12/19/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Approachable, but those tannins are still strongly coating at this stage. Plenty of time left in this. Of the vintages 2006-2015, this is probably my second favourite after (some bottles of) the 2011.

11/11/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Nothing out of balance, but super boring. Not loving this.

10/9/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Very mineral nose. Good balance and length. Bit dirty, like a touch of whole bunch or something, which I did not enjoy. Tannins still very strong - can probably go much longer. Was finally starting to look better after 4-5 hours of air.

9/23/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Meaty, like a Cote Rotie. Quite nicely balanced. Stood out next to 2009 Larrivet Haut Brion, 2017 Macan and 2016 Taberner.

9/23/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Bested by 2010 Row 104 Hay Paddock. Prettier on the nose than palette. Better with blue cheese.

9/23/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Had next to 2010 Row 104 Hay Paddock Syrah and 2009 Larrivet Haut-Brion and the oak on this felt a bit disjointed compared to the other wines. But it still had pretty dark/blue fruit and silky tannins, a bit like the 2005 Uncio but not nearly as nice. Not as impressive as the first experience I had with this wine that led to buying a case.

9/23/2023 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

First time trying Kumeu river. Too young, but interesting to see and compare to Art Series and 1er cru PM. Prefer to the Hunting Hill. Buttery and fruity. Aggravates my palette like most Chardonnay, so not for me.

9/23/2023 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

First time trying Kumeu river. Too young, but clearly a well balanced and interesting wine. Bit more rhubarb and less oak/butter than the Mate's. Unfortunately aggravated my palette the way most Chardonnay does. TODO: look at one of these after 5-10 years.

9/7/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

too much minerality and choke cherry

9/5/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Had this last week after a 2010 cantemerle and a 2009 la Fleur Bouard and the Rioja was a surprising disappointment. In particular, the oak just felt disjoint and a bit out of place after the balance of the Bordeauxs. Hopefully these come together in another 10-20 years.

9/3/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Not too reductive. Better than the average Marl SB. Reminded me a bit of the Clos Henri Name Me, but not as good.

9/2/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Better on the nose than the palette - a bit light. Had next to the 2009 fleur de bouard and greatly preferred the latter.

9/1/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Had next to 2011 Dal Forno, 2011 Gaja Costa Russi, 2008 Masseto and the Mouton outshined them all.

9/1/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Tasted next to Mouton 2006, Smith Havt Lafitte 2009, Dal Forno Monte Lodoletta 2011, and Gaja Costa Russi 2011. This was the second best wine for me - a truly 'wow' wine that is so good you can't finish a conversation because every sip interrupts you. Only bested by the 2006 Mouton, which surprised me. From recent memory I would only be tempted to place 2003 La Mouline and 2005 Unico above this wine.

9/1/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Tasted a second time after many years and many great wines since then and this is still the perfect wine - best I've ever had. Incredible intensity, length, balance. 5 minute finish. Remarkable.

9/1/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Still young, but approachable. Very enchanting on the nose. More of a wow factor there than on the palette. Far from the wow factor of the 2008 Masseto and 2006 Mouton.

6/22/2023 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

So short and watery on the finish. And green. Sad.

6/16/2023 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

Deep color, but not as deep as I expected at this age. Very honeyed lightly rosey GW with moderate sweetness. Not showing much tertiary character, surprisingly, and feeling a bit watery. Made me feel ill after drinking, two nights in a row. Poured out the rest. This is past its prime. Avoid.

6/2/2023 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

Bought this for the blueberry, which is nice, but should not have ignored the licorice (I personally hate black licorice and it is strong here). That and a kind of sweet brown sugar thing, or something. Otherwise would have rated it higher.

5/25/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Incredibly rich dark color. Super sweet and fruity. Enjoyed two glasses and then had a bad headache and didn't feel great after. I think this is too old. Note to self: stop buying Dry River this old.

5/19/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Lots of pencil shavings/graphite, oak isn't overly sweet, creme de cassis, blackberry. Pleasing density and length. Tannins still coat the gums, and it looks much better after 2 hours of air. Stop drinking these, leave more time.

5/5/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Wonderfully balanced and complex wine. Earthy on the nose with dried herbs/spices and red fruit. Wonderful texture of rolling tannins, and straight square acid profile right down the center. Not bothered by the minerality like with the 2003. An occassionally wow wine, but could still carry on a conversation, unlike the 2006 Dal Forno. Comparable in greatness to that 1997 Sagrantino that I need to try again. Tannins still coating - easily another 20 years to go.

4/23/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Still so young. Not ready. Those gum-coating tannins need to calm down. But on day 2-3 there is lovely licorice and red/black fruit balanced nicely with a nice texture. This is underrated and needs a ton of air still. A very nice wine in a while I think.

3/12/2023 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Still looking very nice. Impressed.

12/28/2022 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

Ripe blackberry dominant nose. Palette was unbalanced and not great for me. Oddly reminded me of whiskey - disconnected oak. Did not finish the glass.

12/28/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Nothing special. Strong rhubarb flavour I did not love.

12/13/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Incredibly soft and round for such a young wine. Haven't had anything like this before. Nice balance. More licorice and and funky earth than fruit. Not a great value for me at that price.

10/28/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

I've rarely had bordeaux this good. Hot damn. Best NZ red I've tasted. Nice french balance. Can happily drink all night long.

10/27/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Nothing too unbalanced, but not loving it. Pass.

10/20/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

One of the top white wines I've had, and the best white Rioja. Tastes like white chocolate, and kept getting better with amazing texture.

10/8/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Surprisingly approachable now. My favourite part was the fantastic fine-grained tannins. Nice balance and length, tea leaves, orange peel and sweet fruit. Beautiful wine.

9/7/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Getting a bit of color now. Bit watery and short. Some nice florals and fruit, but not a great package overall.

9/5/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

BIG, medium-sweet, almost too hot at first, powerful wine. Really enjoyed every sip.

9/5/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Opened up really quiet compared to the 2006 TB standard Amarone. Almost nothing on the nose at all for hours. Just quieter and smaller than the cheaper brother... maybe bottle variation, but didn't seem worth the price.

9/5/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Great value. Still some tannin and life on there. Felt a bit cheap at first but give it some air and it balances out nicely.

8/31/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Very approachable now with a few hours of air. Ever sip was delightful, never tiring, and low sugar - only 2 g, great with food, hides the alcohol very well. Couldn't get enough.

8/28/2022 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

Nothing too exciting here... bit unpleasant after a while. Didn't finish the bottle.

8/28/2022 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

The VA is too much after a while. And nothing too exciting to justify pushing through it.

8/28/2022 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

Really disappointing. Maybe worth half the price.

8/19/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Much younger than the 2011. Black and blue fruits, balanced, developed by not strongly tertiary yet.

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Opened up next to a 2009 Grange, decanted for two hours, then poured into glasses. At first the two wines seemed rather matched, with a bit more age and earthy/meaty/smoke on the 1996. But pretty quickly the 2009 disappeared and the 1996 became outstanding. Big wow factor with huge length.

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Best red wine I've ever tasted. Nose was sweet new oak, almost like a Penfolds Grange, but clearly not Shiraz. But the palette was an explosive sea of sweet red fruit and complexity with fizzling candy at the tip of the tongue. I've never tasted anything like it. Blown away.

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Followed a super tuscan, 2003 Gaja, 2010 Pontet Canet - this was the sure winner. Incredible.

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Prefer to the 2003 Gaja, but bested by the 2012 La Mouline. Reminds a bit of the 2009 Pontet Canet. So young, though.

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Bit hard to follow a Super Tuscan, but I see the appeal. Ultimately was bothered a bit by the minerality, which seems to overwhelm a bit.

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Surprisingly approachable already after some air. Opened into a precise rich beauty. (fairmount pacific rim first red)

8/14/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Nothing imbalanced, but no wow factor for me.

7/30/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Needs some air to develop. Upon opening (screw cap) it was very meaty/bloody and unbalanced to me in a sour way, but on day 2 a lovely sweetness balanced out nicely and it had me wanting more. I enjoy this more than the 2010 Hay Paddock.

7/26/2022 - Edeon Does not like this wine:

Short and unpleasant. Didn't finish the glass.

5/27/2021 - Edeon Likes this wine:

Blind tasting next to 2016, 2015, 2005, 2001, 1998, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1983. This wine was incredible and stood out. Glorious. Perhaps richer and more impressive, but so youthful, was the 2016. Surprisingly the 2015, which I liked so much earlier, was not a standout wine in this line up.