August 28, 2017 - Very nice mature cab, definitely tasted old world. Slow oxed all day after using 1/2 cup for beef marinade and then drank with dinner. As many note, perfectly fine wine although not sure anything stands out as remarkable, although my wife seemed to enjoy it very much and generally older claret not her thing.
90-91
February 20, 2015 - Manky, leaky cork. Totally mature, showing classic old Cabernet elements like cherries, cedar, tobacco. Nothing out of place but nothing particularly interesting either.
January 27, 2015 - Let breathe in the glass for an hour before consumption. Lovely nose and still a pleasant taste, but very thin on the mid palate. Some tanins but very little acidity. This had faded right away by day 2 (despite careful resealing). I have a strong preference for aged wines and Tahbilk have an excellent reputation for longevity, but this is now in decline and needs to be drunk straight away (and in one sitting).
November 18, 2014 - Subtle earthy nose. Sweet cherry fruit, with pronounced pencil shavings, leather, earth, tobacco. Good structure. High acid with a tannic finish. Still a few years left on this.
August 23, 2014 - Steady but light on fruit overall. Drink now!
August 10, 2014 - Cork was stained all the way to the top but managed to get it out with an Ah-So. Expecting the worse but was pleasantly surprised. A good mature cabernet. Passed its peak but showing a graceful decline. Drink up now.
July 13, 2014 - Opened two tonight. One cork was dried and crumbly, the other fine. Stored by me side by side. The wines tasted identical. They were not compromised in anyway. Solid, but not spectacular.
I wouldn't guess they are getting better at this point. I'd assume Jon got them as the winery determined they had hit their peak and it was now a good time to get them drunk, so drink them up!
June 17, 2013 - Bit hard to judge, but it was OK and got better with some air. It was also better than a 1999 vintage that was open at the same time. Lots of forest floor/mushroom, with leather and red currants.
November 14, 2012 - Here is the deal, 20 year old Australian cab I had never heard of before offered by Garagiste for $38; OK I will take one just to try something new and different. Darn - now wish I had ordered more!!
Popped and poured first glass and put rest into a decanter,cork looked good, a little seepage but not to the top. Surprisingly clear (lots of sediment stuck to side/bottom of bottle, but nothing in the decanter). Color was lighter than I expected for something out of Australia and almost translucent. Nice bricking around the edges, looked almost blood like.
Nose was subtle earth with a little spice. Palate was wonderful, surprising acidity and even a little tannin left. Good balance of fruit, tobacco and dust. Nothing musty like some older wines. Amazing that this is 20 years old.
Great find Garagiste!!
October 14, 2012 - Pop and pour for the oldest wine in my collection. My - this is a tasty and well aged wine. Dark garnet in colour with a lovely brick red rim.
Lovely, intense bright cherry fruit with notes of soy, green pepper, brush and wood. Complex, yet still with fresh fruit, almost burgundian in the balance between fruit and undergrowth. Really nice.
Soft and smooth on the palate, ripe, little tannins but still good acidity. Soft currrant and cherry fruit, juicy with a nuanced finish, some wood, some green vegetables , some herbs and some soy. Excellent long finish.
Overall this was a really good wine, drinking very well. Not in any danger of dying, but probably at peak. Very enjoyable.