December 21, 2020 - Dark, deep red, lighter rim, hint of brick.
Incredible depth, complex, dark fruit and spice, licorice, tar, blackberries, pepper, with high toned blue ink floral notes.
Smooth, velvety, lush palate. Fine tannins and good acidity. Flavour intensity lasts a long time, great length. Everything on the nose comes to bear. Feels pure, refined, and well made. Drinks beautifully, red and dark fruits, dark spices and bright violets. Really superb drinking.
January 31, 2014 - Deep ruby. Massive cigar box and tobacco notes along with very ripe red and black fruit. Silky palate with powdery tannin and bright acid, showing cigar box and ripe, possibly slightly overripe fruits. First glass something seemed a bit out of sync, but really came together on the second. Complex evolving wine with great length and a terrific nose. Drink now or hold for further developed complexity.
Double decanted and served at 18degC.
October 12, 2013 - This bottle was drinking beautifully. Lovely bottle development but for my wife the Viognier was sticking out a bit. The mouthfeel on this wine is exquisite with fully integrated tannin and lush ripe cool climate Shiraz fruit. Lovely.
June 18, 2012 - Earthy nose with some violets and graphite. Still youthful on the palate with good length. Very good.
December 1, 2010 - Doing just fine, should have lots of life left in it. Reminds me of Cornas. http://bit.ly/fLTrvg
December 26, 2009 - Very dark colour.
Deep, rich, just a hint of dried herbs.
Smooth, aged but in a lovely graceful integrated way. Not much development of flavours really, still quite primary. A real keeper.
September 7, 2009 - Must have got a dud bottle as this one was lacking fruit. Don't think it was faulty but to preserve group ratings I'll let this one go through to the keeper....
May 3, 2008 - Clonakilla Vertical Dinner: Apricot, floral, smoky and meaty aromas. Palate has good texture and verve. Length is very good. Still plenty of upward potential for this over the next 6-7 years.
April 30, 2006 - Showed much better on this opening than six months ago. Black fruits, white pepper, licorice and cigarbox. Lovely.
October 14, 2005 - Potent nose of blackberries, black cherries, pepper intermingled with the distinctive aroma of apricot blossom. There is no way this could be mistaken for a Rhone (let's hope noone bags one and fools me) - it's bold and sassy. Mouth filling and concentrated with good structure. Delicious if you don't mind apricots in your shiraz.