Medium ruby colour in the glass with a lovely aroma of dark fruits, liquorice, baking spice, vanilla. Medium body everything in balance, lots of freshness and plenty of acid. Long finish with lively tannins - somewhat hot on the finish. Long life ahead.
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Screwcap, 14.5% alc. Opaque, dark crimson, with red at the rim.
Presents an impenetrable wall of aroma with blackberry, toasted spices, crushed ants, mint, pan juices, some alcohol breathiness, and dusty cupboard.
It’s rich but not too dense or glossy on the palate; the fine brick dust-like tannin and well balanced acidity prevent it from being syrupy. Quite a long finish that brings to attention the more savoury and herbal characters.
Opinion: fruit and oak are in good balance this vintage. Red fruit and orange peel emerge with a further airing. Lots of life remaining: this is only just beyond its first flush of youth.
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Prominent rustic and barnyard bouquet, tar, wet earth and seasoned wood. The black fruits are hidden at its aromatic core, very subtle. Palate reflects the nose with some fruits in the medium bodied structure. Do not have the depth and extension of the better vintage, finishing a touch short. At its peak now and should drink up soon.
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Penfold's 389 2006 Nose of intense ripe fruits, mainly black fruits, black berry, red & black cherries, blue berry, oaky, sweet spice, forest floor. Entry is smooth, inviting, savory, mid palate is full and rich, mainly echo the nose. However, finish is a little short vs her palate. Has reached her peak, drink within next 3-4 years. 90 pts
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Decanted for sediment which was almost nonexistent, 4th bottle tasted of 7, lasted taste in 2014. Rich dark fruit, some earthy notes, a bit of spice, smother than previous bottles, should hold for several more years. Paired with beef tri-tip very nicely, agree with previous taster a good food wine but lacks the complexity for a higher score IMO.
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2006 was a relatively early vintage, with low rainfall and warm weather contributing to an early bud burst and flowering. Mild to warm weather throughout summer helped the fruit to mature well and assisting rains prior to harvest allowed fruit to ripen well with good varietal character. Cabernet 52 Shiraz 48 % interestingly no sediment
Winemaker comments by Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker Bright, deep-red, with an impenetrable core. A complex amalgam of fresh mulberry/blueberry/ blackberry fruits laced with soy & malt, and slices of fresh fig & dates. A later residual whiff of pan- juices, rosemary & sage. Ripe, yet not overripe with stylish oak! Textbook structure: tannin, acidity, balance. Up- front, Cabernet & Shiraz fruits intertwine for collective attention, a sweet middle meshed with tea-leaf/olive tapenade flavours. Rounded, ripe and lush tannins and integrated spicy oak usher a finish bereft of any rough edges. Focussed, polished, brooding, inky. No doubt its best lies ahead. "Floats out of the glass - Cabernet/Shiraz as one, with Grange aromatics & persistence."
Rewards of Patience 6th Ed 2008 2012-2035 Rewards of Patience 7th Ed 2013 2014-2045 only Grange has a longer window at 2050
Colour deep garnet black hues slight bricking 15/15 Nose intense aromas perfumed, cassis , blackcurrent dark cherry, cedary tannins tarry, chocolate , vanilla, liquorice, malt savoury earthy spice, Garrigue Garrigue refers to the low-growing vegetation on the limestone hills of the Mediterranean coast, not the limestone itself. There are a bunch of bushy, fragrant plants that grow wild there, such as juniper, thyme, rosemary and lavender, and garrigue refers to the sum of them. 29/30 Palate full bodied, rich ripe fruits blackcurrent, cherry spice dark chocolate mulberry , long firm finish of tannin and acidity , primary fruit flavours still very much front and center 42/44 Overall 24 hours later this wine has not changed , unfortunately I didn’t keep enough to go for 3 days, which goes someway to explain why the window has been pushed out to 2045 , definitely a food wine ie big chewy steak 9/11
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Superb. Black fruits, incredible fruit sweetness, cocoa, meat juices, touch of vanilla, coffee grounds, mint, white pepper. Wish I could describe the tannin in a meaningful way... I only have the word ladders... it’s special. Outstanding balance and length. Such a pleasure to drink. My first of three bottles, and I reckon I timed it well. The others will drink well over the next 10+ years.
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This was drinking beautifully - PnP (stelvin) although open for about 3h (no decant). Smooth, rich dark fruits with well integrated oak flavours and fine tannin. Long finish. Minimal tertiary development at the moment. Agree re alcohol - not a noticeable feature. Feel this has a fair bit left to give at this point in time but well in the optimal drinking window.
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Much more in balance now than I remember my last bottle. Still some alcohol heat - but not much. Structure, tannin and acid 100% solid, now the fruits seem more in balance now at 14 years old with structure and alcohol.
Typical black fruit varietal flavours of cab. sav. and shiraz and a little forest floor and white pepper. Good drinking now, but I should not have had to wait this long. Will live a long time under its Stelvin seal.
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Short tasting note as I did not note down the details. The nose was more expressive than the Vasse Felix 2010 Cab Sauv that I had during the same dinner. Again, still primary fruits, powerful whiff. The palate luckily did not disappoint as compared to the Vasse Felix. It was medium to full bodied with primary notes. The finish was short to medium. Went well with the medium rare wagyu tomahawk.
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Under cork. Drank well over two nights. At this point, secondary flavors dominated over the fruit. Full-bodied, with lots of leather. Oak needs to integrate some more, but was clearly on its way. My next bottle will be in 5 years.
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Drinking well, but not a true star, lacks the refinement for that to my palate. Richly fruited in the Penfolds style, light on savoury character. Alcohol well integrated.
Tannin structure intact for further maturing, as one expects from a Penfolds red especially under Stelvin seal. I'll consume my last two bottles over 2-4 years.
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Similar to last time. Quite powerful fruit but balanced with good acidity and tannins that add some texture. I'm not sure where this will go from here. It's finely balanced between mellowing into an excellent wine, and developing in a discordant manner. Still I will give it another couple of years.
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@ Penfolds Wine evening at 'Les Cavistes', Beautiful purple colour, light taste, spicy, plums more fruit less dry notes than the other 389's tried. Tasted sweeter than either the 2001 or 2004. Drink now or you could hold for a couple more years, 94-95
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Screw cap. I don't do scores, but it was true to form 389 from a good year. This is all wine you will ever really need. Thick and rich with fruit still on the ascent. American oak doesn't dominate but certainly lifts this wine up.
An historically important label that keeps delivering, no doubt to the relief of producer and consumer alike. Still an annual dozen (at least) purchase.
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Screw cap. Black fruits based aroma with mint and herbals. Silky palate with good acidity. Not overly heavy but absolutely an oak-influenced full-body Cab-Shiraz.
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Good Australian wine, very typical with still a lot of dark fruits and notes of minty aromas. Quite straightforward, the wine is probably at its peak right now and should remain at this level for a few more years.
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2006, 389: Medium garnet with a ruby core and wide vague brown edge. Close on the nose, A hint of ripe red jammy berries, Eucalyptus leaves and dried dark boxwood, woody, with a long savory finish and a hint of Baked woodiness and even lesser vanilla. Firm attack, Medium+ acidity, medium+ firm dry sandy tannin, dry, medium body, m+ alcohol(14). Okay balance for the excessive SO2 multiply the affect of the alcohol, although not obviously perceivable, outstanding long length, good intensity, okay complexity but tired for the lack of the fruit and dried leaves. Good wine. 86, the excessive is a major defect, although average consumers may ignore the fact.
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Needs more time. One of the first Bin 389's under screw cap. Really dark (almost black) right through to the meniscus. Dark berries and plums. Background aniseed, good fruit, tannins, acid and wood but will appreciate a few more years of cellar development.
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A better wine than the 2004 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot I just finished, though also made in a similar very modern, New World style. Deep, dark colour. Crème de cassis, dark plums and blackberries on bouquet with lashes of milk chocolatey oak. There's also a 'cooling' cedary, graphite element that speaks of Cabernet Sauvignon. On palate, it's a big wine, broad shouldered but very svelte and seamless. There's that cassis, dark cherries, blackberries with some gunmetal, moccacino, liquorice and iron. Not as touch of the secondary (I suspect it'll live forever under its screwcap, evolving very slowly). For me there's a bit too much creamy oak on palate and alcoholic heat on the finish (14.5%) and it's fairly 'one note', unidimensional. I'm sure fans of this style will like it a lot more than me ...
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Right on opening the wine shoes big fruit, red and black berries, smoke, and menthol. The wine is massive. On the third day, when I finally got around to finishing the bottle, the wine showed a bit more integration, notes of lamb's leather, earth, smoke, and deep black fruit are all balanced by fine, silty tannins. Impressive.
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NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds Bin 389 1998-07 (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney): {screwcap, 14.5%} (Stephen) Dark liquorice flavours and aromas. Barely any development here, seemingly. Blackberries and a range of red fruits are on offer; deep, and almost raw in their intensity. At ten years old! Medium/high powdery tannins, medium/full-body, and a medium-long finish. All its development is still ahead, yet it remains quite approachable now. My only reservation is a tendency to warmth on the finish. The screwcap will bestow tremendous longevity I think.
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Quite concentrated and powerful as a wine. Has good structure and balance. Medium to full bodied with good length. Blueberries, plums and a little spice. The tannins are perhaps a little coarse but that works in this wine.
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A perfectly lovely bottle of wine which was fantastic the day after Thanksgiving with grilled blackened ahi tuna, baked potatoes and baby spinach with red onions and bleu cheese.
Should have decanted or slo-oxed for 3 or 4 hours instead of just one as on the second evening it was just singing with bright fruits and chewy tannins. Even the sediment was amazing, I poured some tempranillo into the glass with the dregs of the bottle and swirled and the tempranillo was improved by and reminiscent of the 389.
So glad I have another bottle of this; won’t touch it for five years at least as it is still on the upswing
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Popped and splash-decanted for a day after Thanksgiving meal of Blackened Tuna dredged in EVOO and Redfish Magic. Tuna was PERFECT, red on the inside, crispy on the outside OMFG the wine perfectly complemented the fish, though I am confident that the wine has many many years of maturation ahead.
Won’t touch my next bottle for 10+ years. Just grand, it was.
PS Three hours later it is still evolving and opening up. Winegasm!
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The nose is yielding up some great cedar, savoury and plum notes. The palate is building complexity as it ages and it is beautifully in balance with the quality of the fruit, the quality of the tannins and the oak treatment. Seems to be a good exponent of an excellent vintage and has some years in front of it for further improvement although it is starting to drink well already. If you like this style of wine you will be impressed - particularly for the price point it was at, back then.
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No real technical observations on the wine other than it was very nice and a modest 92 is about right at this stage of the wines development. The glass remaining in the bottle the second day was a lot more fruit showing and complex though it had lost slight depth and body.
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Full body. Dark plummy red purple. Creamy and sappy black raspberry nose, slightly jammy. Great weight mouthfeel raspberry sandalwood at the end. New leather slight tart acid. Sweet fruit but dry finish. Good length. Still lots of life left. Nicely balanced. Great sipper!
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Robe violacée relativement opaque. Nez de mûres noires, légère touche de casis, fruits confits et cerises noires. En bouche, belle fraîcheur et des épices bien présentent. On y retrouve un amalgame de petits fruits noirs avec une petite touche de bleuets en finale, le tout avec une belle longueur. Un peu alcooleux, mais bien agréable.
Il peut se garder encore quelques années sans problème
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Dark ruby red. Tight nose, buckets of fruit with some acids but very little complexity. Nothing wrong with it, but not sure will age that well and for a wine at this price point much better around. Just too one dimensional for my liking.
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Decanted & tasted, this bottle was harsh, one demensional, tannic finish and frankly did not want to play. Still some underlying blackberry and spice which made it palatable. Bummer!
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This bottle was better on the first night with big jammy sweet blackberry, vanilla, berries,non the second night more licorice, anise and austere tannins prevail. Still quite well made and plenty of tannins underneath the big fruit. Normally the 1st night 2nd night is not a big thing for me, but sometimes it can give an indication of age ability.
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Blackberry and ink nose. Very chocolate and blackberry on the palate. Evident depth of fruit balanced by good tannin structure; fruit in no way over done.
Classic Barossa.
Drinking very well and will get better.
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Cab is dominant and starts to show secondary notes. Dusty texture and a bit of alcohol on the backside are a bit of distraction but overall - very enjoyable. Too bad that new vintages are now over $50.
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Incredibly dark with a really nice nose. Any traces of purple were gone and it was a nice dark red. Fine tannins but they certainly made their presence felt. Fruit was a bit thin but still there. A very nice 389 all in all.
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From screwcap bottle. The color already somewhat fade and exhibit some maturity. Plum and jammy on the nose, which indicates this wine somewhat facing heat from prior storage condition. Tannins already fade into the background and the complexity is somewhat impressive. Fruit also fade away as well. Finished with mineral and iron feeling with bitterness. This is the strangest BIN 389 I have ever encountered with.
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Always quality wine. Fragrant fruit to nose, with some licorice. Can stand alone but enjoyable with both salmon/cracker/egg/onion/sour cream and dill, and main course of standing ribeye. Our host Jeff said it was best wine of the evening.
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A well made blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz; did not need to breathe for a long time to showcase itself; the nose was classic Bordeaux style (yes probably mostly from cabernet sauvignon); however, the somewhat heavy and punchy shiraz attack on the palate appeared to be a bit disjointed from the nose to me; yet still very enjoyable as drunk by itself now, so 90-91 points; the slightly oaky bitterness in the aftertaste wiped a point off; not sure about its aging potential, may be approaching the peak, but who knows, time will tell.
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Decanted for 30 min. Very fruity, modern Cab/Shiraz where the Cab note dominates and the Shiraz gives this extra body - best new world style- not overpowering, well intergrated tannins, nice level of oak. Excellent now.
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Exactly what you come to expect from this beauty, another fine vintage - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black, blue and red fruits, mocha, mint and creamy vanilla, very well structured and integrated, with years to go, dusty, off dry on the palate with excellent length, all good but just a touch 'typical' perhaps? (91 Points).
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Decanted 1hr, blackberry, plum, licorice, hints of chocolate and vanila,nice balance, a touch jammy but not overdone, Drinking well now with an extened decant or hold for a couple more years!
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TWATS X (Conservatory - Crown Wine Cellar Hong Kong): Round I Blind - Dark purple. Tastes like the bottom of a fruit yogurt snack, fruit cake flavor, pie cherries. Newest pup yet, bit of pepper. The TWATS are tittering a storm on this one. GSM? Shiraz/Grenache? Then a random comment about Hugh Hamilton is cute. A dead dog. Not sure, but believe captain bosh was involved. This finishes dusty, red dirt clay for me. Interesting.
Round II - TWATS turn on the entry. It is still dark. The palate is fading, finishes short. "trying to hard " says tim. It is dark and overpowering, it is young.
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Decanted for four hours, no formal notes, drank alongside 2004 Bin 28. Left a similar impression as the last bottle and was clearly a step above the Bin 28. The longer decanting seemed useful too. 90+
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Decanted for two hours. Black red with a purple rim, not completely clear, little tartaric crystals. Sweet and fresh, surprisingly round cabernet nose with dark fruit, blackberry and pure oak. Medium-heavy on the palate with a good balance of fruit and tannins, acidity is sufficient and shows more on the aftertaste at the moment. Pair with meats now or let it sleep for a few years. 90+
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7.5/10 - Lots of blackberries and blackcurrants with some pepper on the nose and palate. The oak was evident... almost borderline. Well integrated tannins with a decent finish. The alcohol was just a tinge too obvious. A good solid bottle of wine to go with something nice and meaty, but nothing out of the ordinary.
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Australian blind tasting. (CfA roof): Tasted blind. Really subtle, complex nose. Excellent tannins. Peppery, bloody palate. Long finish. Seemed much more like a Bordeaux in terms of complexity, flavor profile, etc. than an Aussie.
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Opened and served right away. Loads of sweet and ripe dark fruits on both the nose and palate: blueberries, blackberries, plums and black currants. Medium to high acidity with medium tannins a full body and medium length finish. There's hints mint and some greenish notes on the palate. Slight grapey flavours coming through on the finish. A young wine that needs 5 years. Good. 87+
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This was an enjoyable bottle of wine and even though I gave it a 91 it is not one of my favorite wines because of the molassas flavor that I get some of the time. This wine has a large amount of Blackberry, some plum and smoky oak with a nice spice and cedar quality. Tannins are present but not rough, I thought it could use a little more acidity. Will be interesting to try in a few more years.
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Perth and Margaret River Dec 2009; 11/12/2009-2/1/2010: Enjoyable. well-made, solid wine. Perhaps lacked a wow factor, but this dark, fruity blend with slightly spicy nose, hints of mulberry and good concentration on the palate didn't disappoint. Went really well with steak.
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Nose of varnished furniture, timber and pepper. A mouth of sawdust and blackberries with burnt big tannins. Cooked cherries and custard on the finish of medium length. Big interesting wine that is held back from 90+ scoring by its charred oak character.
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Deep purple/red color. Lots of lush dark fruit and spice. A little tartness on the mid pallet. Well integrated tannins nice structure to keep it for several years to come. Not a whole lot of length on the finish but some. A very enjoyable wine and a crowd pleaser.
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2/25/2024 - jeig Likes this wine: 90 Points
Thick juice with full flavor. High complexity and mouth watering wine.
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9/8/2023 - gparker777 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium ruby colour in the glass with a lovely aroma of dark fruits, liquorice, baking spice, vanilla. Medium body everything in balance, lots of freshness and plenty of acid. Long finish with lively tannins - somewhat hot on the finish. Long life ahead.
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5/24/2023 - kfjincott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Big fruity balanced shiraz
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4/10/2023 - Crocadillus Likes this wine: 91 Points
A little disappointed compared to other vintages. Gave it 1hr decant, possibly too long? Felt a little flat to what I was anticipating
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3/5/2022 - mphatic Likes this wine:
Screwcap, 14.5% alc. Opaque, dark crimson, with red at the rim.
Presents an impenetrable wall of aroma with blackberry, toasted spices, crushed ants, mint, pan juices, some alcohol breathiness, and dusty cupboard.
It’s rich but not too dense or glossy on the palate; the fine brick dust-like tannin and well balanced acidity prevent it from being syrupy. Quite a long finish that brings to attention the more savoury and herbal characters.
Opinion: fruit and oak are in good balance this vintage. Red fruit and orange peel emerge with a further airing. Lots of life remaining: this is only just beyond its first flush of youth.
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11/23/2021 - Ranjit wrote:
Tasted great after 1+hrs decanting. Held taste next day
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9/10/2021 - Psdycp wrote: 89 Points
Prominent rustic and barnyard bouquet, tar, wet earth and seasoned wood. The black fruits are hidden at its aromatic core, very subtle. Palate reflects the nose with some fruits in the medium bodied structure. Do not have the depth and extension of the better vintage, finishing a touch short. At its peak now and should drink up soon.
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9/10/2021 - WK88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Penfold's 389 2006
Nose of intense ripe fruits, mainly black fruits, black berry, red & black cherries, blue berry, oaky, sweet spice, forest floor. Entry is smooth, inviting, savory, mid palate is full and rich, mainly echo the nose. However, finish is a little short vs her palate. Has reached her peak, drink within next 3-4 years. 90 pts
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7/6/2021 - PheloCBR wrote: 89 Points
Nice but not amazing! Fruits a bit muted for my liking
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10/31/2020 - wineshaman wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for sediment which was almost nonexistent, 4th bottle tasted of 7, lasted taste in 2014. Rich dark fruit, some earthy notes, a bit of spice, smother than previous bottles, should hold for several more years. Paired with beef tri-tip very nicely, agree with previous taster a good food wine but lacks the complexity for a higher score IMO.
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10/25/2020 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 95 Points
2006 was a relatively early vintage, with low rainfall and warm weather contributing to an early bud burst and flowering. Mild to warm weather throughout summer helped the fruit to mature well and assisting rains prior to harvest allowed fruit to ripen well with good varietal character. Cabernet 52 Shiraz 48 % interestingly no sediment
Winemaker comments by Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Bright, deep-red, with an impenetrable core.
A complex amalgam of fresh mulberry/blueberry/ blackberry fruits laced with soy & malt, and slices of fresh fig & dates. A later residual whiff of pan- juices, rosemary & sage. Ripe, yet not overripe with stylish oak!
Textbook structure: tannin, acidity, balance. Up- front, Cabernet & Shiraz fruits intertwine for collective attention, a sweet middle meshed with tea-leaf/olive tapenade flavours. Rounded, ripe and lush tannins and integrated spicy oak usher a finish bereft of any rough edges. Focussed, polished, brooding, inky. No doubt its best lies ahead.
"Floats out of the glass - Cabernet/Shiraz as one, with Grange aromatics & persistence."
Rewards of Patience 6th Ed 2008 2012-2035
Rewards of Patience 7th Ed 2013 2014-2045 only Grange has a longer window at 2050
Colour deep garnet black hues slight bricking 15/15
Nose intense aromas perfumed, cassis , blackcurrent dark cherry, cedary tannins tarry, chocolate , vanilla, liquorice, malt savoury earthy spice, Garrigue Garrigue refers to the low-growing vegetation on the limestone hills of the Mediterranean coast, not the limestone itself. There are a bunch of bushy, fragrant plants that grow wild there, such as juniper, thyme, rosemary and lavender, and garrigue refers to the sum of them. 29/30
Palate full bodied, rich ripe fruits blackcurrent, cherry spice dark chocolate mulberry , long firm finish of tannin and acidity , primary fruit flavours still very much front and center 42/44
Overall 24 hours later this wine has not changed , unfortunately I didn’t keep enough to go for 3 days, which goes someway to explain why the window has been pushed out to 2045 , definitely a food wine ie big chewy steak 9/11
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9/6/2020 - Avid Wino wrote: 95 Points
Superb. Black fruits, incredible fruit sweetness, cocoa, meat juices, touch of vanilla, coffee grounds, mint, white pepper. Wish I could describe the tannin in a meaningful way... I only have the word ladders... it’s special. Outstanding balance and length. Such a pleasure to drink. My first of three bottles, and I reckon I timed it well. The others will drink well over the next 10+ years.
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3/29/2020 - Wall_Bangers wrote:
This was drinking beautifully - PnP (stelvin) although open for about 3h (no decant).
Smooth, rich dark fruits with well integrated oak flavours and fine tannin. Long finish. Minimal tertiary development at the moment.
Agree re alcohol - not a noticeable feature.
Feel this has a fair bit left to give at this point in time but well in the optimal drinking window.
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3/8/2020 - Softie Likes this wine:
Much more in balance now than I remember my last bottle. Still some alcohol heat - but not much. Structure, tannin and acid 100% solid, now the fruits seem more in balance now at 14 years old with structure and alcohol.
Typical black fruit varietal flavours of cab. sav. and shiraz and a little forest floor and white pepper. Good drinking now, but I should not have had to wait this long. Will live a long time under its Stelvin seal.
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2/2/2020 - sethboy23 wrote: 96 Points
This really impressed. Drinking So well!
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11/17/2019 - DrewWongo wrote:
Short tasting note as I did not note down the details. The nose was more expressive than the Vasse Felix 2010 Cab Sauv that I had during the same dinner. Again, still primary fruits, powerful whiff. The palate luckily did not disappoint as compared to the Vasse Felix. It was medium to full bodied with primary notes. The finish was short to medium. Went well with the medium rare wagyu tomahawk.
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10/4/2018 - Quarked wrote: 92 Points
Under cork. Drank well over two nights. At this point, secondary flavors dominated over the fruit. Full-bodied, with lots of leather. Oak needs to integrate some more, but was clearly on its way. My next bottle will be in 5 years.
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6/30/2018 - Softie wrote:
Drinking well, but not a true star, lacks the refinement for that to my palate. Richly fruited in the Penfolds style, light on savoury character. Alcohol well integrated.
Tannin structure intact for further maturing, as one expects from a Penfolds red especially under Stelvin seal. I'll consume my last two bottles over 2-4 years.
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2/9/2018 - XSorXpire wrote:
Fantastic early not decanted.
Great oak taste and flavour.
Dropped off in the bottle to reveal more soft fruit.
Lovely.
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1/8/2018 - barryjkeller@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Needs long decant - preferred to the 2004. Our decant was 30 mins.
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12/10/2017 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to last time. Quite powerful fruit but balanced with good acidity and tannins that add some texture. I'm not sure where this will go from here. It's finely balanced between mellowing into an excellent wine, and developing in a discordant manner. Still I will give it another couple of years.
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9/26/2017 - burgburgburg wrote: 90 Points
Screw-cap. PnP. Very balanced in bouquet. Medium+ body. Fine acidity. Very ready.
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8/23/2017 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 94 Points
@ Penfolds Wine evening at 'Les Cavistes', Beautiful purple colour, light taste, spicy, plums more fruit less dry notes than the other 389's tried. Tasted sweeter than either the 2001 or 2004. Drink now or you could hold for a couple more years, 94-95
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5/14/2017 - VinCapitan Likes this wine: 94 Points
blackcurrant and black fruits, coffee choc, slightly pokey acidity, great balance, belies its age, this is good gear
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5/5/2017 - nulla Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really good drinking at the moment but will cellar for another decade. If drinking now, decant and allow to breath for at least 2 hours.
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4/30/2017 - BBPP Likes this wine:
Screw cap. I don't do scores, but it was true to form 389 from a good year. This is all wine you will ever really need. Thick and rich with fruit still on the ascent. American oak doesn't dominate but certainly lifts this wine up.
An historically important label that keeps delivering, no doubt to the relief of producer and consumer alike. Still an annual dozen (at least) purchase.
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3/6/2017 - burgburgburg wrote: 89 Points
Screw cap. Black fruits based aroma with mint and herbals. Silky palate with good acidity. Not overly heavy but absolutely an oak-influenced full-body Cab-Shiraz.
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2/11/2017 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good Australian wine, very typical with still a lot of dark fruits and notes of minty aromas. Quite straightforward, the wine is probably at its peak right now and should remain at this level for a few more years.
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10/28/2016 - pipetree Does not like this wine: 86 Points
2006, 389: Medium garnet with a ruby core and wide vague brown edge. Close on the nose, A hint of ripe red jammy berries, Eucalyptus leaves and dried dark boxwood, woody, with a long savory finish and a hint of Baked woodiness and even lesser vanilla. Firm attack, Medium+ acidity, medium+ firm dry sandy tannin, dry, medium body, m+ alcohol(14). Okay balance for the excessive SO2 multiply the affect of the alcohol, although not obviously perceivable, outstanding long length, good intensity, okay complexity but tired for the lack of the fruit and dried leaves. Good wine. 86, the excessive is a major defect, although average consumers may ignore the fact.
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9/11/2016 - nulla Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needs more time. One of the first Bin 389's under screw cap. Really dark (almost black) right through to the meniscus. Dark berries and plums. Background aniseed, good fruit, tannins, acid and wood but will appreciate a few more years of cellar development.
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8/7/2016 - HowardNZ wrote: 91 Points
A better wine than the 2004 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot I just finished, though also made in a similar very modern, New World style. Deep, dark colour. Crème de cassis, dark plums and blackberries on bouquet with lashes of milk chocolatey oak. There's also a 'cooling' cedary, graphite element that speaks of Cabernet Sauvignon. On palate, it's a big wine, broad shouldered but very svelte and seamless. There's that cassis, dark cherries, blackberries with some gunmetal, moccacino, liquorice and iron. Not as touch of the secondary (I suspect it'll live forever under its screwcap, evolving very slowly). For me there's a bit too much creamy oak on palate and alcoholic heat on the finish (14.5%) and it's fairly 'one note', unidimensional. I'm sure fans of this style will like it a lot more than me ...
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3/22/2016 - HandmadeHomemade Likes this wine: 94 Points
Right on opening the wine shoes big fruit, red and black berries, smoke, and menthol. The wine is massive. On the third day, when I finally got around to finishing the bottle, the wine showed a bit more integration, notes of lamb's leather, earth, smoke, and deep black fruit are all balanced by fine, silty tannins. Impressive.
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3/7/2016 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds Bin 389 1998-07 (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney): {screwcap, 14.5%} (Stephen) Dark liquorice flavours and aromas. Barely any development here, seemingly. Blackberries and a range of red fruits are on offer; deep, and almost raw in their intensity. At ten years old! Medium/high powdery tannins, medium/full-body, and a medium-long finish. All its development is still ahead, yet it remains quite approachable now. My only reservation is a tendency to warmth on the finish. The screwcap will bestow tremendous longevity I think.
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1/26/2016 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite concentrated and powerful as a wine. Has good structure and balance. Medium to full bodied with good length. Blueberries, plums and a little spice. The tannins are perhaps a little coarse but that works in this wine.
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11/27/2015 - Frabjous Likes this wine:
A perfectly lovely bottle of wine which was fantastic the day after Thanksgiving with grilled blackened ahi tuna, baked potatoes and baby spinach with red onions and bleu cheese.
Should have decanted or slo-oxed for 3 or 4 hours instead of just one as on the second evening it was just singing with bright fruits and chewy tannins. Even the sediment was amazing, I poured some tempranillo into the glass with the dregs of the bottle and swirled and the tempranillo was improved by and reminiscent of the 389.
So glad I have another bottle of this; won’t touch it for five years at least as it is still on the upswing
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11/27/2015 - Frabjous wrote:
Popped and splash-decanted for a day after Thanksgiving meal of Blackened Tuna dredged in EVOO and Redfish Magic. Tuna was PERFECT, red on the inside, crispy on the outside OMFG the wine perfectly complemented the fish, though I am confident that the wine has many many years of maturation ahead.
Won’t touch my next bottle for 10+ years. Just grand, it was.
PS Three hours later it is still evolving and opening up. Winegasm!
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11/26/2015 - Paco55 wrote: 93 Points
The nose is yielding up some great cedar, savoury and plum notes. The palate is building complexity as it ages and it is beautifully in balance with the quality of the fruit, the quality of the tannins and the oak treatment. Seems to be a good exponent of an excellent vintage and has some years in front of it for further improvement although it is starting to drink well already. If you like this style of wine you will be impressed - particularly for the price point it was at, back then.
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9/7/2015 - Tony N wrote: 92 Points
No real technical observations on the wine other than it was very nice and a modest 92 is about right at this stage of the wines development. The glass remaining in the bottle the second day was a lot more fruit showing and complex though it had lost slight depth and body.
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8/17/2015 - sailincarib Likes this wine: 95 Points
Without a doubt, one of our favorite full bodied reds. Constantly looking for older vintage.
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8/9/2015 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full body. Dark plummy red purple. Creamy and sappy black raspberry nose, slightly jammy. Great weight mouthfeel raspberry sandalwood at the end. New leather slight tart acid. Sweet fruit but dry finish. Good length. Still lots of life left. Nicely balanced. Great sipper!
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12/21/2014 - Vmaster007 wrote: 86 Points
Carafé 2 heures.
Robe violacée relativement opaque. Nez de mûres noires, légère touche de casis, fruits confits et cerises noires. En bouche, belle fraîcheur et des épices bien présentent. On y retrouve un amalgame de petits fruits noirs avec une petite touche de bleuets en finale, le tout avec une belle longueur. Un peu alcooleux, mais bien agréable.
Il peut se garder encore quelques années sans problème
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11/26/2014 - AgedGed wrote: 87 Points
Dark ruby red. Tight nose, buckets of fruit with some acids but very little complexity. Nothing wrong with it, but not sure will age that well and for a wine at this price point much better around. Just too one dimensional for my liking.
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9/20/2014 - wineshaman wrote: 87 Points
Decanted & tasted, this bottle was harsh, one demensional, tannic finish and frankly did not want to play. Still some underlying blackberry and spice which made it palatable. Bummer!
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6/28/2014 - wineshaman wrote: 89 Points
This bottle was better on the first night with big jammy sweet blackberry, vanilla, berries,non the second night more licorice, anise and austere tannins prevail. Still quite well made and plenty of tannins underneath the big fruit. Normally the 1st night 2nd night is not a big thing for me, but sometimes it can give an indication of age ability.
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1/14/2014 - Softie wrote:
Two years since my first bottle of this six pack.
Blackberry and ink nose. Very chocolate and blackberry on the palate. Evident depth of fruit balanced by good tannin structure; fruit in no way over done.
Classic Barossa.
Drinking very well and will get better.
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9/13/2013 - megropolis wrote:
Cab is dominant and starts to show secondary notes. Dusty texture and a bit of alcohol on the backside are a bit of distraction but overall - very enjoyable. Too bad that new vintages are now over $50.
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8/16/2013 - Patrick - winereviewer.com.au wrote: 88 Points
The 2006 Bin 389 was somewhat of a disappointment given the quality of the vintage and the pedigree of the wine.
The nose has a slight menthol character with drying fruit and prominent oak.
The palate is ok enough with sappy black fruits, olive characters and grainy oak, but I can't help but think its a little one dimensional.
The wine suffers on the finish with unfocused and flat fruit.
Review Link - www.winereviewer.com.au (drink from 2013-2015)
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5/1/2013 - wp_drinkers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for only an hour. Needs several more I think. Hugely balanced wine with plenty of acid, primary fruit and tannins.
This should easily last another 10 years and I'd expect improvement. Will wait a few more years before opening my next bottle of this.
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2/24/2013 - Jayarr wrote: 90 Points
Incredibly dark with a really nice nose. Any traces of purple were gone and it was a nice dark red. Fine tannins but they certainly made their presence felt. Fruit was a bit thin but still there. A very nice 389 all in all.
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2/22/2013 - nrad6949 wrote: 90 Points
From screwcap bottle. The color already somewhat fade and exhibit some maturity. Plum and jammy on the nose, which indicates this wine somewhat facing heat from prior storage condition. Tannins already fade into the background and the complexity is somewhat impressive. Fruit also fade away as well. Finished with mineral and iron feeling with bitterness. This is the strangest BIN 389 I have ever encountered with.
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2/16/2013 - fcarrano wrote: 89 Points
Popped at restaurant. Can tell it will be much better if we had an hour to let it sit, but it's rich and tannic now.
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12/28/2012 - MCrawford Likes this wine: 89 Points
Got better as it sat, needs a a couple hours to open.
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12/24/2012 - LexTom wrote: 91 Points
Always quality wine. Fragrant fruit to nose, with some licorice. Can stand alone but enjoyable with both salmon/cracker/egg/onion/sour cream and dill, and main course of standing ribeye. Our host Jeff said it was best wine of the evening.
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12/22/2012 - CWang wrote: 91 Points
A well made blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz; did not need to breathe for a long time to showcase itself; the nose was classic Bordeaux style (yes probably mostly from cabernet sauvignon); however, the somewhat heavy and punchy shiraz attack on the palate appeared to be a bit disjointed from the nose to me; yet still very enjoyable as drunk by itself now, so 90-91 points; the slightly oaky bitterness in the aftertaste wiped a point off; not sure about its aging potential, may be approaching the peak, but who knows, time will tell.
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8/4/2012 - MK Vienna wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 min. Very fruity, modern Cab/Shiraz where the Cab note dominates and the Shiraz gives this extra body - best new world style- not overpowering, well intergrated tannins, nice level of oak. Excellent now.
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8/4/2012 - Tarrant wrote: 91 Points
Exactly what you come to expect from this beauty, another fine vintage - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black, blue and red fruits, mocha, mint and creamy vanilla, very well structured and integrated, with years to go, dusty, off dry on the palate with excellent length, all good but just a touch 'typical' perhaps? (91 Points).
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4/19/2012 - mbfoster1983 wrote: 92 Points
Yum!
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3/15/2012 - LDH wrote:
A bit one dimensional. Too young. But pleasant enough.
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1/22/2012 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1hr, blackberry, plum, licorice, hints of chocolate and vanila,nice balance, a touch jammy but not overdone, Drinking well now with an extened decant or hold for a couple more years!
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6/3/2011 - Bearbus wrote:
OK but not great
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4/16/2011 - tplskylrk wrote:
TWATS X (Conservatory - Crown Wine Cellar Hong Kong): Round I Blind - Dark purple. Tastes like the bottom of a fruit yogurt snack, fruit cake flavor, pie cherries. Newest pup yet, bit of pepper. The TWATS are tittering a storm on this one. GSM? Shiraz/Grenache? Then a random comment about Hugh Hamilton is cute. A dead dog. Not sure, but believe captain bosh was involved. This finishes dusty, red dirt clay for me. Interesting.
Round II - TWATS turn on the entry. It is still dark. The palate is fading, finishes short. "trying to hard " says tim. It is dark and overpowering, it is young.
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4/3/2011 - mbfoster1983 wrote: 92 Points
One of our favorites!
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3/12/2011 - Rubicante wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for four hours, no formal notes, drank alongside 2004 Bin 28. Left a similar impression as the last bottle and was clearly a step above the Bin 28. The longer decanting seemed useful too. 90+
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3/2/2011 - Rubicante wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for two hours. Black red with a purple rim, not completely clear, little tartaric crystals. Sweet and fresh, surprisingly round cabernet nose with dark fruit, blackberry and pure oak. Medium-heavy on the palate with a good balance of fruit and tannins, acidity is sufficient and shows more on the aftertaste at the moment. Pair with meats now or let it sleep for a few years. 90+
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2/22/2011 - garymaui wrote: 90 Points
Great smooth
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1/28/2011 - tbvl wrote: 92 Points
In the nose promising a lot of fruit and concentration. Bit surprisingly tight and balanced in the mouth with plenty of tannins.
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11/27/2010 - mbfoster1983 wrote: 93 Points
Inky black color in the glass. Lots of oak, the nose reminds me of bourbon warehouses in Kentucky.
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11/13/2010 - kostaslonis wrote: 88 Points
Decanter Fine Wine Encounter; 11/13/2010-11/14/2010 (Landmark Hotel, London): (Decanter Fine Wine Encounter) Peppery nose, very fruity and dense, round mouth, fruity, sweet spices, nice acidty, excellent balance, medium aftertaste
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10/28/2010 - darren81 wrote:
7.5/10 - Lots of blackberries and blackcurrants with some pepper on the nose and palate. The oak was evident... almost borderline. Well integrated tannins with a decent finish. The alcohol was just a tinge too obvious. A good solid bottle of wine to go with something nice and meaty, but nothing out of the ordinary.
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9/24/2010 - chayward wrote: 90 Points
Australian blind tasting. (CfA roof): Tasted blind. Really subtle, complex nose. Excellent tannins. Peppery, bloody palate. Long finish. Seemed much more like a Bordeaux in terms of complexity, flavor profile, etc. than an Aussie.
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9/13/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 91 Points
Heidelberg (Toledo, OH): Very structured. Cabby. Oaky. $36
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5/7/2010 - godx wrote: 87 Points
Opened and served right away. Loads of sweet and ripe dark fruits on both the nose and palate: blueberries, blackberries, plums and black currants. Medium to high acidity with medium tannins a full body and medium length finish. There's hints mint and some greenish notes on the palate. Slight grapey flavours coming through on the finish. A young wine that needs 5 years. Good. 87+
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4/23/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 92 Points
blackberry, big fruit, high tannins but letting it sit and breath mellowed it very nicely. Really liked how this worked
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4/23/2010 - katgod wrote: 91 Points
This was an enjoyable bottle of wine and even though I gave it a 91 it is not one of my favorite wines because of the molassas flavor that I get some of the time. This wine has a large amount of Blackberry, some plum and smoky oak with a nice spice and cedar quality. Tannins are present but not rough, I thought it could use a little more acidity. Will be interesting to try in a few more years.
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3/12/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 90 Points
Cincinnati Wine Festival (Cincinnati, OH): Big nose, black fruit. Oaky. Extracted. Still very young, tannic, and acidic.
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1/16/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 89 Points
Very easy to drink for a big wine. Tiny bit of funk. Nice floral nose.
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12/23/2009 - pmarsland wrote: 88 Points
Perth and Margaret River Dec 2009; 11/12/2009-2/1/2010: Enjoyable. well-made, solid wine. Perhaps lacked a wow factor, but this dark, fruity blend with slightly spicy nose, hints of mulberry and good concentration on the palate didn't disappoint. Went really well with steak.
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12/10/2009 - acheng wrote: 90 Points
Fantastic minerality, dark cherry and mocha. Good structure and acidity backbone. On 3rd day, turned somewhat pruney. Score based on day one.
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8/7/2009 - enos8 wrote: 87 Points
Solid wine, not too complex but had soft and smooth tannins
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7/4/2009 - tenorselbow wrote: 89 Points
Nose of varnished furniture, timber and pepper. A mouth of sawdust and blackberries with burnt big tannins. Cooked cherries and custard on the finish of medium length. Big interesting wine that is held back from 90+ scoring by its charred oak character.
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5/9/2009 - jamieirving wrote: 86 Points
Decanter New World Fine Wine Encounter (The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London W2): This vintage of "baby Grange" is almost black in the glass. Plum fruit, toasty oak and white pepper on the nose, The palate is dense and deep. Jammy fruit, spice and a hint of vanilla.
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12/31/2008 - birdman5828 wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple/red color. Lots of lush dark fruit and spice. A little tartness on the mid pallet. Well integrated tannins nice structure to keep it for several years to come. Not a whole lot of length on the finish but some. A very enjoyable wine and a crowd pleaser.
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10/28/2008 - Double-A wrote: 88 Points
Smoky, spicy, toast and coconut nose. Bold flavours with warming alcohol on the palate; toasty finish.
3.5/5
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