| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.1 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 94 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by Tim Heaton on 2/23/2024: Slow-O 1 hour after decanting for sediment and returning to bottle. Color shows very little sign of age. VG showing, mature but in no way past it or even close for that matter. Remarkable balance and depth of fruit. When this was released, my palate/preferences were quite different and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't want to drink this on release now, but given the 20+ years, it's quite elegant and complex. 14,5% abv. Drink now or in the next several years while there's still a nice core of fruit. highly recommended (353 views) |
| | Tasted by Charlie Carnes on 4/7/2020 & rated 94 points: This was a little unexpected; I really liked it. To be sure, I noticed a little "heat" from the 14.5 abv. But, aside from that, this thing was a dark, red fruited beauty. The wine was very aromatic, with spices, fresh red cherry, a hint of astringent oil like lavender. The wine was fresh and inviting, with crushed ripe red fruit, heavy to cherries, there was plenty of acid to balance, and also traces of earthy soil. Yummy, and the bottle was gone before I knew it! (2329 views) |
| | Tasted by sharonandroland on 2/7/2020 & rated 94 points: Wow - like an old Rioja. Super complex, lifted, ethereal
. (1976 views) |
| | Tasted by bon vivant on 1/26/2018 & rated 93 points: Thankfully the 2nd bottle (from the same case) was sound. Decanted for sediment and it rounded off beautifully within 10 minutes. Soft clean red fruit, cherry and hints of strawberry jam (but not jammy) on the delicate aromas, Surprisingly fresh for a 17 year old wines. Nice texture and supple but fairly long finish. Sound bottles should continue to age well for another half a decade and likely longer. (2843 views) |
| | Tasted by bon vivant on 1/26/2018 flawed bottle: corked! (2731 views) |
| | Tasted by sharonandroland on 12/22/2017 & rated 92 points: Full of fruit, strawberries. Nice evolution, very clean, not really showing age. Very fine tannins (2714 views) |
| | Tasted by Blake Brown on 7/4/2017 & rated 91 points: 2001 CLARENDON HILLS OLD VINES GRENACHE BLEWITT SPRINGS VINEYARD CLARENDON- brilliant fresh red and black fruit prevails here with some toast, leather and spice; medium bodied, it hits the mid palate with finesse and distinct cherry flavours. (1791 views) |
| | Tasted by WineAggregate on 8/20/2016 & rated 91 points: Fully mature, nice strength and balance, but not a huge standout in a lineup of Aussie wines. (2792 views) |
| | Tasted by sharonandroland on 4/26/2015 & rated 93 points: Hauntingly beautiful. So rich, yet just hovering somewhere in space. Perfumed aromatics. Perfect balance. Intoxicating. (3445 views) |
| | Tasted by pekingunther on 12/15/2013 & rated 92 points: Such a well made wine and really approaching its best. Extra depth from Mgm. Very rich fruit, plenty of ripe berry at the front the slightly lifted rather than mouthcoating flavour that seperates it from Shiraz of the same genre/location/age. This though is a characteristic of the CH wines. Fresh full fruit without being heavy and mouth coating. More red than black berry/cherry flavours. (5414 views) |
| | Tasted by Kitebrian on 11/4/2013 & rated 90 points: Medium-plus color with a tinge of brown. Mostly dry with a hint of sweetness on the tongue with crisp acidity. Smells of bold fruit with medium oak. On the nose, red berries and cedar. This is a full bodied wine with soft tannins. There is a decent finish on the wine, but the alcohol overwhelms the acidity and tannin, throwing the wine a bit out of balance. Had this with a yellow curry pasted chicken breast, great pairing that cooled the alcohol heat down. (5330 views) |
| | Tasted by Ron Slye on 10/30/2013 & rated 91 points: Good clear color, medium dark red. Slight browning on the edges. Nose of cherries, wet earth. Good mouth weight. Tart cherry, blueberries, a bit of caramel. Still some good tannins that are nicely integrated. Nice lingering finish, though a bit hot. Really liking this so far. (5290 views) |
| | Tasted by lvjohn on 8/14/2013 & rated 88 points: R.I.P.-Sadly our bottle was almost undrinkable. Elements of good wine came through, but mostly there were the unmistakable signs of an over-oxidized wine - raisony, alcohol, very faint fruit, the usual suspects. (4527 views) |
| | Tasted by Charlie Carnes on 8/11/2013: Old vines Grenache fruit profile. Pepper and spice, and just a little too much heat and alcohol coming through. DNF. (3862 views) |
| | Tasted by Domer99 on 3/3/2013 & rated 89 points: This wine may be nearing the end. I gave it a splash decant and then poured back in the bottle. Consumed over the next 4 hours. By the end, the wine took on an almost minty or menthol taste. Very strange. When first poured, however, it was delicious and smooth. Nowhere near the typical Aussie fruit bomb I typically expect. The color was brick red. (2877 views) |
| | Tasted by devraj on 1/27/2013 & rated 92 points: Dark purple-red in color. With about 3 h of air, a soaring nose of blueberry and black raspberry preserves, incense, camphor and lavender captivates the nose. The refined and silky palate strikes a deft balance between the sweet berry fruit, acidity and alcohol. There is a cool inner mouth perfume of camphor and spring flowers that lingers long after the wine has been swallowed. What a huge surprise, I do not ever remember this wine being so well balanced and beautiful. (2714 views) |
| | Tasted by Cowie29 on 1/20/2013 & rated 89 points: Lighter red ; a little thin ..... maybe sat too long ? Overall a very nice Grenache blend. (2744 views) |
| | Tasted by tbone on 1/13/2013: Night one decanted and jumped right in. Slightly sweet cherry and rhubarb on nose and palate and that was about it. Not horrible but nothing to write home about. Tried again on night 2 and 3. Didn't want a second glass on any of these nights in fact was hard to finish first. Bad bottle? Not sure but I have 1 more in cellar.
Night 4 - getting better (2969 views) |
| | Tasted by Tgood on 1/12/2013 & rated 92 points: Dark crimson, clean deep kirsch nose, concentratedly long and tannic on the palate. Maintains a freshness,depth,and vibrancy of the top echelon of cdp's (2451 views) |
| | Tasted by Jay A on 3/24/2012 & rated 93 points: This is the finest this wine has tasted for me. Had this hauntingly amazing cherry/kirsch flavor. The fruit is still primary, but the texture and integration have improved immensely. The wine is intense and concentrated and while it is a full bodied wine, it is balanced and not over the top. I'd love to sneak this into a Chateauneuf de Pape tasting with some of the bolder styles. I know there is a lot of criticism of Clarendon Hills, but I think the wine needed some time to settle down. It is a beauty now. (3608 views) |
| | Tasted by edjBoca on 1/29/2012 & rated 92 points: Still drinking well. It will be good for a few years at this level. Definitely improves with time open.... (3494 views) |
| | Tasted by edjBoca on 9/4/2011 & rated 93 points: After 3 hours open....smooth red fruit with some pepper on the nose. Cherry and meat with with some complexity and a trace of heat....very pleasant and long finish. (3716 views) |
| | Tasted by MJHDC on 9/2/2011: Very nice, elegant. Medium-bodied raspberry, strawberry and cherry fruit. Polished. Worth the wait (3718 views) |
| | Tasted by MC on 2/8/2011: Time to drink up, but drinking well right now and as close to "elegant" as I would have put Aussie Grenache. A- (4262 views) |
| | Tasted by CRAUBER4242 on 12/7/2010 & rated 92 points: Needed 2-3 hours of air. It was pleasant earlier, but it definitely blossomed with additional air. The nose was more powerful and the wine had more weight than it showed 1 year ago when I had this wine last. Not sure if it was closed down on my previous bottle or not. On day 1, the wine showed a nose of sweet leather, cherry, spice and prune with the leathery cherry shining in the mouth. Nice weight and finish as I’ve experienced with other vintages of this wine. On day 2, the wine showed a nice mix of leather, cherry and prune with hints of Asian spice. A nice wine, but I was expecting more. (4302 views) |
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