Remains very youthful with abundant fruit and oak overlain by pepper, spice, acidity and very high quality cinnamon oak spice. Beautiful lifted fruit nose with Smokey shiraz and oak. The palate hides the fruit beneath the acid spine, so needs food and preferably protein. For the structure and “shape” of the wine think Barolo, but with a Hunter Valley profile. Needs much more time for the acidity to settle down 17.75-18.
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A difficult vintage in the Hunter so this is declassified O’Shea. Medium deep black red in colour, the nose is all red black jubey fruits but quite lifted, VA? Later dark chocolate and sweet cinnamon spice from the oak, olives and earth. Similar palate and a little prickly on the finish before cola and long bitter/sweet velvety Shiraz fruit stretches out the finish. Not a wine for everyone and in need of protein I suspect. Very typically Hunter Valley in style and fruit profile. Half bottle left for day 2 and deferred judgement. Day 2 and there’s abundant white pepper, cherry and spice. Will be terrific with more time in bottle. 2027+? 18.25
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Hunter Whistlestop 2020 #2 (Hunter Valley): good quality oak, plummy fruit over spcied peppery blackberry, rich, plums. Medium plus intensity acidity sour, alcohol warmth, it's a little bit out of whack for me on this tasting. The tannins are cat's tongue soft and persistent. Hmm
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Hunter Valley 2019 Trip; 3/8/2019-3/9/2019: Chocolate, cherry, plum, raspberry and some savoury earthy notes. Plenty of tannin here to go along with the rich fruit profile. Good acidity and flow here. Moderate depth now, but should develop decently over the medium term.
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Hunter Whistlestop 2019 #1 (Hunter Valley): Plums, baked earth, caramel, sweet spice…smells dense. Juicy acidity and plenty of tannins but, like the Mountain C, the fruit is quite muted on the palate. Meh.
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The nose on this showed better than the whole 2017 range alongside it today. Wow it's good. Stood up in the same company of '17s even though 2016 was a tough vintage. Was surprised to see the Mountain B label, which rumour has it, is the declassified O'Shea. Worth seeking out. 93+
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3/20/2024 - Geoff7777 wrote:
Remains very youthful with abundant fruit and oak overlain by pepper, spice, acidity and very high quality cinnamon oak spice. Beautiful lifted fruit nose with Smokey shiraz and oak. The palate hides the fruit beneath the acid spine, so needs food and preferably protein. For the structure and “shape” of the wine think Barolo, but with a Hunter Valley profile. Needs much more time for the acidity to settle down 17.75-18.
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9/29/2022 - Geoff7777 wrote:
A difficult vintage in the Hunter so this is declassified O’Shea. Medium deep black red in colour, the nose is all red black jubey fruits but quite lifted, VA? Later dark chocolate and sweet cinnamon spice from the oak, olives and earth. Similar palate and a little prickly on the finish before cola and long bitter/sweet velvety Shiraz fruit stretches out the finish. Not a wine for everyone and in need of protein I suspect. Very typically Hunter Valley in style and fruit profile. Half bottle left for day 2 and deferred judgement. Day 2 and there’s abundant white pepper, cherry and spice. Will be terrific with more time in bottle. 2027+? 18.25
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10/23/2020 - chatters wrote:
Hunter Whistlestop 2020 #2 (Hunter Valley): good quality oak, plummy fruit over spcied peppery blackberry, rich, plums. Medium plus intensity acidity sour, alcohol warmth, it's a little bit out of whack for me on this tasting. The tannins are cat's tongue soft and persistent. Hmm
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2/27/2020 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mid ruby. Pnp. Tarry blackberry, smoky bonfire, black.and white pepper, sweet vanilla. Medium to full body, ripe sweet tannins, quite refreshing. Concentrated and focus palated of liquorice, graphite, leather, black olive, really tarry. Excellent Shiraz reflecting mountain slope and soil. A Northern Rhone style Hunter Shiraz.
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3/8/2019 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
Hunter Valley 2019 Trip; 3/8/2019-3/9/2019: Chocolate, cherry, plum, raspberry and some savoury earthy notes. Plenty of tannin here to go along with the rich fruit profile. Good acidity and flow here. Moderate depth now, but should develop decently over the medium term.
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3/2/2019 - chatters wrote:
Hunter Whistlestop 2019 #1 (Hunter Valley): Plums, baked earth, caramel, sweet spice…smells dense. Juicy acidity and plenty of tannins but, like the Mountain C, the fruit is quite muted on the palate. Meh.
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2/24/2019 - Jimmy_D Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose on this showed better than the whole 2017 range alongside it today. Wow it's good. Stood up in the same company of '17s even though 2016 was a tough vintage. Was surprised to see the Mountain B label, which rumour has it, is the declassified O'Shea. Worth seeking out. 93+
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