November 19, 2020 - amazing
September 22, 2018 - A great Barossa bold Shiraz from old vines that will not disappoint. The first standout are the great legs that keep coming. Immediately you’re struck with a sweet, hint of oak on the nose...deep blackcurrant, slightly burnt fragrance lingering. To taste it has a hint of boldness without a punch yet not soft and flowery! Peppery flavour profile, hint of mandarin, sweet fresh apple & cinnamon, lingering sweetness on the back of the tongue. NOTE: benefits from time out of the bottle before drinking.
June 14, 2017 - The best of my three bottles. This also had plenty of dark fruit: blackberries, plums, cherries, but seemed far more 'in balance' than the other two, with smokey wood chips, forest floor and exotic spices taking you to your local Indian restaurant. It was a real pleasure drinking this bottle. Medium+ finish, smooth tannins.
March 9, 2017 - Still deep red in the glass. Luscious dark fruits here: plums, blackberries and sour dark cherries. The tannins are fine, and there is savoury spice and smokey wood chips on the palate. Slightly tart finish.
January 15, 2017 - The fruit has receded in this bottle, though there is still plums, blackberries and a hint of sour cherry. The nose has plenty of cedar oak and savoury spice. Tannins are fine, but still present and the finish is medium+ A much better 2002 than the Yarra Yarra last night.
December 10, 2016 - The scent of the cork was enough to promise greatness. A truly beautiful wine that is drinking wonderfully now.
December 31, 2015 - Rich and very fruity / jammy. Cherry, boisenberry. Very mellow tannins. A good food wine, best paired with a hearty red meat dish.
September 11, 2015 - 1st bottle opened suffered from undesirable storage condition with wet cardboard smell and earthy palate.
Hence my backup bottle from different source was opened and it shows much better condition than the first bottle. Subtle earthy nose along with blackberry, spice, licorice, roasted coffee beans and subtle toasty oak. Palate is soft and mellowed but showing good palate richness, along with blackberry, ripe fruits and chocolate. Soft and velvety tannins. Drinking well now although it was overwhelmed by the subsequent wines in the lineup.
September 10, 2015 - Australia 2002 horizontal tasting on cooling-off day (Extra Space, Boon Keng): 1st bottle opened suffered from undesirable storage condition with wet cardboard smell and earthy palate.
Hence my backup bottle from different source was opened and it shows much better condition than the first bottle. Subtle earthy nose along with blackberry, spice, licorice, roasted coffee beans and subtle toasty oak. Palate is soft and mellowed but showing good palate richness, along with blackberry, ripe fruits and chocolate. Soft and velvety tannins. Drinking well now although it was overwhelmed by the subsequent wines in the lineup.
April 11, 2015 - Drank this at a wine mate's baby shower last night.
Colour is fading dark purple, with a strong mocha and cocca nose. Notes of ink and dark plums with an intoxicating aroma.
On the palate there are flavours of fruit cakes with dark plums, chocolate and a structure which is still holding up well. Hints of vanilla in the long finish.
Most reviewers indicated that this wine is coming to the end of its life cycle. Based on the tasting today it probably still has another 3 years left in its tank.