December 6, 2016 - Still smooth as silk, voluptuous. Nowhere near the end of its drinking window - I'd say at least another couple of good years.
August 4, 2016 - Nothing short of delicious. Drinking super well at this point.
August 22, 2015 - This is an incredible value, with the Merlot and Cab adding quite a bit of complexity and balance to the Barossa Shiraz. Clear, bright, ruby; medium (+) intensity; medium (+) viscosity and extraction. The nose at first shows some reductive characteristics, but then reveals black fruit, red fruit, herbs, toast, organic earth. The nose is developing. The palate is dry, with some noticeable RS, and is more "New Worldly" than the nose. The acidity is medium and the alcohol and tannins are medium (+). This is a dark, extracted, full-bodied wine with intense flavors and medium (+) length. It is drinking very well now but appears to have plenty of staying power.
July 15, 2015 - Reliably good Barossa blend (this year's us 77% Shiraz, the star of the wine), 16% Cab and 7% Merlot. Drinking at its peak now. Same as notes of 4/26/15.
April 26, 2015 - Classic Aussie Barossa Shiraz (77%) with a little Cab and Merlot thrown in, which makes it all the more interesting. It is drinking perfectly now, don't think any further aging will benefit it much. Full fruit forward, robust, inky, wow 15.3% alcohol, but it did not come across as a hot alcohol bomb. Best paired with grilled an spicy fare and it will stand up to it. Great wine for the $$$ if you like hefty Aussie Shiraz.
August 7, 2014 - Getting better with age.
May 31, 2014 - Promises a big Barossa red and delivers in spades. A great winter red.
May 20, 2014 - Dark, heavy in glass. Fair tars on nose. Easy drinking with black fruit dominating pepper on palate
March 21, 2014 - Pretty easy to give this a 90 point score. Still very young, with plenty of cellar potential. We poured through the vinturi, but this could easily handle a decant. The color is inky dark purple. The nose gives away it's Aussie, and especially Barossa Valley origins with a deep brooding acidity accompanying still reticent blackberry, blueberry and black currant fruit with a hint of violets. The fruit is not yet quite ready to release it's veracity, but the potential is more than evident. Close to full bodied persistent youngish tannins. The overall flavor profile is that of a wine with plenty of skin and stem influence balanced with more than adequate, but somewhat reserved, young fruit. It has absorbed a lot of oak, which only enhances, and has already mellowed and can only get better. Nice job for the price.
February 1, 2014 - Nose: Blueberry, some eucalyptus, some heat. A nice, big nose overall.
Palate: Drank this over several nights, and this held up really well. Blueberry, some chalkiness, big & dry. There's a little smoke and smoked meat in later days, along with some tobacco leaf. For a wine that's certainly more mass-produced, I'm quite impressed. A good benchmark for Aussie Shiraz, and a solid QPR. 89-90 pts.