Preconceived notions got me again as I was totally unprepared for the elegance here. I think I was expected a bold Shiraz style but I was struck by the nuanced restraint which I don’t encounter in the new world. Medium ruby in glass, light enough to clearly see the stem. Nose of plum, black pepper, earth, leather, Smokey, oak, vanilla. Medium body in a very refreshing way. Dry. Med acidity. Drink now or cellar. This is a wine you can enjoy.
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Agree with the reviews by Azzah and Jmoon below. Popped and poured. Very approachable with 15 mins in the glass. Goes down very smoothly / easily indeed. A note on quality:price. You can pick up an identical quality St Joseph for half the price, but this has travelled to the opposite side of the globe (NZ-->UK) so I cannot complain too much. Drink now or hold. I imagine this would be superb with sausages, but I say that about most wines. Perhaps I just love sausages.
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Really enjoyed this, but not sure the quality to price ratio is there. Blueberry, black pepper, vanilla, a savoury vegemite-like flavour. Very smooth and seamless with a minerally acidity keeping things fresh and long. Love the Hawkes Bay pepper.
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Started out to be promising with good fresh dark fruits and quite a savoury skin, but is falling apart into a nervous sour wreck. I’ve resisted a score as I suspect it may be in an awkward or dumb phase.
Edited after a month in a coravin. Unbelievably this is now pure dark delicious and nth rhone like... beautiful 92.
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Craggy Range Masterclass with Mark Cunliffe (wine ark alexandria): Exceedingly similar to the 2013 but with a little less fruit ripeness and a little more black peppery spice as well as a touch of herbaceousness. A slightly fresher wine on the palate as well. The fruit is more contained, again plenty of front of mouth grip but otherwise fine tannins. Medium plus length. Pleasant.
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4/26/2024 - El_Dougo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Preconceived notions got me again as I was totally unprepared for the elegance here. I think I was expected a bold Shiraz style but I was struck by the nuanced restraint which I don’t encounter in the new world.
Medium ruby in glass, light enough to clearly see the stem.
Nose of plum, black pepper, earth, leather, Smokey, oak, vanilla.
Medium body in a very refreshing way. Dry. Med acidity. Drink now or cellar. This is a wine you can enjoy.
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4/6/2024 - briangenius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 4hrs then tasted again the next night. Smooth but lack of depth. Price:quality ratio is questionable
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8/30/2023 - Wine_Hoarder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agree with the reviews by Azzah and Jmoon below. Popped and poured. Very approachable with 15 mins in the glass. Goes down very smoothly / easily indeed. A note on quality:price. You can pick up an identical quality St Joseph for half the price, but this has travelled to the opposite side of the globe (NZ-->UK) so I cannot complain too much. Drink now or hold. I imagine this would be superb with sausages, but I say that about most wines. Perhaps I just love sausages.
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5/22/2022 - azzah Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really enjoyed this, but not sure the quality to price ratio is there. Blueberry, black pepper, vanilla, a savoury vegemite-like flavour. Very smooth and seamless with a minerally acidity keeping things fresh and long. Love the Hawkes Bay pepper.
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8/23/2020 - jmoon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Started out to be promising with good fresh dark fruits and quite a savoury skin, but is falling apart into a nervous sour wreck. I’ve resisted a score as I suspect it may be in an awkward or dumb phase.
Edited after a month in a coravin.
Unbelievably this is now pure dark delicious and nth rhone like... beautiful 92.
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7/19/2020 - Redneck Jew Likes this wine: 92 Points
With Tom Parker. A bit young. After 4 hour decant it presented a fairly balanced profile.
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6/23/2018 - chatters wrote:
Qantas Winter Wine Festival (Town Hall, Sydney): Blackberry and black pepper, slight cedar and stalks, drying taninns peppery spice with muted black fruit, Hmm.
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7/6/2017 - chatters wrote:
Craggy Range Masterclass with Mark Cunliffe (wine ark alexandria): Exceedingly similar to the 2013 but with a little less fruit ripeness and a little more black peppery spice as well as a touch of herbaceousness. A slightly fresher wine on the palate as well. The fruit is more contained, again plenty of front of mouth grip but otherwise fine tannins. Medium plus length. Pleasant.
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