4/18/2010 - drspicy wrote:

Dense purple colour. Strong dark fruit. A strong note of pandan leaf (common in Southeast Asia, quite close to vanilla) on the nose. Suggests that it has seen much oak. This needs a lot of air. Decanted part of a bottle, kept the remainder under vacuvin. After three weeks, it had shed part of the tannins and vanillin, but still noticeable. Fruit is now stronger. Lovers of the "fruit-bomb" style would not be disappointed. It is an RP96. But not quite to my palette.

1/31/2009 - drspicy wrote:

A nose of strong black pepper, savoury spice, dark berries and a whiff of vanilla. Medium-bodied, silky on the palette, fine tannins. Medium finish. A very nice light-style shiraz. Even better considering it costs A$30.

1/19/2009 - drspicy wrote:

Dark, inky colour. Nose: strong, bitter aroma of ginseng root overpowers the underlying fruit. Herbal, root flavour continues into the palette and gives it a very dry, green character. Needs time. Will revisit tomorrow.

1/4/2009 - drspicy wrote:

Colour: medium red. Nose: blackberries, and a hint of graphite. Palette: fruit slightly dominates the acidity, but generally, all elements integrated. Still a bit tannic and could do with some decanting. Finish is a bit short though. I was lucky to get a well-stored bottle. People have been telling me about the QPR on this wine and I understand why. Looking forward to the 2005 but I think I'll wait a couple of years first.

12/28/2008 - drspicy wrote:

Decanted 2 hours, and drank it over the 3rd. Powerful black fruit and herbs on the nose and tongue. Additional hints of molasses, tar. Tannic, but fine and powdery. Long, lingering, smoky finish. I found it to be a clean, clear expression of the varietal characteristics. Thoroughly enjoyable. Should probably have decanted for 1-2 more hours. Will try again in 2-3 years.

11/8/2008 - drspicy wrote:

Nose: Strong initial red fruit which with air gives way to sun-dried tomatoes, toasty, meaty notes (Spam, I think). I found this an intense bouquet. In the mouth: dried red and black fruit, with a bit of sweetness. Some grippy tannins, rather chewy. A bit hot on the finish. Should be decanted a little before drinking. Enjoyable quaffing wine. 87 pts

10/11/2008 - drspicy wrote:

Tannins and red fruit have all but ebbed away, giving way to strong woody, sawdust notes of pine, cedar, sweet rosewood and a hint of graphite on the nose and palette. The finish is shorter than expected, with a hint of mint/eucalyptus at the end. A very pleasant drinking wine, (I love the wooded notes) though rather unexpected experience overall, as I was anticipating the same opulence and power of the 2004 I tasted a year ago. Unlike that bottle, this did not require much decanting. This together with other telltale signs of ullage and a slippery cork suggest there might have been some premature aging due to suboptimal storage conditions. Despite this disappointment, still very fine overall.