7/26/2019 - m.stiles Likes this wine:

Drinking really well after an hour in the decanter. Oak stuck out a little before the hour breathing, however the fruit then rose up and it was all nicely balanced. Eden valley first, Cabernet second.

No rush, should continue to improve for 5+ years, however tannins are nicely integrated now.

3/28/2019 - m.stiles wrote:

Enticing nose of citrus, white flowers and green herbs, the palate carries some pineapple fruit sweetness and shows impeccable balance even as a young wine. Its grassy with a mineral backbone, yet also exhibits some viscosity. A true delight and absolute bargain at $25

3/21/2019 - m.stiles wrote:

The aromas are intense with plenty of grapefruit and floral notes, as well as some fresh cut grass. The palate is extremely rich for a white wine, somewhat acidic, somewhat mineral, almost has a blackcurrant flavour to go along with the citrus tartness. Also has that thing you often see in Riesling, sherbert-like texture without any sugar sweetness.

4/2/2017 - m.stiles wrote:

After double decanting and 6 hours slowly breathing in the bottle, a lot of fruit weight has emerged. Flavours tend toward dried fruits, liqorice and dried rose petals. On the nose the alcohol does show a little, however it smells of an intoxicating mix of dried roses, caramelised balsamic and pine forest. Tannic grip is moderately firm, yet very fine and silky. If I had my time over with this bottle, I would probably double decant then serve within an hour.

2/26/2017 - m.stiles wrote:

Past its best, decent after a 2-3 hour decant.

11/9/2016 - m.stiles wrote:

Modernist, lots of vanilla oak, limited structure. A real pity given the fruit underneath appeared to be excellent.

12/27/2015 - m.stiles wrote:

Showing some bricking around the rim, however flavour wise is still rather youthful, give another few years.

11/11/2015 - m.stiles wrote:

It was hard to nail down a tasting note as the wine was constantly shifting and evolving in the glass, it opened up with a fair whack of mushroom which faded after 30min or so in the decanter, from there it was all rose petals, new leather, red cherry and fennel on the nose, a bright and refreshing palette with a lovely clean minerally finish. For the first 3 hours there was just a lick of silky tannins there, but eventually the structure really asserted itself - this is more serious that you expect from a Langhe Neb. Fruit wise it ranged from tart red cherry and orange peel at first, right through to being quite rich blackberry after a couple of hours.

A game changer at the entry level.

8/11/2015 - m.stiles wrote:

Wow, incredible nose of green apple and honeysuckle, opening up later to fresh apricot and brioche. The palate has impeccable length and walks an amazing fine line between refreshing crisp acidity from its lemon fruit flavour, brioche backbone and delicious sherbert and honey sweetness on the finish. Textured and mouthfilling, this is by far and away my benchmark for champagne.

8/11/2015 - m.stiles Likes this wine:

Decanted for 6 hours (and it needs at least 4), intoxicating and constantly shifting aromas of new leather, aniseed, cherry, pine needles and briar patch. Its full bodied and rich on fruit by old world standards, has length for days and is still showing a gloriously fine tannic backbone. Will certainly improve over the next 5-10 years. All red wine wishes it was Barolo.

7/26/2015 - m.stiles wrote:

Very good, fruit still bright yet tannins integrated, decant for one hour and go for it, would not hold any longer

11/21/2014 - m.stiles Likes this wine:

Into its mature drinking window, still nice lemon fruit, sherbet, some butteryness, bright yellow colour. Drink now or next 5 years

11/14/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Good fruit but lacks refinement

9/21/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Just barely entering its drinking window for my tastes, the tannins have just about resolved and some secondary briary character and leather (in a good way) is evident. Medium bodied, showing balance and poise, every sniff gave up something new.

Everyone around the table was gazing longingly at the empty glasses after the bottle basically vanished.

Drink 2014-2020

8/10/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Proving once again why I prefer Barossa Cabernet to Shiraz, outstanding, ready to drink now.

6/18/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Simple and tasty, would not hold any longer

6/3/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Fully mature and ready to go.

The nose is pretty funky, loads of leather and not a whiff of fruit, fortunately it tastes like a restrained hunter red with cranberry fruit, spice and some earthly complexity.

A very good food wine.

5/11/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Still extremely youthful, tannin has plenty of grip, give it at least another 2-3 years.

5/11/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Fully mature and drinking at its peak, classic hunter

4/19/2014 - m.stiles wrote:

Drinking at its peak, dig in

9/22/2013 - m.stiles wrote:

Starting to develop some aged character, colour shifting toward yellow, I feel its kind of at an awkward stage right now with powerful flavours that seem a touch disjointed.

Hold fire.

6/14/2013 - m.stiles wrote:

Blackberry fruit, enough acidity to carry it too, moderate length, simple but tasty. Drink up, not getting any better.

6/9/2013 - m.stiles wrote:

Sour cherry up front with some darker berries to follow, tannin starting to integrate, but it was much better on the second day. Leave alone for another few years.

6/7/2013 - m.stiles wrote:

Just starting to enter drinking window, plenty of fruit still but tannins are integrated and is starting to show some gravelly complexity.

1/26/2013 - m.stiles wrote:

Nicely balanced, dark berry fruit, good depth of flavour, no rush but drinking well now (half bottle)

12/25/2012 - m.stiles wrote:

Basically past it, drink up

7/29/2011 - m.stiles wrote:

Tannins still quite firm, give it another 2-3 years at least

4/22/2011 - m.stiles wrote:

Much better than last bottle, earthy with bright cherry fruit, I blame the previous cork

3/23/2011 - m.stiles wrote:

Very good after at least 1 hour in the decanter, amazing value for money, works as both a quaffer and food wine.

10/3/2010 - m.stiles wrote:

Big bruising wine, needs more time and/or a long decant

9/18/2010 - m.stiles wrote:

Fruity, balanced, good to go - unlikely to get any better

8/4/2010 - m.stiles wrote:

Very good, needs time

1/25/2010 - m.stiles wrote:

Superb, still very youthful, lots of zesty lemon and a little cider apple, excellent balance and length

9/6/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

Full bodied and rich, much better than previous bottle, perhaps random attacks of brett are at play?

9/4/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

A little dustyness blew off revealing a world of juicy cherry and blackcurrant, subtle spices and a silky mouthfeel. Not a hint of alcoholic heat and I was shocked to read that it was 16%. Chalk one up for old vine Barossa.

8/1/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

A bit metallic, lacking structure, drink up.

5/24/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

Past its peak, still enjoyable but the fruit is fading fast, drink up!

1/9/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

Quite aromatic with lime zest, rose petals and hints of lychee. The palate is dry with just a hint of sweetness, showing lemon, lime and fresh pineapple flavours, a little honey and a riesling-like acidic backbone. A serious white wine, decent length too.

1/9/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

Showing perfumed aromas of cherry and clove, there is an intense and fruity front palate followed by some spices that lead to a tangy and savoury finish. The fine/approachable tannins and pure fruit make this an excellent drink-now proposition, or you can wait a few years for some further complexity to develop.

1/9/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

Inviting aromas of cherries, blackcurrant, nutmeg and clove. The robust palate is filled with rich dark fruits and berries, chocolate, pepper and cedar oak. Definitely full bodied, not overly “huntery” and a touch warm on the finish.

1/9/2009 - m.stiles wrote:

Vibrant aromas of blackcurrant, liquorice, menthol and spices. The palate is led by powerful and juicy blackcurrant fruit, plenty of super fine tannin and a little lingering coffee on the finish. Its robust, well balanced and very long - excellent Cabernet and good value at around $30.

11/17/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

Stylistically modern Hunter Valley, showing fruity aromas of cherry, blackcurrant and some licorice. The palate is initially juicy and intense with tangy dark fruits and berries, a dash of spice and a dollop of vanilla oak. There are just enough super fine and approachable tannins to pull the finish into the savoury realm.

11/13/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

Savoury with soft tannins and a peppery finish, decent bistro wine.

10/15/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

This Cabernet smells of sweet dark berries, menthol and herbs growing in a pine forest. There is a bit of warmth up front on the palate, however this is carried by the fleshy yet tart dark fruits and mouthfilling and chewy tannins. Surprising length for a $15 wine, drinking well now.

10/19/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

A hat-trick of strawberries: colour, aroma and flavour, howzat? Crisp and refreshing with some strawberry and raspberry fruit up front, a drying acid backbone and some nice minerality on the finish.

10/12/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

Tropical fruits, balancing acidity, great with cheese.

10/12/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

Well made wine, suffers from being a straight Grenache - lacks structure.

10/6/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

A clean and modern hunter nose of cherry, dusty earth, aniseed and hints of clove and nutmeg. Medium bodied with a solid backbone of fine tannin, blackberry fruit, balancing acidity and a goodly dollop of spicy oak. Good length, needs time.

9/26/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

Superb, berry fruits coming to the fore, tannins starting to soften a little. I would recommend being patient and waiting another few years...

9/25/2008 - m.stiles wrote:

Good drinking, fruit forward but the tannins have settled. Not overly varietal but who cares for the price?