12/2/2023 - sthugo Likes this wine:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Screwcap. Final wine of the flight and also the night. The youngest wine of the night and obviously we were drinking this way too young but good to find out how this was travelling. Deep and dark in colour, nose was rich displaying currant and mint. Wow this has power, it’s big and young. One drinker said it has “guts” and I tend to agree. It’s well balanced, juicy and smooth with a long finish of drying tannins. Its good but just needs time. This could develop into something special under the right cellaring conditions, but you may need to have plenty of patience for it to come together. Closest vintage in this tasting to the 2008 in my opinion but obviously way younger. One of the group picked this as their wine of the night … which in 20 years’ time could be mine as well!

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Screwcap. Like the 2012 my notes on the night were a bit sparse. Nose displayed vanilla oak and mint. This was medium/full-bodied and wasn’t too dissimilar to the 2012 … maybe a bit more oak. One taster thought this maybe suffering from the infamous cabernet hole … which was a fair point. To be honest this flight, including this wine, was the least interesting for me … as unlike the two flights prior where vintage variations were quite evident between each wine, the three vintages tasted so far in this flight were quite similar. In fact, you could have been mistaken that you were tasting the same wine in three different glasses. It may have been due to the age/youngness of the wines or a stylistic change in the wine making … who knows? But for me these wines were the least interesting, least complex of the line up so far and a bit of a disappointment. It felt like “paint by numbers” wine making which maybe a bit harsh. But time will tell.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Back to screwcap. Inky red in colour. Nice nose of blackcurrant/plum with a minty, savoury undertone. Palate is medium bodied, well fruited with a smooth medium/long finish. I wrote “nice wine” and left it at that. Not sure if it was getting to that point of the night where taking notes became a secondary thought or if the wine just wasn’t as interesting as some of the ones before it. Probably a bit of both!

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Another vintage strangely under cork which came out in one piece and was in excellent condition. Dark purple in colour, aromas of eucalyptus/mint and olive. Palate continues the same theme with nice length. A well balance wine but for me was expecting a bit more from this vintage. To be honest has probably just hit its drinking window so could improve with a few more years under its belt. It’s a wine you would be happy to drink any day of the week if it was offered to you, but there is nothing extra special about it. It’s a blue-collar wine … honest and hard-working.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Strangely under cork (?) which came out in one piece and was in excellent condition. And for those interested the two bottles under cork in this flight had aged more than the two under screwcap which appeared fresher. No real surprise there. Anyway, back to the wine at hand. Deep red in colour, nose was slightly muted compared to the previous vintage but did give off some eucalyptus and vanilla. Medium bodied, with a medium slightly tannic/acidic finish. It was noted by a few in the group that there was a noticeable mid palate hole present, with one observer describing it as a “hit and run” wine. Not sure if the wine is just in a phase and will round out later in life but based on this bottle it just doesn’t have the stuffing to improve.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Screwcap. Talked this vintage up to the group even before we started the flight and expected this to be the highlight. It didn’t let us down. Bright crimson, dark purple in colour, this had a beautiful nose of sweet black fruit and menthol. The palate is mouth coating, fruit forward and balanced from start to finish. Like the 1996 the words “complete package” comes to mind but unlike the 1996, dare I say it, probably hasn’t peaked yet. Has everything you would expect from a bottle of St Hugo in spades. Rich, concentrated, juicy, structured, and complex, finishing long with fine powdery tannins. Beautiful wine which with additional bottle age could surpass the 1996 in time. No rush to drink and will see another 10 years with ease. Was the wine of the flight for most and some picked this as their wine of the night. For me came in 2nd to the 1996 … but only just.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Our first screw capped bottle and it showed. This was very closed even after a 2 hour decant. Muted nose not giving much away. First sip showed plenty of white pepper, mint and spice. Up to now probably the most different St Hugo in the line-up. Big and dense with a medium finish. Maybe would show better with food? For me this was my least favourite vintage in the flight.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Under cork which came out in one piece and was in excellent condition. Amazing this is nearly 20 years old! From the classic 2004 vintage which was quite dark in colour. Very enjoyable up front, very fruit forward, well balanced, and had everything in the right place except for the finish which disappeared very quickly. Enjoyable but no real excitement factor or complexity. Won’t get any better so time to drink up. Wasn’t the weakest in the flight but was just over-awed on the night with the company it was in.

12/2/2023 - sthugo Likes this wine:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Under cork which came out in one piece and was in excellent condition. From the famed 1998 “unicorn” vintage. Great colour, deep bright red with beautiful aromas of sweet dark fruit, spice and vanilla (oak). Very rich on the palate, big, powerful, but well balanced and flavoursome. This is a show pony … a look at me, look at me wine!! Not overly complex like the 1996 before it, but fruit driven with blackcurrant and berry … with a long, long integrated silky tannin finish. One in the group thought it finished a little bitter. Definitely a crowd pleaser and has plenty left in the tank, but unlike the 1996 won’t improve with further bottle age. Lives up to the hype of the vintage but lacking the X factor for me.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Did not start well as the cork had been leaking and was completely saturated. However, managed to pry out in one piece. An initial taste revealed a tight but unoxidized wine so there was some hope. Deep red in colour and after a 2 hour decant a wine displaying soft savoury dark fruit aromas was revealed. On the palate there was lots going on … a very complex, elegant, well balanced wine deeply flavoured with a long finish of soft, silky tannins. Interesting 18 years ago I wrote this wine was the “complete package” and based on this bottle I would still agree with those words. No rush to drink this vintage as it has many years ahead of it and well cellared bottles could even improve further. Wine of the flight and night for me and a few others.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): According to Cellar Tracker this is the 26th bottle of this I have consumed over the years and remarkably have not lost one to cork taint. Amazing! Again, under cork which came out in one piece and was in excellent condition just like the wine. Deep ruby in colour obviously showing its age, but unlike the 1993, had a very fruit forward nose with a savoury underbelly … walnut was observed by one drinker. Surprisingly for a 30-year-old wine a very fruit forward palate with dark chocolate and savoury oak which was mouth coating. Not overly complex but soft and smooth, finishing long with very fine tannins. Still drinking well but won’t improve with age but does have at least another 5-7 years before it starts to fade. Most in the group picked this in their top 2 of the flight which was surprising considering it was up against the 1996 and 1998.

12/2/2023 - sthugo wrote:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Under cork which crumbled upon opening. Garnet/browning in colour with quite a thick watery rim. Savoury on the nose. Soft, restrained on the palate with not much fruit to speak of. Thin was a comment from one observer. Medium finish but overall underwhelming. Definitely at the end of its life, probably drinking better a few years ago, and on the downward slope to oblivion. Drink up if you have any left in the cellar. Was the weakest bottle in the flight and overall vertical line-up.

12/2/2023 - sthugo Likes this wine:

St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Vertical spanning 3 Decades (Merce's Castle): Under cork which came out in one piece and was in excellent condition. This was a ring in and was served blind to the group. It was primarily introduced for those who think “nothing good comes out of the Hunter!”. It was obvious on first tasting this was very different to everything we have tasted so far. In fact, one observer early on said they got dirty socks on the nose … whose socks I wonder? Anyway, the colour was dark red … but definitely not as deep as the St Hugo’s we have been tasting. Very fragrant nose with lots of spice, leather and red/black fruit. Very elegant palate compared to the St Hugo, pristine fruit with lovely acidity finishing long and soft with a splash of tannin. Lovely wine and finally something in this flight worth sitting up for and taking notice of. A few in the group thought Margaret River … specifically Mosswood … until one observer shouted with confidence slamming his fist on the table “2014 LAKES FOLLY CABERNET”. Boom! Correct answer. Well done Mooie! A few placed this in their top 3 wines of the night.

3/12/2021 - sthugo Likes this wine:

From the famed 1998 vintage ... decanted for an hour. This 23 year old Barossa shiraz ... which is still going strong ... displayed notes of red fruit, leather and licorice. Palate was quite savoury with the original ripe fruit acting as supprt rather than the main act. Surprising quite elegant finishing long with fine, grippy tannins. Old school done well! No rush to drink this one.

3/12/2021 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Cork broke on opening so it wasn't a good start! However, once we managed to pry the remaining part out of the neck there was plenty of fizz to be found in this 30 year old sparkling. Nose quite muted but the palate was very lively showing refined savoury notes with a hint of fruit sweetness on the back palate. Finish was like Tom Brady's career ... long and enjoyable. Definitely peaked and probably has a couple of years left before that fruit sweetness fades completely. Excellent example of aged sparkling shiraz.

12/20/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Good QPR here! Quite floral on the nose. Palate is very fruit driven at this early stage ... lemons and lime ... but has a mineral backbone which leaves a very enjoyable dry, refreshing long finish in your mouth. Just add a straw and instant party! The 2016/17 summer riesling for this household.

12/19/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

For an entry level Riesling this is good gear. Quite dry, lots of citrus, zesty on the palate with a touch of minerality to add a bit of complexity. Long finish that entices you to open another bottle! Bloody good with smoked Ocean Trout.

12/17/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

First bottle of this since initially tasted in Hawaii 2 years ago. Decanted for 2 hours prior to consumption. Quite a fruit forward cabernet, rich and dense with a lovely supporting role of American oak in the background. Great balance. Soft tannins and a long, complex finish. Pretty much everything you want in a Napa Valley cabernet. Should get better with bottle age. Speaking of the bottle ... the weight/heaviness of it could classify it as a weapon!

12/17/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

WOW ... this is good! From the initial notes of brioche, nut and lemon to the refreshing and precise palate of green apple, citrus and minerality. Very much in the Gimonnet style, lots of acidity and mineral flavours which pairs well with food. Great mouthfeel and structure and finishes long. Still quite youthful but even now drinking very well. A champagne that has a very long life ahead of it. No rush to drink now but if you have that special occasion then this wine will not let you down. Beautiful.

7/9/2016 - sthugo wrote:

A wine that really shows the tough vintage conditions Margaret River experienced in 2006. Has a lean, green, capsicum streak through it which does distract from the overall experience. Not the best example of this wine and in a 10 year vertical of Woodlands "Margaret" this would easily be voted last place. Ok.

7/9/2016 - sthugo wrote:

Deep blood red in colour. Quite a savoury nose. Palate is just hanging in there. Soft, smooth, elegant and very easy drinking ... everything in the right place but not a wine that will blow your socks off. Definitely has peaked and will not improve any further ... and based on the bottle we had a few years ago could be on the slow downhill decline. But still a very enjoyable California merlot/cabernet blend.

7/8/2016 - sthugo wrote:

First bottle from a six pack purchase on release from the outstanding 1998 vintage. Decanted for 2 hours. Deep crimson red in colour, beautiful nose of dark chocolate, dark berry and oak. Palate is rich, smooth and concentrated but has integrated well. Lovely balance of fruit, acid and oak. Still drinking quite youthful ... although 18 years old, at a blind tasting you would be hard pressed to think it was more than 6 years old. Finishes medium-to-long with soft, fine tannins. Lovely! Based on this bottle I think this wine could still benefit with more time in the cellar so won't touch another one for 5 years. No rush to drink this wine and the CT long term drinking window of 2028 looks about right.

3/28/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

This was the wine and vintage that gave me my first champagne moment, an epiphany of what all the fuss is about vintage champagne and therefore a suitable wine to celebrate the birth of our second child. Medium golden in colour, with plenty of brioche and apple with a hint of vanilla on the nose. Small, fine bead. Still quite fresh on the palate with lots of acidity. However quite rich and powerful, full-bodied. Great balance between the two. Quite dry with nuances of creamy green apple, nut and toast with undertones of oak. Long, long enjoyable finish which makes you want to go back for another glass. Went well with BBQ Queensland King prawns. Still has plenty in the tank so no rush to drink this 25 year old champagne. Truly the best Pinot dominated blend coming out of Mareuil-sur-ay. A very special wine for a very special occasion.

3/15/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Still going strong. Consistent with previous notes. Still big and concentrated but very smooth. Everything has integrated so very well ... black fruits, licorice intermingled with spice and a kiss of oak. Long, long finish. Very full bodied, but has a beautiful elegance about it. No rush to drink as it has many years in front of it yet.

2/7/2016 - sthugo wrote:

Shiraz/Tempranillo blend from the Barossa. Impenetrable deep purple in colour. Plenty of gamey blackberry and chocolate notes on the nose. Very smooth over the tongue, great mouthfeel, wonderful balance. Very rich, savoury and deep fruited with some sweetness on the back palate. Long finish of soft, finely-grained tannins. A nice surprise!

1/24/2016 - sthugo wrote:

Quite a rich cabernet merlot, plenty of upfront, full black fruit and oak. Obviously still quite young and needs time in the bottle to settle down and soften. However, beautifully balanced and has a medium to long finish of fruit laiden, round tannins. Should age a treat.

1/21/2016 - sthugo wrote:

Dark red in colour, the nose exhibits rich dark fruit. Nice fine bead. Very fresh and sweet on the front palate but finishes savoury with mature plum and black fruit. Lots going on here, quite a full, deep, complex sparkling shiraz which has a medium length finish of soft tannins. Very approachable now and come to think of very enjoyable. A wine that brings a smile to your face on a hot day!

1/16/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

After many games of pool and late in the night, we raided the cellar and this bottle was chosen. Popped and poured which probably didn't give the wine much of a chance to show it's best but it still performed very well. Beautiful fragrant nose of black fruit. Plenty of mouth coating sweet fruit on the front palate with spice and vanilla oak playing a supporting role. Finished long. Beautifully balanced and a very good example of the style. Still very fresh with no sign that this is a 20 year old wine. Has many years to go but drinking very well currently.

1/16/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

My last bottle. Looking through my tasting notes over the years this wine has never disappointed and I have never had a bad bottle, not even a sign of cork taint. So was hoping this bottle would finish on a high. Deep garnet in colour like a rich, red English Chesterfield couch. Beautiful, deep nose of black licorice, black fruit and a subtle note of mint. Silky smooth in the mouth, you could tell straight away this wine was not over-whelmed by the moment. Lovely flavours of dark chocolate, tart blackberry and oak that danced on the tongue ... a bit like Michael Flattley in his prime. Beautiful soft, fine, sandy tannins which takes an eternity to finish. Definitely at the end of its life but an absolute pleasure to drink. At 22 years of age and with a purchase price of $29, who needs left bank cabernet from Bordeaux? Aussie, Aussie, Aussie ... Oi, Oi, Oi!!!

1/9/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Will admit I am a big fan of what the Watson boys are doing at Woodlands in Margaret River. Bright, deep crimson in colour, exudes notes of black fruit, mint and a hint of orange blossom. Very elegant but quite concentrated in the mouth, with ninja-like power that hits you in the nether-regions. Plenty of savoury black fruit and smooth napa leather with a long finish of finely grained, sandy tannins. Very upper echelon left bank Bordeaux in style. A pleasure to drink and will only get better with bottle age.

1/9/2016 - sthugo wrote:

Deep, deep blood red in colour, exudes black fruit and some oak on the nose. Palate is full, concentrated and opposite to the nose, dominated by oak with fruit playing a supporting role. A very mature wine with a medium finish of soft, sandy tannins. Quite a different wine to my previous note 9 years ago where the oak was more in the background and the fruit was the main show. Based on this bottle I must admit it was probably showing better a few years ago where the fruit and oak were more in balance but now it seems the oak is stealing the show. Probably would go well with a rare steak but otherwise it is hard work.

1/8/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Buy a six-pack each year from Drew. Pity the allocation wasn't a tad more as we tend to get through these before summer is over. Deep pink salmon in colour it has a lovely nose of strawberry and spice. Quite full-bodied, savoury and dry this is serious rose for serious rose drinkers. Long, refreshing, acidic finish. As the bottle says ... "serve cold, drink young". Good advice and a quality release.

1/8/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Nose of brioche, palate is quite full with plenty of fruit depth, supported by spice and oak. Lovely acidity and balance which finishes long and fresh. A very well put together Pinot dominated blend which should slightly improve over the short term but drinking very good now. Paired well with prawns and soft shell crab sailing around Sydney Harbour.

1/7/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Bright ruby in colour, nose is of meaty, smoky notes of Italian charcuterie and dark cherries. Soft and smooth on the palate, coats the tongue, very savoury, leather and sour cherries. Very masculine but like the cover of GQ ... very sophisticated. Medium lingering finish of soft, meaty tannins. Well balanced and quite flavoursome. Matched well with a good T-Bone steak. Definitely has peaked but well cellared bottles will hold for sometime.

1/7/2016 - sthugo wrote:

First NZ Riesling for me. Quite minerally on the nose with hints of green apple and citrus. Quite a heavy wine in the mouth with plenty of citrus, lime and honey. Medium length finish but nothing too exciting to pontificate about. A wine to take to a BBQ/party to share with people you don't know or rarely see.

1/6/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Deep garnet to crimson brown in colour. Meaty notes of tobacco, cigar box and leather on the nose. Soft and smooth with faint hints of fruit way in the background but plenty of savoury, earthy notes on the front palate. Quite mature with fine, silky tannins finishing long and flavoursome. Went well with Roast beef. Lovely old left bank Bordeaux which has definitely peaked and needs to be drunk in the next few years. A pleasure to drink!

1/4/2016 - sthugo wrote:

Don't drink too many straight grenache based wines these days, but after this bottle maybe I should revisit the varietal? Doesn't give too much away on the nose, maybe hints of blackberry and muted spice. The palate though is a different matter, plenty of savoury concentrated black fruit supported by spice and oak culminating with a lovely balanced peppery finish. Plenty to like here. Good balance and structure. Very enjoyable. Probably has peaked but not rush to drink this. Open with those that appreciate a quality drop and enjoy something a little outside the box.

1/4/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Still quite tight on the nose. Compared to the 2002 which we had last week, this vintage still has many years to go before it shows it's best. Still wound really tight, with very subtle black fruit, chocolate and vanilla flavours. Plenty of fine, elegant tannin throughout. Lovely mouth feel and balance. Long finish of dry, dusty mouth-coating grippy tannins. Will last another 10 years with ease. Great QPR.

1/4/2016 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Beautiful bright golden in colour, I was a little worried this wine may have been past it. But given the nose of stewed honey and peach, this wine was still alive! In the mouth the wine has a heaviness about it, with subtle hints of honey and peach. Wonderful depth of flavour finishing long and tangy. For $14 a bottle this truly is one of the bargain's of the wine world. Pity it was my last bottle.

1/1/2016 - sthugo wrote:

A wine that reflects the wet vintage in the Barossa. Light to Medium bodied, this is quite different in style to previous vintages of RR and to Barossa cabernet in general. Plenty of elegant red fruit on the front palate finishing short with savoury herb and oak undertones. Might improve a little with some bottle age but one feels this is definitely a wine to be enjoyed sooner rather than later.

12/31/2015 - sthugo wrote:

Probably the best age-worthy bargain Semillon out of the Hunter year on year. Quite closed on the nose, but the palate is very rich in flavour ... honey, green apple, lemon and once it warms up a bit ... pineapple. Like the Richmond football club, does lack a little on the finish, but for the price delivers what you would expect. At nearly 9 years old still going strong and should see out the next 5 years with ease, but cannot see this improving.

12/31/2015 - sthugo wrote:

As per previous note last year, very savoury with little or no fruit left. A lovely old bottle of aged Napa cabernet which in all honesty probably has seen better days but enjoyable none the less. Medium to long finish of ultra-fine tannins. Based on this bottle it is time to drink up.

12/30/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Typical Coonawarra nose of mint and eucalypt. It took a while for the wine to open up and show itself. Still plenty of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and vanilla on the palate that finishes long and flavoursome. Good balance of fruit, acid and tannin. Has come together quite well. Very enjoyable now with a long decant but will last at least another 10 years in good cellaring conditions. No rush on this one.

12/30/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Cellartracker says this is the 35th bottle of this wine we have consumed and I think it is finally on the slow downhill slide. Although this bottle still showed well, it was showing it's age a bit more than previous bottles. Black fruit is firmly in the background with the vanilla American oak now coming to the fore. A beautiful long finish of fine, soft, sandy tannins. I will be drinking my remaining bottles within the next year of so.

12/28/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Still going strong considering most professional wine critic drinking windows had this bottoming out after 2015. IMHO it has many years in front of it yet. Still quite ripe but has softened immeasurably since the last bottle a few years ago. Still some black fruit and mint on the palate but the most noticeable characteristic was how balanced this wine has become. A pleasure to drink. I paid $18 for this on release ... bargain! Should have taken Campbell's advice and bought multiple dozens of this.

12/28/2015 - sthugo wrote:

Very expressive nose of dark fruit and vanilla. Medium bodied and very flavoursome. All fruit here with little or no tannin to speak of. A very approachable wine which will have many fans but if you are looking for something a little more complex and exciting then pass this by. Won't get any better so drink up. A wine to enjoy now.

12/28/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Still very young. Decanted for 2 hours but currently needs much more than that to show it's best. Beautiful fragrant nose of dark fruits and herbs. Medium bodied, it has a lovely elegance to it, wonderfully balanced structure of tannin, acidity and fruit. Long, long finish of fine grained tannins which dance across the palate. Needs time to show it's best so don't rush this one.

12/26/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Initial release. Quite light bodied. Plenty of strawberry on the nose. Dangerously easy to drink, dry in style with some fruit sweetness on the finish. Not a super long finish but a crowd pleaser none the less and a perfect match for a summer BBQ. Won't get any better so enjoy it now for what it is.

12/26/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Upon removing the foil capsule, there appeared to be a bit of leakage so was a little worried about the contents inside. However, all doubts were soon replaced with wonderment. Initially had some funky aroma's but these soon dissipated to aroma's of dark fruit, leather and earth. Still had a persistent small bead. Pallet had a smooth, creamy texture, with plenty of savoury notes finishing long with a touch of fruit sweetness. Definitely peaked but well cellared bottles should keep for a few more years yet. A joy to drink.

12/25/2015 - sthugo Likes this wine:

Popped and poured, we probably didn't do this wine the justice it deserved. However, it has softened since the last bottle we had a few years ago. Loads of black fruit on the pallet. Lovely long finish of sandy fine grained tannins. Drinking well now but no rush to drink.