The freshness belies its age. I love the sweet fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, redcurrant, and some blueberry. Obviously Australian cab/shiraz, but delicious anyway, and exceptional value.
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Popped and decanted. Rich and mature, but not falling off it's plateau just yet. Dark chocolate and blackberries. Characteristic Cabernet-Shiraz blend with an Aussie tang on the medium finish. Great QPR at the under US$25 I paid. Drink within a year or so.
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Opened near the end of a dinner, poured out a half glass, then VV'd and chilled for a few days. Held up beautifully: I favored this over my earlier experience with a bottle, finding this one more savor and less sweet; more integrated and balanced. Recommended, and in a very good place.
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Popped and poured; my first of four. Smooth, sweet, liquified blackberry jam. Not subtle, tannins so integrated as to be a non-factor, and the forward fruit masked whatever complexity might be lurking. Fine dry red? Red for sure, fine perhaps, and dry by definition, but more of an off-dry (not that we ever use that term for reds...). Paired this with a venison stew over rice, which was an okay pairing, but it seems like a wine one could have, with chocolates, for dessert.
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Nice. Fairly complex. Significantly improved after an hour when the oak blew off a little. Think this puppy is built for a few more years in the cellar. HOLD.
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Tasted this at the winery in Australia/Barossa Valley last year. Loved it. So glad K&L was carrying it. Lush, yet stylish. All you might want from Aussie land.
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Delicious, but the parts are better than the sum. Intriguing nose, eucalyptus followed by floral/dark fruit, with background of smoky earth. Mouth-filling - fruit, keen acidity, fully integrated tannins - light and dusty, but a greater sense of sweetness than one would expect. Finish has an unexpected light creaminess, with little of the herbal/earthy notes that start the experience. Intriguing, great value, but doesn't come together for a higher score. *might* bet better if all parts smooth out evenly.
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This is very nice. On the nose it is nice and you get the smooth cabernet and the spice of Shiraz. Very smooth and silky on the pallette. This is just a great bottle.
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Thick, lush, and sexy but at the same time very elegant and smooth. A hedonists wine with ripe blackberry liqueur scents mixed with a slight spicy note. One very interesting thing about this wine is that I could detect a definite greenish element on the palate which normally would put me off the wine completely but in this case it actually made things more interesting. Very good right out of the bottle.
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Dark ruby red. Big smoky nose with sweet blackcurrant and tobacco aromas. Rich and velvety with blackcurrant, green pepper, toffee popcorn and a lovely semolina pudding flavour. Good length.
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68% Cab Sauv, 32% Shiraz. Gorgeous deep garnet color with a lightening at rim. I'm getting smoke, black currant, vanilla and cedar on the nose which translates beautifully to the palate. Bright fruit, smooth but present tannins, fresh acidity make this wine completely and utterly drinkable. Lingery mocha finish.
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this is a barrel selection that does not go into Signature. lush barrels for FDR1A. solid and dark for the Signature. nose shows deft minerality. iron and classy green. hints of dusty. drink me with diana madeline side by side. nice green on the palate with a wonderful velvet texture and a pleasant, easy spice on the finish. Very nice.
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8/28/2021 - jpwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine; lots of life. Still has a decent finish. Can easily live if properly sored for a few more years.
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12/20/2017 - empire80 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The freshness belies its age. I love the sweet fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry, redcurrant, and some blueberry. Obviously Australian cab/shiraz, but delicious anyway, and exceptional value.
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7/19/2017 - prism wrote: 92 Points
Popped and decanted. Rich and mature, but not falling off it's plateau just yet. Dark chocolate and blackberries. Characteristic Cabernet-Shiraz blend with an Aussie tang on the medium finish. Great QPR at the under US$25 I paid. Drink within a year or so.
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12/30/2015 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Black as night and leads with a sweetness on both nose and palate, followed by raspberry and other redfruits and tar.
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12/15/2015 - prism wrote: 92 Points
Opened near the end of a dinner, poured out a half glass, then VV'd and chilled for a few days. Held up beautifully: I favored this over my earlier experience with a bottle, finding this one more savor and less sweet; more integrated and balanced. Recommended, and in a very good place.
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12/11/2014 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured; my first of four. Smooth, sweet, liquified blackberry jam. Not subtle, tannins so integrated as to be a non-factor, and the forward fruit masked whatever complexity might be lurking. Fine dry red? Red for sure, fine perhaps, and dry by definition, but more of an off-dry (not that we ever use that term for reds...). Paired this with a venison stew over rice, which was an okay pairing, but it seems like a wine one could have, with chocolates, for dessert.
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8/18/2013 - Joegish Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice. Fairly complex. Significantly improved after an hour when the oak blew off a little. Think this puppy is built for a few more years in the cellar. HOLD.
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12/29/2012 - ataraxy wrote: 90 Points
Very juicy and sweet. Lots of body but not much complexity.
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12/4/2012 - MonkeyBiz101 wrote: 91 Points
Great mouthfeel, good balance having matured well over the last couple of years.
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9/23/2012 - dekay Does not like this wine: 90 Points
A little tired. Light cassis and spice aromas. Fruit was weaker than the last bottle, with more VA character, but not obtrusive. Moderate finish.
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7/30/2011 - cpowell wrote: 93 Points
Tasted this at the winery in Australia/Barossa Valley last year. Loved it. So glad K&L was carrying it. Lush, yet stylish. All you might want from Aussie land.
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7/28/2011 - msilver wrote: 92 Points
Sadly this was my last bottle of this one. Great wine, drinking very well right now.
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5/19/2011 - dekay wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, but the parts are better than the sum. Intriguing nose, eucalyptus followed by floral/dark fruit, with background of smoky earth. Mouth-filling - fruit, keen acidity, fully integrated tannins - light and dusty, but a greater sense of sweetness than one would expect. Finish has an unexpected light creaminess, with little of the herbal/earthy notes that start the experience. Intriguing, great value, but doesn't come together for a higher score. *might* bet better if all parts smooth out evenly.
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4/24/2011 - msilver wrote: 92 Points
This is very nice. On the nose it is nice and you get the smooth cabernet and the spice of Shiraz. Very smooth and silky on the pallette. This is just a great bottle.
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5/26/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
Thick, lush, and sexy but at the same time very elegant and smooth. A hedonists wine with ripe blackberry liqueur scents mixed with a slight spicy note. One very interesting thing about this wine is that I could detect a definite greenish element on the palate which normally would put me off the wine completely but in this case it actually made things more interesting. Very good right out of the bottle.
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5/10/2010 - Biggsy wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby red. Big smoky nose with sweet blackcurrant and tobacco aromas. Rich and velvety with blackcurrant, green pepper, toffee popcorn and a lovely semolina pudding flavour. Good length.
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12/1/2009 - DadsWine wrote: 94 Points
Deep, dark, lush, smooth, and immensely satisfying. Thought it was drinking pretty well, but likely will improve with age. Definite drink again!
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10/22/2009 - Macki wrote:
68% Cab Sauv, 32% Shiraz. Gorgeous deep garnet color with a lightening at rim. I'm getting smoke, black currant, vanilla and cedar on the nose which translates beautifully to the palate. Bright fruit, smooth but present tannins, fresh acidity make this wine completely and utterly drinkable. Lingery mocha finish.
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10/21/2009 - nzinkgraf wrote:
this is a barrel selection that does not go into Signature. lush barrels for FDR1A. solid and dark for the Signature. nose shows deft minerality. iron and classy green. hints of dusty. drink me with diana madeline side by side. nice green on the palate with a wonderful velvet texture and a pleasant, easy spice on the finish. Very nice.
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10/21/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This is the "claret" style of the winery but they can't put that on the label. Balanced. Damn. This is the more lush barrells of the signature.
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