Another nice inexpensive Shiraz. Pretty well integrated but still a little jammy for my taste.... but still really young. My guess is in 5 more years it will be a lot better.
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Deep ruby in color. Classy N. Rhone aromatics with black fruits, white pepper, hint of tar and wet soil. Medium bodied palate shows perfect sweet, ripe black fruits, with a complex base of pepper and earth and a medium perfumed finish. Nice.
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Screw cap. Medium-high aromatics with terrific complexity offering white pepper, garrigue, blackberry, mint, with some earthy/barnyard funk. Dusty tannins are nicely integrated with just a touch of grip on the medium-bodied palate. Juicy blackberry, white pepper, black cherry, mint, earth and wood flavours in a dry style, Acids are fresh. Nice, long earthy finish. Old world in style and highly drinkable.
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Cautious because it's an Aussie wine, but pleasantly surprised. Nicely balanced, soft without being flabby, good nose and Syrah flavors..and a very long finish. Solidly in the drinking window, now, but probably won't last long.
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The wine looks tawny colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry, light toast and violet. It tastes like medium toast. The body is medium. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Deep purple red in color. I love this nose- classic Cote Rotie aromas of pepper, black olive paste, meat juices on a strong framework of small black fruits. Palate is perfectly balanced with good depth to the sweet black fruits, medium acidity, no evidence of tannins/astringency and a long peppery finish. All for <$20.
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Update, 2nd night: drank more on the 2nd day after opening. It was quite a bit better than last night. Still a little reluctant to give it marks as high as the "Really Professional (get it?) wine taster" who scored it a 94, but I'd raise the rating from 88 to 90. Much deeper flavors, with a better finish that lasts longer than last night. Maybe you need to open it and just let it breathe. If you have the patience, let it sit for a few hours, or wait another 12-18 months to open the bottle.
First night review: The wine was what I would call good, not great. Good red berry and cherry flavors (not currant or blackberry), but lacking the peppery taste and mouth filling fruit I love from a great Shiraz. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity. All in all, I summarize by saying it was kind of a forgettable wine that was pleasant enough but isn't really a stand out. Meh.
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Le nez dégage des arômes de fruits noirs légèrement cuits, de chêne / un peu de tabac et d'épices douces. La bouche est goûteuse et démontre une belle tension, avec du mordant, bien sec, sur un fruité bien mûre avec une note de poivre, il parait très légèrement sucré. Bonne équilibre d'ensemble et assez long, avec des nuances d'olive noir en finale. Un bon résultat de raisins Australiens vinifiés à la française! Miam.
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This was very similar in its N. Rhone profile but this bottle exhibited more blue fruit ripeness and a veil of vanilla that was less detectable in previous bottles, I'm sure the Barolo that went right before accentuated these characteristics; still very nice and a great QPR.
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Hinton's Annual Blind Tasting Challenge (Bin 75): Dark core with some clarity, maroon rim; sweet fruit, round, ripe plum, berry, dark cherry, screams white pepper; soft tannin, decent acid, tart berry, no mineral, black pepper, floral, fresh; tasty, very Northern Rhone which is what everyone called.
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Garnet-crimson; smoked meat, game, blackberries, eucalyptus; blackberry, gamey, green pepper, medium body, good acidity, decent structure, smooth tannins, lingering finish. Lighter than expected, more of a Rhone style. None of the components dominate, they work together in a way you appreciate more as you sip. Would buy again at this price.
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A pleasant nose of smoky blackberry and raspberry. Pencil lead shavings dominate the palate with a bit of green pepper. The finish brings cigarette ash. I don't know how this is a RP94.
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Barely 88 - given price...and age. 20$ CAN @ MLCC - nice with vegetal/ripe cherry quality wrapped up in a little smoke of finish. Not sure if I would suggest to come back to this...I did like drinking with food - is a little different, and has low ETOH of 13%.
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Tasted blind. Started off with a nose of raspberry and smoke with a floral background. Cigarette ash developed over time. The wine started out heavy on green raspberry and almost nothing else, but the greenness faded sufficiently to integrate with less green raspberry. The finish was dominated by green grass notes. Reminiscent of the Northern Rhone style, but pretty sure it is not from there.
After revelation: it is a Chapotier effort, which might account for the style perception. However I would have never in 200 guesses have thought of either Australia or Shiraz.
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Please see previous review on 4/11/2014 for tasting note. This is an outstanding wine with a beautiful nose to it. Delightful, and with a long finish. While I highly recommend it, I do so with the added note that you should NOT be expecting an Aussie Shiraz here, but rather one of the better French Syrahs you've tasted. Tremendous qpr, & an absolute no-brainer buy! 91+ pts.
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Translucent purple with some signs of age along the edges. Typical syrah nose of eucalyptus, mint, dark fruit and hints of pencil shavings/graphite. On the palate plum jam, chocolate, not typical of a aussie shiraz fruit bomb. Nice acidity that finishes silky smooth. Nothing special but still very nice. Ready now but could hold for a year more.
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A very light, pleasant rendition of Syrah. Totally French-like rather than Australian, but not in a good way. More like French Pinot Noir. Chapoutier's other value wines like Bila Haut blow this away. So bottom line is, if you're looking for Aussie shiraz look elsewhere, if you're looking for Rhone, look elsewhere too. But in summation, this is a decent un-syrah like wine at a very fair price.
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Compared to most other Australian Shiraz - lighter red color, less rich / full bodied. Not jammy at all - maybe even a bit lean. Lots of pepper on nose and palate. Fruit is subdued. Not many secondary characteristics (pop and pour, consumed over 1.5 hours)
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Purple in color. Soaring aromas of white pepper, black crushed berry compote, dark olive paste and hint of meat. A medium bodied palate follows through with perfectly balanced black berry fruit, dark chocolate, iron, good acidity and silky tannins framed with good acidity and a long peppery finish. Wow! Try putting this blind in a northern Rhone or double blind tasting and see how many people come up with Australian on this one.
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A nose of bold dark fruits and pepper and spice, dark purple in color. A full boded red, with black cherry, berries, over the top with white and black pepper, no way a 94 point wine. www.winelx.com
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Nice medium-full bodied red. Not overly jammy / fruit bomby like so many Aussie reds. Has a nice bit of elegance. Not a WA94, but still a pretty good red wine for under $20.
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Pleasant enough Australian shiraz by French winemaker Michel Chapoutier. There's plenty of black and red cherry, the slightest touch of menthol, medium acidity but a bit of a short finish.
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Back in the day we would have called this "smooth"; back in the day was a long time ago! Decent fruity nose and clean finish but not much in between. As an Oz Shiraz, better for what it isn't than what it is. A pleasant enough quaff for the price. Parker's (94) odd to say the least.
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Intense red color with clear rim. The nose is dominated by plum, and blue fruit. Plus pepper. On the palette, spicy first, fruit next. Balanced, medium tannins. Quite enjoyable with hamburger and cobbed corn.
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Another Lindsay pick, this is way different from other shiraz/syrahs I normally drink. No punch in the mouth with this one! It's softer and earthy. Pepper and meat and stems are evident. It's a complex sipper. Very Pinot Noir esque.
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A great example of sophisticated and delicate north Rhone-like Syrah, which compared to more powerful warm climate Syrah can be an acquired taste. This wine shows similarities to quality Pinot Noir from various appellations, including Burgundy. It features a complex bouquet of herbs, spices, various peppers, charcuterie, spring flower garden, garrigue, and tar. Screaming acid drives the wine's structure, again somewhat Pinot Noir-like, making it an excellent food wine, though likely not the best pairing for grilled beef. Light grainy tannins enhance the mouthfeel. Much to like with this unique Australian Old World tribute wine.
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pnp, consumed 80/20 over two days. I did not enjoy this much. way out of balance, strange aromas. some purple fruit poked out with my steak, but the acrid bitter tannins and odd mess of other components just left me regretting my purchase. would not recommend. if scoring, 75-77. it's wine, and it's not awful, but it's not good and there's a lot better out there for the same $.
I really liked this wine when we first opened it. As the other reviewers noted it's got white pepper in spades. The nose was kind of a musty earthiness. Taste was very much an old world Syrah style. After the bottle was open for an hour or two things fell apart and it became an ordinary Aussie Shiraz fruitbomb. Get it and drink it quickly. Fair QPR.
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Decent sip. Strong red and blue fruit, a little candied, but dusted nicely with a huge dose of pepper. Maybe a little meat and fresh herbs poking out here and there. Not bad for the money, a ripe CdR came to mind but not full blown like many Aussies can be.
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Lighter than usual for an Aussie Shiraz, and more red than purple too. Wet asphalt, cherry, minerality. A touch of anise, perhaps cinnamon spice, and a little sage and even barnyard funk. A touch tart mid-palate. This is light enough that I wouldn't have guessed this was an Aussie Shiraz at all. More like a French wine for sure, and I could've even believed a Washington State Syrah. After getting used to it not being what I'd expected it's very enjoyable! Well made, balanced, layered, and with a better mouthfeel than many French wines with similar characteristics (I often think they feel too thin). Finish is drier and lingers quite a while. Impressive. What a surprise! Happy to have 2 more. 91 pts.
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Clean and essentially defect free. Surprisingly, it's not sweet, jammy, or otherwise over ripe as many inexpensive Aussie shiraz have been. A bit one dimensional and light. Somewhat reminiscent of a Cotes du Rhone, but lacking the complexity those wines offer.
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This was a really impressive bottle again! The nose screamed black pepper, color was lighter red with violet hues, good clarity, acid was refreshing, violets, lighter body but really nice Syrah.
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This may be the wine that ends what little faith I have left in The Bob. Seriously, this is not nearly the wine Mr. Parker describes. Semi-decent midweek quaffer with an almost medicinal nose and short finish. When reading Mr. Parker's comments, it's like Dr. deJayvu all over again.
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This wine had a decent nose and an okay amount of fruit on the front end but it fell apart on the finish - clipped with some scratchy tannins. Pass on any more at $15.
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Nice nose of herbs and spices. Vibrant zing of black and green pepper on the palate, quite reminiscent of Cab Franc. Finish is a little flabby, but overall very nice, and not what I expect from an Australian Shiraz.
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aroma - chocolate, dark cherry, tar, tobacco, cured meat; taste - smooth and creamy, juicy cherry and dark red fruits, mild smoke, black pepper is pleasant and complex with bright sweet cherry finish
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A distinctive wine, particularly for the price. Consumed over three days. Captivating nose of north Rhône pepper, lavender, sage, thyme, juniper, bacon fat, tar, dark chocolate, espresso, evergreen, red meats, and strangely...honeysuckle. All the same elements on the palate. Great acidity and very pleasant grip. It could easily pass for a Saint-Joseph, possibly a quality Cornas, with perhaps the exception of a lack of mineral depth. Amazing quality for the price that gives hope for Australian Shiraz and not to mention RP scores. Very difficult to put down; it merits 92 points all day, possibly 93.
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Lighter extraction, dark ruby with lighter rim; floral, roses, cherry, sweet fruit but no glycerin, olive, lavender, black pepper, very Syrah (cooler climate); sweet and sour cherry, ripe strawberry, currant, cranberry, all red fruit, lighter mouthfeel with good acid; overall a well made wine that gives hope that not all Aussie Shiraz is over-extracted syrup and hope that RP has changed his tune a little bit towards varietal correctness; a tasty QPR that drinks more like a Côtes du Rhone from Northern Rhone; I thought this was good but the Tournon Shay's Flat is a much better wine.
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An Aussie Syrah harvested and vinified in a Rhone style meaning it seems a bit less mature than your typical Aussie Shiraz. For example, it tastes a bit more of raspberries than blackberries. It has a terrific black and white pepper component. And it also is a tremendous value.
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Dorks syrah tasting, Tim's bottle. Yup, same wine as last bottle but a slightly better bottle with a little more meat on its bones, but it shows more like Grenache than syrah with all that strawberry and pepper.
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Dorks syrah tasting, Nina's bottle. Light color and body. Cooler climate profile with strawberry-cherry fruit with pepper and cactus. Not bad wine but lacks true syrah character. Very young vines? Pretty shocked when it turns out to be Australian. (13% alc, $17 retail).
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This goes down a treat. No decant necessary; it's open for business right from the start. The nose has some northern Rhone meatiness and some smoke. Silky smooth tannins, good acidity, fresh cherry, blood, bacon fat, and some peppery spice. Excellent value at $19.95.
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Really nice after a 2 hour decant. Beautifully nuanced nose with suave mid palette and a medium finish. Tannins are velvety. Wine is layered with pepper, minerals, and some meat. Very French and almost Burgundian in character. Will buy again for sure.
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Nez intéressant, typique syrah de zone plus fraîche avec du poivre, de l'olive et des épices. Il possède cette amertume (chocolat amer) qu'on retrouve souvent dans les Shiraz australien, pas dérangeant mais plus ou moins charmeur également. Finale sur la cerise, assez courte. Un bon vin pour le prix mais la note de Parker (94) est scandaleuse.
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Wow! Translucent purple color. Nose of blackberry/red raspberry fruit mash with abundant floral aspects and a hefty dose of garrigue (yep, I know this fruit is from down under). Almost perfume-like. Huge midpalate that matches the nose and medium+ acid to balance the sweet fruit on a long, delicious finish. Very minimal tannic structure.
It seems bizarre for a shiraz... but this wine tastes like everything I want pinot to be.... (I like bigger wines). While it's certainly rhone-like in some respects, it's structured like cali pinot, and is downright delicious.
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Dark crimson, almost purple. Fantastic nose of black fruit but with an earthy, savoury edge. More savouriness on the palate, almost like a high quality Burgundy, but with more body and a very long finish. Terrific wine.
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11/18/2019 - Quarked wrote: 88 Points
Not heavy at all, but still fairly one-dimensional. Needs air to fill out, which it does. But over two nights still didn't find much complexity.
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5/31/2018 - Neecies Does not like this wine:
Tim brought a bottle of this 4 years ago where it was merely okay. This is either a bad bottle or the wine just didn't last--either way, yuck.
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9/13/2017 - Quarked wrote: 88 Points
Better than previous bottles. Taking on some depth.
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6/12/2017 - ccarter5181 wrote: 88 Points
Northern Rhone style, lots of pepper on the nose and palate. Nice acidity. Could use a bit more richness. Drinking well now.
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6/5/2017 - awineo Likes this wine: 87 Points
Another nice inexpensive Shiraz. Pretty well integrated but still a little jammy for my taste.... but still really young. My guess is in 5 more years it will be a lot better.
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5/30/2017 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby in color. Classy N. Rhone aromatics with black fruits, white pepper, hint of tar and wet soil. Medium bodied palate shows perfect sweet, ripe black fruits, with a complex base of pepper and earth and a medium perfumed finish. Nice.
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4/8/2017 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 90 Points
Screw cap. Medium-high aromatics with terrific complexity offering white pepper, garrigue, blackberry, mint, with some earthy/barnyard funk. Dusty tannins are nicely integrated with just a touch of grip on the medium-bodied palate. Juicy blackberry, white pepper, black cherry, mint, earth and wood flavours in a dry style, Acids are fresh. Nice, long earthy finish. Old world in style and highly drinkable.
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2/18/2017 - Altonplace Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great value.
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1/8/2017 - jonaspq Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still very nice. Well balanced with both fruit and nice savoury flavours.
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12/22/2016 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cautious because it's an Aussie wine, but pleasantly surprised. Nicely balanced, soft without being flabby, good nose and Syrah flavors..and a very long finish. Solidly in the drinking window, now, but probably won't last long.
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11/12/2016 - FilippF Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks tawny colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry, light toast and violet. It tastes like medium toast. The body is medium. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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10/24/2016 - Quarked wrote: 85 Points
Thin and lacking in complexity. Pepper notes which I found a year ago seems to be absent in this bottle. Second night no better.
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8/13/2016 - tobyc wrote:
Tasted at a small Syrah-tasting.
Bouquet: Fennel, redcurrants, blackcurrants.
Palate: Soft and ligth w. flowers, dark fruit, blackcurrant and liquorice. A bit aggressive acidity.
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6/21/2016 - Altonplace Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fantastic QPR. Leather and berries. Lacks depth and viscosity of more expensive Shiraz offerings.
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11/28/2015 - devraj Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep purple red in color. I love this nose- classic Cote Rotie aromas of pepper, black olive paste, meat juices on a strong framework of small black fruits. Palate is perfectly balanced with good depth to the sweet black fruits, medium acidity, no evidence of tannins/astringency and a long peppery finish. All for <$20.
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11/15/2015 - Hover low 64 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Update, 2nd night: drank more on the 2nd day after opening. It was quite a bit better than last night. Still a little reluctant to give it marks as high as the "Really Professional (get it?) wine taster" who scored it a 94, but I'd raise the rating from 88 to 90. Much deeper flavors, with a better finish that lasts longer than last night. Maybe you need to open it and just let it breathe. If you have the patience, let it sit for a few hours, or wait another 12-18 months to open the bottle.
First night review:
The wine was what I would call good, not great. Good red berry and cherry flavors (not currant or blackberry), but lacking the peppery taste and mouth filling fruit I love from a great Shiraz.
The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity. All in all, I summarize by saying it was kind of a forgettable wine that was pleasant enough but isn't really a stand out. Meh.
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10/7/2015 - ManuKey Likes this wine: 88 Points
Le nez dégage des arômes de fruits noirs légèrement cuits, de chêne / un peu de tabac et d'épices douces. La bouche est goûteuse et démontre une belle tension, avec du mordant, bien sec, sur un fruité bien mûre avec une note de poivre, il parait très légèrement sucré. Bonne équilibre d'ensemble et assez long, avec des nuances d'olive noir en finale. Un bon résultat de raisins Australiens vinifiés à la française! Miam.
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8/21/2015 - Rezy13 wrote: 88 Points
This was very similar in its N. Rhone profile but this bottle exhibited more blue fruit ripeness and a veil of vanilla that was less detectable in previous bottles, I'm sure the Barolo that went right before accentuated these characteristics; still very nice and a great QPR.
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7/29/2015 - Rezy13 wrote: 89 Points
Hinton's Annual Blind Tasting Challenge (Bin 75): Dark core with some clarity, maroon rim; sweet fruit, round, ripe plum, berry, dark cherry, screams white pepper; soft tannin, decent acid, tart berry, no mineral, black pepper, floral, fresh; tasty, very Northern Rhone which is what everyone called.
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5/17/2015 - ColinR wrote: 89 Points
Garnet-crimson; smoked meat, game, blackberries, eucalyptus; blackberry, gamey, green pepper, medium body, good acidity, decent structure, smooth tannins, lingering finish.
Lighter than expected, more of a Rhone style. None of the components dominate, they work together in a way you appreciate more as you sip. Would buy again at this price.
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5/14/2015 - trailsidedrive wrote: 87 Points
A pleasant nose of smoky blackberry and raspberry. Pencil lead shavings dominate the palate with a bit of green pepper. The finish brings cigarette ash. I don't know how this is a RP94.
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4/19/2015 - jonaspq Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite subdued nose with dark fruit and some pepper. More well balanced dark fruit in the mouth with very nice, smooth mouthfeel. Great wine!
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3/12/2015 - EdKz@comcast.net wrote: 78 Points
green rubber, peppery anise aroma, garnet, medium body, dark fruit, decent acid and tannins, dry, short briar-like finish
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1/4/2015 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote: 92 Points
Need to order more, this is just great stuff and an outstanding QPR. Please see previous notes. 92+ pts.
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12/18/2014 - YWG Wine Guy wrote: 88 Points
Barely 88 - given price...and age. 20$ CAN @ MLCC - nice with vegetal/ripe cherry quality wrapped up in a little smoke of finish. Not sure if I would suggest to come back to this...I did like drinking with food - is a little different, and has low ETOH of 13%.
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12/14/2014 - TexasBob wrote: 85 Points
Tasted blind. Started off with a nose of raspberry and smoke with a floral background. Cigarette ash developed over time. The wine started out heavy on green raspberry and almost nothing else, but the greenness faded sufficiently to integrate with less green raspberry. The finish was dominated by green grass notes. Reminiscent of the Northern Rhone style, but pretty sure it is not from there.
After revelation: it is a Chapotier effort, which might account for the style perception. However I would have never in 200 guesses have thought of either Australia or Shiraz.
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11/30/2014 - Gr8penut Does not like this wine: 80 Points
First four of my 6 bottles the same - Over ripe and flat. Gave the last 2 bottles away. No idea how it got such good ratings from the press...
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11/29/2014 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote: 91 Points
Please see previous review on 4/11/2014 for tasting note. This is an outstanding wine with a beautiful nose to it. Delightful, and with a long finish. While I highly recommend it, I do so with the added note that you should NOT be expecting an Aussie Shiraz here, but rather one of the better French Syrahs you've tasted. Tremendous qpr, & an absolute no-brainer buy! 91+ pts.
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11/22/2014 - bilicn2 wrote: 87 Points
Translucent purple with some signs of age along the edges. Typical syrah nose of eucalyptus, mint, dark fruit and hints of pencil shavings/graphite. On the palate plum jam, chocolate, not typical of a aussie shiraz fruit bomb. Nice acidity that finishes silky smooth. Nothing special but still very nice. Ready now but could hold for a year more.
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11/14/2014 - Altonplace wrote:
Unexpectedly good. Woodsy nose and palate.
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10/31/2014 - pkatz wrote: 86 Points
A very light, pleasant rendition of Syrah. Totally French-like rather than Australian, but not in a good way. More like French Pinot Noir. Chapoutier's other value wines like Bila Haut blow this away. So bottom line is, if you're looking for Aussie shiraz look elsewhere, if you're looking for Rhone, look elsewhere too. But in summation, this is a decent un-syrah like wine at a very fair price.
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10/26/2014 - ccarter5181 wrote: 86 Points
Compared to most other Australian Shiraz - lighter red color, less rich / full bodied. Not jammy at all - maybe even a bit lean. Lots of pepper on nose and palate. Fruit is subdued. Not many secondary characteristics (pop and pour, consumed over 1.5 hours)
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10/13/2014 - Mikey DeCanter wrote: 85 Points
Peppery on the nose. Definitely dark fruit. Slightly dry after but no lingering finish. Boring in my opinion. Erin likes it though.
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10/10/2014 - devraj Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purple in color. Soaring aromas of white pepper, black crushed berry compote, dark olive paste and hint of meat. A medium bodied palate follows through with perfectly balanced black berry fruit, dark chocolate, iron, good acidity and silky tannins framed with good acidity and a long peppery finish. Wow! Try putting this blind in a northern Rhone or double blind tasting and see how many people come up with Australian on this one.
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10/6/2014 - corkscrews wrote: 85 Points
A nose of bold dark fruits and pepper and spice, dark purple in color. A full boded red, with black cherry, berries, over the top with white and black pepper, no way a 94 point wine. www.winelx.com
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9/27/2014 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good stuff that filled out more than the other bottles we tasted.
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9/25/2014 - margolism Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice medium-full bodied red. Not overly jammy / fruit bomby like so many Aussie reds. Has a nice bit of elegance. Not a WA94, but still a pretty good red wine for under $20.
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9/24/2014 - vin0vin0 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Pleasant enough Australian shiraz by French winemaker Michel Chapoutier. There's plenty of black and red cherry, the slightest touch of menthol, medium acidity but a bit of a short finish.
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9/23/2014 - Tallhoyalawya Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not overly spicy
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9/3/2014 - Taronti wrote: 87 Points
Back in the day we would have called this "smooth"; back in the day was a long time ago! Decent fruity nose and clean finish but not much in between. As an Oz Shiraz, better for what it isn't than what it is. A pleasant enough quaff for the price. Parker's (94) odd to say the least.
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8/2/2014 - MarkusBig wrote: 89 Points
Intense red color with clear rim. The nose is dominated by plum, and blue fruit. Plus pepper. On the palette, spicy first, fruit next. Balanced, medium tannins. Quite enjoyable with hamburger and cobbed corn.
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7/28/2014 - Drew Pauk, CWE wrote: 89 Points
Smokey with a hint of fruit. Goes well with any peppery smoked meat.
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7/17/2014 - EdKz@comcast.net Does not like this wine: 75 Points
green front end and shrill finish; huge disappointment... flawed?
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7/12/2014 - Zed57 wrote:
Smokey olives. Interesting and fun but it lacks a bit of sophistication that I was expecting.
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7/8/2014 - HimuraKiyone Likes this wine: 86 Points
Another Lindsay pick, this is way different from other shiraz/syrahs I normally drink. No punch in the mouth with this one! It's softer and earthy. Pepper and meat and stems are evident. It's a complex sipper. Very Pinot Noir esque.
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7/5/2014 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
A great example of sophisticated and delicate north Rhone-like Syrah, which compared to more powerful warm climate Syrah can be an acquired taste. This wine shows similarities to quality Pinot Noir from various appellations, including Burgundy. It features a complex bouquet of herbs, spices, various peppers, charcuterie, spring flower garden, garrigue, and tar. Screaming acid drives the wine's structure, again somewhat Pinot Noir-like, making it an excellent food wine, though likely not the best pairing for grilled beef. Light grainy tannins enhance the mouthfeel. Much to like with this unique Australian Old World tribute wine.
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7/2/2014 - caeleric Does not like this wine:
pnp, consumed 80/20 over two days. I did not enjoy this much. way out of balance, strange aromas. some purple fruit poked out with my steak, but the acrid bitter tannins and odd mess of other components just left me regretting my purchase. would not recommend. if scoring, 75-77. it's wine, and it's not awful, but it's not good and there's a lot better out there for the same $.
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7/1/2014 - Quarked wrote: 86 Points
Pepper galore, but little else of note. Not very complex and unusually thin.
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6/15/2014 - wynja Likes this wine: 87 Points
I really liked this wine when we first opened it. As the other reviewers noted it's got white pepper in spades. The nose was kind of a musty earthiness. Taste was very much an old world Syrah style. After the bottle was open for an hour or two things fell apart and it became an ordinary Aussie Shiraz fruitbomb. Get it and drink it quickly. Fair QPR.
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5/27/2014 - bajayngo wrote:
Killer value wine here. Gobs of white pepper, stem notes, italian plumbs and nice high toned fruit with good acids. Went well with artisian pizza.
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5/22/2014 - lvjohn wrote: 86 Points
Still not doing much for me.
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5/15/2014 - Vinsant wrote:
Decent sip. Strong red and blue fruit, a little candied, but dusted nicely with a huge dose of pepper. Maybe a little meat and fresh herbs poking out here and there. Not bad for the money, a ripe CdR came to mind but not full blown like many Aussies can be.
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5/5/2014 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 89 Points
No notes or recollection of it. Must have been good enough! The bottle is empty.
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4/26/2014 - djinc01 wrote: 90 Points
Strooong!
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4/16/2014 - MacPEI wrote: 89 Points
Garnet color, little nose, but nice flavor. Light pepper, juice, nice finish. Totally worth it. Goes great with lamb stew!
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4/12/2014 - tabrand Likes this wine: 89 Points
We enjoyed this bottle with lasagna. Great smokey notes, good qpr, would buy again
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4/11/2014 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote: 91 Points
Lighter than usual for an Aussie Shiraz, and more red than purple too. Wet asphalt, cherry, minerality. A touch of anise, perhaps cinnamon spice, and a little sage and even barnyard funk. A touch tart mid-palate. This is light enough that I wouldn't have guessed this was an Aussie Shiraz at all. More like a French wine for sure, and I could've even believed a Washington State Syrah. After getting used to it not being what I'd expected it's very enjoyable! Well made, balanced, layered, and with a better mouthfeel than many French wines with similar characteristics (I often think they feel too thin). Finish is drier and lingers quite a while. Impressive. What a surprise! Happy to have 2 more. 91 pts.
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4/10/2014 - lvjohn wrote: 88 Points
Clean and essentially defect free. Surprisingly, it's not sweet, jammy, or otherwise over ripe as many inexpensive Aussie shiraz have been. A bit one dimensional and light. Somewhat reminiscent of a Cotes du Rhone, but lacking the complexity those wines offer.
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4/5/2014 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
This was a really impressive bottle again! The nose screamed black pepper, color was lighter red with violet hues, good clarity, acid was refreshing, violets, lighter body but really nice Syrah.
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4/4/2014 - Omadobs wrote: 86 Points
This may be the wine that ends what little faith I have left in The Bob. Seriously, this is not nearly the wine Mr. Parker describes. Semi-decent midweek quaffer with an almost medicinal nose and short finish. When reading Mr. Parker's comments, it's like Dr. deJayvu all over again.
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3/30/2014 - Lemmy-W wrote: 87 Points
A decent, but surprising Shiraz, not exactly what I expect from Aussie Shiraz. not clearly as bold as typical Shiraz.
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3/29/2014 - bound4er wrote: 86 Points
This wine had a decent nose and an okay amount of fruit on the front end but it fell apart on the finish - clipped with some scratchy tannins. Pass on any more at $15.
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3/21/2014 - blakel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice nose of herbs and spices. Vibrant zing of black and green pepper on the palate, quite reminiscent of Cab Franc. Finish is a little flabby, but overall very nice, and not what I expect from an Australian Shiraz.
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3/8/2014 - HFA wrote: 90 Points
- It's balanced with a medium/full body. Polished texture with a medium finish.
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3/4/2014 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Amazing concentration of herbaceous tobacco and pepper. Beautiful example of the greener side of Syrah.
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3/2/2014 - Brett and Megan wrote: 90 Points
aroma - chocolate, dark cherry, tar, tobacco, cured meat; taste - smooth and creamy, juicy cherry and dark red fruits, mild smoke, black pepper is pleasant and complex with bright sweet cherry finish
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3/1/2014 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
A distinctive wine, particularly for the price. Consumed over three days. Captivating nose of north Rhône pepper, lavender, sage, thyme, juniper, bacon fat, tar, dark chocolate, espresso, evergreen, red meats, and strangely...honeysuckle. All the same elements on the palate. Great acidity and very pleasant grip. It could easily pass for a Saint-Joseph, possibly a quality Cornas, with perhaps the exception of a lack of mineral depth. Amazing quality for the price that gives hope for Australian Shiraz and not to mention RP scores. Very difficult to put down; it merits 92 points all day, possibly 93.
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2/27/2014 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Lighter extraction, dark ruby with lighter rim; floral, roses, cherry, sweet fruit but no glycerin, olive, lavender, black pepper, very Syrah (cooler climate); sweet and sour cherry, ripe strawberry, currant, cranberry, all red fruit, lighter mouthfeel with good acid; overall a well made wine that gives hope that not all Aussie Shiraz is over-extracted syrup and hope that RP has changed his tune a little bit towards varietal correctness; a tasty QPR that drinks more like a Côtes du Rhone from Northern Rhone; I thought this was good but the Tournon Shay's Flat is a much better wine.
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2/20/2014 - StageOneRacing Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Average shiraz, lighter in color and flavor than I was expecting due to RP's high rating.
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2/16/2014 - ledocq Likes this wine: 88 Points
For $15, great QPR. But not the revelation Parker led me to believe i was in for. Glad I have two more; won't be refreshing the supply.
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2/15/2014 - PBwine wrote: 91 Points
An Aussie Syrah harvested and vinified in a Rhone style meaning it seems a bit less mature than your typical Aussie Shiraz. For example, it tastes a bit more of raspberries than blackberries. It has a terrific black and white pepper component. And it also is a tremendous value.
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2/13/2014 - lockandkey2 Likes this wine: 88 Points
reminded me of classic N Rhone syrah. lots of cedar, pencil shavings, black pepper, a little barnyard. Buy again.
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2/12/2014 - Neecies Likes this wine: 87 Points
Dorks syrah tasting, Tim's bottle. Yup, same wine as last bottle but a slightly better bottle with a little more meat on its bones, but it shows more like Grenache than syrah with all that strawberry and pepper.
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2/12/2014 - Neecies Likes this wine: 85 Points
Dorks syrah tasting, Nina's bottle. Light color and body. Cooler climate profile with strawberry-cherry fruit with pepper and cactus. Not bad wine but lacks true syrah character. Very young vines? Pretty shocked when it turns out to be Australian. (13% alc, $17 retail).
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2/1/2014 - pdemaio Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big and ripe. Nice balance given the fullness off fruit. Not a long finish. Great deal
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1/28/2014 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This goes down a treat. No decant necessary; it's open for business right from the start. The nose has some northern Rhone meatiness and some smoke. Silky smooth tannins, good acidity, fresh cherry, blood, bacon fat, and some peppery spice. Excellent value at $19.95.
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1/28/2014 - Boskoop2 wrote: 85 Points
Ok will not buy again
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1/27/2014 - epiphany Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really nice after a 2 hour decant. Beautifully nuanced nose with suave mid palette and a medium finish. Tannins are velvety. Wine is layered with pepper, minerals, and some meat. Very French and almost Burgundian in character. Will buy again for sure.
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1/24/2014 - ludwigbpm wrote: 88 Points
Nez intéressant, typique syrah de zone plus fraîche avec du poivre, de l'olive et des épices. Il possède cette amertume (chocolat amer) qu'on retrouve souvent dans les Shiraz australien, pas dérangeant mais plus ou moins charmeur également. Finale sur la cerise, assez courte. Un bon vin pour le prix mais la note de Parker (94) est scandaleuse.
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1/24/2014 - kosmik wrote: 87 Points
13% d'alcool, 100% Shiraz
Oeil : opacité 5/10, très forte viscosité en parois
Nez : projection d'intensité 4/10, frais, fruité mûr rappelant la framboise et la mûre, touche épicée discrète, touche d'eucalyptus, simple
Bouche : sec, ample, acidité rafraîchissante, amertume moyenne à forte, tanins charnus, persistance moyenne-longue, rétro fruitée, végétale, amère, épicée
Conclusion : certes très bon, mais rien pour écrire à sa mère. Nous n'y reviendrons pas.
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1/21/2014 - horn-dog wrote: 92 Points
Wow! Translucent purple color. Nose of blackberry/red raspberry fruit mash with abundant floral aspects and a hefty dose of garrigue (yep, I know this fruit is from down under). Almost perfume-like. Huge midpalate that matches the nose and medium+ acid to balance the sweet fruit on a long, delicious finish. Very minimal tannic structure.
It seems bizarre for a shiraz... but this wine tastes like everything I want pinot to be.... (I like bigger wines). While it's certainly rhone-like in some respects, it's structured like cali pinot, and is downright delicious.
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12/17/2013 - jelam wrote: 93 Points
Dark crimson, almost purple. Fantastic nose of black fruit but with an earthy, savoury edge. More savouriness on the palate, almost like a high quality Burgundy, but with more body and a very long finish. Terrific wine.
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