December 8, 2021 - NobleRottersSydney - a fine finale (Fix, St James, Sydney): {cork, 13%} [DavidM] Opened & poured straight away. 71% cabernet, with Merlot, PV, Cab-F and Malbec adding 19/5/3/2% respectively. Developing nose of black fruit with a slightly herbal, but not too green aspect. The palate is initially austere, very cabernet-influenced, and becoming quite astringent with medium/high chalky tannins. Fruit-driven, not dominated by oak. I thought it a bit hollow, patchy somehow; a bit of a minority view. Given the following wine, maybe all it needed was decanting time? Medium weight; didn’t have the persistent finish I’d expect for the price. Keep longer or give it air.
May 2, 2021 - Still quite a fumey nose with menthal notes after 3 hrs. Vaguest hint of leather too. There is still some fruit too, just can’t pin it down. Definitely a complex nose.
Tobacco and dark plums on the palate. And still a lot of fine structure tannin. Long long finish and actually stopping to savour this I realise it’s only just drinking now and has a long and wonderful life ahead. Wouldn’t touch until ‘25 now.
September 20, 2020 - inky plum red, little clarity, ruby hue
Nose: plum, mulberry, fennel, violets, tobacco, chocolate, black pepper, clove, cedar
Pal: plum, mulberry, fennel, violets, tobacco, tar, cigar, chocolate, black pepper, clove, cedar
Feel: medium, savory, acidic
Finish: medium
T8
December 22, 2018 - lots going on out the gate. Blackberry fruit, black olive, smoke. Yes, maturing flavors, but still more fruit than not. Rich on the palate next to this Duxoup 07 Charbono. Significant tannin remains, medium plus.
December 17, 2017 - Mint, cedar on the nose. Wonderfully rich in the mouth. Absolutely first rate and drinking well now although with lots of life ahead. One of Australia's top 3 or 4 producers year after year in MHO. Cheers!
September 3, 2017 - Fully mature nose of dried fruit, cedar and tobacco. Some depth. Harmonius and slightly reminding of BDX.
Medium-fullish, mature and a bit robust palate. Dried fruit and just a hint of mint. Fully resolved tannins. Good balance, but not very layered. Nice, not for further cellaring.
March 28, 2017 - Much lighter than I expected but a joy to drink. No formal notes
October 16, 2016 - Very much not blown away. If I'd tasted this blind I would swear it is a (fairly average) left bank Bordeaux - very similar profile. No great depth or complexity. Nicely balanced and good acidity but not memorable at all. Thankfully this was my only bottle
September 10, 2016 - The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, black currant (cassis) and Herbes de Provence. It tastes like chocolate, blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
December 12, 2015 - This was my first bottle of 2006 and it is the lightest and most advanced of the Diana Madelines I have ever tasted. If this bottle is indicative of this vintage is time to drink up the ‘06s. Fruit driven with enough mineral notes to make it interesting. Tannins are resolved.