9/30/2017 - RBRG wrote:

Very mature in color - as expected. Fully tertiary nose - saddle leather, dried herbs, something blood like and meaty, raisin like dried fruit notes. Palate is a let down, France my palate offers just a brief hint of red fruit before a thin and unappetising sour dried cherry and somewhat medicinal finish.

6/10/2013 - RBRG wrote:

Something a bit puzzling about this wine. Deep, richly fruited nose with serious density. Expecting it to be a blockbuster but pleasantly surprised to find a remarkable elegance to the palate. Clearly exhibiting classic Barossa richness but on the lighter side of full bodied, bordering on medium bodied. Length is outstanding and came into its own with a BBQ bone in Wagyu rib eye. Quite a delicious glass of top shelf Oz Shiraz with years left in the tank. Possibly a wine that polarises opinion, but I can't argue with the quality.

6/10/2013 - RBRG Likes this wine:

Rich and dark with dominant black berry aromas and delicate brown spice. Just moving beyond primary fruit and building complexity nicely. Wonderful texture and palate length. A personal favourite with every glass a confirmation of why I love this wine.

11/27/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Rich looking dark crimson with no signs of age but legs are suggesting robust alcohol. Nose is cool with black cherry, warm spice and plum notes with a hint of black tea - no sign of that alcohol. Palate is richly fruited and well balanced with still vibrant crunchy acidity alongside classic Otago spice and lacy tannins. Rich, plush, seamless and moreish with great palate length.

11/26/2012 - RBRG Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good. Can't say I have much of a mental benchmark for SA Syrah, but this impressed. At 7 years it is still showing a vibrant deep hue in the glass with only minimal bricking at the rim. Perfumed in an old world style with savoury and leather influence and a touch of something floral and herbal amid a broad swaythe of black plums and berries. Palate is complex and offers rich yet silky fruit, some savoury influence again and a fine framework of dusty and well integrated tannin. All well balanced and ultimately delicious.

4/16/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Outstanding wine of real complexity and subtle nuance. Has literally blown away every Pinot recently consumed from Oz. Amazing length and persistence and wowed all those present. Just took another few bottles into the cellar thankfully.

4/16/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Popped and poured with a very old friend recently. A really pleasant surprise having not seen this before but no notes taken. Savoury depth with pristine clarity to the fruit. Nothing OTT just very clean pure classic pinot albeit in a full bodied style and very impressive. Something to look out for

3/25/2012 - RBRG wrote:

StewartWent's comments are spot on. Looked at this over a few rare dry-aged rib-eyes alongside Clos du Marquis 1990. Confess that the Bordeaux took it but was pleasantly surprised with the earth and leather notes with slightly sweet red fruits that it showed. Delicate and memorable despite being past it's prime.

3/25/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Nice evolution since last bottle but nothing remains out of place. StefanS nails it. Wish I had a case!

3/25/2012 - RBRG wrote:

As previously

3/25/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Oxidized with notes of Madeira

3/25/2012 - RBRG wrote:

As previous. I am loving this!

3/4/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Really delicious wine this and one of my favorites. At a recent blind tasting this wine performed outstandingly well against some big names from Rhone. Honeyed stone fruits, citrus and spice on the nose with real concentration. This is backed up on the palate with lovely richness of flavor, stone fruit and honey again with vibrant citrus acidity and a lick of crushed rock minerality. Finishes long and clean

3/3/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Great value easy drinking Pinot. Nothing overly complex or interesting but impeccably made. Well balanced with vibrant but not overwhelming fruit and a nice spicy edge and slightly firm tannins that will no doubt soften in time. Not much in this price bracket that compares.

3/3/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Slightly controversial wine when drunk recently with a friend. My comments suggested a fully mature savory wine with notes of barnyard and freshly turned earth overlaying the cherry fruit notes. Light brown tinge to the wine suggests it is nearing the end of its life but palate was still juicy with fresh acidity and herbal savory elements intertwined with sour cherry/berry and a super fine dusty and dry finish. Time to drink up me thinks

3/3/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Certainly getting better with age. I am slowly coming round to the 08's right now and am very impressed with where they are going. Testament to the fact that good Kiwi pinot benefits from a few good years in the bottle.

3/3/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Nicely evolved with still vibrant acidity keeping things from getting flabby and unbalanced. Very complex and finishing with serious length. Top shelf stuff

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Richly coloured dark ruby red. Nose is a little subdued after 2 hours open. What is available is black fruit and warm spice with licks of vanilla oak. Heavily spiced black fruit palate with licorice on a bed of soft almost imperceptible tannin. Lingering finish but overall disappointing in its simplicity.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Slight browning a the rim shows its age but otherwise deep ruby red in the glass. Notes of black and blue fruits, spice, chocolate and touches of smoke and freshly burnished leather. Spiced plum fruit and a splash of cassis, smoke and chocolate with a slight sour note on the finish. Super fine dusty tannins with surprising acidity leave you itching for another mouthful. I would have scored this higher had the finish been longer.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Subtle red fruits and cherries on the nose. Quite cool but with a certain richness albeit at a high tone. Rich and spicy framed by lacy tannins. Dried hers and sweet rich red fruit. The sweet ness dominates and throws the wine off balance, but texturally there is a lot to offer.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Really bright, light pale gold in the glass. Nose is white flowers, citrus and stone fruits. Follows through on the palate to include mineral and a subtle smokiness. Mouthwatering acidity keeps it all in check. I expect that this will improve over a good few more years and gain additional complexity.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Same as previous on colour - how to describe "glossy"? The more Kiwi pinot I drink the more this wine impresses me. Still the same sweet floral red berry nose with touches of licorice and a merest whiff of the forest. Palate is fresh and mineral driven bright red fruits dominate, backed by crunchy mouth watering acidity. tannins evolving now and not finishing quite as dry. Great persistence.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Dark ruby. Nose is somewhat subdued since last look. Still dark fruits but less obvious or overt. Freshly turned earth and mushrooms are in evidence. Silky smooth black fruited palate - plum over cherry with herbal nuances. Super fine dusty tannins nicely balanced against still crisp acidity. Penetrating length finishing with a touch of smoky spice. Very interesting and a personal fave.

1/2/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Deep, dark crimson and showing no signs of age. Rich red cherry aromas with a hint of forrest floor and sweet vanilla. Medium bodied palate with a rich seam of red fruits framed by lacy tannin structure that provides excellent texture and interest. Decent length and very well balanced. All suggests many years of good drinking ahead.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Translucent ruby red and very vibrant. Absolutely no fading at the rim. Spiced and herbal fruited nose with touches of forrest funk. Fresh red fruited palate with lovely silky mouthfeel with decent length and persistence. Altogether well integrated wine that is showing well but has a few good years ahead of it. If I must criticize, it is a touch simple and one dimensional

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Something resembling a little medicinal with menthol and eucalypt notes in addition to the lovely spiced berry fruit and washed granite hint. Structure is a highlight. Very pure mineral driven pinot fruit wash over the mid-palate with lacy tannins. There is a distinct mineral element that I can only describe as being similar to drinking really hard water - the stuff that leaves a stain in the basin. Quite remarkable and only marked down due to the eucalypt influence that I thought was a touch overt.

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Spectacular wine - my words will simply not do it justice so will keep it simple - Densely coloured. Rich fruit and peppery spice. Noting previous comments it appeared to me that the wine is coming into balance as the fruit by no means dominated the impressive pure and mineral-like structure of this wine. Tannins are silky and fine grained and the length is ridiculous. Had I not brushed my teeth, I felt I would have still tasted this in the morning - and I would not have been unhappy about that!

1/8/2012 - RBRG wrote:

In brilliant shape and absolutely delicious. Balanced, richly fruited superb structure and with lingering spice-licked finish

1/2/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Impenetrable inky blue/black in the glass. No sign of any evolution right to the rim! 16.5% if I recall correctly!!!
Mint, dark chocolate/mocha and spice. Lovely plush mouthfeel. Richly fruited and despite the alcohol it is beautifully balanced, finishing long and strong with no heat. Possibly peaking but will last a few more years at least.

1/2/2012 - RBRG wrote:

Lemon tinted crystal in the glass with a nose of light florals and salt spray. Astounding clarity and brightness. Medium bodied with crisp yellow citrus, stony minerality and lovely purity - finish is fine and clean

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Opened for my partner's 32nd birthday at a little french place called Le Bistrot. Deep opaque garnet colour in the glass. Nose is savoury with touches of earth, meat, herbs and black tea. On the palate it shows as completely resolved though flavours are still rich and substantial with earthy cassis and thyme with remarkable acidity and super fine dusty tannins Balance is immaculate and length is wonderful. Brilliant old claret

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

This is starting to fall away from its initial heights which is a disappointment. Enjoyed at a brown bag Grenache event recently, it did not show well against some lightweight opposition. Hot alcohol notes surprised me - maybe flawed?? - light vanilla oak and spicy red fruits. Structure is lacking now as the balance has gone but length remains a pleasing highlight.

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Remains a bargain!

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

This is clearly improving with age and starting to come into its own

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Upfront, I am a big fan of this wine. Light floral and soft red fruit nose - very pale in the glass. Really delicate nose with just the slightest touches of spice. Strawberry and sweet cherry fruit with crunchy acidity and serious texture. Just bought another 12 as I have a feeling this value wine is going to be something special in the future.

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

2 days open and nose is only a touch subdued. Still noticeable red fruit and cherry with notes of spice and savoury forest funk. Palate has a real mouth-filling voluptuousness that appeals but perhaps not the fine texture that I look for. Red fruits and sourish cherry with dusty fine tannins but still vibrant balancing acidity.

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Open for 3 days and as such the nose has diminished significantly. Some earthiness and sweet forest floor funk. Palate has also lost its earlier vibrant juicy fruit elements but acidity remains pleasing balanced by the silkiest of tannins. Great texture with medium length. I remain a big fan of this value for money drop.

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

A slightly translucent ruby red. Nose is richly cherry spiced with forest floor aromas. Palate shows lovely evolution as expected with the bright red/fresh fruits being replaced with baked cherry pie, cinnamon spice and touches of dried savoury herbs. Beautifully textured wine with super fine tannins

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Ditto again

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Have enjoyed 3 of these recently including 1 at a Grenache brown bag event where it was WOTN. Light garnet in colour. Pure sweet red fruits and a little forest floor. No confectionary elements. The purity of red fruit was a real highlight. Structure is impeccable with crunchy acidity framed by slightly chewy tannins. Great wine and a lovely expression of single vineyard Aussie Grenache

5/1/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Top shelf - wonderfully expressive of its place - Mornington. Beautifully balanced and evolved with excellent texture which is something I look for. Dark and light cherry dominates but with proper hints of undergrowth and a nice long finish. This has now become a personal favourite - I really like this wine

2/16/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Ditto on RRees comments - simply wonderful example of evolved McLaren Vale shiraz and a step up from 2004

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Ruby red, rich and dark with hints of purple in its depths - stunning colour. High alcohol nose soon blew off to reveal red fruits, licorice and a smoky and savoury spiciness. Rich and smooth on the palate seeming to penetrate every crevice of my mouth. More red fruit - raspberry maybe - some charcuterie meatiness, nice herbal spice and a little vanillan oak. Solid tannin structure is well supported by vibrant acidity and fruit. Good finish but not overly long - very enjoyable but time should see it develop more secondary characteristics and improve.

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Very light gold - nose is falling away and losing its early vibrancy. Green capsicum, citrus (lemon/lime) and hints of musk. Palate is a little flat and flabby. Acid seems right but balance is all off compared to what I remember of this wine - maybe a flaw. Fruit is definitely lacking but the mineral spine of the wine saves it.

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Light yellow-gold - white musk, stone fruits - peach mostly, and creamy lemon sherbet - something a little floral hinting through as well. Rich creamy palate texture with a spine of citrus minerality. Nice crisp acids with crunchy white peach and lemon zest. Lovely long mineral finish.

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Wild forest, herbal and savoury nose gets things off to a good start. Brambly fruits and spiced plums framed by silky tannins and vibrant acidity. Finishes long with earthy fruit and spice - delicious but I personally prefer the Canyon.

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

A touch of red brick on the rim but otherwise a rich ruby red in the glass. Wow! Truly wonderful aromas of dark red cherry and smoky vanilla oak all beautifully intertwined. Palate sets up as a touch meaty and earthy but levels out with rich berry fruit framed by the dustiest of fine tannins. Long and textured finish sets this above the pack.

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Perfumed berry/cherry and floral nose. Again red berry and cherry touched with delicate spice and a sweet bacon element and just a touch of minty herb. Finish is wonderfully long and tannins provide the essential structure to suggest a long life ahead.

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

A touch of red brick to the glass but still a dense reddish purple hue. Herbs and cedar on the nose with lovely cassis red fruit. Fruit and acid in harmony with cassis and berry components dominating ahead of hints of mint. Finish is long a framed by dusty tannins - excellent

2/12/2011 - RBRG wrote:

Ruby red with touches of garnet on the rim indicating its age. Nose is savoury and earthy with dark berry fruit and cinnamon highlights with light almost floral elements as a counterpoint. Sweet red berry on the front palate moving towards a spicy mid with a long earthy finish touched by sour cherry. Fresh acidity and fine tannin structure have this wine in full balance. A bit of a green light for any of those still wondering at the cellaring potential of Kiwi pinot.