9/22/2021 - brigcampbell wrote:

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.

11/6/2020 - Screwcaps Likes this wine:

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.

4/27/2020 - grapenomad wrote:

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.

4/16/2020 - LindsayM Likes this wine:

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

8/17/2019 - Josshinji Likes this wine:

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

2/6/2018 - BBPP Likes this wine:

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 ...

1/3/2018 - michael_cooke Likes this wine:

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

12/26/2017 - michael_cooke wrote:

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

11/6/2017 - michael_cooke wrote:

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.

9/24/2017 - michael_cooke wrote:

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

8/1/2017 - chatters wrote:

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.

7/22/2017 - michael_cooke Likes this wine:

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

7/7/2017 - lightning wrote:

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.