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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments Comment Date Community Score More...
Red

2014 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec

 Clare Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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9/22/2021 - brigcampbell wrote: NR

Blind: new world style Syrah from southern rhone

Wow, south Australia in the house, cool. I was really thinking I had this nailed with Syrah as it had the blackberry/dark fruit. Good stuff.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    9/22/2021 3:53:00 PM - South Australia?
Red

2017 Head Wines Old Vine Grenache

 Barossa Valley more
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11/6/2020 - Screwcaps Likes this wine: 95 points

This is (still) cracking.

Opened quite meaty and reductive.

After two hours it is sappy, sweetly and spicey and a delicious bitterness of tannin.

A long and savoury length, with waves of paan masala spice mix. Musk. Mint. Aniseed.

This will no doubt hold, and probably develop, but it’s a real delight right now.

It’s not moved since last tasting.

Honesty, history, purity and clarity.

Drink now. 4.5/5. 95.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    7/21/2021 2:42:00 AM - Bang on note, nailed it
Red

2016 Sami-Odi Shiraz Hoffmann Dallwitz

 Barossa more
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4/27/2020 - grapenomad wrote: 96 points

Sami-Odi has been enigmatic to me from day one. The labels, the taste, the reputation - I see it as the Velvet Underground of wine. A band that was incredibly influential, yet was completely divorced from the prevailing pop culture of those times. In Barossa Valley, winemaker Fraser McKinley has been sailing his own ship for years now and delivering some of the most unique wines I've ever tried. This is minimal intervention to the bone, but you're not getting shaky, unpredictable liquid here. No, every single atom has meticulous attention attached to it. Sadly, one can only obtain a few of these fine unicorns per vintage, so it's quite hard for us to detach from them.

Classic Barossa Shiraz is the cowboy that kicks in the door and says "Here I am, fuckers!" Sami Odi is the enigmatic Russian mobster who moves in silence, but carries out his craft masterfully. Incredibly fragrant nose with aromas of freshly picked forest fruit, crunchy blackcurrants and boysenberries, a vibrant floral streak of violets, a little bit of olive and a hint of dried shrubs. Very pure and incredibly captivating nose here. Pretty structured, tightly-knit, refreshing and tannic. An incredibly vibrant Syrah that shows superb depth and breadth of flavor. Can't compare it to anything really, this stands in a category of its own. Brilliant.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    4/28/2020 12:46:00 PM - Thanks for the note. Care to take a stab at an optimal drinking window?

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    4/28/2020 5:08:00 PM - Interesting, thanks for the advice. I've sampled a few of the Little Wines but have held off on the HD on the assumption some time would be beneficial. Might have to give one a try.
Red

2017 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity

 Barossa Valley more
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4/16/2020 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 95 points

Colour med density, Vibrant purple-red crimson edges 15/15
Nose med intensity lovely feminine florals from the Eden valley component, notes of violets, fragrant fruits boysenberry and blackcurrant, earthy spices. Great balance 28/30
Palate full bodied Bright red and blue fruits , clove cinnamon and peppery spice. silky tannins balanced with crisp acidity. Long finish 42/44
Overall great wine from two great areas, Barossa and Eden valley has that old vine elegance , great balance 10/11

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    4/16/2020 3:10:00 PM - Any suggestion on a peak drinking window Lindsay?
Red

2011 Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti)

 Nebbiolo more
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8/17/2019 - Josshinji Likes this wine: 95 points

Amazing complexity and length (floral, rose, pot pourri, char leather) with little primary fruit left more in the cooked side (strawberry and darker fruits). Quite a light style with good acidity

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    8/17/2019 9:39:00 PM - You're a lucky man :)
Red

2010 Majella The Malleea

 Coonawarra Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend more
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2/6/2018 - BBPP Likes this wine: NR

Majella’s flagship from an excellent vintage. This is really whistling a tune and striding down the high street now. Because I am tragically patriotic, I tend to find great comfort in Cabernet/Shiraz blends - an Aussie trademark if ever there was one. Lovely stuff.

And here’s the but ... you have to be a Coonawarra fan to love this. It reeks of Coonawarra. The shame is I’m not sure I am anymore. I really only buy John Riddoch, Limestone Ridge and Parker 1st Growth from Coonawarra now (although Wynns Black Label buys itself in good years). On the other hand, Moss Wood, Leeuwin Art Series, Jack Mann, YY No.1 and the Wendouree Cabernets just keep appearing in the Cabernet part of the cellar. That’s a big change from, say, 10 years ago.

I fear I am on a path of discovery that ends in Bordeaux and, potential, financial ruin. If so, may the Cabernet Gods be kind to me for the only Bordeaux I’ve got excited about to date is Chateau Palmer. That’s a problem. A $700 per bottle problem. Pfft. That’d be right ...

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    2/6/2018 11:02:00 AM - Interesting comment, I have a few of these tucked away.
    Honestly would have thought that they are still along way from being ready.
    Gross generalisation, but do you think that Coonawarra Cabs have more ageing potential than MR? More acid maybe?
    I too have moved away from CW towards MR, just wondering.
Red

2005 AR.PE.PE. Valtellina Superiore - Sassella Riserva Rocce Rosse

 Nebbiolo more
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1/3/2018 - michael_cooke Likes this wine: 94 points

Wow, wine of the year so far!
Pale, orange rim.
Roses, tar, leather, tobacco, orange peel.
Rippling tannins.
So complex, so good.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    1/31/2018 11:51:00 PM - Hi Nick,
    if I recall correctly I opened mid morning & let it slow ox for about 5-6 hours and decanted around a hour or so prior to drinking.
    Lovely wine, more Barbaresco than Barolo.
    The orange, citrus notes were striking.
    Hope you enjoy
Red

2010 Henschke Keyneton Euphonium

 Barossa Shiraz Blend, Syrah more
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12/26/2017 - michael_cooke wrote: NR

Christmas dinner
A bit hot, probably too early
OK not memorable

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    12/28/2017 10:26:00 PM - Yeah that's probably about right
    I had a '98 earlier this year & it was singing
    To be fair the 2010 was right at the end of a loooong Christmas day, more of an afterthought than anything. My palate was pretty fatigued by this stage =)
    Went down well with the rest of the family though.
Red

2015 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label

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11/6/2017 - michael_cooke wrote: NR

OK wine but not quite sure what all the fuss is about
Seemed fairly ripe without much structure
Good value for sure but for me there are plenty more enjoyable examples out there at a similar price point.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    11/6/2017 10:26:00 PM - Have you tried one yet?
    I'm more a Marg River fan than Coonawarra so it could be a personal thing.
    Will leave the rest along for a good rest, not entirely convinced it has the stuffing to go the distance.
    Certainly hope I'm proven wrong.
Red

2004 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon

 Margaret River more
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9/24/2017 - michael_cooke wrote: 89 points

Decanted for around two hours before consumption
An initial taste showed quite tight & youthful
Softened & opened with time
Blackcurrants, blueberry, olive, leather, pencil shaving.
Tannins starting to recede.
Very nice but perhaps a touch one dimensional
Certainly no rush but I'm not convinced it will reach any lofty heights

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    9/25/2017 12:31:00 AM - Peaked? Not sure. Certainly in the window, but no real rush. Possibly more upside over the next 5-7 years, just can't see it becoming anything stupendous on this showing. It was definitely an enjoyable experience though so I wouldn't worry.
    Could be a case of lofty expectations given the pedigree of the producer & the vintage in WA.
Red

2015 By Farr Pinot Noir "Farrside"

 Geelong more
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8/1/2017 - chatters wrote: NR

2017 International Wine Fair hosted by Dynamic wines. (The four seasons hotel, the rocks, sydney): Confected fruit and stalky notes means plentiful whole bunch. Sweet spice. Stalky, tart. Exceedingly unpleasant at this juncture.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    8/16/2017 3:53:00 AM - Wow, that's some pretty unflattering reviews!!
    I must say I wasn't bowled over, especially given the reputation & vintage.
    But I didn't find them that bad.
    Do you think there potential there for future development?
Red

2013 Picardy Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc

 Pemberton Red Bordeaux Blend more
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7/22/2017 - michael_cooke Likes this wine: 90 points

Lovely wine, very Franc dominant (which is a good thing to me)
Light bodied, easy drinking.
Great value, recommended.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    7/22/2017 5:27:00 PM - I'd say it's ready to go now, but certainly another few years won't do it any harm.
    I can't see it as a long term proposition, say now until 2023.
    Although I note that MB in his review puts it out to 2028+ so I could be off the mark.
Red

2012 Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti)

 Nebbiolo more
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7/7/2017 - lightning wrote: 93 points

A beauty. Liquorice, red fruits on the nose, cinnamon - swirl the glass, let your mind wander, and other subtle notes emerge. Entry of pure silk, medium bodied, fine-boned tannins which fan out on the end, lacy acidity, almond, hint of dry herb, red fruits. Elegant, beautiful yet with inner confidence.

  • Comment posted by michael_cooke:

    7/7/2017 3:23:00 PM - I saw your comment on my recent note concerning the 2011 last week. Do you think this 2012 is more approachable now than the 2011? Considering committing Vinfanticide again this weekend!!

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