October 30, 2020 - Tomatoes, red berries, spices, cinnamon. Good acidity. This wine is getting better every 5 years I drink it. It has a long life ahead. Unfortunately my last(fourth) bottle. 93-94.
November 2, 2019 - Regular dinner group. Many wines based on the book “1001 wines you must try before you die”. (By EM @ Bottles): The bouquet is quite mature and shows good garrigue. On the palate red berries, good acidity, some broth (in the positive sense) and juicy and round tannin. Completely ready now and drink soon.
April 16, 2019 - My second bottle (first drunk in 2012). This is like a great Hermitage. Getting better and better. Was excellent in 2012, and still great now. No signs of over-aging. Could have lasted for another 5 years easily, but was probably at its peak now after 22 years! Impressing Australian shiraz!
January 27, 2017 - Spectacular! Replaces the Torbreck Run Rig '04 as the best Shiraz I've had in the past 12 months. The balance of fruit and spice is immaculate, with great dark fruits, some cherry, but not overripe, smoky and earthy notes coupled with a long, long savoury spice finish. Tannins are supple, and the wine happily lasted over two days. This bottle is really in a sweet spot right now. My first 95 point score on CT!
July 24, 2016 - Drank last night along with some amazing wines. Looks much younger in the glass than its age. Nice ripe cherries hit the palate followed by a think viscous almost syrupy finish with dried leather and stewed fruits. I would never have guessed it was a 1997...still seems to have a few more years of service.
November 1, 2015 - Still fresh and young, lots of tomatoes, black fruit, a little pepper. This wine is a miracle for its age.
July 18, 2015 - Dark red with blackish ink edges this wine looked big.
Nose of smokey oak and a hint of bacon. Slightly sweet vanilla coming from the oak.
Black fruit, Tar and tobacco box with a long finish. Tannins still there and it seems as though it could easily go another 5 to 10 years.
September 7, 2013 - Big and powerful. Not calmed down fully. Lots of cherry on the nose and palate. Still plenty more life.
Cork was very dry and crumbled easily. Had similar problem before.
February 19, 2012 - Black with ruby tinges. Big white mineral nose with some mocha & plum peeking from underneath. Cool entry of oak laden black plum flavors that finish crisp & massively juicy. The oak really holds everything in a firm grip, which is unfortunate, unless your an oak fan.
September 17, 2011 - I was concerned this bottle be past its peak. It was still young and could probably age for many more years. Fantastic bottle.