March 10, 2023 - In the decanter 3 hours prior to drinking, still holding up strong 5 hrs in on the final glass. Big, powerful and ripe berry driven, with that distinct Barossa nose. It just kept powering on, incredible intensity and length. My last of these, end of era #sadface. Doubt you’ll find any other 15% wine this old with so much fruit and balance. Enjoy now, don’t risk it.
High quality Barossa in a glass.
February 25, 2023 - Slightly over-developed compared to my last bottle; still good but drink soon
February 10, 2022 - Drank at Marilyn’s restaurant
December 3, 2021 - Blackberry, berry, plum
August 20, 2021 - https://youtu.be/Q7dDVEXxjTU
November 26, 2020 - Fruit has faded a little, compared with what I recall when reading my previous note. Thick, rich, very good. Not two-toned at all.
July 19, 2020 - This was double decanted before taking to a friend’s beach house to have with dinner of grilled spice-rubbed top sirloin cap roast. Nice pairing as this is a big wine that needs some big flavor to counterbalance it. Opaque garnet purple color. Nose is spice box, ripe blackberries, black currant, pomegranate and ripe black plum. Palate is rich and reflects the nose with some cedar, chocolate, leather, eucalyptus and with some slight heat noticeable. Finish has raisin or prune at the end of a long and layered aftertaste. Plenty of life left and little chance this will lose its fruit forward nature anytime soon. I would say this will continue to be interesting for another decade or possibly more.
April 27, 2020 - Completely forgot I had this in the cellar and even dreaded opening it since I expected it to be over the hill.
I was dead wrong.
This wine shows beautifully and if anything, seems a little on the youthful side, though it has obviously mellowed over the years.
Lovely lush fruit. Dark ruby color with longer finish than I'd expected. Abundant sediment. Wonderful balance - not hot at all. Hedonistic in a good way.
Consumed over three days with no degradation from start to finish. I didn't particularly think it would have benefited from a decant.
February 22, 2020 - Very good wine. At first ripe plum and cherry, with time blackcurrant appeared. Liquorice from the beginning, lovely vanilla flavours. Nice sweetness. It could still easily be stored for a couple of years.
January 27, 2020 - Dark reddish-purple in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe, somewhat jammy (overripe?), fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & black plums with overtones of earthy/dusty & herbal notes , licorice & pepper, minerals, hints of vanilla/oak & a touch of VA in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, jammy, ripe fruit flavors of sweet dark cherries, blackberries & dark plums with herbs, spices, minerals & a hint of vanilla/oak. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but at 16 years of age, it is close to or at its peak of development, so drink up!