Lots of vanilla oak on opening - settles after 20mins of air. Rich and almost jammy, but not roasted. Lacks depth and complexity and starts to show alcohol with too much air. Lacks freshness making it a bit tiring. Best with steak/meat and for drinking now and to 2020 (not sure time will be a friend to this). Hard work on its own. For me, not even close to the quality of Elderton Command - another old vine Shiraz at a similar price point. 89pts
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Dark purple. Nose of ripe blackberry, vanilla, some spice. Rich wine. Really great and enjoyable on day 1, but became quite raisiny quickly on day 2 (still good though) so would suggest drinking in one sitting (with others of course!).
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Deep ruby. Medium plus intensity aromas of dark fruits - blackberry, tar and cedar. On the palate it has medium acid, medium tannin, is full bodied, high alcohol and long length. Flavours of blackcurrant. Nice wine, with lots of primary fruit still and fairy well integrated but just a little off being well balanced. May improve a little, but unlikely to do much more.
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Peppery, damson and other black fruits. Some sweet cherry cola, especially on the finish. Just not doing it for me - seems out of balance. Woody, green, stalky notes on day 2, with serious alcohol burn (recommend popping and pouring, and drinking on day 1).
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- Crimsom color with medium forming legs with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Decant and drink. This doesn't need any more time.
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- Brick color - Musty nose, but a big bold barossa beauty. Sweet vanilla oak and liquorice twist to balance the dark plum and cherry palate. Long....and.....DRY...... with a slight pinch on the finish that grabs your attention, maybe just a little too much, but certainly in prime drinking range now. Looking forward very much to the 2010.
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Slightly jammy but also savoury blackberry fruit. Some meaty notes. Whiff of baked vanilla. Toasted oak. Blackberry and plum fruit flavours. Disappears a little too quickly perhaps, leaving a lot of heat. One to drink up very soon.
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Wonderful wine, full range of black fruit with firm tannins and vanilla oak. After a few hours some sweeter smoky toffee flavours came through. Could last for another 15 years by the way this one was going. I could drink this every day and never get sick of it.
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Dark, intense fruit on nose. Dark purple colour. Smooth, very big, black and red fruit, integrated tannins, big, bold Oz Shiraz, if you like Oz Shiraz this very good.
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Very sweet black jammy fruit aromas. Some chocolate and coffee too, plus menthol and liquorice. Palate has a lively sweet black fruit attack. Some vanilla. Seems to have improved with another year in bottle.
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Purple black colour. Sweet dark fruits on the nose, with a hint of mocha. Blackberry and plum jam in the mouth, prunes, and a fair dose of vanilla. Quite syrupy, and the fruit doesn't seem to be alive as much as I like it. Not a bad effort, but I much preferred the 2007 which I also recently had.
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ink-like ruby; heavy black fruit aroma; decanted for an hour before recork and take it to restaurant; seems something wrong in-between; the palate was damaged by extreme high acidity; disappointed
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Didn't decant - probably a mistake. Seemed a little rough and stalky, and the alcohol is still very noticeable. But, there is a good deal of fruit in here on the initial attack, albeit not in a typical big bold bruising Barossa style. Maybe I prefer those to this style?
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Plum fruit aromas. Some liquorice and coffee. Needed decanting and time to open up. Nice fresh feel to the palate, fruit is ripe but a tad short on the finish. Not your average Barossa Shiraz, certainly more restrained and lighter fruit, despite whopping 15% alcohol which leaves it slightly unbalanced. Disappointing really.
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quite closed initially, decanted for an hour made it opened somehow, inky garnet, funky fruity nose with heavy vanilla, full- and heavy-bodied obviously, chewy tannin, nice acidity, quite simple on the palate, a good simple Shiraz which pair wine with steaks
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Clean, fruity nose, lots of vanilla too. Full-bodied, medium-high acidity, medium tannins give some bite, but overall sensation is the fruit flavour - sweet blackberry and a touch of vanilla on the finish. Good Aussie shiraz.
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Dark purple, almost inky. Nose of rich, red raspberries, lemon peel, and is that cedar or sage? Whatever it is, it's absolutely gorgeous, letting me know this is a wine to reckon with. Very complex. Not overly fruity, but definitely a fruit component on the nose as well. In the mouth, more of the same, plus oak hinting at vanilla, and black pepper. Good, firm tannins and a decent acidity on the way to a medium-long finish. This wine is very good now, but according to all I have read, should just keep getting better. I wouldn't doubt it. $600NT in Taiwan, which is less than $20 US dollars, even with our terible import taxes. This is a great price for a wine of this caliber. Purchased at Costco, will try to stock a few more bottles for sure. Highly recommended, great QPR.
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3/16/2021 - kwattro Likes this wine: 91 Points
dense, smooth, dark fruit, coffee, and vanilla - love it. It's good to drink now.
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5/18/2017 - JulianSkeels wrote: 89 Points
Lots of vanilla oak on opening - settles after 20mins of air. Rich and almost jammy, but not roasted. Lacks depth and complexity and starts to show alcohol with too much air. Lacks freshness making it a bit tiring. Best with steak/meat and for drinking now and to 2020 (not sure time will be a friend to this). Hard work on its own. For me, not even close to the quality of Elderton Command - another old vine Shiraz at a similar price point. 89pts
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10/26/2016 - GraemeBell wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple. Nose of ripe blackberry, vanilla, some spice. Rich wine. Really great and enjoyable on day 1, but became quite raisiny quickly on day 2 (still good though) so would suggest drinking in one sitting (with others of course!).
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1/23/2016 - WineSpat Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep ruby. Medium plus intensity aromas of dark fruits - blackberry, tar and cedar. On the palate it has medium acid, medium tannin, is full bodied, high alcohol and long length. Flavours of blackcurrant. Nice wine, with lots of primary fruit still and fairy well integrated but just a little off being well balanced. May improve a little, but unlikely to do much more.
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11/9/2014 - moods wrote: 84 Points
Peppery, damson and other black fruits. Some sweet cherry cola, especially on the finish. Just not doing it for me - seems out of balance. Woody, green, stalky notes on day 2, with serious alcohol burn (recommend popping and pouring, and drinking on day 1).
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10/4/2014 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great combo of fruit and vanilla. Taaaasty
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8/22/2014 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Day 2 score. Rich bold fruit. Nice finish. Very enjoyable
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2/17/2014 - Alexroy wrote: 92 Points
Fresh red fruit nose. Dark colour. Smooth, classic Barossa. Dark and red fruit, fresh, exciting and hugely enjoyable.
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12/6/2013 - Alexroy wrote: 90 Points
Very faint strawberries. Very dark colour. Smooth, mid weight, bold red fruit, cherries, sweet, good length. Very drinkable.
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10/17/2013 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 92 Points
2nd day score. rich red fruit. Nice finish.
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10/12/2013 - Alexroy wrote: 91 Points
Dark, menthol and dark fruit. Big Aussie wine, dark fruit, mint, good length. Very enjoyable.
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9/6/2013 - Alexroy wrote: 89 Points
Bright, dark purple, showing age. Punchy, peppery black current nose. Smooth, velvety, bold dark fruits, sherbet, medium to long.
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9/1/2013 - scottbuc wrote: 92 Points
Still excellent but drink within next year
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6/14/2013 - scottbuc wrote: 93 Points
- Crimsom color with medium forming legs with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Decant and drink. This doesn't need any more time.
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5/17/2013 - Brettski80 wrote: 92 Points
- Brick color - Musty nose, but a big bold barossa beauty. Sweet vanilla oak and liquorice twist to balance the dark plum and cherry palate. Long....and.....DRY...... with a slight pinch on the finish that grabs your attention, maybe just a little too much, but certainly in prime drinking range now. Looking forward very much to the 2010.
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4/28/2013 - moods wrote: 85 Points
Slightly jammy but also savoury blackberry fruit. Some meaty notes. Whiff of baked vanilla. Toasted oak. Blackberry and plum fruit flavours. Disappears a little too quickly perhaps, leaving a lot of heat. One to drink up very soon.
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4/7/2013 - mrporcelain wrote:
Wonderful wine, full range of black fruit with firm tannins and vanilla oak. After a few hours some sweeter smoky toffee flavours came through. Could last for another 15 years by the way this one was going. I could drink this every day and never get sick of it.
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2/24/2013 - KMelling wrote:
Ballsy but bang on what I wanted with my sirloin
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10/26/2012 - Alexroy wrote: 90 Points
Dark, intense fruit on nose. Dark purple colour. Smooth, very big, black and red fruit, integrated tannins, big, bold Oz Shiraz, if you like Oz Shiraz this very good.
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10/25/2012 - Alexroy wrote: 88 Points
Bright red fruits on nose, dark clear purple. Jammy, dark and red fruits, good length. Good Barossa Shiraz very drinkable.
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9/22/2012 - BradClout wrote: 92 Points
BEAUTIFUL WINE THAT HAS AGED WELL WITH STILL HEAPS OF FRUIT ON THE PALLET. AiT IS ELEGANT AND FINELY BALANCE WITH GREAT TANNINS WITH OAK INTEGRATION.
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12/15/2011 - moods wrote: 86 Points
Very sweet black jammy fruit aromas. Some chocolate and coffee too, plus menthol and liquorice. Palate has a lively sweet black fruit attack. Some vanilla. Seems to have improved with another year in bottle.
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12/6/2011 - azzah wrote: 88 Points
Purple black colour. Sweet dark fruits on the nose, with a hint of mocha. Blackberry and plum jam in the mouth, prunes, and a fair dose of vanilla. Quite syrupy, and the fruit doesn't seem to be alive as much as I like it. Not a bad effort, but I much preferred the 2007 which I also recently had.
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4/24/2011 - burgburgburg wrote:
ink-like ruby; heavy black fruit aroma; decanted for an hour before recork and take it to restaurant; seems something wrong in-between; the palate was damaged by extreme high acidity; disappointed
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1/22/2011 - moods wrote: 85 Points
Didn't decant - probably a mistake. Seemed a little rough and stalky, and the alcohol is still very noticeable. But, there is a good deal of fruit in here on the initial attack, albeit not in a typical big bold bruising Barossa style. Maybe I prefer those to this style?
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10/10/2010 - moods wrote: 84 Points
Plum fruit aromas. Some liquorice and coffee. Needed decanting and time to open up. Nice fresh feel to the palate, fruit is ripe but a tad short on the finish. Not your average Barossa Shiraz, certainly more restrained and lighter fruit, despite whopping 15% alcohol which leaves it slightly unbalanced. Disappointing really.
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7/14/2010 - burgburgburg wrote: 88 Points
quite closed initially, decanted for an hour made it opened somehow, inky garnet, funky fruity nose with heavy vanilla, full- and heavy-bodied obviously, chewy tannin, nice acidity, quite simple on the palate, a good simple Shiraz which pair wine with steaks
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12/30/2009 - rwf wrote: 89 Points
Almost pruny nose as plummy fruit and toasted oak combine. Medium-high acidity, above medium body, smooth tannin. Flavours of Creme de Mure and spice.
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11/7/2009 - rwf wrote: 87 Points
Clean, fruity nose, lots of vanilla too. Full-bodied, medium-high acidity, medium tannins give some bite, but overall sensation is the fruit flavour - sweet blackberry and a touch of vanilla on the finish. Good Aussie shiraz.
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10/7/2009 - ChrisPutnam wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic jammy big bodied red. Could do with further cellaring
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8/16/2009 - unstrucksound wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple, almost inky. Nose of rich, red raspberries, lemon peel, and is that cedar or sage? Whatever it is, it's absolutely gorgeous, letting me know this is a wine to reckon with. Very complex. Not overly fruity, but definitely a fruit component on the nose as well. In the mouth, more of the same, plus oak hinting at vanilla, and black pepper. Good, firm tannins and a decent acidity on the way to a medium-long finish. This wine is very good now, but according to all I have read, should just keep getting better. I wouldn't doubt it. $600NT in Taiwan, which is less than $20 US dollars, even with our terible import taxes. This is a great price for a wine of this caliber. Purchased at Costco, will try to stock a few more bottles for sure. Highly recommended, great QPR.
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