November 28, 2020 - So CT popped this up on my radar with the Readiness to Drink report fresh on the heels of having the '04. So why not; it is ready, and it was a good check point for what I have left. Drank over 2 days, combined notes. Short decant in bottle and glass, like 30 or so. Could have used like 2 -3 hours. Dark as night in the glass, dense, brooding. The nose is dark black fruits, jammy, burnt rubber, tar, peppercorns, tight; mellows and opens day 2 with less burning and tar. The nose is formidable. The palate hits with black and blue fruits enveloped in tar plus a smokiness coming from a burnt meat, a mellowing earthy tone towards mid. Day 2 showed more dark red turning black and blue as a curve ball to start. Its heavy and potent, very forward on the front. however smooths on the middle with a medium acidic pop with firm tannins kicking in but not holding to the finish; they fade away fast. Day 2 more so and added white pepper notes heading back. The end is driven by potent fruit, dark black and blues, with the tertiary characteristics driving it home. Managed to save a small glass for a day 3, the tar and burnt edges came off a bit more, feels more blue in fruit and a bit more relaxed. Its a medley of highs and mediums, never lows. Its a beast, not cohesive. On its own, I needed to split it over 2 days and added a 3rd to boot. Structure and potency tell me it can sit for a while to see if it further mellows and/or integrated, or drink now with some heavy BBQ (charred) in hindsight.
November 13, 2020 - Color: opaque garnet, light bricking on the edge.
Nose: Powerful nose. Red and blue fruit. Tobacco and spice.
Medium+ body, Medium- acid. Very luscious mouthfeel, bold, jammy fruits (prune). Tannins have smoothed out, light grip at the back of the mouth. Smooth follow, long fruit taste lingers. A very mature, yet flavorful Shiraz. Still drinking wonderfully, but definitely on it's twilight years, so drink up.
February 21, 2019 - This is amazing wine. Structured, poignant, focused. Syarh as Syrah(Shiraz) should be done. I would love to have a case of this. Thank goodness I have one more bottle left!
December 17, 2018 - A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark black in color. A medium to full bodied Shiraz, with black cherry, blackberry, licorice and spice, still a big wine that has rough edges. www.winelx.com
November 24, 2018 - Retrospective tasting and tasted along side the '08.
Completely different from the '08 showing aromas that indicate a use of whole cluster. Scents upon opening of cooked asparagus, green peppercorn and vegetable ash blend with the notes of camp smoke, peat, black olive, juniper, inner tube and red meats before the notes of black plum, blackberry and licorice chime in.
More aggressive on the palate than the '08. More full on the body with higher density. Acid is lively and structured. Tannins are well integrated and smooth. Flavors show a smokey edge to the notes of peppercorns, loamy earth, olive tapenade, rubber, canned asparagus, resin, char grilled aged red meats, fennel seed and notes of black plum, dried fig and wild blackberry. The finish lingers.
August 3, 2017 - DOA. Heat damaged.
June 19, 2017 - On first night, this was closed, hot and bitter. Some fruit showed, but it was not very enjoyable. On second night, however, this was smooth, rich, with a strong nose of flowers and berries. Score is for second night. Seems like it needs more time to develop.
May 5, 2017 - Looking for a fruit forward wine? Then look somewhere else.
This wine carries that certain ruggedness, ripeness and rusticity known in Barossa.
For those who have tasted Cornas from the Rhone, there is a certain similarity of flavour profile here - lots of mineral, salt, leather and meat - gamey meat, yes. And some olive as well.
It’s a big sweet, warm (yet sour edged) wine, with massive prune, iodine, licorice and menthol flavours.
Excellent to outstanding length. Drink now!
January 14, 2017 - Dégusté avec une morue aux olives noires et oignons caramélisés ... Un peu trop relevé pour ce plat mais avons pris plaisir tout de même.
December 14, 2016 - Decanted 2hrs.
Bold, strong aromas of camp smoke, black olive, bramble, brine, game meats, camphor, black peppercorn, tar and loamy earth with scents of dried herbs, dried violets and garique and notes of black licorice. Fruit takes a complete back seat showing black plum, wild blackberry and olallieberry. More Old World than new on the nose, but distinctly Syrah.
Bold and briney on the palate showing powerful black olive notes, smoked game meats, cracked black pepper, forrest floor, wild herbs and garique Dried violets, camphor, resin, black licorice and black plum skin flavors mix with brambly forrest blackberry, black walnut bitters and veins of mineral that linger through the finish.
Overall, This is remarkably more old world than new in it's profile. More wild and definitely showing a quick maturity from my previous tastings. Still a great wine in a great QPR