8/26/2021 - Pugs wrote:

Very thin. Not much fruit. Not much of a finish. A bit meh. Not the worst QPR, but wouldn't buy it again.

6/12/2020 - Pugs wrote:

Cork crumbled, but I poured it through a filter into a decanter and let it sit for a few minutes. So much more alive than the '78 Figeac I tasted earlier in the week. Just shows you how resilient Tempranillo is. Pretty significant bricking. Delicate nose of stewed figs, a little tobacco and some subtle floral notes I can't put my finger on. On the palate, the fruit is still present -- all raisins and prunes for me -- but very pleasant. The finish is fairly short. Overall a really fun wine and amazing how alive it still is 45 years later.

5/30/2020 - Pugs wrote:

Decanted 2 hrs prior to service. I thought it was excellent, others at the table felt it was too tannic. I think it needs more time for the tannins to mellow out or would suggest more time in a decanter prior to service. I think this wine needs food. Great effort from Morgan though.

12/17/2017 - Pugs wrote:

Beautiful bottle of wine. Cork was soaked through but remained solid and came out easily. Fruit has somewhat disappeared here but body remains. Gorgeous nose. It is very enjoyable now, but definitely on the decline. Drink up.

11/3/2017 - Pugs wrote:

Bought 4 bottles for $5 each at Spectrum Wine auctions. Glad I did. While this is clearly on the decline it is a beautiful wine today and will be for another year or two I think. Classic aged nose of prune, tobacco, violets, forest floor. Totally integrated tannins and a silky finish that lasts about 20 seconds. At $5 it's crazy town but even at the current auction average of around $25-30 I think it makes for a really interesting wine to drink now.

12/15/2014 - Pugs wrote:

Over the hill. Drink up.

10/28/2014 - Pugs wrote:

Beautiful, complex nose. Unfortunately it is very tannic and very tart too. I popped and poured, and wonder whether it'll get better in the glass with a bit of air.

8/10/2014 - Pugs wrote:

Really interesting nose but completely lacking in acidity, which ruins it for me.

5/13/2014 - Pugs wrote:

I don't get all the hate for this wine. Is it the best bottle of wine I've ever tasted? No. But is it a decent mid week sipper along with a casual dinner? Sure. I probably wouldn't spend $20 on it again -- there are definitely better QPRs, but it is not an 80 point wine in my opinion.

4/21/2014 - Pugs wrote:

Wow. Beautiful nose of violets. Very impressive stuff, drinking beautifully now.

2/19/2014 - Pugs wrote:

Still a baby. But this is such an awesome wine!

1/4/2014 - Pugs wrote:

One of the best brunellos I've tasted. Decanted 2 hours prior to dinner, was sensational across the board.

12/21/2012 - Pugs Likes this wine:

The transformation of this wine over four hours is incredible. Really recommend giving it some air...

10/17/2012 - Pugs wrote:

Still too young to drink... spent a couple hours in the decanter but tannins didn't seem to soften up until another hour in the glass. but this will be great stuff in a few years.

10/15/2012 - Pugs wrote:

This keeps getting better! A touch hedonistic. amazing nose of honeysuckle and marzipan. sweet but with good acidity. Really very very good.

9/16/2012 - Pugs wrote:

Drink up...i think this is fading.

9/16/2012 - Pugs wrote:

Great QPR

5/19/2012 - Pugs wrote:

Great shiraz. Needs some time in a decanter though, I would recommend decanting for two hours. It is so much better with some time.

4/21/2012 - Pugs wrote:

a bit disappointed in this. tannins weren't as polished as i would have liked and the finish fell short to me. i think it could probably use a couple more years in the cellar. would be interesting to try in 2015.

4/3/2012 - Pugs wrote:

I agree with the previous notes. It's good, but frankly there are 4 or 5 other Clarendon Hills (non-Astralis) that I like more than this, at the same price point.

3/29/2012 - Pugs wrote:

Hardly any nose on this. Tannins are bitter indeed. Not my style. Maybe past it's prime?

11/28/2011 - Pugs wrote:

Drank for thanksgiving. Fantastic QPR. Glad I lifted a case as garagiste mystery 18.

11/4/2011 - Pugs wrote:

Way over the top. Super tannic after pop n pour. With an hour in the glass this is better but still way overblown and I can think of many Aussie shiraz at a similar price point that are significantly better (e.g. Cimicky, even Schild). My least favorite Mollydooker.

10/28/2011 - Pugs wrote:

I like this a lot... different to what I expected. I got a lot of apple and pear aromas on the nose, very unique. The finish goes on an on. Very nice.

10/1/2011 - Pugs wrote:

At Brasserie Dempsey, celebration dinner for E+D's new godparents! This wine is great but will get better with age. Still too young in my mind.

7/16/2011 - Pugs wrote:

awesome. one of my favorite gewurtz's out there.

7/5/2011 - Pugs wrote:

past it's prime.

7/5/2011 - Pugs wrote:

Drank at Michael Connolly's brown bag blind tasting, old world under 100 sgd. i liked it a lot, but i think the amarone took the WOTN.

2/27/2011 - Pugs wrote:

Ryan Hong guest chef dinner at private affairs. This was awesome... after reading the reviews on CT I figured it needed a long decant so I double decanted it at home and then took it to a restaurant, where they decanted it again. Probably overkill but it was unrecognizable (in a good way) when I drank it at the restaurant vs when I drank it out of the bottle 6 hours earlier. Nose is incredible, pure vanilla, black cherries, a touch of eucalyptus maybe? On the palate it is a bit chocolatey, nice spice, and very complex. It reminds me somewhat of Carnival of Love but I think better. Since it was my only bottle I went out and bought some more today and picked up the '05 too. I highly recommend a long decant with this one.

9/21/2010 - Pugs wrote:

A little confusing on the nose, originally I thought it smelled SuperTuscan, then maybe Bordeaux... wow this nose really changes as the wine sits in the glass. Now I'm getting hints of vanilla and dark berries. On the palate it's very brooding, serious, with notes of forest floor, leather, maybe tobacco? It is definitely full bodied and strong on the attack but it all feels balanced, and I love it. Great value.

9/4/2010 - Pugs wrote:

Opened and tasted, it was nice but a bit harsh on the tannins. I let it decant for 4 hours and then drank it with beef wrapped in porcini mushrooms and parma ham, and it was awesome. The color is amazing, so dark and brooding. On the palate I got dark cherries, slight touch of menthol, maybe a hint of cigar/tobacco? The tannins softened up after the decant and it was all a lot more balanced. Definitely a heavy hitter in the classic barolo sense, but after a bit of air this all works beautifully.

8/28/2010 - Pugs wrote:

Great napa cab, and drinking so nicely here. I had a sniff of the cork after I pulled it and it was pure perfume -- all lavender and violets. We decanted it for an hour or so and it was gorgeous. Notes of blueberries and vanilla. This has aged really well I think.

8/27/2010 - Pugs wrote:

subtle nose of vanilla and violets. in the mouth it's quite pretty but i think some of the fruit has faded and sadly this is on the way down. still very enjoyable though, but drink up now...

8/26/2010 - Pugs wrote:

Pretty classic burgundy here. Nice delicacy, nose is a little tame, but if you're in the mood for classic pinot burgundy, this pleases.

8/21/2010 - Pugs wrote:

Drank it with a doublecut filet at Morton's in Singapore. Opened it about 3 hours before and decanted. I am quite a novice here so a bit nervous to share my views, but here goes! It was definitely one of the more complex wines I have ever had and I think for the first time I understand when others say wines have multiple "layers." There was a lot going on here on the nose, first impression was eucalyptus (or was it menthol as others have said?), followed by something a bit like cardamom chocolate? After my first sip I was hooked... you can tell this is a blockbuster and very fruit forward but it just all seems so balanced and, well, addictive. At the end of the meal I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Was it the wine or the small cow I ate? I am bummed I only own 2 more bottles and seriously thinking about buying a 6 bottle case of the 2004 Run Rig that someone has offered me recently...