CellarDoor TWE Tasting
Marriot on Pitt Street, Sydney
Tasted Thursday, June 5, 2025 by chatters with 133 views
Introduction
Phil very kindly invited me along to look at the TWE offerings and, after last years happiness, I was very happy to accept the invitation
Flight 1 (50 Notes)
Closing
Well, despite my age I think I was one of the youngest people in the room which is, possibly, a reflection on the portfolio of wines here. These showed a lot better at the tasting last year. Tonight was a little disappointing.
2024 Leo Buring Riesling Leopold Tasmania
Australia, Tasmania
Slightly funky, reductive, meaty over fresh lime with lime cordial underpin, slight fresh herbal notes, a little minerality. Tart, slightly green, slight sulphur, very young, lime again but fairly old school. Meh.
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2024 Saltram Riesling Mamre Brook
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Lime, fresh but a touch dilute, clean, simple. Tiny touch of green apple, dilute on the palate as well, simple, short. Meh.
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2024 Seppelt Riesling Drumborg Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Henty
Medium minus intensity aromas citrus is a little riper, clementine, mandarin, tiny unripe stone fruit note. Medium plus intensity acidity makes this a little more tart on the palate and more yellow citrus; lemon over those orange fruits, slightly unripe, medium plus length. Hmm.
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2018 Seppelt Riesling Drumborg Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Henty
Petrol (only 7 years old), muted citrus, slightly bitter notes. Medium plus intensity acidity , kerosene doesn't translate to the palate, slightly bitter, peel dominated citrus. Meh.
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2024 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas peachy stone fruit, sweet spice, slightly leesy. Juicy, fleshy, tangy, stone fruit present textured rasp is slightly coarse and has cedary undertones. Simple.
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2023 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay Reserve
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
A sense of concentration, slight solids, toasted notes, bacon fat, stone fruit with a little citrus underpin, sweet spice. More of the same on the palate; juicy, fleshy, woody grip, fruit less stone and more citrus on the palate, a little disjointed. Time to come together.
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2014 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay Reserve
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Toast, honey, slight butter, creamy notes, touch of bacon fat, sweet spice, muted stone fruit. Juicy, tangy, lactic creaminess, silky texture, muted fruit. Hmm.
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2023 Devil's Lair Chardonnay
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Slightly reductive/solids, touch of rubberiness, struck match, bacon, cheesy lees, stone fruit, sweet spice. Tangy, textured, unripe stone fruit and mandarin, a little short, simple. Meh.
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2022 Devil's Lair Chardonnay 9th Chamber
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
more solids, slightly more concentration, plenty of oak offering spice, slight vanilla, stone fruit, tangy, slightly bitter on the palate, tart acid, disjointed, oh dear.
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2023 Penfolds Chardonnay Bin 311
Australia, South Eastern
Reductive, dusty spices and 'dry' oak, fruit is muted behind this. Juicy, dilute on the palate, fruit is quite tart ,oak is quite bitter, buttery malolactic notes. Completely out of whack. Nah.
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2018 Wolf Blass Chardonnay Grey Label
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Struck match, bacon fat, cream, toasted nuts, a little lactic note; slight butter, cream, lacks fruit on the nose. Juicy, fleshy, oak dominates the palate, bacon and muted stone fruit and citrus sits in the oak grain. Not for me.
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2024 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Sour red fruits, simple nose, touch of sweet spice, slightly meaty underpin. Slightly tart red fruit, plenty of silky textured. Simple. Meh.
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2023 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir Deer Farm Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Pretty and jubey red cherry, touch of sweet spice, very slight alcohol prickle lends more savoury spice. More of the same on the palate, simple, clean, red cherry, savoury finish. Hmm,
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2023 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir Beenak Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Meaty, savoury, muted dark hued fruits are non delineated, brooding, slight alcohol prickle as well. Savoury on the palate, meaty, juicy, dark hued fruit with an almost peppery note on the finish.
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2013 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir Deer Farm Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Wow, super reductive and closed, rubbery in fact. Even the most vigorous of shakes doesn't shift this. I'll leave it, get a fresh glass and come back to it in half an hour or so. After about 45 minutes the reductive note has partially dissipated leaving a little red cherry and savoury spice. In the mouth it's juicy, that red hued fruit has a slightly sour underpin, tannins are drying, powdery textured. All that wait for not much fun.
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2021 Seppelt Pinot Meunier Drumborg Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Henty
Dark cherry fruit with a little rustic roughness and a little red fruit, savoury spice and bacon fat in support. In the mouth it's juicy, fleshy, savoury with slightly coarse and rustic drying tannins, cherry fruit. S'okay in a very country way.
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2024 Seppelt Pinot Noir Drumborg Vineyard
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Henty
Non delineated red and black fruit, plenty of savoury spice, slight alcohol prickle, a little caramel oak. Juicy, tangy, concentrated, fruit more red hued on the palate. Hmm
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2021 Devil's Lair Malbec Honeybomb Luxe
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Plummy, fresh, a little floral top note, alcohol lends peppery spice. Juicy, fleshy, slightly dilute plummy fruit, coarse flour tannins, simple.
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2022 Devil's Lair Syrah 9th Chamber
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
Slightly reductive, rubbery, a little sweet spice with muted plummy fruit, showing both red and black fruit, alcohol warmth, silky tannins, very slightly soupy! Meh
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2019 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri
Australia, South Australia
Again a touch of reductiveness, plummy, a little sweet spice. Alcohol dominates the palate, with adjusted acidity, chewy tannins. Not much fruit. Out of whack. Bah.
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2018 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 150 Marananga
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Reductive, caramel oak, vanilla, ripe black fruit melange, sweet spice, Juicy, fleshy, chewy tannins are drying more caramel and vanilla with those anonymous, polished black fruits. A well made over-oaked non-event for me.
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2018 Rosemount Estate Syrah Balmoral
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Medium minus intensity aromas of black fruits; berry, plum, touch of black liquorice, baking spice, cedar, a little red berry compote in the background. In the mouth it's juicy, fleshy with plenty of grippy texture over the top of the still present fruit. Time but promise.
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2023 Seppelt Shiraz Mount Ida
Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
Blackberry, brambles, clean, simple with a little savoury note. Juicy, dark hued fruits with a red fruit underpin married to talcy texture but this sits in the entry level medium dry red space. <shrugs>
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2013 Seppelt Shiraz St Peters
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
Blackberry jam, alcohol lends savoury spice, oak here offering vanilla, touch of brambles. Juicy, tangy, brambly fruit, plentiful powdery tannins have a slightly leathery underpin. Long, pleasant.
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2023 Seppelt Shiraz St Peters
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
Medium minus intensity aromas of blackberry jam, sweet spice, polished oak lends caramel as well. Fresh acidity, a little fruit underpin to the blackberry, slightly grainy tannins. Medium plus length. A little leaner than the 13. Hmm
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2017 Saltram Shiraz No.1
Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Medium minus intensity aromas of muted black plum, with agitation the alcohol starts to pop out a little, sweet oak spice. Medium plus intensity acidity , creamy caramel notes over muted black fruits, silky tannins but, based on last year, it’s a bit Bah for me
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2000 Saltram Shiraz No.1
Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Caramel, vanilla, black plummy and blackberry jam, sweet baking spice, a little leather, plenty of fiery alcohol warmth. And the palate is a reflection of the nose, thickly fruited, dense with chewy tannins integrated and the huge palate weight is reinforced by the alcohol and the fruit concentration. Old School beast.
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2017 Saltram Shiraz The Journal
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
A little red hued fruit shows cranberry and red currant, joining the darker berries, sweet spice, a little toasted oak and an oddly cardboard note (?!?) The palate is juicy, fleshy, red and dark hued fruits with plenty of spice, Oddly it feels slightly dilute, especially after the No.1 2000. Damn!
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2022 Wolf Blass Shiraz Gold Label Regional Reserve
Australia, South Australia
Plummy fruit, touch of sweet spice but with a peppery note. Simple shiraz. Juicy, fleshy, slightly dilute, peppery spice, alcohol warmth, black fruits have a little red fruit underpin, coarse silky tannins, simple. Okay.
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2023 Wolf Blass Shiraz Grey Label
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Initially reductive but with agitation, pretty dark hued fruits, peppery spice from the alcohol. Juicy, fleshy, dark hued fruits, slightly oaky tannins caramel, slightly meaty on the finish. The oak is a little intrusive but it's…okay.
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2021 Wolf Blass Shiraz Platinum Label Medlands Vineyard
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Plummy, ripe, alcohol heat, polished oak offers sweet spice, slight caramel. Juicy, thickly concentrated plummy fruit is flooded by a tsunami of oak, grippy drying tannins take over. Years.
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2012 Wolf Blass Shiraz Platinum Label Medlands Vineyard
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Alcohol heat dominates the nose over muted fruit, lots of caramel oak, sweet spice. Juicy in the mouth with lots of oak. If you like oak water then this is for you.
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2019 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz Old Vines
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Fresh plums, a little sweet and savoury spices, tiny herbaceous underpin. Juicy, fleshy, tangy, it’s a touch dilute with slightly coarse tannins. Hmm.
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2022 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz Michael
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
A little almost ashy note; herbaceous, slightly green with muted black fruits, slight pepper, oaky notes show caravel, sweet spice and grow with time to be joined by red liquorice. Juicy, fleshy, fresh with integrated oak on the palate. The tannins are super persistent & coarse flour textured, fruit present but in the background joined by those red liquorice notes. Nice straying to compelling; despite the green notes this is fresh and rather charming.
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2022 Lindeman's Pyrus
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
A little cardboard (?), baked non delineated fruits, alcohol heat with a herbaceous underpin, sweet spice. Juicy, drying tannins, dilute fruit, touch of herbaceousness. Long but meh.
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2022 Lindeman's Trio Shiraz - Cabernet Limestone Ridge Vineyard
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Beef extract, alcohol warmth, muted dark hued fruits, baked/burnt liquorice with a herbaceous note. In the mouth it's slightly sour with a mid palate scoop, the dark fruits and liquorice translates from the nose, coarse tannins, alcohol warmth helps carry the finish long.
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2022 Lindeman's Cabernet Sauvignon Trio St. George
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Medium minus intensity aromas muted fruit is non delineated, alcohol is in charge of the nose and, annoyingly, the palate which has sour acidity and is, to be honest, pretty much undrinkable.
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2010 Lindeman's Pyrus
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Medium minus intensity aromas of slight pyrazine, muted dark hued fruits, alcohol heat…the pyrazine and the alcohol dominate the palate along with coarse tannins. Nope
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2023 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon The Original
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Ashy, pyrazine, fresh blackcurrant smells crunchy, a little savoury spice. Juicy on the palate with fresh blackcurrant married to silky tannins. Long. Lovely.
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2010 Lindeman's Cabernet Sauvignon St. George
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Slightly jammy black hued fruits, cedar. Juicy, fleshy, dark hued fruits, fresh, slightly dilute but okay.
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2024 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard Limited Release McKillop
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Medium minus intensity aromas muted fruit doesn’t really show much at all, a touch of alcohol warmth. Juicy, fleshy plenty of texture but without an abundance of oaky flavours. Not much else here.
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2022 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
From Decanter. Medium minus intensity aromas a little dark hued fruit, well controlled oak but it's all quite muted on the nose and palate, drying tannins, slightly sour. Nah.
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2022 Penfolds Bin 389
Australia, South Australia
Caramel oak, sweet spice, muted dark fruits, alcohol warmth. Super oaky on the palate. Sigh.
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2021 Penfolds FWT 585
France, Vin de France
Earthy, herbaceous, very slight alcohol is not off putting, blackcurrant, cedar, sweet spice, a little plum. Plentiful tannins, juicy acidity, fruit as per the nose sitting in the oaky grooves, by far and away the best Penfolds on show today. Interesting.
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2022 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707
Australia, South Australia
Creamy caramel oak, a little vanilla, sweet spice, muted polished black fruits sit behind this; oak driven nose. And the oak completely dominates the palate; milk chocolate joins the other oaky flavours. Pointless.
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2010 Lindeman's Shiraz - Cabernet Limestone Ridge Vineyard
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Fruit tea, a little savoury black fruit concentrate, sweet spice, alcohol warmth, plums, blackcurrant. Juicy, fleshy, slightly bitter on the finish, chalky tannins evat at 15 years old. Medium plus length. Hmm.
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2022 Devil's Lair Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Blackcurrant, a little seaside, slightly minty underpin, mineral notes. On the palate it's juicy fleshy, the fruit a little more sour and red hued, tannins are dying and not really integrated yet. Time but bah today.
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2008 Wolf Blass Black Label
Australia, South Australia
Ripe black fruits here though still retaining a slightly dilute smelling freshness, plenty of oak offering spice, alcohol lends a touch of pepper, plummy fruit peeks out from behind this. In the mouth the oak is the dominant factor to the detriment of everything else.
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2022 Wolf Blass Black Label
Australia, South Australia
Meaty, savoury, muted black fruits, sweet spice, lots of oak. And the palate is a reflection of the nose. Bah.
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2022 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard Childs
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Like a dialled back and slightly unriper version of the black label at twice the price. A little sweet spice, tomato leaf, slightly sour with coarse tannins, disjointed. Nah
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