November 30, 2023 - Deep ruby in color with hints of mocha and mint. Long finish on the back of the palate, think this will cellar for a few more years.
September 4, 2023 - Very strong and pure mocha and mint nose. Great density and richness with both Cabernet and Shiraz clearly coming through (and both are very broad and good quality). Nice long minty finish which provides freshness given the lack of acidity. Excellent and highly underrated wine. Oak is a little drying though. Improves with 30mins in the glass. No hurry here - drink to 2030 easily. 94pts
September 1, 2022 - Garnet to black in colour. No sign of browning. Mint, tobacco, black fruit, long palate. Mouth filling acid. Wonderful wine
August 11, 2022 - What a joy to taste and drink this wine. Jammy, but not overdone, spicy, lots of red fruit, elegant and long lasting. Delicious.
June 12, 2022 - Absolutely delicious. Like the review below, the cork was challenging but the wine in tact. Very strong notes of strawberry jam on the palate. I've also had the 2001 and 2002 over the past few weeks. The 2005 is definitely the stand out.
May 14, 2022 - I went looking for the specific blend of this vintage but it seems Yalumba will give you the precise % of each type of oak used but keeps secret the proportions of Cab and Shiraz. Terrible cork that crumbled away, but once the wine was out it was clear it had at least done its job and the wine itself was terrific. Rich stewed plum. Fruit pudding. Classic Barossa character. Gathers weight and intensity with air. Right in its drinking window now but might fractionally improve over a couple of years and should hold for 10 in a good cellar.
March 12, 2022 - Vertical tasting dinner with 2005, 2006 & 2008 Yalumba Signatures (decanted 3 hours). All three drank with dinner which was lamb 3 ways (rosemary lamb chops, braised lamb breast stuffed w merguez), lobster mac & cheese & minted peas.
2005 - my word this was superb. Lovely nose of muted and lingering cherry and chocolate. On the taste this was long and smooth with perfect sweetness. No fruit bombing here - this is drinking amazingly right now; shame I dont have anymore!!
All 3 are wonderful examples of really good Aussie wines - leading the world with these cab/shiraz blends.
December 28, 2021 - Cork was shot but the wine was holding up really well, could go longer but in a great place now balancing primary and tertiary notes.
November 21, 2021 - Cork crumbled but wine fully intact. Plenty of black fruit still evident, with a bit of fresh redcurrant. Very full in the mouth, plenty of secondary development, some spice and herbs, this is a great package at its peak, and really good VFM.
October 2, 2020 - Opaque core; blast of black fruit
tremendous depth & power, saturated black fruit; unapologetic fulsome finish. This has 10 years to run.