4/7/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

This is in a lovely place at 10 years of age. And still has its best years ahead of it. I really enjoy the earthier, leaner style of Johnno’s and in the bigger vintage that ‘14 was, this is the pick of the Tyrrell’s red range for me. Still plenty of primary red berried fruits here, fine tannins wrap together a very elegant wine.

4/6/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

I somehow missed tasting this at the CD on our last trip to Hobart. I’m with Graeme on this being a rung under the single vineyards, but it’s still decent value at the sub-$50 member rate. This is a little tight right now but definitely approachable as a youngster. Better in another 3 or 4

3/30/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

In a good place now. It’s super polished. Very clean profile of blackberries, plum and a long creamy finish. Dark and rich but not sweet. My last bottle and this feels at peak.

3/28/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant bottle. Pop and pour. The nose gives away its age. It’s got a lovely creamy body about it. The citrus edge has worn off and toasty, brioche tertiary profile has come forward. In a nice spot now.

3/16/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Liking this early. Fresh and bright. Has some texture and grip too. Approachable now and with upside.

2/27/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant by the glass. This is beautiful young. Bright red cherries. Touch of char and oak. Balance is spot on. Plenty more to come with time.

2/18/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Last of 3 bottles and a very handy blend of Spanish and Portuguese varietals. Early and easy drinking vibes here. Bright fruits at the fore. Cherries and some hunter plumminess sitting in the background. That being the only thing giving away the source of this, and you’d need to be looking for it. A hint of bubblegum too. Seems really good value at low $20s member rate.

2/10/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant by the glass. Was a surprise packet. I didn’t clock the RS on the bottle, but wasn’t as far down the sweet spectrum as expected. Lemon, touch of grapefruit and sherbet. Good way to kick off a night out.

2/10/2024 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Light and easy going. Bright cherry edged fruits. A few years in bottle could only help this out.

2/10/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant bottle. Extremely well balanced Alsace with good length and complexity. Approachable now and will look good over the medium term.

1/21/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

This is a banger. Lovely nose of blackcurrant, blueberry, pepper and wet stones (I hate that descriptor, but there you go!). The same fruit and slatey vibes translate across the palate. The 10% Shiraz adds the slightest peppery bite in what sits nicely in front of fine timber. The tannins very fine and tending to slinky. This stood out at the CD many moons ago, would buy again.

1/4/2024 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant bottle. This is a cracker. So well balanced and has a lovely mineral texture. Only a touch of RS to what is otherwise dry and long. There is tension in this which is super appealing. Need to try again and with a few years development on it.

12/31/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Fairly clean and easy going Pfalz. Seems an ok entry level drop. Crowd pleasing in style. The only question being QPR because of it.

12/31/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Obviously still really young but showing all the potential of this unique site and varietal combination. Dark fruits ahead of subtle oak toastiness. Good length and clear potential for the future.

12/29/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

No cork issues like the last bottle. The nose is classic folly. But it’s a bit lean to taste, albeit the profile is also pretty classic. Still enjoyable, but missing some of the usual depth and complexity of good vintages. Will give the last 2x bottles another 4-5 and see if it puts on some weight.

12/27/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Super fresh pinot out of canberra. Drank over 3 days and was showing well to the end. Dark cherries, kirsch and cranberries. Deft oak gives it a silky, long finish. You rarely see this out in the wild, but when you do, get your hands on some.

12/23/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

This is lovely and easy going. Super fresh and with a bit more interest than just a smashable summer white. Would seek out again.

12/22/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

A very tidy northern rhone blend. The marsanne at 90% and rousanne the balance. Fruit forward. Some melon and a hint of frosty fruit. The oak a bit player, adding a tinge of spice. For now and next few years.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): Offered even more length than the ’21 and was a little surprised at how approachable it is at such a young age. Has an absolute eternity in front of it, as the previous 9 wines prove. Great now. Who knows how good it will look in another 10 years.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): Bright and purple. Lovely silky texture against gentle spice. The quality and complexity just keeps ramping vintage to vintage.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): This is defined by the same level of balance and depth of flavour as the ’17 and ’18. The savouriness comes to the fore here. Complexity is high. Need to add some more to the collection.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): The ’18 has more structure than the ’17 and the balance even more impeccable.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): This is the first vintage of Isle quality shooting up, from what was a pretty good base to begin. The first words I wrote about the ’17 was ‘purple’ and ‘spice. Such great balance and length on show here.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): The ’16 stole the show, sexiest of the bracket by a fair way. Classic in profile. This is intense and the pick for longevity and purchasing. A pity it was oversold on release and no museum stocks available. Bummer not to have any in the cellar.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): I really enjoyed the ’15 and was my second pick of the bracket. Some commentary from others about reductiveness, but that was just being picky trying to find a fault. Had a lovely edge of smoke and flint sitting against the fruit, which has a darker mien about it.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): Showing the biggest frame of the bracket. Jim explained the hen and chicken effect occurred during the fruitset period, leading to the bigger style and some raison profile creeping in. It’s aging less gracefully than the rest, but still very enjoyable.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): This had more depth than the ’12 and still showing bright primary fruit. Has lovely texture. Can see it living another several years easily.

11/18/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Chatto Isle - The First Decade (Chatto / Fat Pig Farm): Had the most reticent nose and lowest ABV, but the fruit is still there and appearing fresh. The subtlety of it grew on me over lunch. Time to drink if you’re holding any.

12/3/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Nose of lime, honey and a petro hint in the background. The fruit is rich and broadens out on the palate to give solid length. Still very young and primary, and with a heap of promise into the future. Nice.

11/16/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Restaurant by the glass. Contemporary in style. A touch of flint and tropical pineapple, ok length to boot. Easy going in a drink now style.

11/16/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Restaurant by the glass. First glass of a new bottle, so no question of freshness here. Always bigger and masculine in style, but this vintage has a hard edge about it. Bruising in style, the oak too far forward in the mix for me. Time?

11/16/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant by the glass. Feels a very atypical profile for the Domaine A Cabernets. Medium bodied, dusty and barely ripe fruit. Not that any of those things are bad, it’s what I enjoy most about this estate. Doesn’t seem a vintage that will live long term though. Now and for another half dozen.

11/16/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant bottle. Such an easy going and approachable young chardonnay. And yet has a decent amount of depth and interest. Liking the acidity and length on show here. Good value.

11/12/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

From magnum. This has aged gracefully. While it’s at the back end of life, there’s still a good deal on show here. Liking the balance all up. The oak has faded into the background and left hints of milk chocolate and mocha.

11/9/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

A truly beautiful wine. Gorgeous floral nose. Bright red fruit to taste, add some stemmy complexity from the 100% whole bunch, and subtle tannin from the large format oak. Will age gracefully.

10/25/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant coravin by the glass. The nose shows black olive, thyme, violet and lavender. And your atypical floral, rose characteristics arrive and fan out on the palate. Great length here. The tannins are quite gentle, making it absolutely approachable now.

10/25/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Restaurant by the glass. Previous two notes echo my impressions. Peachy stonefruit and smokey, flintiness ahead of some texture. Not a great deal of grip though. Can see it developing ok over the medium term. Something different for a change. Nice.

10/21/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

On to fourth bottle of this but still finding it hard to get behind it. The nose shows the most promise. Candied cherries, raspberry and a hint of ripe strawberry. But it’s light and dilute on the palate. Had an earlier bottle slightly chilled and maybe that’s the best way to enjoy this 🤷🏼‍♂️

10/21/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Really enjoyable. Golden yellow colour points to its age. This is in a lovely place right now. Lemon curd and sharp lime still in the mix. Has good drive and length via the acidity. Was expecting it to be softer due to the low alcohol.

10/16/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

This is good. Really good. It’s not often you see something this exciting in your entry level estate sems. Loving how this balances racy tension with a bit of texture. Lovely ripe fruit too. It actually feels more like a riesling in its youth. Need more for now and later.

10/7/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Random cellar door purchase a number of years back. Not sure why I grabbed this. Must have been without tasting, as it’s not got a lot going for it. Throws some bordeaux vibes but it’s thin and a bit green. Lucky to have only had one bottle hiding in the cellar. Consider it weeded out.

10/2/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Liked the approachability of this. The nose is a bit reticent compared to the palate, where it’s pretty fruit forward. Big on flavour but feels medium bodied to me. Would grab a few more given the chance

9/28/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Pleasant enough but on the simple side. Easy going and a bit of a crowd pleaser. Juicy purple fruits, tending to sweet and a little on the short side

9/23/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Bright red fruits, red cherry, some silky tannin. This is lovely on its youth. Would happy sit on a few bottles for now or later.

9/22/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

Checking in early on the first of a dozen. This needs time, and lots of it. Super savoury in profile. Will let down over the next 7-8 years.

9/15/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Easy going, early drinking style. Crowd pleaser. Tasted blind and thought it was out of a warmer climate, surprised to see it revealed as Tumba.

9/12/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

I’m not sure about this bottle/tasting. Was restaurant by the glass, and being a Monday night, can’t be sure of how much oxygen this has seen. I start with that context because I found little enjoyment in this. The acidity and length were all there, but there was a massive dollop of exotic passionfruit on the palate. Curious to know if anyone else has seen it show this way?

9/9/2023 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine:

First time trying anything from the DML collab and this is a great advertisement. Soft and elegant and a bit of juiciness about it. Shows off Mornington and a sense of place. Would happily pick up a few more of these and try yarra sibling too.

9/8/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Really enjoyed this and especially at the price point. Middle of the road for the most part but punching well above it’s weight on the QPR scale. Medium bodied, barely discernible oak, good length, some yellow stonefruits and tropical hints on the finish. Easy and moreish.

8/22/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote:

Those who want it big and thick will love this. It’s all blackberries and polished oak. The bottle also stupidly heavy. Not for me.