This was my last bottle of several of the 2005, and the best. The overbearing plum flavors of the past tastings had integrated more delivering flavors of fig, other dark fruits and a bit of cinnamon. Huge wine sharing some tastes of that of an old vine Zin, but more complex and just bigger! This is Barossa Valley flexing its muscles on full display. Recommend drinking now.
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Holding up well for an aged, heavy hitting Barossa Shiraz. There’s still some lovely primary black fruit character here along with classic fig jam and cinnamon aromas. On the palate, the wine is powerful with integrated tannin, full body, high alcohol and medium acidity. The acid seems higher than expected for such a ripe wine. This finishes long and hedonistic. Id suggest drinking now as this probably won’t get much better over its long decline.
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This is not your typical Aussie and describing it as “eccentric” would be an understatement. Fragrances of marinated beef, soy sauce, roasted plums, and fumes from a wilderness fire. Flavors of road tar, smoked bacon, molasses, black olives, a large dose of Aussie Vegemite, some very ripe blueberries, and the sweetness of a Vintage Port. It’s like experiencing Mardi Gras while riding a rollercoaster during a typhoon in the South China Sea, all packed together in one glass! Initially I didn’t care for the onslaught of gigantic and somewhat oddball characteristics, but it grew on me with a few hours of decanting and the moderate effects of 15.9% alcohol. I’d advise drinking this sooner rather than later.
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The nose is very old world, strong mineral and earthy overtones with black fruits, cocoa and toasted spices in the middle layer and old leather in the base. Palate is fruitier and rich than what the nose suggests. The mid-palate is voluptuous with so much strength and silky texture. A huge structure that is open and has rounded edges. Transition to finish is seamless. Finish is again silky smooth and deep with aftertaste of earthy minerals. If you are drinking now, breathe this Shiraz for at least 2 hours. Otherwise, keep this in the cellar for another 3-5 years. It will drink well for the next 10-15 years. 93-95 pts.
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Cellaraid Discovery Box; 5/19/2017-5/26/2021 (Delivered to Home): Deep purple, viscous and heavy extracted. Pronounced nose of candied cassis and raisins, sweet cinnamon, liquorice, cedar, vanilla, caramel, mushrooms, and leaf compost. Tannins resolved, whilst full bodied, high alcohol, and intensely flavoured, or roses, candied cassis and cherry, cinnamon, liquorice, Kirsch, and vanilla. Long finish but fairly straightforward. Enjoyable!
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Decanted 1hr and drank over the next 3hrs. First, it was not getting better at the end. So, like the Spectator estimate, you should drink it up now. At its peak (around 2 hrs in) it is as smooth as silk. But I wonder whether there is a significant loss of sweet fruit that the Barossa, and this wine, is famous for...but still a ripper!
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2005 Magnum, pairing with southern Chinese food. Good texture with the potential to be big, but....too sweet. The owner regrets buying it for over price.
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Visual: a deep garnet color, lighter towards the rim Nose: primary aromas of blackberry and savoury herbs. Secondary aromas of wood smoke and vanilla nicely integrated and balanced. At 7 years old this Wine is developing some delicious tertiary notes of Leather, baked fruits. Taste: smooth. Silky smooth. Amazing. The acidity helps keep this fresh. It does have a hot finish, not surprising at 15.5%! Overall an excellent wine, it would be exceptional if the alcohol was slightly lower.
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An outstanding, full throttle shiraz that warrants all the accolades it gets....as long as you like a hedonistic style. A nose of blue and black fruit, violets, white pepper and mild vanilla, but mostly rich fruit that is followed by a big mouthful of intense blackberry, chocolate and vanilla. The wine is in a great place but may still have another 5 years. Opulent! Beat out a 2006 Paul Hobbs Kick Ranch syrah, a 2009 Cayuse Cailloux and a 2013 K Cattle King syrah in another wonderful FM wine dinner and blind tasting.
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Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): And we are out of the gates with a big full throttle aussie red here. This is bruiser of a wine, just bursting from the glass with ripe blackberries and blueberries. The nose is reminiscent of warm jam on scones. The alcohol here is on the higher side so a bit hot on the finish. This is a wine for lovers of big, ripe, fruit forward styled wines, clearly well made in that style.
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This is one of this extraordinary wines that you might not want to share.
Strong flavors of plum and blackberry with coffee and dark chocolate... so balanced in such a way that we can feel the intensity evenly across the palate.
Decanted for 2 1/2 hours... drinking it brings tears of joy
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Decantered for 5-6 hours although on opening and throughout decanter time, had a explosive nose of black fruits. Inky Black with Purple rim in colour, and light sediment we proceeded and poured into glasses. On the nose we had blackberry, blueberry, raisin and light toast. Wow.
I simply could not hold myself to taking that first sip. On the palate, blueberry, blackberry, chocolate, strawberry jam, black pepper and vanilla, with a silky texture to die for. Simply Stunning !. Looked to my wife and just said “Wow, this is good”.
Paired well with strong cheddar cheese, Parma ham homemade chutney and fresh sourdough. The integration was sublime. Smooth tannins and a finish that lasted 2+mins.. Outstanding with elegance and refinement.
I think this will only get better over next 10+ years. Still have 3 remaining and will compare with 2003 & 2007 I have.
Finished last drop with huge smile on my face knowing I have a few more !.
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Last bottle. Very lovely rich Shiraz but it is throwing off a ton of residue even after standing for two days. I would say drink it now after a careful decanting.
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This was a bull in a china shop last night next to an incredible Grenache and a 21 year old Cali cab. Rich, dense, and chewy. Intense flavors of dark cherry and a little smoke on the finish. Still evolving.
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Not a huge fan of new world shiraz, at least not as much as I used to be, but this is really nice. Chewy, sweet tannins, a bit of dirt, lots of fruit. Blackberry and dark cherry. Motor oil nose and heavy on the texture side.
I did find it a little overwhelming after a few glasses... but there was no food and have a good steak would have easily solved that problem. Personal feeling is that this is a 90-92 pointer, but it's definitely well above the average for the style, thus ranking it a bit higher.
Also seems to be evolving well along some classic lines, so I think this will improve with another decade or two.
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Opaque, hazy, deep purple. Pronounced aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, smoke, hints of hairspray. Dry, Full bodied, good, high acidity. Firm tannins at a medium plus strength. High alcohol. Could easily wait another decade. Smooth, elegant wine. Flavors of black fruits, black cherries and blackberries, blueberries, earthy, tobacco, molasses, pruney, cooked raisins, jammy. Long, creamy finish with hints of dark chocolate. Outstanding quality and very highly recommended.
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Not what I expected. Bit of a compotic mess. Not sure if this will come together or if it has already fallen apart. Paid far too much for this. I will stick to the Bella and Lily series from now on - far better value.
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Decent enough, but not as good as the Coach House Block from the same producer. Big, bold, even brash and possibly beastly - like Merv Hughes dragged through a bramble patch. Ultimately unrefined and lacking the pace and wit of yester year. Bit too much wood as well!!
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Stunning! Opened for about an hour. Served with lamb bolognese. The integration on this bottle was sublime. Fruit was flying, but it was in no way over the top. Silky, smooth tannins and a finish that never ended. When we first poured it, the table literally became silent as all our noses were buried in our glasses in stunned astonishment. Beautiful, beautiful wine. Hold or drink, you can't go wrong.
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Truly magnificent! A big wine without the jammy flabby gorge-a-thon that most Aussie Shiraz can be. This wine is seamless - floral, fruit-filled bouquet with a medium+ body that coats with dark, rich fruit - almost as if some had gently reduced Chambord liqueur with a little aged balsamic and bit of bourbon bite on the finish. Phenomenal - one bottle left to go... who do we invite and what do we pair with this elegant beast?
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First night open, huge, red-black, stewed dark fruits are abundant, but backed by acidity and good tannins. I loved this first glass. Very well balanced, and should improve even more over the next 1-2 nights. After 2 nights wine is still so big, fruity (stewed), but it is not as well balanced as I had hoped. Perhaps light on acidity and tannins considering how big the fruit is. Either that or my palette has leaned toward softer Bordeaux, mineral heavy cabs, and Pinot Noir. Or, both!
This big unctous Shiraz oozes layers of powerful fruit while somehow maintaining a sense of elegance and refinement. The finish is long and memorable. Still very young, this should improve with age and last for at least two decades.
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Extremely fruit driven and surprisingly not as OTT with alc as I expected. Just a wholesome sunshine ripened sweet summer black berries blackcurrants blueberries and raspberries all slowly marinated with some coffee roast and mixed berries fruit juice. Juicy juicy wine.
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The last time I tasted was December 31, 2007. This bottle is not nearly as appealing, no doubt a result of age. Although still delicious, it's much more muted than I recall. Smokey nose, on the palate the fruit flavors are slightly stewed with a touch of sweetness.
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Tremendous. The nose reaches out and grabs you. Bold dark fruits. Very smooth finish. Can it be big and balanced all at once? It felt like it. Recommended.
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Dark deep purple center with purple edges. It had aromas of blackberries and oak. It was dense, rich, very smooth and balanced. On the palate, it was full of rich blackberries and blueberries with hints of oak. The aftertaste was long, soft tannnins that offset anything else. It was a very good Shiraz.
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Had at the beach with K, E, S, C and their friends for our wine dinner. This was the wine of the night. Beautiful wine. Truly a monumental effort. The fruit was gorgeous, rich, lush, without being overbearing.
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Purple with deep red edges...it has aromas of blueberres, oak and minerals. Itw as balanced, smooth with intense berry flavors on the palate. The finish was long and dry.
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To my prior note I will add chocolate covered blueberries. (Not that I've ever had them.) Wow! My WOTN in a very strong line-up. This has many years ahead of it.
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Decanted for an unknown time. What a wonderful wine and without a doubt WOTN. Blue, blue, blue and more blue! On the nose from far away and then on the palate in a deep, rich and bold wine that was very polished at the same time. Intense finish.
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Not much to add from previous reviews. Excellent wine. Getting a modest amount of sediment. Still rich with fruit, but the fruit is starting to fade a little.
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Agree with JimN below...I'm not quite sure how you don't notice the 15.9% alcohol but you don't. Amazing fruit with a richness and depth that make it extraordinary without being in your face. This is not a fruit bomb and no oak to speak of. A lot of sediment.
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Decanted for two hours and glad i did. This wine has it all. Pretty, full fruity nose. full bodied, jammy dark fruit that filled and coated the mouth with enough spice and alcohol to make it interesting and delicious. This is the highest score I have given, and it is well deserved.
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Lots of depth to this, should have decanted longer than the initial 15 minutes, as it definitely improved while we drank it. Loads of fruit, easily disguises the high alcohol, and a finish that lasts for a minute.
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Decanted for about an hour and drank with dinner. This is a big wine! Beautiful jammy nose and the taste to back it up. Very deep and rich taste but still elegant. A great finish with no real bitterness. Loads of depth. It is great to see the blend of elegance and power.
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Superior bottle. Can't imagine how all that alcohol is held in check, but you don't even notice it. Lots of sediment that needs time to settle. You can smell the intense fruit of this wine from across the room. It's big, but not obnoxious; actually quite well balanced. Drink now or hold for long-term cellaring.
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Decanted for an hour. See previous notes. It's been almost two years since I have ENJOYED this, (with the last time in '10; the bottle was flawed). This, however, is not. What an outstanding bouquet, along the lines of California-meets-Barossa. Still a lot of plum, dark chocolate, with more spice and less vanilla than before. A balanced and plush palete, with a finish that lingers for a long time. You gotta love the pudding palate. So well-behaved and regal, one would hope that Ares is seen as a true leader in Shiraz. Drink now - 2025.
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Two Hands Garden Series Horizontal (May Wine Club): Tasted double blind (the other wines were single blind). Full and powerful nose. Silky palate. Caramel, bright blackberry, acidity and a long finish. Impressive. My wine of the event.
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Served blind. Dark color. Black cherry nose. Cherry and earth on the palate. Flat on the alcoholic finish. Blaahhh... Undrinkable. 15.9% alcohol. Brought by Rick.
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such vintage variation with this wine. unfortunately, this bottle (not mine) was mostly alcohol and muddy tannin. maybe for one minute shortly after opening it held a glimmer of promise, but that was gone in a flash. judging by the other CT! notes, i'll have no problem dumping my two bottles of this crap on winebid.
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This is an incredible wine! Big fruit, big alcohol, but so perfectly balanced it is truly magical to drink. Everyone loved it - not enough to go around. Smooth as silk, long finish, incredible nose, beautiful soft fruit flavors. This is my second bottle, and it seems to be getting better.
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Big, of course. Ripe blackberry and oak notes. Fruit liqueur. Actually an enjoyable nose, but the palate comes across as overblown and porty. Finishes hot. Does what its trying to well, but certainly falls in the 'cocktail wine' category.
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We decided to pop one of these to have with Easter dinner. Decanted for three hours. The nose was very nicely balanced with a blend of blackberries, sweet plum, and five spice powder. It was truly mouth coating without being overly sweet. Very strong flavors of blackberry and blueberries with the lightest hint of oak seamlessly running through from start to finish. The tannins really provided a perfect offset for the velvety sweetness and finish. It was hard to believe this was a 16% wine. Michael really has the touch. Superb.
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Wooo! What a huge wine, dark and rich. Blackberry, spice and a bit of smoke. Luscious and mouth coating with great acidity of the lip smacking variety. Definitely fruit forward but not a fruit bomb, it's quite complex. I didn't feel quite so complex afterward, I kept thinking of Sir Giles... 'By Jove. Jam.' Delicious stuff, glad I have more.
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Dark, rich, opulent. Full of dark berry fruit, and a little vanilla, chocolate caramel, and spice. Very smooth. Looking forward to trying out the next 7 bottles...
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Alcohol :: 15.4% Dark in color, almost black that boost the broad, intense focus aromas of pepper spiciness, roasted meat, inkish with blackberry. Still pretty tight. Sweet entry, opulent and voluptuous mouth feel that quickly supersede by the refreshing, ripe acid and peppery spiciness, roasted meatiness with exotic, luscious concentrated dark fruits all framed by the sweet, powdery tannin and well-integrated new oak form a velvety texture and everything remain focus and no at all heavy. The high alcohol is undetectable as it is well conceal by the richness and balance profile. Great depth with finish that is superb in length and linger with peppery, spices and underlying mineral aftertaste. A typical, classy and showy Barossa Shiraz. Buy - Maybe.
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This wine was outstanding!! The WOTN for the group. Incredible nose, sooo smooth and gentle, absolute velvet tannins working in perfect harmony with the 16% alcohol content. Only two bottle left - so sad...
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Sensational nose, very complex and delicious aromas. This is a fruit bomb. The concentration of fruit, flesh and pulp overrides any sense of structure at all. Medium body. It bursts with flavors in your mouth, hitting every little corner. Great length. Great acidity. Quite sensational. Some exotic nuances and flavors blend in with the red candied cherries, red licorice, red candied apple. Lots of candy and caramel flavors, with some artificial sensation in the third quarter. Not very intellectual. Lacks structure, in my opinion, which makes it a little bit boring after a while. It is like a beautiful Barbie doll, and not very smart. Decanting doesn't help this wine much at all. Still, it is a sensational wine, and a must in your wine experience.
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94, an elegant, fruit forward Australian Shiraz though not too heavy, delicate with a smooth finish and refined tannins. Color was deep purple, dark and very rich. Nose was of dark berry, hint of raisin and earth. Taste of dark berry…blackberry, earthiness, smoke and some raisin. While fruit forward, to its credit this wine is not a typical “fruit bomb”, rather a smooth, sophisticated and complex wine that was ready to drink now especially after being open and in glasses for about 2 hours.
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V.I.P Australia Tasting (Farpointe Cellar): hTe nose had smoke and blueberry, pepper and spice, and a bit of raisin. The palate had blueberry and raspberry, spice and smoke and a great cherry finish.
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Saturdays at One - Volume 30: Tasted non blind. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of blueberry, cigar smoke, meat, florals, currants and plums. Juicy flavors of berries, plums, currants and cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Beautiful in colour. Smelled like a wet paper bag with subtle hints of fruit. Too bad. Only two bottles left, the last one I had from the same batch was magnificent.
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Decanted for two hours. Dark majestic purple. The nose is almost herculean, with rich dark chocolate, blueberry, vanilla, and a touch of warm leather. What a nose! I can't take my nose away from the Reidel, this has so much going on. I almost get some Christmas pudding and oak as well. The palate is well intergated and coating. The finish will carry on for a year; this is a serious wine. This is one of the best wines that I have ever tasted from Australia, much less Barossa. The Ares is in the same league as Grange '90 and '98. I have three more bottles and it is difficult not to give in and consume. I am almost speechless. A truly deft hand in wine making. Drink now - 2025.
The finish is still going......
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Casual Big Reds (Nandas): Full opaque purple/black color. Clean bright sweet nose of blackberry and creosote. Mmmn, wow delicious sweet chocolate black fruit palate with cola hints. Exhuberent.
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Casual Tasting of Big Reds (My Place): Purple color. Wow, killer aromatics. Full throttle nose of delicious dark fruit, mocha, vanilla and spice. Palate is richly fruited. Layers of sweet dark cherries and toast. Very fresh with lively acidity carrying the rich fruit. Long, toasty, delicious finish. Spectacular.
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Drank along a Velvet Glove and a Runrig. In a close call, this was the winner in the group. On the nose there is blueberry but also red berry mixed with a bit of mocha. Racy and complex on the palate....not as dark and brooding as many Aussie's can be. Long, long finish. This wine kept getting better the longer it was in the glass. Feel free to age for up to 10 more years but why bother really.
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I thought this was excellent. Racy and with a nice acid zip, the nose was of mocha laced ripe fruit. The body was medium, and the balance was really impressive. Less hot and less bombastic than the VG, it was nonetheless, rich, structured, and long. Really liked it, and it improved witht time in the glass.
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Consumed at Camille's Restaurant in Victoria with Camille and Deanna. Opaque, inky purple to the rim. Decanted ~1.5 hrs. Massive nose of black fruits (blackberries, black cherry and currant), tar, smoke, earth and black pepper. Improved in the glass over the course of the evening. Explosive palate with black fruits on the attack, smoke and tar mid palate and a great acidity, followed by a long finish. The tannins are remarkably approachable for such a young wine. This will improve and be amazing in 10 years. Best pairing of the night was morel mushroom. Tasted with duck, lamb and beef, with the pairing with duck being best.
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Disappointed by this wine, perhaps it had some bad traveling, but I found the first bottle very much like a very young low cost wine, bitter, sour and high tannins. Opened a second because I could not believe it was that bad and had the same result. Perhaps the distributor or retailer mishandled it along the way, but the 05 Samantha's Garden we purchased from this retailer was excellent and far better than this wine. Glad that we tried the Samantha's first otherwise I would have suspected our friend's recommendation about Two Hands wines. I will leave the two remaining Ares to age for at least 3 to 4 years. Overall, I'd prefer an Amon Ra before this Ares.
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This is the best bottle of Austrialian or for that matter any SHirz I have ever tasted. The wine is opulent with fruit on the fron palate but not overwhelming. The balance between fruit, texture and overall taste was one of the best balances of wine I have ever had -- I wish I could find this wine to buy retail.
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Thought this was the best Australian wine I have ever had. Ultra ripe with blackberry and blueberry up front, with a ton of ripe plumb, vanilla oak, and layers of sweet brown spice. Some molassis also. Finish was very long, and flavors and oak integrate well with tannin structure. Extremely voluptious wine!
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Wines of Australia (Farpointe Cellar): I'm a big fan of this producer and this wine doesn't disappoint. The nose was a medley of licorice, tar, boysenberry, blackberry, and earth, with notes of chocolate toward the end. The palate had the same flavors as was on the nose.
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Opaque purple core and rim. Powerful, almost Port-like nose with super-ripe blueberry and damson fruit with liquorice, toffee, chocolate coated raisins and saddle leather. Dense waves of exotic fruits on the palate with great acidity, very fine, beautifully integrated tannins and a sensuous, luxurious mouthfeel. Sweet and alcoholic (16.5%) this may be but this wine has amazing depth and purity. Exceptional.
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Popped and poured; color is deep purple/red, with berry fruit, tar and earth on the nose. A mouth full of fruit hits the palate, followed shortly by more tar and earth. Finishing with a soft fruit core with more smoke and tar. Two hours later: the nose is of a lightly burning wood fire upon which great gobs of raspberry/blueberry fruit and a few vanilla beans have been heaped. On the palate there's an explosion of fresh, tart cherry fruit surrounded by vanilla smoked earth laced with dark chocolate. The soft fruit finish goes on forever. This is the finest shiraz I've ever tasted.
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3/18/2023 - SometimeOwineO Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was my last bottle of several of the 2005, and the best. The overbearing plum flavors of the past tastings had integrated more delivering flavors of fig, other dark fruits and a bit of cinnamon. Huge wine sharing some tastes of that of an old vine Zin, but more complex and just bigger! This is Barossa Valley flexing its muscles on full display. Recommend drinking now.
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3/19/2022 - Smithc1214 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A excellent wine that we drank over a couple of hours. Has great flavors of dark fruit. Wine was hearty and was excellent with burgers and bbq.
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3/11/2022 - mcneil7 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still lots of fruit after alll this time. Cellared at 55 all these years
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2/23/2022 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Holding up well for an aged, heavy hitting Barossa Shiraz. There’s still some lovely primary black fruit character here along with classic fig jam and cinnamon aromas. On the palate, the wine is powerful with integrated tannin, full body, high alcohol and medium acidity. The acid seems higher than expected for such a ripe wine. This finishes long and hedonistic. Id suggest drinking now as this probably won’t get much better over its long decline.
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8/28/2021 - JackCMac Likes this wine: 97 Points
Great shiraz with long finish. Aerated for an hour to soften it up. Will keep for another decade. one of the best shiraz made in Australia.
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12/16/2020 - Sanlucar Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is not your typical Aussie and describing it as “eccentric” would be an understatement. Fragrances of marinated beef, soy sauce, roasted plums, and fumes from a wilderness fire. Flavors of road tar, smoked bacon, molasses, black olives, a large dose of Aussie Vegemite, some very ripe blueberries, and the sweetness of a Vintage Port. It’s like experiencing Mardi Gras while riding a rollercoaster during a typhoon in the South China Sea, all packed together in one glass! Initially I didn’t care for the onslaught of gigantic and somewhat oddball characteristics, but it grew on me with a few hours of decanting and the moderate effects of 15.9% alcohol. I’d advise drinking this sooner rather than later.
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12/5/2020 - Psdycp wrote: 93 Points
The nose is very old world, strong mineral and earthy overtones with black fruits, cocoa and toasted spices in the middle layer and old leather in the base. Palate is fruitier and rich than what the nose suggests. The mid-palate is voluptuous with so much strength and silky texture. A huge structure that is open and has rounded edges. Transition to finish is seamless. Finish is again silky smooth and deep with aftertaste of earthy minerals. If you are drinking now, breathe this Shiraz for at least 2 hours. Otherwise, keep this in the cellar for another 3-5 years. It will drink well for the next 10-15 years. 93-95 pts.
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11/26/2020 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cellaraid Discovery Box; 5/19/2017-5/26/2021 (Delivered to Home): Deep purple, viscous and heavy extracted. Pronounced nose of candied cassis and raisins, sweet cinnamon, liquorice, cedar, vanilla, caramel, mushrooms, and leaf compost. Tannins resolved, whilst full bodied, high alcohol, and intensely flavoured, or roses, candied cassis and cherry, cinnamon, liquorice, Kirsch, and vanilla. Long finish but fairly straightforward. Enjoyable!
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5/29/2020 - smenzies Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 1hr and drank over the next 3hrs. First, it was not getting better at the end. So, like the Spectator estimate, you should drink it up now. At its peak (around 2 hrs in) it is as smooth as silk. But I wonder whether there is a significant loss of sweet fruit that the Barossa, and this wine, is famous for...but still a ripper!
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1/22/2019 - onboisduvin wrote: 90 Points
2005 Magnum, pairing with southern Chinese food. Good texture with the potential to be big, but....too sweet. The owner regrets buying it for over price.
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5/6/2018 - Alberta66 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Visual: a deep garnet color, lighter towards the rim
Nose: primary aromas of blackberry and savoury herbs. Secondary aromas of wood smoke and vanilla nicely integrated and balanced. At 7 years old this Wine is developing some delicious tertiary notes of Leather, baked fruits.
Taste: smooth. Silky smooth. Amazing. The acidity helps keep this fresh. It does have a hot finish, not surprising at 15.5%!
Overall an excellent wine, it would be exceptional if the alcohol was slightly lower.
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4/25/2018 - Wineorr Likes this wine: 97 Points
An outstanding, full throttle shiraz that warrants all the accolades it gets....as long as you like a hedonistic style.
A nose of blue and black fruit, violets, white pepper and mild vanilla, but mostly rich fruit that is followed by a big mouthful of intense blackberry, chocolate and vanilla. The wine is in a great place but may still have another 5 years. Opulent!
Beat out a 2006 Paul Hobbs Kick Ranch syrah, a 2009 Cayuse Cailloux and a 2013 K Cattle King syrah in another wonderful FM wine dinner and blind tasting.
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2/17/2018 - retired_and_roving wrote:
Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): And we are out of the gates with a big full throttle aussie red here. This is bruiser of a wine, just bursting from the glass with ripe blackberries and blueberries. The nose is reminiscent of warm jam on scones. The alcohol here is on the higher side so a bit hot on the finish. This is a wine for lovers of big, ripe, fruit forward styled wines, clearly well made in that style.
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2/17/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Tampa Spring Break (the third); 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Various Tampa locations (Seasons 52, Capital Grille, Berns etc.)): This is one of those very intense aussie wines. I think they may with some time chill out, but right now it's hardcore and alcohol very prevalent. The acidity is there too though which helps (and leads me to think that with time this could be quite good).
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10/1/2017 - gastonduhart wrote: 96 Points
This is one of this extraordinary wines that you might not want to share.
Strong flavors of plum and blackberry with coffee and dark chocolate... so balanced in such a way that we can feel the intensity evenly across the palate.
Decanted for 2 1/2 hours... drinking it brings tears of joy
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4/10/2017 - nij Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decantered for 5-6 hours although on opening and throughout decanter time, had a explosive nose of black fruits. Inky Black with Purple rim in colour, and light sediment we proceeded and poured into glasses. On the nose we had blackberry, blueberry, raisin and light toast. Wow.
I simply could not hold myself to taking that first sip. On the palate, blueberry, blackberry, chocolate, strawberry jam, black pepper and vanilla, with a silky texture to die for. Simply Stunning !. Looked to my wife and just said “Wow, this is good”.
Paired well with strong cheddar cheese, Parma ham homemade chutney and fresh sourdough. The integration was sublime. Smooth tannins and a finish that lasted 2+mins.. Outstanding with elegance and refinement.
I think this will only get better over next 10+ years. Still have 3 remaining and will compare with 2003 & 2007 I have.
Finished last drop with huge smile on my face knowing I have a few more !.
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6/20/2016 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle. Very lovely rich Shiraz but it is throwing off a ton of residue even after standing for two days. I would say drink it now after a careful decanting.
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5/22/2016 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a bull in a china shop last night next to an incredible Grenache and a 21 year old Cali cab. Rich, dense, and chewy. Intense flavors of dark cherry and a little smoke on the finish. Still evolving.
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1/12/2016 - morpheusrising wrote: 94 Points
Not a huge fan of new world shiraz, at least not as much as I used to be, but this is really nice. Chewy, sweet tannins, a bit of dirt, lots of fruit. Blackberry and dark cherry. Motor oil nose and heavy on the texture side.
I did find it a little overwhelming after a few glasses... but there was no food and have a good steak would have easily solved that problem. Personal feeling is that this is a 90-92 pointer, but it's definitely well above the average for the style, thus ranking it a bit higher.
Also seems to be evolving well along some classic lines, so I think this will improve with another decade or two.
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1/12/2016 - WineMedic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opaque, hazy, deep purple. Pronounced aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, smoke, hints of hairspray. Dry, Full bodied, good, high acidity. Firm tannins at a medium plus strength. High alcohol. Could easily wait another decade. Smooth, elegant wine. Flavors of black fruits, black cherries and blackberries, blueberries, earthy, tobacco, molasses, pruney, cooked raisins, jammy. Long, creamy finish with hints of dark chocolate. Outstanding quality and very highly recommended.
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10/1/2015 - FreddieReady Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Not what I expected. Bit of a compotic mess. Not sure if this will come together or if it has already fallen apart. Paid far too much for this. I will stick to the Bella and Lily series from now on - far better value.
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9/24/2015 - Guzzzler wrote: 89 Points
Decent enough, but not as good as the Coach House Block from the same producer. Big, bold, even brash and possibly beastly - like Merv Hughes dragged through a bramble patch. Ultimately unrefined and lacking the pace and wit of yester year. Bit too much wood as well!!
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9/21/2015 - geppetto Likes this wine: 98 Points
Stunning! Opened for about an hour. Served with lamb bolognese. The integration on this bottle was sublime. Fruit was flying, but it was in no way over the top. Silky, smooth tannins and a finish that never ended. When we first poured it, the table literally became silent as all our noses were buried in our glasses in stunned astonishment. Beautiful, beautiful wine. Hold or drink, you can't go wrong.
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5/3/2015 - wine maestro wrote: 94 Points
10 year Ares
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4/26/2015 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 96 Points
Truly magnificent! A big wine without the jammy flabby gorge-a-thon that most Aussie Shiraz can be. This wine is seamless - floral, fruit-filled bouquet with a medium+ body that coats with dark, rich fruit - almost as if some had gently reduced Chambord liqueur with a little aged balsamic and bit of bourbon bite on the finish. Phenomenal - one bottle left to go... who do we invite and what do we pair with this elegant beast?
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4/19/2015 - mkoss wrote: 90 Points
First night open, huge, red-black, stewed dark fruits are abundant, but backed by acidity and good tannins. I loved this first glass. Very well balanced, and should improve even more over the next 1-2 nights.
After 2 nights wine is still so big, fruity (stewed), but it is not as well balanced as I had hoped. Perhaps light on acidity and tannins considering how big the fruit is. Either that or my palette has leaned toward softer Bordeaux, mineral heavy cabs, and Pinot Noir. Or, both!
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10/18/2014 - mygrogro wrote: 95 Points
great shiraz!
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4/11/2014 - JMLoree Likes this wine: 95 Points
This big unctous Shiraz oozes layers of powerful fruit while somehow maintaining a sense of elegance and refinement. The finish is long and memorable. Still very young, this should improve with age and last for at least two decades.
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12/25/2013 - Alex H wrote: 88 Points
Extremely fruit driven and surprisingly not as OTT with alc as I expected. Just a wholesome sunshine ripened sweet summer black berries blackcurrants blueberries and raspberries all slowly marinated with some coffee roast and mixed berries fruit juice. Juicy juicy wine.
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11/9/2013 - Cobbster wrote:
The last time I tasted was December 31, 2007. This bottle is not nearly as appealing, no doubt a result of age. Although still delicious, it's much more muted than I recall. Smokey nose, on the palate the fruit flavors are slightly stewed with a touch of sweetness.
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11/2/2013 - mbenz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tremendous. The nose reaches out and grabs you. Bold dark fruits. Very smooth finish. Can it be big and balanced all at once? It felt like it. Recommended.
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7/16/2013 - RobbieC wrote: 94 Points
Huge! 3 hour decant. Tons of dark fruit and a nice oak finish. well balanced for such a big wine. Drinking well now but it's still very young.
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6/21/2013 - Alberta66 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine stood out as head & shoulders above the first two reds we'd had over dinner. Definitely worth having bought it at auction.
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5/12/2013 - SoccerMark wrote: 92 Points
Nice spicy, complex
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4/28/2013 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 96 Points
fantastic, iron fist in a velvet glove, what a bottle of wine, buy more.
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4/20/2013 - CieloVista wrote: 90 Points
Dark deep purple center with purple edges. It had aromas of blackberries and oak. It was dense, rich, very smooth and balanced. On the palate, it was full of rich blackberries and blueberries with hints of oak. The aftertaste was long, soft tannnins that offset anything else. It was a very good Shiraz.
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12/19/2012 - sumshark Likes this wine: 95 Points
Unbelievably outstanding bottle of wine, drank side-by-side with the 2006 El Nido and there was no contest between the two.
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9/17/2012 - kenthargis wrote: 97 Points
Had at the beach with K, E, S, C and their friends for our wine dinner. This was the wine of the night. Beautiful wine. Truly a monumental effort. The fruit was gorgeous, rich, lush, without being overbearing.
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9/8/2012 - CieloVista wrote: 90 Points
Purple with deep red edges...it has aromas of blueberres, oak and minerals. Itw as balanced, smooth with intense berry flavors on the palate. The finish was long and dry.
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7/20/2012 - JimN wrote: 94 Points
To my prior note I will add chocolate covered blueberries. (Not that I've ever had them.) Wow! My WOTN in a very strong line-up. This has many years ahead of it.
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7/18/2012 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for an unknown time. What a wonderful wine and without a doubt WOTN. Blue, blue, blue and more blue! On the nose from far away and then on the palate in a deep, rich and bold wine that was very polished at the same time. Intense finish.
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6/22/2012 - sonodoc wrote: 97 Points
Amazing wine....
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5/18/2012 - sonodoc wrote: 96 Points
Not much to add from previous reviews. Excellent wine. Getting a modest amount of sediment. Still rich with fruit, but the fruit is starting to fade a little.
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4/22/2012 - Sethbo11 wrote: 96 Points
Agree with JimN below...I'm not quite sure how you don't notice the 15.9% alcohol but you don't. Amazing fruit with a richness and depth that make it extraordinary without being in your face. This is not a fruit bomb and no oak to speak of. A lot of sediment.
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2/25/2012 - AGee wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for two hours and glad i did. This wine has it all. Pretty, full fruity nose. full bodied, jammy dark fruit that filled and coated the mouth with enough spice and alcohol to make it interesting and delicious. This is the highest score I have given, and it is well deserved.
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2/24/2012 - DaveF wrote: flawed
Reducted, flawed, cooked. Terrible.
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12/24/2011 - Hollywdbjo wrote: 95 Points
Lots of depth to this, should have decanted longer than the initial 15 minutes, as it definitely improved while we drank it. Loads of fruit, easily disguises the high alcohol, and a finish that lasts for a minute.
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11/9/2011 - sonodoc wrote: 98 Points
Outstanding wine; it may be getting even better. Lots of fruit, some chocolate; very smooth - see previous notes.
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10/30/2011 - Rolster72 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for about an hour and drank with dinner. This is a big wine! Beautiful jammy nose and the taste to back it up. Very deep and rich taste but still elegant. A great finish with no real bitterness. Loads of depth. It is great to see the blend of elegance and power.
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9/15/2011 - JimN wrote: 94 Points
Superior bottle. Can't imagine how all that alcohol is held in check, but you don't even notice it. Lots of sediment that needs time to settle. You can smell the intense fruit of this wine from across the room. It's big, but not obnoxious; actually quite well balanced. Drink now or hold for long-term cellaring.
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7/8/2011 - Matt Scott wrote:
Decanted for an hour. See previous notes. It's been almost two years since I have ENJOYED this, (with the last time in '10; the bottle was flawed). This, however, is not. What an outstanding bouquet, along the lines of California-meets-Barossa. Still a lot of plum, dark chocolate, with more spice and less vanilla than before. A balanced and plush palete, with a finish that lingers for a long time. You gotta love the pudding palate. So well-behaved and regal, one would hope that Ares is seen as a true leader in Shiraz. Drink now - 2025.
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5/29/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 94 Points
Almost speechless. The finish was 90 seconds. Nose was amazing. An exceptionally well-made wine.
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5/20/2011 - gmbdds wrote: 93 Points
Two Hands Garden Series Horizontal (May Wine Club): Tasted double blind (the other wines were single blind). Full and powerful nose. Silky palate. Caramel, bright blackberry, acidity and a long finish. Impressive. My wine of the event.
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5/19/2011 - kstoddard Does not like this wine:
Served blind. Dark color. Black cherry nose. Cherry and earth on the palate. Flat on the alcoholic finish. Blaahhh... Undrinkable. 15.9% alcohol. Brought by Rick.
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5/19/2011 - jeff nowak wrote:
such vintage variation with this wine. unfortunately, this bottle (not mine) was mostly alcohol and muddy tannin. maybe for one minute shortly after opening it held a glimmer of promise, but that was gone in a flash. judging by the other CT! notes, i'll have no problem dumping my two bottles of this crap on winebid.
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5/12/2011 - King JR wrote: 97 Points
This is an incredible wine! Big fruit, big alcohol, but so perfectly balanced it is truly magical to drink. Everyone loved it - not enough to go around. Smooth as silk, long finish, incredible nose, beautiful soft fruit flavors. This is my second bottle, and it seems to be getting better.
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4/30/2011 - psmith wrote:
Big, of course. Ripe blackberry and oak notes. Fruit liqueur. Actually an enjoyable nose, but the palate comes across as overblown and porty. Finishes hot. Does what its trying to well, but certainly falls in the 'cocktail wine' category.
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4/25/2011 - TMacpherson wrote: 97 Points
We decided to pop one of these to have with Easter dinner. Decanted for three hours. The nose was very nicely balanced with a blend of blackberries, sweet plum, and five spice powder. It was truly mouth coating without being overly sweet. Very strong flavors of blackberry and blueberries with the lightest hint of oak seamlessly running through from start to finish. The tannins really provided a perfect offset for the velvety sweetness and finish. It was hard to believe this was a 16% wine. Michael really has the touch. Superb.
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4/22/2011 - A&C wrote: 97 Points
Unbelievable. Rich, blueberries, and a long, long finish.
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3/28/2011 - cookiefiend wrote: 93 Points
Wooo! What a huge wine, dark and rich. Blackberry, spice and a bit of smoke. Luscious and mouth coating with great acidity of the lip smacking variety. Definitely fruit forward but not a fruit bomb, it's quite complex. I didn't feel quite so complex afterward, I kept thinking of Sir Giles... 'By Jove. Jam.' Delicious stuff, glad I have more.
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12/27/2010 - sonodoc wrote: 98 Points
Dark, rich, opulent. Full of dark berry fruit, and a little vanilla, chocolate caramel, and spice. Very smooth. Looking forward to trying out the next 7 bottles...
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12/8/2010 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Alcohol :: 15.4%
Dark in color, almost black that boost the broad, intense focus aromas of pepper spiciness, roasted meat, inkish with blackberry. Still pretty tight. Sweet entry, opulent and voluptuous mouth feel that quickly supersede by the refreshing, ripe acid and peppery spiciness, roasted meatiness with exotic, luscious concentrated dark fruits all framed by the sweet, powdery tannin and well-integrated new oak form a velvety texture and everything remain focus and no at all heavy. The high alcohol is undetectable as it is well conceal by the richness and balance profile. Great depth with finish that is superb in length and linger with peppery, spices and underlying mineral aftertaste. A typical, classy and showy Barossa Shiraz. Buy - Maybe.
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11/14/2010 - King JR wrote: 97 Points
This wine was outstanding!! The WOTN for the group. Incredible nose, sooo smooth and gentle, absolute velvet tannins working in perfect harmony with the 16% alcohol content. Only two bottle left - so sad...
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10/7/2010 - Capt M wrote: 91 Points
Sensational nose, very complex and delicious aromas. This is a fruit bomb. The concentration of fruit, flesh and pulp overrides any sense of structure at all. Medium body. It bursts with flavors in your mouth, hitting every little corner. Great length. Great acidity. Quite sensational. Some exotic nuances and flavors blend in with the red candied cherries, red licorice, red candied apple. Lots of candy and caramel flavors, with some artificial sensation in the third quarter. Not very intellectual. Lacks structure, in my opinion, which makes it a little bit boring after a while. It is like a beautiful Barbie doll, and not very smart. Decanting doesn't help this wine much at all. Still, it is a sensational wine, and a must in your wine experience.
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8/13/2010 - afu wrote: 94 Points
94, an elegant, fruit forward Australian Shiraz though not too heavy, delicate with a smooth finish and refined tannins. Color was deep purple, dark and very rich. Nose was of dark berry, hint of raisin and earth. Taste of dark berry…blackberry, earthiness, smoke and some raisin. While fruit forward, to its credit this wine is not a typical “fruit bomb”, rather a smooth, sophisticated and complex wine that was ready to drink now especially after being open and in glasses for about 2 hours.
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7/25/2010 - mmurry Likes this wine: 93 Points
V.I.P Australia Tasting (Farpointe Cellar): hTe nose had smoke and blueberry, pepper and spice, and a bit of raisin. The palate had blueberry and raspberry, spice and smoke and a great cherry finish.
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7/25/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 93 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 30: Tasted non blind. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of blueberry, cigar smoke, meat, florals, currants and plums. Juicy flavors of berries, plums, currants and cherries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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5/10/2010 - cococafe wrote: 96 Points
Simply the best Shiraz I've ever tasted
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5/8/2010 - Matt Scott wrote: flawed
Beautiful in colour. Smelled like a wet paper bag with subtle hints of fruit. Too bad. Only two bottles left, the last one I had from the same batch was magnificent.
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10/3/2009 - Matt Scott wrote:
Decanted for two hours. Dark majestic purple. The nose is almost herculean, with rich dark chocolate, blueberry, vanilla, and a touch of warm leather. What a nose! I can't take my nose away from the Reidel, this has so much going on. I almost get some Christmas pudding and oak as well. The palate is well intergated and coating. The finish will carry on for a year; this is a serious wine. This is one of the best wines that I have ever tasted from Australia, much less Barossa. The Ares is in the same league as Grange '90 and '98. I have three more bottles and it is difficult not to give in and consume. I am almost speechless. A truly deft hand in wine making. Drink now - 2025.
The finish is still going......
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11/2/2008 - mmyette wrote: 96 Points
See previous notes.
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9/19/2008 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
Casual Big Reds (Nandas): Full opaque purple/black color. Clean bright sweet nose of blackberry and creosote. Mmmn, wow delicious sweet chocolate black fruit palate with cola hints. Exhuberent.
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9/19/2008 - Nanda wrote: 96 Points
Casual Tasting of Big Reds (My Place): Purple color. Wow, killer aromatics. Full throttle nose of delicious dark fruit, mocha, vanilla and spice. Palate is richly fruited. Layers of sweet dark cherries and toast. Very fresh with lively acidity carrying the rich fruit. Long, toasty, delicious finish. Spectacular.
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8/11/2008 - J-Sho wrote: 97 Points
Drank along a Velvet Glove and a Runrig. In a close call, this was the winner in the group. On the nose there is blueberry but also red berry mixed with a bit of mocha. Racy and complex on the palate....not as dark and brooding as many Aussie's can be. Long, long finish. This wine kept getting better the longer it was in the glass. Feel free to age for up to 10 more years but why bother really.
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8/9/2008 - mmyette wrote: 97 Points
I thought this was excellent. Racy and with a nice acid zip, the nose was of mocha laced ripe fruit. The body was medium, and the balance was really impressive. Less hot and less bombastic than the VG, it was nonetheless, rich, structured, and long. Really liked it, and it improved witht time in the glass.
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7/18/2008 - cmbond wrote: 96 Points
Consumed at Camille's Restaurant in Victoria with Camille and Deanna. Opaque, inky purple to the rim. Decanted ~1.5 hrs. Massive nose of black fruits (blackberries, black cherry and currant), tar, smoke, earth and black pepper. Improved in the glass over the course of the evening. Explosive palate with black fruits on the attack, smoke and tar mid palate and a great acidity, followed by a long finish. The tannins are remarkably approachable for such a young wine. This will improve and be amazing in 10 years. Best pairing of the night was morel mushroom. Tasted with duck, lamb and beef, with the pairing with duck being best.
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4/17/2008 - Guppies wrote: 85 Points
Disappointed by this wine, perhaps it had some bad traveling, but I found the first bottle very much like a very young low cost wine, bitter, sour and high tannins. Opened a second because I could not believe it was that bad and had the same result. Perhaps the distributor or retailer mishandled it along the way, but the 05 Samantha's Garden we purchased from this retailer was excellent and far better than this wine. Glad that we tried the Samantha's first otherwise I would have suspected our friend's recommendation about Two Hands wines. I will leave the two remaining Ares to age for at least 3 to 4 years. Overall, I'd prefer an Amon Ra before this Ares.
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3/27/2008 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 96 Points
This is the best bottle of Austrialian or for that matter any SHirz I have ever tasted. The wine is opulent with fruit on the fron palate but not overwhelming. The balance between fruit, texture and overall taste was one of the best balances of wine I have ever had -- I wish I could find this wine to buy retail.
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3/22/2008 - mmyette wrote: 97 Points
Thought this was the best Australian wine I have ever had. Ultra ripe with blackberry and blueberry up front, with a ton of ripe plumb, vanilla oak, and layers of sweet brown spice. Some molassis also. Finish was very long, and flavors and oak integrate well with tannin structure. Extremely voluptious wine!
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3/8/2008 - mmurry wrote: 94 Points
Wines of Australia (Farpointe Cellar): I'm a big fan of this producer and this wine doesn't disappoint. The nose was a medley of licorice, tar, boysenberry, blackberry, and earth, with notes of chocolate toward the end. The palate had the same flavors as was on the nose.
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3/8/2008 - win wrote: 91 Points
Oh so young. Very tannic, with strong fruit component. Oak was not overwhelming. Betting it will get much better in the future.
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2/24/2008 - Art_Vandelay wrote: 96 Points
Opaque purple core and rim. Powerful, almost Port-like nose with super-ripe blueberry and damson fruit with liquorice, toffee, chocolate coated raisins and saddle leather. Dense waves of exotic fruits on the palate with great acidity, very fine, beautifully integrated tannins and a sensuous, luxurious mouthfeel. Sweet and alcoholic (16.5%) this may be but this wine has amazing depth and purity. Exceptional.
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12/31/2007 - Cobbster wrote: 97 Points
Popped and poured; color is deep purple/red, with berry fruit, tar and earth on the nose. A mouth full of fruit hits the palate, followed shortly by more tar and earth. Finishing with a soft fruit core with more smoke and tar. Two hours later: the nose is of a lightly burning wood fire upon which great gobs of raspberry/blueberry fruit and a few vanilla beans have been heaped. On the palate there's an explosion of fresh, tart cherry fruit surrounded by vanilla smoked earth laced with dark chocolate. The soft fruit finish goes on forever. This is the finest shiraz I've ever tasted.
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