Alluring bouquet, great mouth feel, complex rich flavour. This full bodied wine is now at its peak. Should stay there for many years provided the cork holds up.
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Fantastic; it still has 10 years and should get better for at least another 5; excellent nose - supple, lively, on the palate, great dark fruit, broken tannins, beautiful finish.
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This was brighter, nice blueberry, more balance than the Edelstone with nice acidity, maybe the most lean out of the 12 Aussies. Really enjoyed this until the '98 RunRig was poured. 92-93 Taylor's Steak House Dirty Dozen dinner.
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I have rated this wine previously but I am going to re-rate it. As this is the third bottle of The Armagh that I have had from this vintage, I think it is a wine that is not that well understood by the trade or the judges. It is an intellectual wine that requires time and when young, it will not have the bells and whistles that people like but with time, it will come out of its shell and surprises you.
So why do I say this? At first glance, it is just another well made Shiraz. But as you unpack the wine over a 3 hour period, its characters changed from broody to elegance, berries to plums but very subtle, earthy to freshness and all a structure that got more refined over time. It expresses the soil and the climate where its roots were bounded. It is a thinking wine for those who want to think. Drink now to 7+ years.
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After a 4-hour decant, this wine is cruisin' straight into my heart.... Kirsch, blackberries, coffee, dark chocolate, bacon, smoke and grilled meat. Beautiful spices like black pepper, anise, cumin and cloves. Maybe a pinch of alcoholic heat peaking through in the looooong finish.... In the early phase of its drinking window, just starting to show gorgeous savoury nuances, it has a bright and lengthy future ahead. Oh man! Do I love those classically built Australian Stars... Monumental wine!
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One of Australia's iconic wines that is still "affordable". 02 was an excellent vintage for the Clare and the Armagh reflected this vintage in this outstanding bottle. Wham, bam in your face upon first opening, after 2.5 hours of decanting, it had calmed to be smooth and opulent. Racy, controllable and enough thrill to entertain but no so much that it will hurt you (although it has 15.5% alcohol). Beautiful bouquet of berries, eucalyptus and baked fruit cake, going to a plum, cedar body with a lovely finish. Soft tannin that just raced along. Just a great wine, well integrated and a good expression of terroir. Now or another 5+ years.
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Big, huge wine, obvious from the pour. Black dark, just so extracted. The nose shows black olives, black pepper, menthol, baked black fruit, smoke and even a hint of VA. You can even sense this is going to be high alcohol just from smelling it. On the palate no surprise ripping tannins and alcohol, acidity is moderate. This is a great Aussie Shiraz, and if you like that style of wine you will love this, but for a guy that normally drinks German Riesling this was just too much... Interesting wine and I'm glad I got to try this, but not my style.
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Big Syrah. Needed decanting and warm up to room temperature to start unfolding. Had it at Pappas Bros. in Dallas. Would love to try again with longer time in decanter.
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Very deep purple in colour Massive power of cassis on the nose. For a wine with more than a decade on bottle, this either showed no evidence of ageing gracefully or was an unbelievable monster when young. On the palate, this is like a liquidifed version of a Halls Soother throat sweet. Very sweet, hint of mint. Something polished. The wine didnt change while in the glass, completely lacking any charm. For me, I had no interest in a second glass.
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Ok I didn't wait. Decanted for 4 hours, so much better. After 8 hours beautifully smooth, open with tannins less obvious and integrated, but structure still present. Blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry with milk chocolate and liquorish with reasonable length. Really enjoyed it. Needs the long decant even at this stage.
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- Brick color - Big rich Australian shiraz that still needs time in the cellar (at least 5 years). At present closed and tight. Started strutting its stuff after a couple of hours.
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Big. Very Aussie. Black current, boysenberry, blueberry, dark chocolate and coffee. Drunk over 4 hours and only just started to open up at the end - how much further would it have opened ? Will leave next one for another 3 (min 15 years).
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Decanted for 2 hours. Tried at cellar temp and it seemed overly acidic or a bit oxidized. After it reached room temp it became fuller and in great balance. Notes are consistant with others.
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We took this to an epic dinner party with great friends. The wine was wonderful. I love the fact that aged Shiraz from great wineries and wine makers often picks up a blueberry profile. This was was elegant, filled with blueberries, and had a wonderful perfume. It paired extremely well with the home-made lobster bisque prepared by great friends. A perfect combination on a cold December night consumed in the warmth and laughter of friendship.
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Very nice notes of meat and spice on the nose, very balanced. Minerality, spice, and meat with a long, long finish. Incredibly balanced and complex. Improved over last tasting about a year ago. We drank this with grilled tenderloin steak. Superb pairing.
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Tasted at home, over dinner with friends, with 3 more Syrahs. Black, opaque with ruby rim. Blueberry jam, dark chocolate and mint on the explosive nose. Ultra full bodied, sweet, with soft tannins and high, balancing acidity. Extremely long finish, like a blueberry candy melting slowly in the mouth. A blockbuster that does not lack in harmony and elegance. That said, I am not sure if the quadraple price tag to the Mc Rae Wood is fully justified. Now-2017
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This was a gorgeous bottle of wine. But I think I'll take the K vintners, regardless of the fact that that are 1/3 of the price. This is clean, rich, creamy, but with nice acidity. It was terrific. But it didn't go that extra mile that you hope for wines like this.
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After many hours of decanting, this dark concoction opened up with blueberry jam, bacon and earth notes and serious tannins. With even more air the fruit calmed down a bit, giving way to more savoury and tarry notes. I think this will be great in 10 years or more.
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This was a very good bottle of wine with fantastic nose and surprisingly married. I believe this bottle has an even higher potential with another 5 years of storing
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3/18/2024 - NoelB Likes this wine:
97
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7/18/2023 - Cellar Bear Likes this wine: 96 Points
Alluring bouquet, great mouth feel, complex rich flavour. This full bodied wine is now at its peak. Should stay there for many years provided the cork holds up.
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7/18/2023 - Ward Huang Likes this wine: 95 Points
8 hours bottle decanting. Great with huge fruit flavor.
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7/31/2021 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fantastic; it still has 10 years and should get better for at least another 5; excellent nose - supple, lively, on the palate, great dark fruit, broken tannins, beautiful finish.
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4/21/2021 - peternelson Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was brighter, nice blueberry, more balance than the Edelstone with nice acidity, maybe the most lean out of the 12 Aussies. Really enjoyed this until the '98 RunRig was poured. 92-93
Taylor's Steak House Dirty Dozen dinner.
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12/24/2020 - tanduybui Likes this wine: 96 Points
I have rated this wine previously but I am going to re-rate it. As this is the third bottle of The Armagh that I have had from this vintage, I think it is a wine that is not that well understood by the trade or the judges. It is an intellectual wine that requires time and when young, it will not have the bells and whistles that people like but with time, it will come out of its shell and surprises you.
So why do I say this? At first glance, it is just another well made Shiraz. But as you unpack the wine over a 3 hour period, its characters changed from broody to elegance, berries to plums but very subtle, earthy to freshness and all a structure that got more refined over time. It expresses the soil and the climate where its roots were bounded. It is a thinking wine for those who want to think. Drink now to 7+ years.
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11/1/2020 - jkoenen wrote: 96 Points
After a 4-hour decant, this wine is cruisin' straight into my heart.... Kirsch, blackberries, coffee, dark chocolate, bacon, smoke and grilled meat. Beautiful spices like black pepper, anise, cumin and cloves.
Maybe a pinch of alcoholic heat peaking through in the looooong finish....
In the early phase of its drinking window, just starting to show gorgeous savoury nuances, it has a bright and lengthy future ahead.
Oh man! Do I love those classically built Australian Stars...
Monumental wine!
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7/19/2020 - tanduybui Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of Australia's iconic wines that is still "affordable". 02 was an excellent vintage for the Clare and the Armagh reflected this vintage in this outstanding bottle. Wham, bam in your face upon first opening, after 2.5 hours of decanting, it had calmed to be smooth and opulent. Racy, controllable and enough thrill to entertain but no so much that it will hurt you (although it has 15.5% alcohol). Beautiful bouquet of berries, eucalyptus and baked fruit cake, going to a plum, cedar body with a lovely finish. Soft tannin that just raced along. Just a great wine, well integrated and a good expression of terroir. Now or another 5+ years.
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8/5/2017 - kdubler wrote:
Blind Tasting in SLC: Tasted Blind
Big, huge wine, obvious from the pour. Black dark, just so extracted. The nose shows black olives, black pepper, menthol, baked black fruit, smoke and even a hint of VA. You can even sense this is going to be high alcohol just from smelling it. On the palate no surprise ripping tannins and alcohol, acidity is moderate. This is a great Aussie Shiraz, and if you like that style of wine you will love this, but for a guy that normally drinks German Riesling this was just too much... Interesting wine and I'm glad I got to try this, but not my style.
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3/2/2017 - geneswine wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and had at room temp. Wonderful blueberry flavors. Still a full bodied wine with great mouth feel. Wonderful balance.
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3/27/2016 - civilmatt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great acidity, dark plum slight raisin quality. Paired great with roasted leg of lamb and couscous. Opened, let sit for 2.5hr, no decant.
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3/15/2016 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely mouthfeel, big red fruit, solid acidity and pliant tannins.
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9/17/2015 - FulminisInstar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big Syrah. Needed decanting and warm up to room temperature to start unfolding. Had it at Pappas Bros. in Dallas. Would love to try again with longer time in decanter.
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7/24/2015 - PC73 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Very deep purple in colour
Massive power of cassis on the nose.
For a wine with more than a decade on bottle, this either showed no evidence of ageing gracefully or was an unbelievable monster when young.
On the palate, this is like a liquidifed version of a Halls Soother throat sweet. Very sweet, hint of mint. Something polished.
The wine didnt change while in the glass, completely lacking any charm. For me, I had no interest in a second glass.
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4/26/2015 - barryjkeller@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Ok I didn't wait. Decanted for 4 hours, so much better. After 8 hours beautifully smooth, open with tannins less obvious and integrated, but structure still present. Blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry with milk chocolate and liquorish with reasonable length. Really enjoyed it. Needs the long decant even at this stage.
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1/20/2015 - Dust wrote:
Delicious. Needed some time to open up.
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7/19/2014 - Cellar Bear wrote: 94 Points
- Brick color - Big rich Australian shiraz that still needs time in the cellar (at least 5 years). At present closed and tight. Started strutting its stuff after a couple of hours.
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5/11/2014 - barryjkeller@gmail.com wrote:
Big. Very Aussie. Black current, boysenberry, blueberry, dark chocolate and coffee. Drunk over 4 hours and only just started to open up at the end - how much further would it have opened ?
Will leave next one for another 3 (min 15 years).
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8/15/2013 - geneswine wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Tried at cellar temp and it seemed overly acidic or a bit oxidized. After it reached room temp it became fuller and in great balance. Notes are consistant with others.
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12/12/2010 - A&C wrote: 94 Points
We took this to an epic dinner party with great friends. The wine was wonderful. I love the fact that aged Shiraz from great wineries and wine makers often picks up a blueberry profile. This was was elegant, filled with blueberries, and had a wonderful perfume. It paired extremely well with the home-made lobster bisque prepared by great friends. A perfect combination on a cold December night consumed in the warmth and laughter of friendship.
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4/17/2010 - psmith wrote:
Like bottled blackberry juice - very distinct. Purple. Juicy and very young. Big wine. OK.
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5/12/2009 - Animus wrote: 99 Points
Very nice notes of meat and spice on the nose, very balanced. Minerality, spice, and meat with a long, long finish. Incredibly balanced and complex. Improved over last tasting about a year ago. We drank this with grilled tenderloin steak. Superb pairing.
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1/6/2009 - Yiannis wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at home, over dinner with friends, with 3 more Syrahs. Black, opaque with ruby rim. Blueberry jam, dark chocolate and mint on the explosive nose. Ultra full bodied, sweet, with soft tannins and high, balancing acidity. Extremely long finish, like a blueberry candy melting slowly in the mouth. A blockbuster that does not lack in harmony and elegance. That said, I am not sure if the quadraple price tag to the Mc Rae Wood is fully justified. Now-2017
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10/19/2008 - hutch wrote: 93 Points
This was a gorgeous bottle of wine. But I think I'll take the K vintners, regardless of the fact that that are 1/3 of the price. This is clean, rich, creamy, but with nice acidity. It was terrific. But it didn't go that extra mile that you hope for wines like this.
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7/21/2007 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Blueberry liqueur, pepper and blueberry syrup nose; very concentrated, blackberry, blackberry compote palate; long finish 93+ pts.
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9/30/2006 - Rani wrote: 93 Points
After many hours of decanting, this dark concoction opened up with blueberry jam, bacon and earth notes and serious tannins. With even more air the fruit calmed down a bit, giving way to more savoury and tarry notes. I think this will be great in 10 years or more.
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10/6/2005 - robertek wrote: 94 Points
This was a very good bottle of wine with fantastic nose and surprisingly married. I believe this bottle has an even higher potential with another 5 years of storing
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