December 5, 2021 - Past it’s best for sure but still very enjoyable. Definitely blackberry on the nose and an element of coffee on the tongue. Still a big wine.
December 10, 2014 - This was strikingly similar to earlier tasting notes of the 2002 release. In early 2009 I wrote about the '02, "Ink color, immense, intense full bodied fruit forward - almost over ripe rich thick extracted fruit, almost Amarone like. Black berry, raisiny black cherry, graphite, black licorice. The Mr Riggs needs a big accompaniment to offset its ripe full forward fruit - perhaps dark chocolate or an English stilton!" I stand on those words, however, five years later, the black berry fruits are giving way a bit showing their age and becoming a slight bit flabby.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/12/mr.html
August 30, 2014 - Dark scarlet colour. Currant, tobacco, licorice, raspberry nose. Full-bodied, moderate tannins, concentrated blackberry, tar, licorice with a long finish.
January 19, 2013 - The wine looks Inky colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry. It tastes like Blackberry, and Prune. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Silky texture. The wine finishes Long. drinking now
December 29, 2011 - Slow-O 1 hr, served at cellar temp. Dark ruby core, little sign of age. My third (and last) bottle in the past 3 years and it's now safe to say this was never beyond mediocre. The nose is more interesting than the (monolithic) palate, the finish struggles to get to medium, acids are low-to-medium. A touch of reductive. Drink now, it's not getting any better. 15% abv, score: B-/B
November 27, 2010 - Drank with dinner, very balanced cherry and oak hints. Very nice!
August 29, 2010 - Plump, ripe and ready to drink, this wine never goes out of bounds but is never really able to get out of the starting gate either. A bit monolithic, but nonetheless smooth, and mostly juicy with very soft tannins and an average build of fruit and acid. Drink now thru 2013. An above-average food wine that is at or slightly past peak, approx $38, 14% abv.
January 8, 2009 - I wanted to "peek in" and see how it's doing. If you're going to drink this now, give it a thorough, 2-hour decant. This needs another 2-3 yrs in the bottle as the fruit is fairly closed down right now. Approx $38, drink thru 2014
September 21, 2006 - Not a typical McLaren Vale Shiraz. This was subtle, giving hints of spice and coffee, cassis, and tannins. For those who like to climb Everest, but who jostle with a local fourteener, a pleasant enough experience to relate to one's associates whilst steading oneself for a higher ascent.
May 7, 2006 - Fruity nose. Initial taste loaded with dark fruits (blackberries, cassis). Touch of jamminess but not overpowering. Smooth mouthfeel with smooth tannins and oaky undercurrent. Overall well balanced and enjoyable with marinated steak tips.