2/11/2020 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

I agree with other comments..a lovely wine, maybe a shade past its prime, but still has soft taste, flowery nose, no bricking. Enjoy!

9/16/2019 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Still in an ideal place. No bricking, deep purple. Harsh tannins are gone; full range of flavor is present. Grenache and Shiraz are evident... another grape brings a somewhat tart, fruit undertone. Very fine wine

1/3/2019 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Still a beautiful wine---just a bit on the far side of its peak. As others have said, let it breathe fully before you taste it.

9/25/2017 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Still in peak condition--deep burgundy w/o bricking, full mouth feel. long-lasting finish with licorice, tobacco and dark cherry.

8/12/2017 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Still a beautiful wine--soft on the palate, a long finish. Let it breathe, but then drink up before it fades.

5/13/2017 - Vinecon wrote:

Still at top form. Needs to breathe--decant 2 hours.

5/9/2017 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Still a fine Shiraz even though it's on the downhill side of drinkability.

1/2/2017 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

It's a pity the previous comment was based on a flawed bottle. For me, the wine was still quite drinkable and nose improved considerably 2 hours after decanting. A typical Aussie shiraz: garnet colored, with medium legs, and smells of coffee, verbena and basil. The tastes include blackberry, raisin, coffee and molasses. There was little of the hot aftertaste found in many shirazes.

12/26/2015 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

still lovely, but a fading beauty. Drink it soon.

6/19/2015 - Vinecon wrote:

A lovely wine for the longest day of the year. This wine is still ripe and round with almost no fading from its peak. Drink it soon with no worries about how it has held up.

7/31/2014 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

On the downward slope but still an enjoyable wine. Soft notes of cherry and raspberry and lingering tastes of chocolate. This was never a complex wine but it remains a fine complement to a simple pasta dinner.

9/30/2013 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

A powerhouse shiraz. Inky black, thick legs. Cassis, coffee, and chocolate (these adjectives may be too brutal--the flavors fit together well). Long finish with dark flavors lingering. Let it breathe!

7/26/2013 - Vinecon wrote:

Well past its prime but drinkable--don't give up on it yet. Color inky with minimum bricking. Smell shows its age--prunes and raisins, with underlying cherry. Prune is also evident in the taste but dark fruits are still evident, along with a leathery finish. Try it with a a strong cheese or heavy food. Must have been a good quality Barbera 5 years ago.

7/8/2013 - Vinecon wrote:

Well on the far side of drinkability, but a pleasant wine still. Soft flavors of ripe plums and citrus. w/ overtones of chocolate. A good value at under $10.

6/19/2013 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

I bought this wine on-line for $11/bottle. One of the best value-for-money I've found. This is a classic mid-price Barbera. Fresh, uncomplicated, broad flavors of wild strawberries, raspberry, straightforward herbs--rosemary, lemon thyme. '99 is past its prime but still very drinkable.

11/23/2012 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Fine shiraz. Nose of black cherry, rose, orange. Dark raspberry and herbs--sage, thyme--on the palate; dark chocolate and licorice at the finish. Should last several more years.

11/23/2012 - Vinecon wrote:

This wine is far past its prime, but still in good condition. Light citrus and herb on nose and palate.

11/23/2012 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Bright and clean. Ripe berries and currants. Medium finish of tobacco and leather. Minimal pepper so typical in shiraz. Very drinkable.

9/14/2012 - Vinecon wrote:

still in very good condition.

8/18/2012 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Color garnet with only a hint of oxidizing, slight rust tint, light-to-medium legs.Smells of various citrus, especially orange. Taste includes rose and soft herbs, unusually complex for a shiraz. Finish is soft and lingering, very slight pepper--not the hot aftertaste that is all too common-plus espresso and chocolate. This 1994 is still excellent--age has smoothed the rough edges without diminishing the distinct flavors. Drink it now and enjoy.

1/6/2012 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Sorry to hear some bottles are past prime. Mine looks to stay in good condition for several more years, as rich as 5 years ago when I last drank a bottle. Slight bricking but color remains deep purple. Nose and mouth both show peaches, nectarines and similar fruits, together with rosemary and other herbs. Moderately solid mouth feel. 30 second finish with cinnamon, coffee and slight tobacco. I have two bottles left and see no hurry to drink them.

10/2/2011 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Classic black pepper. Sharp pepper and leather, rosemary and cherry finish, deep purple. In top condition.

7/5/2011 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

I love this wine. Soft cherry, raspberry and rosemary notes on the palate, lingering 30-45 seconds. Almost none of the peppery hot after taste so common in Australian shiraz. Not as complex or exciting as the very best shiraz. Nevertheless, a sophisticated, balanced pleasure, with no signs of aging past its prime.

4/27/2011 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

While this wine is past its peak, it is fading gradually and remains very drinkable. Warm tones of raspberry and light citrus, with a cherry finish. Color is bright purple with slight separation on edges. Don't hurry to drink it up, but don't try to save it for a rainy day either.

1/14/2011 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

Still one of the finest value-for-money wines I have. Give it an hour to breathe. Nose of raspberries, thyme and cherry, initial taste also full of raspberry and cherry flavors. Fades rather quickly into darker fruits. Buy this if you get the chance. I'd say it's cheap at any price under$35-40.

12/28/2010 - Vinecon wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours. Nose predominantly lilac and violets. taste yields rose, cherry and blackberry. finish lingers 30 seconds--chocolate & pepper. Drink now.

9/21/2010 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

I enjoy this wine more each time I drink it. Aromas and taste convey dark fruits--raspberry & blackberry. Lingering flavors of herbs, esp. basil and thyme. A bright almost fizzy mouth feel. One of the best Barbera's I've tried.

5/12/2010 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

An unusually smooth, soft flavor, without the harsh edges of many mid-level shiraz. Garnet colored, medium legs. Pleasant smells of strawberry, red currants, verbena. Taste starts with black fruits and medium finish of pepper and chocolate. A shiraz to enjoy without blasting your taste buds. Still very drinkable with no signs of old age.

3/6/2010 - Vinecon Likes this wine:

A surprisingly complex wine at this price point. Dark purple colored, with a variety of herbal smells--oregano, thyme, basil and verbena. Taste adds blackberry and raisin, with coffee at the finish.

12/26/2009 - Vinecon wrote:

a delicious combination. shiraz power with viogner to tone down the excess. brings out apricot flavors along with shiraz usual measure of black fruits and pepper. This wing is far from past its peak--good for another 4-5 years.

12/26/2009 - Vinecon wrote:

powerful smell and tastes--initially blackberry, black cherry and ripe raspberry, lingering finish of leather, tobacco and pepper. Slow to reach full flavor even after 2 hour decanting. A fine example of Rolf Binder intensity.

2/1/2009 - Vinecon wrote:

powerful black cherry w/ chocolate & slight licorice at finish

1/15/2009 - Vinecon wrote:

Still in fair condition but clearly on the wrong side of the hill. Ruby color just beginning to fade. Flavors of strawberry and raspberry predominant, with mint in background.

12/28/2008 - Vinecon wrote:

Wine is at ideal age--flavors fully developed with no hint of oxidation. Blackberries, cassis predominate with chocolate finish. A fine wine with pork au poivre.

12/21/2008 - Vinecon wrote:

Wine is in full bloom--slight tannins and well-endowed with flavors of dark raspberries & chocolate. long finish with a fine pepper residual

10/26/2008 - Vinecon wrote:

still one of the best-value big punch shirazes

10/11/2008 - Vinecon wrote:

soft flavors of red berries with overtones of wood smoke

9/10/2008 - Vinecon wrote:

Decant and breathe 2+ hours. variety of flavors (apricot?) with licorace and dark chocolate at finish. Should remain drinkable for several more years.

7/28/2008 - Vinecon wrote:

more depth than I expected, black cherry..still improving