2016 Yalumba The Scribbler

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 90 points

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  12/1/2021 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 90 Points

  I ended up enjoying this, but I took forever to get to that point- I wonder if I had a flawed bottle in some way.
  
  Night one was a total fail, so much reduction that I got nothing but pepper and matchstick. Cap went back on after an unpleasant first glass and waited for day 2.
  
  There was definitely some improvement by day two, but it really still felt like a poorly balanced wine. On paper, I prefer lighter old world styles with an emphasis on elegance and complexity over power, but this felt like it wanted to be a powerful wine and it was forced to become something it wasn't, with stunted, almost underripe fruit, astringent and nearly metallic acidity that was poorly integrated, some kind of structure that felt chalky and unnoteworthy. We had a few glasses throughout day 2 and it ended up working fine as a mindless food wine, but if I had blinded it I would guess it was a so-so $10 wine and have a tough time pinpointing the grapes.
  
  Probably the biggest surprise though was the last glass I saved for day three, which drastically changed my opinion of the wine- it was by far the best, showing not only clear but honestly quite lovely Cabernet fruit, with good typicity, some nice black currants and just a tiny pinch of earthy, herbal nuance. The palate still had some poorly integrated tartness, but thanks to the present fruit it wasn't nearly as astringent as the first two days it was open. This brought it from like 88-89 to 90-91 at least- will have to try another.
  
  If most bottles of this show more like day 3 once they're opened, this is a pretty good wine- I still wouldn't call it fantastic QPR on day 3, but it was acceptable for sure. I might try another eventually to test that.

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  12/22/2019 - Avid Wino wrote: 90 Points

  Everything I want from a Scribbler, an excellent vintage. 90 or better. Plum, black and blue berries, currants, spice, dark chocolate, meatiness. A little lick of dusty tannin and a wash of fresh acidity.

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