, it opened up quickly. On day two the fruit was still fresh, this elegant balanced wine had softened to reveal increased depth and integrated complexity. Dark burgundy color with little to no oxidation and clarity was medium. Aromas of bing cherry and raspberry. Flavors of black cherry cola, black pepper, raspberry framboise, stewed tomatoes, and leather. This Syrah has a beautifully long to medium finish. This age worthy wine may have more years of life left. Too bad it is my last bottle of this vintage, I will drink the 1999 soon. A great fruit source and a great winemaking effort.
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Blocky nose of coffee oak, vanilla, chocolate, dusty blackberry, meat, and slight redcurrant brightness behind it.
Drying, dusty oak tannins dominate the palate, which is otherwise quite acidic, and exhibits reasonable length. Some alcohol heat. The wine feels full bodied, yet it has lost much of its primary fruit. Perhaps a little band-aid/medicinal note there, however it isn’t obtrusive. All the action is in the front part of the mouth; absent at the back.
Opinion: Flat and oaky. Past its best, I’d imagine.
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Ripe dark fruit, juicy, loads of white pepper, just a hint of milk chocolate. Quite delicious, especially with red meat. Still young, will gain more complexity with further cellaring but certainly no harm drinking it now. Tannins close to fully resolved.
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Cork broke during opening. Had to return first bottle as couldn’t get it passed my nose.. Shop replaced. Managed to uncork the second. Way better colour. Needed to be drank with a steak, even then I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it. Did not enjoy as a solo... Perhaps the cellaring has pushed these 2 over and down the slope...
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Rare find on WineBid. At its peak but very good. Inky full bodied lots of very fruit and smooth tan ins with low acid. Doubt there is many more of these around.
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Decanted- needed 2 hours to open up. Dried red berries, some black cherry and star anise on nose. Velvety tennis wrapped around a core of red berry fruit and toffee. Very pretty wine at 20 years of age. Still has life left in it though its peaking now. If I had more (sadly I don't) I'd consume the rest in the next two or three years. Good show Rosemount!
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Blackish red, edges not showing its age. Bq w oak, jam of dark berries, some pepper, bacon fat. Almost full body w rounded tannins, plenty of acidity, dark, sweet fruit. Very nice balance. Long aftertaste w some alcohol and peppery fruit. Still very much alive, but we would not give it more than 1-2 yrs. Very good!
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The room filled with ripe berry fruit aromas as soon as I pulled the cork. Dark inky purple colored, full bodied, thick, chewy powerful concentrated ripe blueberry fruits are accented by tones of blackberry, game and bacon fat with a slight metallic graphite finish. This begs for hearty cheese, lamb, beef roast or the like. Still going strong in its 18th year. I have to believe this is nearing the end of its prime drinking window as the fruit flavors give way to the non-fruit metallic tones. There was more than two teaspoons of sediment in the last pour from the bottle.
Still drinking beautifully. Gorgeous mouth feel, great fruit, just enough acidity and tannin remaining to hold it all together. Another great example of aged McLaren Vale Syrah, especially at its 18th birthday .....but maybe not long to go. Glad we have 5 remaining but we'll drink them soon.
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Nose shows notes of armpit, barnyard, cabbage, and cherry. Palate is similarly over-the-hill, sour, and vinegared. Palate shows good, silky structure, and some pleasant flavours (black cherry, blackberry, fennel, plum, leather) but the unpleasant vinegar notes don't blow off.
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No longer is this a blueberry milkshake. In fact, far from it. It opens with reductive, band aid notes. Eventually, but somewhat slowing, those elements clear out. The bouquet is full of blackberry, brown sugar and cream. The nose is more like a youthful California Syrah. The fruit is still present and at the forefront, but it no long whacks away at the palate. The former heavy handed dose of vanilla has given way to some subtlety. Sure, some blueberry still appears on the attack and mid-palate, but by the finish, the wine waves in flavors of coffee and pepper. What an improvement this wine has made. 14.5% alc. With stinky cheese and blue cheese (Bayley Hazen), ham, salumi and crusty bread. Recommended.
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The cork was in good condition, with only minor shriveling. Opaque, very, very dark plum-cherry skin colour, with a little fade at rim. Blackberry, French barrique, soy and blueberry. A little American oak showing later on. Medium body. Starts a little short, with some alcoholic burn at the finish, but the wine settles down quickly to show freshness and sweetness of fruit which persists till the end of the bottle a long time later. Maybe a little disjointed, but it won me over with its superb concentration of gorgeous and generous fruit. Certainly old-vine material here. Had the nose been more nuanced, this very good plus wine would have been rated higher. I can't see it improving from hereon.
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Last bottle...past its prime. I think these wines have their peak from 4-8 years after the vintage. Even then they are too sweet and sometimes too hot for my palate. This was just plain tired.
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NobleRottersSydney - Best Wines to share (Verde, East Sydney): [14.5%, cork] {DavidC} I had dire expectations for this, but it was better than I anticipated. The nose is big, intense, and developed, with caramel oak and chocolate aromas. On the palate it tastes a little baked, with plum and blueberry fruit still in evidence. There’s only the barest nod to dusty tannins, and the acidity hasn’t much to contribute either. Has most of its presence on the tip of the tongue; manages a medium length, fairly simple though still pleasant finish. Very much drink now, and something of a lottery too these days.
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Good fill level and cork came out in one piece-no crumbling. Deep purple color in glass with brown rims. Nice bouquet. Drying fruit on palate with dusty tannins. Alcohol (14.5%) does not intrude. Not overly ripe or sweet like some. A dollop of sediment and tartaric crystals in empty bottle. Probably 3 or 4 years past prime. Drink up!
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After the negative reviews, this surprised me. Cherry, chocolate, licorice, leather, blueberry. Great nose, palate feels a little dilute but all correct. Not value but certainly well-made
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NobleRottersSydney - Best Oz vintages 90-02 (Alio's, Surry Hills): [14.5%, cork] {Stephen} Double-decanted a few hours before. An aged, festy, compost-like nose doesn’t bode well. The lipped bottle gave the options questions away – but this was consistent with previous bottles. 98 Balmoral is well past its best. There are still lots of chalky tannins here, but the nose is all iodine and raisins, and not tasty either. Clearly at the end of the road, and widely agreed upon by the table.
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UWS a random set of wines (@ JB): Very tertiary bouquet. On the palate a lot of chocolate. The tannin is completely melted. In the mouth better than in the nose. I don't know the history of this bottle, but the wine was too old for my taste. No score.
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{cork, 14.5%} Despite fine provenance, and a cork that appeared to have done its job, this wasn't up to much. Aged aromas, pruney and raisinlike, with a distinct metallic edge. The palate is mostly tar and cough mixture, with elements of aged ripe fruit making an occasional cameo, but you've really got to look hard. Little - none, really - in the way of interesting or complex secondary development, no charm, just an old fading wine. More than a touch of volatility about it too, and I don't mean that in a good way. Medium-full bodied - in context! - but no great length of finish. More proof that the plush/ripe/more-of-everything style in McLaren Vale has an effective shelf-life of about ten years. In fairness, this was certainly drinkable, and it's perhaps not universally off-putting, but as the flagship wine from one of Australia's best-known wineries it's not a great advertisement, either for McLaren Vale or for 1998.
Lovely aged shiraz. So elegant, one can easily miss the complexity and expressiveness in this wine. It is now starting to taste more old world now. Dusty plums, dark berries, pepper, and some game, wet rocks and french oak. Nose was slightly smokey with dark fruit aromas. Great with food - had with grilled chicken and mozzerella ravioli. I'd drink now though, cuz I'm not sure how much longer the fruit will hold out before fading away.
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Three years since my last taste of this vintage and while this wine isn't going anywhere, it really hasn't lost anything either. Still more prunes and plums than blackberry. And while white pepper notes are there, they are very faint. I'd almost take this for a Merlot. Needs food to express itself.
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Nose: Porty dark fruit; black currant specifically. Vanilla, cinnamon & BBQ steak Mouth: immediate black fruit, tarry black pepper and black cherry. Mouth puckering acidity, warm medium mouthfeel and slightly course but very long chocolate finish with plenty of not unpleasant tannic grip.
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Drinking much better than the 1999 (no surprise). Lovely dark fruit, blackberry, cherry, tannins and some herbal notes on the finish. Delicious, but drink now. (I don't think these are making Jeremy Oliver's 2018 drinking window)
We'll have the last bottle with lamb
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Nose: Initially black fruits and barbecued meat, vanilla, toasted nuts. Mint, eucalyptus and chocolate on top. Perhaps a little porty? Mouth: tannin, brambly fruit, smoke, savoury black treacle; almost tar. Black pepper. Long, tight,spicy, tannic finish
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Decanted one hour, nose of sweet vanilla, slight herb or greeness. Full bodied, big luscious smooth dark fruit, but not too sweet, great acidity and tannic structure and grip. Still very fresh and drinking very well right now.Fantastic, getting better as i drink it. Could even hold for a few more years depending on storage. This bottle was kept in perfect storage.
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Given the other reviews on this site I was disappointed in this wine. I had only purchased it on auction a few weeks before so I can't speak to the provenance but the source is usually very reliable. So, on to the wine. Popped and poured which usually works better for me with older Aussie shiraz's. The nose was good, tannins were refined so this was a mature wine. But, the finish was weak and the depth of taste just wasn't there. This tasted of a wine that had lost its power. And, as the wine sat in the glass and bottle opened, it did not get better over a period of 90 mins.
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Dark purple. Bright in an opaque kinda way. Wet rocks in the sun, dusty ripe purple fruits, grape, flower bits on the end. Nice. Bit of funk to round it out and give it a French feel. All that on the nose. Liquid fruit, but not overripe, the tannins only coming after a nice velvet smooth blanket of fruit. This is just a beautiful elegant wine right now. Bit of heat & pepper in there on the mid palate as the fruit finish just lingers on.
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Initially a bit closed. But with chilling down (from 68 to 55) and a little bit of time open, this wine really blossomed. Lots of dark fruit and a decent amount of tannins. Best with our grilled Australian lamb chops; not as good with the Colorado (American) lamb -- but no surprise.
I was surprised, however, to also find a 1999 bottle in our cellar. I thought we had drunk all the 1999.
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It took us awhile to warm up to this wine as the fruit was subdued, as was the nose, but after decanting and letting it sit, it was well-balanced, but the BBQ ribs overpowered it somewhat. Maybe if I had had it after 5 years rather than 10 it would have held up better.
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Had this wine with Pot Roast and it was quite good. Dark, full bodied, wonderful noise. I tasted the pepper. I think this is drinking well now but can be held for drinking in five years.
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Smell has great meatiness with hints of strawberry and chocolate. Nice flavors continue with intensity in the mouth, though possibly more one-dimensional here. Overall, a great wine drinking at its peak.
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Meaty nose. Good balance. Still a bit of tannin indicates this still has room to improve although it is showing very well already. Quite dry. Very long finish.
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Popped and poured. Attention! Needs filtering prior drinking, because of sediments in the bottle. Ruby color. Warm and rich aussie shiraz nose. Medium bodied on the palate with melted tannins and good level of acidity. Flavors of cherry marmelade, butterscotch, cinnamon, dark chocolate and oaky vanilla. Quite short aftertaste. A wine on its apogee to enjoy right now, but with an aging potential for 2 - 3 more years.
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Opened last night and (now you know this is one of my all time favourite wines), I didn't enjoy it. Too tart. Too much prune and cola. Zut alors! Maybe it's my cold.
24 hours later. Much improved. Mellowed. Dark berries. Still some prunes. Leather, straw. All well blended together. Good weight and length too. None the less, my least favourite Balmoral vintage yet.
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Ordered with spring rack of lamb. Wine had lush blueberry and blackberry notes on the nose and palate. Rich, velvety mouthfeel. A bit boozy at first, but it softened with some time.
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Visual: Dark, dense, viscous. Nose: Nice intensity with fruit, tobacco, mint, brambles, oak. Palate: Full bodied, smoke, oak, vanilla; nice tart acidity, mild tannins, alcohol at 14.5% but not overwhelming. Overall: Smooth, pleasant, not complex or long, but good varietal character.
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This shiraz had matured into a very nice drinking wine as a previous poster has indicated. Drinking so nice now it may be at its peak. So happy I have another bottle in my cellar. Should drink great for at least five more years.
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Three years since I last had one, Still very dark nearly opique. revealing some mixed berry cobbler and ethanol, alittle subdued. Thankfully the palate comes through with a smack of blueberry, blackberry and cassis, with a slightly leatherly finish. tannins have softened nicely. Drink now over the next 7 years.
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aromas of blue and black fruit and hint of bacon fat over the top. Not as fruit driven as I expected and the tannins are still quite gripping. Amazing mouthful of blueberries and plum. Could use a bit more bottle age.
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Friday, August 03, 2001 Written in October. Rich deep purple. Nose of berries and earth and pepper. Red fruit, pepper and earth on the palate. With beef filet steaks. Thursday, December 18, 2003 Rosemount Balmoral McLaren Vale 1998: Still not wanting to return to Va. wine, but not wanting to pull out the good stuff either, this called to me. It needed a data point anyway. Creamy, vanilla-blueberry and coffee, raspberry and licorice. Short mid-palate but a lengthy finish with sweet tannins. ’Hedonistic, gobs of fruit,’ ... you know the routine. Will continue to hold its own, but the tannins seem resolved. Will try another in about 6 months. 14.5% alc. With beef tenderloin filet. Saturday, June 18, 2005 Fruit, fruit and more fruit. Or should I say, blueberries, blueberries and blueberries. Throw in a heavy handed dose of vanilla and a bit of cream and you have this wine, or a milkshake. It could have been either. I cannot imagine that this wine will improve any and suggest that if anyone has ‘em to drink ‘em. It’s a fun enough wine, but no finesse and no nuance. Anybody want my last 2 bottles? 14.5% alc. With excellent rare fillet beefsteaks topped with rosemary butter and sides of grits and sugar snap peas.
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Aussie's at Momo's: Blind Red 2 - Dry extract and not much else going on with the nose. Vague. Closed? A bit high-toned. Somewhat elegant. Older. Not really very impressive.
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The tasting began after seven hours of decanting time. This wine had a dense, monster nose of blackberry, with a background hint of blueberry. On the attack, this wine had… not much. Most of the flavor in this wine was on the midpalate to finish, which was very strange. Blackberry was predominant, with one taster also noting sweet black cherry. Minerals could be found underneath the spice on a moderately long finish.
Round two began after about 8-1/2 hours of decanting. The profile of this wine remained basically the same, though one taster noted some lavender on the midpalate. To me, on round two everything seemed weaker than round one. I have read notes that say this wine usually takes eight to ten years to come around. Admittedly this one is still very young, but it is the only wine in two nights that actually seemed to deteriorate while we were drinking. I have a suspicion that this wine is either very shut down or more likely the decanting time was just too much. One taster noted that he almost did not even enjoy this wine. I have two bottles of this left with no idea what I will do with it in the future. I think I will let it lie for another few years, and hope for the best.
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NobleRottersSydney - Launching the '98 cellar (1) (Darling Mills, Glebe): An appreciable step-up in quality from the Show Reserve here. Almost black in colour, the nose is restrained, closed & buried – there’s a hint of blackcurrant and oak, but little else. On the palate my impression is of a very tightly wound wine, tannins microscopically fine, but the plush texture is spread completely across the mouth. This is very, very good indeed, thought it’s a bit of a waste drinking it now. This seems like a closed flower to me now – a few years should see to bloom magnificently.
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Retailer Tasting (Sydney): Closed nose; reticent fruit (served very warm); tannins build to medium weight and eventually swamp the fruit. Hard to say more.
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Intense aromas of vanilla, woodspice, toast, butterscotch, cookie dough and currant nose. Full bodied and super-plush palate with some structured tannin on the finish. Good flavours and length
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12/8/2023 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 91 Points
Asperg Wine Syndrome Tasting Group: Pre X-Mas tasting (Private Location): Glass: Zalto Burgundy
Tasted double blind. Clear, medium deep garnet. Intersting nose, some menthol, cool, ethereal.
On the palate quite fine, despite the 14,5% abv rather elegant, fruity, spicy, some menthol and spices. A bit lean, nice texture and good length. Drinks nicely still. 91
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8/13/2022 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 92 Points
Past prime for sure but still a lovely wine.
Soft texture, nice fruit, acidity subdued.
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4/24/2021 - cephomer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped n poured in Copake. Generous nose of coffee and some forest elements. Medium to full bodied, still good amount of red and black fruit here. Some oaky vanilla, and some meat, leather and tar. Round mouthfeel, a bit hot. Overall, surprisingly good wine and very well-preserved.
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3/10/2021 - salua wrote: 95 Points
what a wonderful wine. Bought a case upon release and managed to discipline myself until now to finish the dozen. A wine that outperformed the top reviews it received. Lovely fruit, nose, balance, light tannins and great long finish. If you are lucky to have any of this, enjoy it now.
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2/21/2021 - Dsen wrote: flawed
All three bottles of the balmoral 1998 we had that night were flawed
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2/7/2021 - ShadowIII Likes this wine: 89 Points
somewhat of a disappointment, secondary notes of cedar predominate over the fruit, round mouth feel, soft tannins, fading much more than it should, drink up, this is not going to get better.
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12/8/2020 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasting really good right now !!
A perfect cork after two decades in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Popped and poured this balanced wine, it opened up quickly. On day two the fruit was still fresh, this elegant balanced wine had softened to reveal increased depth and integrated complexity.
Dark burgundy color with little to no oxidation and clarity was medium. Aromas of bing cherry and raspberry. Flavors of black cherry cola, black pepper, raspberry framboise, stewed tomatoes, and leather. This Syrah has a beautifully long to medium finish. This age worthy wine may have more years of life left. Too bad it is my last bottle of this vintage, I will drink the 1999 soon. A great fruit source and a great winemaking effort.
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11/28/2020 - mphatic wrote:
Cork, 14.5% alc. Dark red, bricking.
Blocky nose of coffee oak, vanilla, chocolate, dusty blackberry, meat, and slight redcurrant brightness behind it.
Drying, dusty oak tannins dominate the palate, which is otherwise quite acidic, and exhibits reasonable length. Some alcohol heat. The wine feels full bodied, yet it has lost much of its primary fruit. Perhaps a little band-aid/medicinal note there, however it isn’t obtrusive. All the action is in the front part of the mouth; absent at the back.
Opinion: Flat and oaky. Past its best, I’d imagine.
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8/13/2020 - Ryan Meyer wrote: 91 Points
Still drinking well in 2020.
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7/26/2020 - Iceman08 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perfumed, a touch of brett, but enjoyed.
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4/27/2020 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a very enjoyable vino.
Not quote as robust as 4 years ago ....and maybe not long to go.
If you have any drink it!
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3/28/2020 - pbaek wrote:
Ripe dark fruit, juicy, loads of white pepper, just a hint of milk chocolate. Quite delicious, especially with red meat. Still young, will gain more complexity with further cellaring but certainly no harm drinking it now. Tannins close to fully resolved.
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1/14/2020 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nicely balanced; savory, peak fruit; long finish; medium nose.
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8/19/2019 - Haydyn wrote: flawed
Cork broke during opening. Had to return first bottle as couldn’t get it passed my nose.. Shop replaced. Managed to uncork the second. Way better colour. Needed to be drank with a steak, even then I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it. Did not enjoy as a solo... Perhaps the cellaring has pushed these 2 over and down the slope...
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1/25/2019 - tannictongue Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rare find on WineBid. At its peak but very good. Inky full bodied lots of very fruit and smooth tan ins with low acid. Doubt there is many more of these around.
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10/31/2018 - phill mz wrote:
Oak, Oak and more oak. Dull and boring.
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9/30/2018 - Leto South wrote: 92 Points
Not much change from the notes one year ago. Still a couple of years to go. This was (sadly) our last bottle.
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4/8/2018 - zinadu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted- needed 2 hours to open up. Dried red berries, some black cherry and star anise on nose. Velvety tennis wrapped around a core of red berry fruit and toffee. Very pretty wine at 20 years of age. Still has life left in it though its peaking now. If I had more (sadly I don't) I'd consume the rest in the next two or three years. Good show Rosemount!
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3/15/2018 - Angle Gold Likes this wine: 91 Points
Meaty on the nose, still had tannin, felt like it was close to the end but still in reasonable balance.
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9/24/2017 - Leto South wrote: 92 Points
Blackish red, edges not showing its age. Bq w oak, jam of dark berries, some pepper, bacon fat. Almost full body w rounded tannins, plenty of acidity, dark, sweet fruit. Very nice balance. Long aftertaste w some alcohol and peppery fruit. Still very much alive, but we would not give it more than 1-2 yrs. Very good!
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9/18/2017 - TashNYC wrote:
We had this wine a couple of years ago. I recall it was magnificent. Last bottle. No score since this note is from memory
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10/23/2016 - rmcnees wrote: 92 Points
The room filled with ripe berry fruit aromas as soon as I pulled the cork. Dark inky purple colored, full bodied, thick, chewy powerful concentrated ripe blueberry fruits are accented by tones of blackberry, game and bacon fat with a slight metallic graphite finish. This begs for hearty cheese, lamb, beef roast or the like. Still going strong in its 18th year. I have to believe this is nearing the end of its prime drinking window as the fruit flavors give way to the non-fruit metallic tones. There was more than two teaspoons of sediment in the last pour from the bottle.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2016/10/rosemount-mclaren-vale-balmoral-syrah.html
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9/24/2016 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still drinking beautifully. Gorgeous mouth feel, great fruit, just enough acidity and tannin remaining to hold it all together. Another great example of aged McLaren Vale Syrah, especially at its 18th birthday .....but maybe not long to go. Glad we have 5 remaining but we'll drink them soon.
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6/25/2016 - G.M. wrote: 92 Points
Rich nose of vanillan oak, ripe fruit and dark chocolate. Powerful juicy palate, with a reasonable spine of tannin and acid. (92 Very good wine)
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5/5/2016 - Drinking Trees wrote: flawed
Nose shows notes of armpit, barnyard, cabbage, and cherry. Palate is similarly over-the-hill, sour, and vinegared. Palate shows good, silky structure, and some pleasant flavours (black cherry, blackberry, fennel, plum, leather) but the unpleasant vinegar notes don't blow off.
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10/3/2015 - timewithwine wrote:
No longer is this a blueberry milkshake. In fact, far from it. It opens with reductive, band aid notes. Eventually, but somewhat slowing, those elements clear out. The bouquet is full of blackberry, brown sugar and cream. The nose is more like a youthful California Syrah. The fruit is still present and at the forefront, but it no long whacks away at the palate. The former heavy handed dose of vanilla has given way to some subtlety. Sure, some blueberry still appears on the attack and mid-palate, but by the finish, the wine waves in flavors of coffee and pepper. What an improvement this wine has made. 14.5% alc. With stinky cheese and blue cheese (Bayley Hazen), ham, salumi and crusty bread. Recommended.
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2/28/2015 - Ingmars wrote:
The cork was in good condition, with only minor shriveling. Opaque, very, very dark plum-cherry skin colour, with a little fade at rim. Blackberry, French barrique, soy and blueberry. A little American oak showing later on. Medium body. Starts a little short, with some alcoholic burn at the finish, but the wine settles down quickly to show freshness and sweetness of fruit which persists till the end of the bottle a long time later. Maybe a little disjointed, but it won me over with its superb concentration of gorgeous and generous fruit. Certainly old-vine material here. Had the nose been more nuanced, this very good plus wine would have been rated higher. I can't see it improving from hereon.
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3/27/2014 - ubercuvee wrote: 94 Points
Wow lovely cocao powder on the nose and restrained black fruits and berries on the palate. Beauty. Absolutely at its apogee - drink now
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6/17/2013 - Edclr wrote: 87 Points
Last bottle...past its prime. I think these wines have their peak from 4-8 years after the vintage. Even then they are too sweet and sometimes too hot for my palate. This was just plain tired.
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5/6/2013 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Best Wines to share (Verde, East Sydney): [14.5%, cork] {DavidC} I had dire expectations for this, but it was better than I anticipated. The nose is big, intense, and developed, with caramel oak and chocolate aromas. On the palate it tastes a little baked, with plum and blueberry fruit still in evidence. There’s only the barest nod to dusty tannins, and the acidity hasn’t much to contribute either. Has most of its presence on the tip of the tongue; manages a medium length, fairly simple though still pleasant finish. Very much drink now, and something of a lottery too these days.
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4/7/2013 - smenzies Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely nose on opening but a very disappointing unbalanced palate. However, after 2 hrs decanting the fruit and tannins were in perfect balance.
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4/1/2013 - 41hijinx Likes this wine: 87 Points
Good fill level and cork came out in one piece-no crumbling. Deep purple color in glass with brown rims. Nice bouquet. Drying fruit on palate with dusty tannins. Alcohol (14.5%) does not intrude. Not overly ripe or sweet like some. A dollop of sediment and tartaric crystals in empty bottle. Probably 3 or 4 years past prime. Drink up!
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8/24/2012 - grantsky wrote:
No detaile notes. Very raisny on the nose. Past peak
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8/10/2012 - mattwoolley wrote: 90 Points
After the negative reviews, this surprised me. Cherry, chocolate, licorice, leather, blueberry. Great nose, palate feels a little dilute but all correct. Not value but certainly well-made
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7/2/2012 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Best Oz vintages 90-02 (Alio's, Surry Hills): [14.5%, cork] {Stephen} Double-decanted a few hours before. An aged, festy, compost-like nose doesn’t bode well. The lipped bottle gave the options questions away – but this was consistent with previous bottles. 98 Balmoral is well past its best. There are still lots of chalky tannins here, but the nose is all iodine and raisins, and not tasty either. Clearly at the end of the road, and widely agreed upon by the table.
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2/12/2012 - shk5157 wrote: 91 Points
spicy, subdued fruit; may have been better a couple years earlier
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8/30/2011 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Opened after two disappointing 1997s, and this was not much better. Past peak and barely drinkable.
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6/30/2011 - Zweder wrote:
UWS a random set of wines (@ JB): Very tertiary bouquet. On the palate a lot of chocolate. The tannin is completely melted. In the mouth better than in the nose. I don't know the history of this bottle, but the wine was too old for my taste. No score.
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9/19/2010 - graemeg wrote:
{cork, 14.5%} Despite fine provenance, and a cork that appeared to have done its job, this wasn't up to much. Aged aromas, pruney and raisinlike, with a distinct metallic edge. The palate is mostly tar and cough mixture, with elements of aged ripe fruit making an occasional cameo, but you've really got to look hard. Little - none, really - in the way of interesting or complex secondary development, no charm, just an old fading wine. More than a touch of volatility about it too, and I don't mean that in a good way. Medium-full bodied - in context! - but no great length of finish. More proof that the plush/ripe/more-of-everything style in McLaren Vale has an effective shelf-life of about ten years. In fairness, this was certainly drinkable, and it's perhaps not universally off-putting, but as the flagship wine from one of Australia's best-known wineries it's not a great advertisement, either for McLaren Vale or for 1998.
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7/10/2010 - edjBoca wrote: 91 Points
Drinking at peak. Great nose and smooth complex velvety palate and a nice finish. Will drink well for a few years IMO.
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6/22/2010 - wine4ever wrote: 91 Points
Lovely aged shiraz. So elegant, one can easily miss the complexity and expressiveness in this wine. It is now starting to taste more old world now. Dusty plums, dark berries, pepper, and some game, wet rocks and french oak. Nose was slightly smokey with dark fruit aromas. Great with food - had with grilled chicken and mozzerella ravioli. I'd drink now though, cuz I'm not sure how much longer the fruit will hold out before fading away.
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4/6/2010 - Plusvini wrote: 87 Points
Three years since my last taste of this vintage and while this wine isn't going anywhere, it really hasn't lost anything either. Still more prunes and plums than blackberry. And while white pepper notes are there, they are very faint. I'd almost take this for a Merlot. Needs food to express itself.
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3/14/2010 - chatters wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Porty dark fruit; black currant specifically. Vanilla, cinnamon & BBQ steak
Mouth: immediate black fruit, tarry black pepper and black cherry. Mouth puckering acidity, warm medium mouthfeel and slightly course but very long chocolate finish with plenty of not unpleasant tannic grip.
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2/17/2010 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Drinking much better than the 1999 (no surprise). Lovely dark fruit, blackberry, cherry, tannins and some herbal notes on the finish.
Delicious, but drink now. (I don't think these are making Jeremy Oliver's 2018 drinking window)
We'll have the last bottle with lamb
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1/31/2010 - chatters wrote: 89 Points
Nose: Initially black fruits and barbecued meat, vanilla, toasted nuts. Mint, eucalyptus and chocolate on top. Perhaps a little porty?
Mouth: tannin, brambly fruit, smoke, savoury black treacle; almost tar. Black pepper. Long, tight,spicy, tannic finish
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12/30/2009 - chatters wrote: 88 Points
Nose: aniseed, toasted cedar, slightly musty cellar, dates (?)
Mouth: tannin, plum, bitter coffee, marzipan/toasted almonds. Some light acidity and a long, slightly bitter finish. Quite full bodied.
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11/29/2009 - J2K wrote: 94 Points
Decanted one hour, nose of sweet vanilla, slight herb or greeness. Full bodied, big luscious smooth dark fruit, but not too sweet, great acidity and tannic structure and grip. Still very fresh and drinking very well right now.Fantastic, getting better as i drink it. Could even hold for a few more years depending on storage. This bottle was kept in perfect storage.
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10/14/2009 - johnecase wrote: 87 Points
Given the other reviews on this site I was disappointed in this wine. I had only purchased it on auction a few weeks before so I can't speak to the provenance but the source is usually very reliable. So, on to the wine. Popped and poured which usually works better for me with older Aussie shiraz's. The nose was good, tannins were refined so this was a mature wine. But, the finish was weak and the depth of taste just wasn't there. This tasted of a wine that had lost its power. And, as the wine sat in the glass and bottle opened, it did not get better over a period of 90 mins.
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9/4/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 93 Points
Dark purple. Bright in an opaque kinda way. Wet rocks in the sun, dusty ripe purple fruits, grape, flower bits on the end. Nice. Bit of funk to round it out and give it a French feel. All that on the nose. Liquid fruit, but not overripe, the tannins only coming after a nice velvet smooth blanket of fruit. This is just a beautiful elegant wine right now. Bit of heat & pepper in there on the mid palate as the fruit finish just lingers on.
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9/1/2009 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
Initially a bit closed. But with chilling down (from 68 to 55) and a little bit of time open, this wine really blossomed. Lots of dark fruit and a decent amount of tannins.
Best with our grilled Australian lamb chops; not as good with the Colorado (American) lamb -- but no surprise.
I was surprised, however, to also find a 1999 bottle in our cellar. I thought we had drunk all the 1999.
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7/27/2009 - Mrbuzz wrote: 93 Points
TN: Burgundy vs. U.S Pinot Noir blind tasting....plus a dozen others!!! (Buzzini House): Full bodied, blue fruits, dusty spice, pepper, smoky cedar/meat, creamy vanilla oak. Very young still, long way to go....but great tasting now!
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5/8/2009 - rmcnees wrote: 92 Points
Deep inky colour, pleasant aroma and lots of intense fruit - blueberry, plum and blackberry, a touch of spice and soft tannins.
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4/11/2009 - Parnelli wrote: 90 Points
It took us awhile to warm up to this wine as the fruit was subdued, as was the nose, but after decanting and letting it sit, it was well-balanced, but the BBQ ribs overpowered it somewhat. Maybe if I had had it after 5 years rather than 10 it would have held up better.
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1/28/2009 - Zinlady wrote: 90 Points
Had this wine with Pot Roast and it was quite good. Dark, full bodied, wonderful noise. I tasted the pepper. I think this is drinking well now but can be held for drinking in five years.
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6/9/2008 - monkeylug wrote: 93 Points
Smell has great meatiness with hints of strawberry and chocolate. Nice flavors continue with intensity in the mouth, though possibly more one-dimensional here. Overall, a great wine drinking at its peak.
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4/8/2008 - winesteward wrote: 90 Points
Meaty nose. Good balance. Still a bit of tannin indicates this still has room to improve although it is showing very well already. Quite dry. Very long finish.
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3/15/2008 - balassis wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured.
Attention! Needs filtering prior drinking, because of sediments in the bottle.
Ruby color.
Warm and rich aussie shiraz nose.
Medium bodied on the palate with melted tannins and good level of acidity.
Flavors of cherry marmelade, butterscotch, cinnamon, dark chocolate and oaky vanilla.
Quite short aftertaste.
A wine on its apogee to enjoy right now, but with an aging potential for 2 - 3 more years.
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2/26/2008 - ubercuvee wrote: 92 Points
Very young, still very tight (reminded me kind of a shut down 03 Rhone). Needs 4 more years at least. Forget about it until then.
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1/19/2008 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
No notes taken. Served with Dan's meatloaf and spinach salad. Flavors were dominated by black fruits and toasty oak. The family liked this a lot.
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11/4/2006 - Plusvini wrote: 89 Points
Opened last night and (now you know this is one of my all time favourite wines), I didn't enjoy it. Too tart. Too much prune and cola. Zut alors! Maybe it's my cold.
24 hours later. Much improved. Mellowed. Dark berries. Still some prunes. Leather, straw. All well blended together. Good weight and length too. None the less, my least favourite Balmoral vintage yet.
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10/12/2006 - tendring Likes this wine: 94 Points
Old world smell, lovely nose.
Fruity, excellent balance, smooth, elegant, retains an Australian character, great length.
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9/30/2006 - Dusty Bear wrote: 92 Points
Ordered with spring rack of lamb. Wine had lush blueberry and blackberry notes on the nose and palate. Rich, velvety mouthfeel. A bit boozy at first, but it softened with some time.
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5/17/2006 - Barbara B wrote: 90 Points
Tasted 2006-05-15
AIS, Rome, 6 Australian reds
Visual: Dark, dense, viscous.
Nose: Nice intensity with fruit, tobacco, mint, brambles, oak.
Palate: Full bodied, smoke, oak, vanilla; nice tart acidity, mild tannins, alcohol at 14.5% but not overwhelming.
Overall: Smooth, pleasant, not complex or long, but good varietal character.
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4/18/2006 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
This shiraz had matured into a very nice drinking wine as a previous poster has indicated. Drinking so nice now it may be at its peak. So happy I have another bottle in my cellar. Should drink great for at least five more years.
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11/11/2005 - ChillyWino wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Deep purple. Loads of blueberry, cassis, earthy flavors, and vanilla oak. Very smooth and lush with a long finish.
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10/25/2005 - AstonM wrote: 91 Points
Three years since I last had one, Still very dark nearly opique.
revealing some mixed berry cobbler and ethanol, alittle subdued.
Thankfully the palate comes through with a smack of blueberry, blackberry and cassis, with a slightly leatherly finish. tannins have softened nicely. Drink now over the next 7 years.
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8/25/2005 - wayfool wrote: 92 Points
aromas of blue and black fruit and hint of bacon fat over the top. Not as fruit driven as I expected and the tannins are still quite gripping. Amazing mouthful of blueberries and plum. Could use a bit more bottle age.
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6/18/2005 - timewithwine wrote:
Friday, August 03, 2001 Written in October. Rich deep purple. Nose of berries and earth and pepper. Red fruit, pepper and earth on the palate. With beef filet steaks.
Thursday, December 18, 2003 Rosemount Balmoral McLaren Vale 1998: Still not wanting to return to Va. wine, but not wanting to pull out the good stuff either, this called to me. It needed a data point anyway. Creamy, vanilla-blueberry and coffee, raspberry and licorice. Short mid-palate but a lengthy finish with sweet tannins. ’Hedonistic, gobs of fruit,’ ... you know the routine. Will continue to hold its own, but the tannins seem resolved. Will try another in about 6 months. 14.5% alc. With beef tenderloin filet.
Saturday, June 18, 2005 Fruit, fruit and more fruit. Or should I say, blueberries, blueberries and blueberries. Throw in a heavy handed dose of vanilla and a bit of cream and you have this wine, or a milkshake. It could have been either. I cannot imagine that this wine will improve any and suggest that if anyone has ‘em to drink ‘em. It’s a fun enough wine, but no finesse and no nuance. Anybody want my last 2 bottles? 14.5% alc. With excellent rare fillet beefsteaks topped with rosemary butter and sides of grits and sugar snap peas.
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5/5/2005 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Aussie's at Momo's: Blind Red 2 - Dry extract and not much else going on with the nose. Vague. Closed? A bit high-toned. Somewhat elegant. Older. Not really very impressive.
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1/30/2005 - mouton45 wrote: 91 Points
With Paul G. Balmoral was better than I remember. Ready to drink
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10/1/2003 - SacredCow wrote:
Tasted at an informal Denver offline on 10/01/03.
The tasting began after seven hours of decanting time. This wine had a dense, monster nose of blackberry, with a background hint of blueberry. On the attack, this wine had… not much. Most of the flavor in this wine was on the midpalate to finish, which was very strange. Blackberry was predominant, with one taster also noting sweet black cherry. Minerals could be found underneath the spice on a moderately long finish.
Round two began after about 8-1/2 hours of decanting. The profile of this wine remained basically the same, though one taster noted some lavender on the midpalate. To me, on round two everything seemed weaker than round one. I have read notes that say this wine usually takes eight to ten years to come around. Admittedly this one is still very young, but it is the only wine in two nights that actually seemed to deteriorate while we were drinking. I have a suspicion that this wine is either very shut down or more likely the decanting time was just too much. One taster noted that he almost did not even enjoy this wine. I have two bottles of this left with no idea what I will do with it in the future. I think I will let it lie for another few years, and hope for the best.
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5/11/2003 - SadEdjo wrote:
very oaky & brooding blackberry & spice.
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5/6/2002 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Launching the '98 cellar (1) (Darling Mills, Glebe): An appreciable step-up in quality from the Show Reserve here. Almost black in colour, the nose is restrained, closed & buried – there’s a hint of blackcurrant and oak, but little else. On the palate my impression is of a very tightly wound wine, tannins microscopically fine, but the plush texture is spread completely across the mouth. This is very, very good indeed, thought it’s a bit of a waste drinking it now. This seems like a closed flower to me now – a few years should see to bloom magnificently.
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11/10/2001 - graemeg wrote:
Retailer Tasting (Sydney): Closed nose; reticent fruit (served very warm); tannins build to medium weight and eventually swamp the fruit. Hard to say more.
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10/2/2001 - Double-A wrote:
Intense aromas of vanilla, woodspice, toast, butterscotch, cookie dough and currant nose. Full bodied and super-plush palate with some structured tannin on the finish. Good flavours and length
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7/2/2001 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Rosemount wines with Neil Hadley MW (Darling Mills, Glebe): Deep purple red. Coconut, rhubarb, pepper, rich black fruits. Still too young – rough & harsh – I think it has great potential but needs plenty more time to come together.
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