February 18, 2022 - Good but unremarkable. This was the pre-scandal bottling.
January 27, 2022 - Is past it’s prime. Very round but unremarkable with a short finish.
August 15, 2021 - 55F PnP Deep red burgundy. Pleasant nose with plum cassis wood chips. palate clean, not heavy, lots of plum, blackberry, hints of herb, licorice. Very nice. original bottling. fully aged.
May 1, 2021 - This was from the original Spectator award winning bottling. While clearly starting on the downside with initial early fading of eucalyptus and high toned notes, this has retained its fruit and developed secondary characteristics in a very well integrated and put together manner. Went excellently with chimichurri-marinated flank steak and roasted red potatoes. If you are fortunate enough to have one of the bottles from the original run, enjoy now or within the next 6 months. Exceeded my expectations. On opening, 91. Over the following 2-3 hours unfurled into a 93 point beauty.
July 28, 2020 - From a magnum. My last of these. Great value, this is showing well now, fully resolved, still plenty of power but more composed than it was in its youth; still quite a bit of spice but not as much as before. Drink now.
April 21, 2020 - My love affair with the 'real' 2008 Schild Estate Shiraz continues. While it's now showing its age, and may not be in the award-winning peak condition it once enjoyed, the 2010 WS #7 wine continues to hold up down to my very last bottle. (Hopefully I can buy a couple more from a friend who has a half dozen still cellaring).
It remains a deep inky hue with slow legs and very light sentiment. The nose is flint, mineral, stoniness and black pepper, while the flavours run blackberry, cherry, flint, stoniness and black pepper. With a medium/full body, it has a leathery texture with a long finish. While the tannins have largely disappeared, it still pairs beautifully with a well-seasoned steak.
Don't be fooled by the poor imitation "second blend" that Schild Estate subsequently foisted on the public after finishing in the top 10. This original vintage remains the best QPR I've ever enjoyed, and certainly among the best wines I've been able to afford over the years.
Cheers.
PS. As I re-read through the 700+ comments on this controversial vintage, I feel sad for those who drank the 'counterfeit' release and never got a chance to experience the original wine in all its glory. I've personally been reluctant to give Schild Estate a 'second' chance on their subsequent vintages simply because they broke a fundamental trust with their customers. I'm hoping they learnt their lesson but twice fooled shame on me.
October 6, 2019 - A complete fruit bomb, over extracted and lack acidity. Very monotonic, a style I used to like but not anymore
July 11, 2019 - It tastes like cherry and vanilla. The wine looks ruby colored. There is light sediment in the bottle.
March 15, 2019 - Very nice and balanced Shiraz with fruit and delicate tannins.
January 19, 2019 - Still every bit as good as when it was young -- in fact, not that much changed under screw cap. One of the more complex shiraz I've had.