2/19/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Typical Margaux nose - tight with good tannins. Did not decant, will benefit from laying down.

2/19/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Would have benefitted from decanting. Closed nose - didn't really open up. Came up short when compared to 01s from Brane-Cantenac, D'Issan and Rauzan-Segla in that order which were more expressive and.

2/19/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Powerful nose for Margaux - black currant and pencil shavings - full mouth of sweet dark fruit.

2/18/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Rich nose of cassis and tobacco; smooth and full - drinking well but will improve with time.

2/18/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Cedar and tobacco nose; smooth and full with a bit of tannin. Did not decant - drinking very well and most enjoyable.

1/28/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Past its best - no real complexity.

1/28/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

To much wood. Big Chard - hold back on the oak and this would be more drinkable.

1/28/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Well made Cabernet - very good value. Drink-up as its on it way down. Good wine to follow with a classified bordeaux.

1/28/2012 - jeffersga wrote:

Fuller body NZ Pinot - black fruits and violets on the nose, reasonable length with good finish. Pleasantly surprised as Delta's PN have disappointed.

4/3/2011 - jeffersga wrote:

Light flowery nose, easy drinking PN - good value.

4/3/2011 - jeffersga wrote:

Fruity and disappointing. Some fizz as well

4/3/2011 - jeffersga wrote:

Blackberry and forest floor nose. Full-bodied, good tannin and structure will ensure it gets better.

4/3/2011 - jeffersga wrote:

Earthy nose. Savoury and spicy with firm tannin and good acid. Drinking very well now - suprisingly 'light' for a CnDP. All round very enjoyable wine with good structure.

6/19/2010 - jeffersga wrote:

Great nose - peppery. Taste is more balanced with good structure compared to other wines from the region. Need to get hold of more of these!

6/19/2010 - jeffersga wrote:

Easy drinking PN - very reliable performer. Good fruit.

6/19/2010 - jeffersga wrote:

Good structure to this South African PN. Very much in the old world style burgundy at half the price of a cru class.

6/19/2010 - jeffersga wrote:

Very easy drinking - nothing complex. Floral nose; peppery and violet taste with medium length finish.

3/28/2010 - jeffersga wrote:

1 hour decant. Classical burgundian style - forest floor, undergrowth, fruit, spice - very pleasant nose. Good meatiness with layers of flavour - although a hint of stewed fruit at the end. Overall a complex and delicious PN - only draw back is the alcohol at 14% - in my view too high for a PN, making the wine a bit too fat. Should improve further with aging.

1/25/2010 - jeffersga wrote:

Dark inky colour, pleasant black currant, pencil shavings and light cedary notes. Smooth and supple tannins, very agreeable finish, although a bit short. Not a complex wine, drinking close to its best.

12/30/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Had with duck and turkey over Christmas. 30 minutes of decanting. Forest floor/slight farm yard nose. Good rounded burgundy with savoury and red berry notes. Wine improved the longer it was exposed to air.

12/6/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Bordeaux blend - Merlot dominant (54%). Lovely nose - heady with cherries, chocolate and peppers
Taste: Drank it from the cellar (still too cold) was sour / tight green tannin - hint of rubber. Left it overnight and it had softened and was much more approachable.

11/20/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Deep purple colour. Cherry, spicy and touch of leather on the nose. Nice front palate of dark fruits, but falls away in the middle and tightish tannins at the end (oaky finish). Good complexity all round, should improve with age.

11/16/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Intense and complex Pinot Noir, along the lines of a quaility Burgundy. Hint of floral on the nose. Savoury fruit flavours followed by a dry finish (tight tannins). Should soften and improve with cellaring.

8/15/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Pronounced white pepper/spicy and a hint of floral on the nose. Meaty taste and fairly long finish. Gimblett Gravels certainly produces a white peppery meaty wines - a different take on syrah - this region is producing some interesting wines.

8/3/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Good savoury and earthy nose. Nice fruit: raspberry, cherry and dark plum. Good palate full with a hint of spicy or oaky flavours. Nice tannin. Good one for the cellar if you can resist the temptation to drink young.

7/27/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Agreeable nose with a hint of mint. Still very tight - no middle or end. Hopefully will open up.

Had another bottle a month later. This bottle seemed to have more body and soul - a reasonable quaffer now. Raise rating from 80 to 85

7/27/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Good fruit (mainly dark cherry) full bodied pinot. A delicate nose and silky tannins is a surprise given the alcohol (14% vol) is on the higher end. Good front palate does fade in the middle but does come back. Not overly oaked. Will be interesting to find out if this wine improves over the next two year as it seems to be drinking at its optimum now.

7/20/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

Light caramel colouration and almost nectar like nose gave me the impression that this bottle was just past its optimum drinking window. Still a very good sparkling with a fine mousse and toasty notes. Very enjoyable even though a bit on the sec side.

7/17/2009 - jeffersga wrote:

After 30 minutes of decanting the wine, it revealed just enough dark fruit notes with a hint of earthiness or as quoted on the bottle "forest floor perfume". At 14.5% vol, this is no shrinking violet! Best to have with a fuller flavoured meal. Colour of dark plum and Burgundian style makes this a welcome change to your typical Antipodean strawberry driven pinots. Good lingering taste of spicy berry and soft tannin. Well structured; wine should improve with age over the next 5 to 7 years (winemaker quotes 5 to 10 years). 89.