I opened the bottle and let it breathe for one hour. Nice ruby color with minimal bricking. Nose is great with plums, blackberries, pout poured, lavender. Zippy acidity, medium/chalky tannins, lots of black fruits - ripe plums, blackberries - dried flowers and coffee grounds then come out to give this depth and complexity. The ending is long, with oak, white pepper, and lingering black fruits flavors. This is stunning, in a great spot now and probably at peak, although there is no rush and it will perhaps even further improve in the next 3-4 years. This wine had everything I love about Barossa - the power, the fruit, the balanced elegance that to me only Syrah and Grenache can convey. So very happy to have 5 bottles more.
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A well made wine, but a bit too sweet for my taste. Lovely aromatics. Shows a bit heat on the back end. Oak is fully integrated and lush sweet tannins glide across the palette balanced nicely by the acidity
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Complex bouquet of ultra ripe cherry tomatoes, cassis, toasted clove and pepper with rich dark chocolate rounding the nose. Preserved olives with sweet blue and black fruits compote upon entry. Bacon fat and smooth mid palate with persistent notes of spicy grilled meat. The palate is intriguing, it starts with sweet spicy plums on entry and transits to salty mineral notes. The layering of the palate is amazing. The wine is a meal by itself. Although the structure is big and bold, the edges are nicely polished. Finish is deep and very long with just a tiny touch of herbaceous tannin to stretch the aftertaste. This just need 30 mins in the decanter to open up the wine. It is at its peak and will last for another 5-8 years given its concentration and complexity.
Retasted in Oct 2020, less fruity than before but the spicy and vanilla nuance are still there. The big and bold palate has become more salty and minerals. Texture remained polished and silky. It is less mineral and dense than the 2010 vintage. Still at its peak.
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Decanted 2 hours. Definite brownish tinge. Nose of coffee, spices and vanilla, all beautifully integrated. A wine I could sniff all night. Palate follows the nose, lengthy finish. Still drinking very well but not sure for how much longer.
Meat and oak on the nose. The wine has been in Oak for 32 months and a year in bottle before release. So if my maths are correct it was released around 2011-2012 hardly would a wine like this last only 3 years from release. Maybe someone is getting it mixed up with French Rhone or maybe just have not the mature taste buds required for Aussie reds ? Full bodied but lighter in colour and taste Than the 2009 Meshac from Grant Burge that I reviewed. The oak certainly is there in spades, on the tongue, a very silky tannin with slight astringency at the front of the tongue. The finish is lingering with fruit, no alcohol over taste ,no out of balance characters, that oak is ever present but not in a bad way. A finely attuned wine , gives me the impression that another 10 years will see this done but at the moment it is still developing into a classic.
I will taste again in September 2018 or there abouts.
retail $120.00AU
2 December 2018. The oak has softened and now there is very rich fruit coming through a broad, rich fruit. On the nose less alcohol , the tongue softer ,light tannin and grip, still alive but intense deepening of the fruit has occurred.
This has to be at it's peak and has improved since my first tasting and gets an extra point. just a beautiful deep rich wine of immense quality from a low yielding year. $95.00AU
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Opened first bottle from case given some of the mixed recent reviews here, and with the 2007 Southern Rhone disaster still fresh on my own mind. Poured into decanter and drank over 1h. Dark garnet in the glass, very fragrant nose, full bodied with sweet blue berries and other dark fruit, wonderfully layered with great depth, some coffee notes. All is well integrated. Long finish. Excellent quality and great to drink now and over the next 5-10 years. A typical Aussie Shiraz and while this will not be to everybody's taste (if you are looking for a fresh and fine wine don't start here), I see neither issues with heat or lack of balance, nor any indications that this is anywhere near the end of its drinking window
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Really nice example of a Command. Blackberry, plum, cedar, mocha, spice. The wine has a really good, savoury length, with tannins that are robust but not grainy. There is still room for the tannins to mellow a bit more, and the acidity to integrate better into the wine, so this has a few more years ahead of it. Very drinkable now, but will certainly last another 5 to 10.
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Definitely on the way out. The nose is still full frontal, black forest gateaux in a smoke-filled gents' club, but on the palate it's all alcohol and jam. Long finish but not an altogether pleasant one for that.
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Had with grilled pork chips. Nose with black currants and leather. Full bodied. Fruit dominating the attack. Excellent balance. Finish a bit short, complexity a bit lacking but it does not ruin overall impression of a classic Barossa Shiraz. Ready for consumption now. Too expensive considering the finish and complexity.
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The smell is lush velvety black fruit. On palate I get plum, smoke, chocolate. A bit too jammy perhaps? I think at age 8 this has not aged flawlessly and it is starting to feel like it is a bit tired. The fruit is still there but a bit cooked. I see 95pts from critics and I conclude I just don't get Aussie Shiraz
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Black Lion Wine Club - New World/Old World Comparisons (Jon Penny's House): Appearance: The wine is clear, medium ruby Nose: The wine is clean with pronounced complex aromas of baked jammy black fruit such as bramble, blackcurrant, herbs such as dill, dried fruits such as raisins, oak such as toast, vanilla and smoke, spice such as pepper and cinnamon. The nose is developing. Palate: The wine is dry with medium acidity, medium soft, ripe tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced flavours of jammy black fruit, raisins, toast, cinnamon, pepper. It has a long finish. The wine is outstanding. The high alcohol is well integrated and the pronounced flavours are balanced by the acidity and tannins. It is complex due to the primary, secondary and tertiary flavours and it has a long finish. The wine can be drunk now but has potential to age further for up to 5 years.
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WSET Level 4 Course - WSET School; 9/6/2014-5/23/2015 (WSET School, Bermondsey): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Medium garnet colour. Nose: The nose is Clean and Fully Developed, showing Pronounced intensity primary aromas of dill, fennel, secondary aromas of butter, cloves, cinnamon, toast, smoke and tertiary aromas of cooked black and red plum, raisins. Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has Medium(+) Ripe/Soft tannins and a High Level of alcohol (14.50%). It has Medium(+) body and Pronounced intensity primary flavours of dill, fennel, secondary flavours of cloves, cinnamon, toast, smoke and tertiary flavours of cooked black and red plum, raisins . The finish is Medium(+). Ripe, jammy fruit character. Fully developed and edging to tired. Overall: Complex, long and intense. Good balance between all structural components. Starting to fade a bit. Conclusion: It is a Very Good quality wine. Drink Now; not suitable for Ageing or Further Ageing Fully developed - drink now. Will not improve with further ageing and will fade. ; Super-Premium priced (£60.00)
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Richly aromatic, toasted, roasted nut and leather around coconut infused blackberry and currants. Big, savoury and glycerined palate with ripe tannins and a long, lush, toasty finish. 5/5
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2/10/2024 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 97 Points
I opened the bottle and let it breathe for one hour. Nice ruby color with minimal bricking. Nose is great with plums, blackberries, pout poured, lavender. Zippy acidity, medium/chalky tannins, lots of black fruits - ripe plums, blackberries - dried flowers and coffee grounds then come out to give this depth and complexity. The ending is long, with oak, white pepper, and lingering black fruits flavors. This is stunning, in a great spot now and probably at peak, although there is no rush and it will perhaps even further improve in the next 3-4 years.
This wine had everything I love about Barossa - the power, the fruit, the balanced elegance that to me only Syrah and Grenache can convey. So very happy to have 5 bottles more.
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11/14/2021 - wiscgrad wrote: 91 Points
A well made wine, but a bit too sweet for my taste. Lovely aromatics. Shows a bit heat on the back end. Oak is fully integrated and lush sweet tannins glide across the palette balanced nicely by the acidity
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4/18/2019 - Psdycp wrote: 94 Points
Complex bouquet of ultra ripe cherry tomatoes, cassis, toasted clove and pepper with rich dark chocolate rounding the nose. Preserved olives with sweet blue and black fruits compote upon entry. Bacon fat and smooth mid palate with persistent notes of spicy grilled meat. The palate is intriguing, it starts with sweet spicy plums on entry and transits to salty mineral notes. The layering of the palate is amazing. The wine is a meal by itself. Although the structure is big and bold, the edges are nicely polished. Finish is deep and very long with just a tiny touch of herbaceous tannin to stretch the aftertaste. This just need 30 mins in the decanter to open up the wine. It is at its peak and will last for another 5-8 years given its concentration and complexity.
Retasted in Oct 2020, less fruity than before but the spicy and vanilla nuance are still there. The big and bold palate has become more salty and minerals. Texture remained polished and silky. It is less mineral and dense than the 2010 vintage. Still at its peak.
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10/23/2018 - Amos23 wrote:
Not ready in my opinion, I suggest another 5+ years. This is a very big red.....
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6/8/2018 - rossso Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Definite brownish tinge. Nose of coffee, spices and vanilla, all beautifully integrated. A wine I could sniff all night. Palate follows the nose, lengthy finish. Still drinking very well but not sure for how much longer.
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4/28/2018 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 96 Points
Cellaraid - A Beef Odyssey - Coonawara Wine Dinner (Garang Grill): deep garnet; quite acidic, intense, long; cassis, cherry, cedar, tea, coffee, graphite, earthy; excellent!
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8/29/2017 - Eric gene Noack Likes this wine: 97 Points
Meat and oak on the nose.
The wine has been in Oak for 32 months and a year in bottle before release.
So if my maths are correct it was released around 2011-2012 hardly would a wine like this last only 3 years from release.
Maybe someone is getting it mixed up with French Rhone or maybe just have not the mature taste buds required for Aussie reds ?
Full bodied but lighter in colour and taste Than the 2009 Meshac from Grant Burge that I reviewed.
The oak certainly is there in spades, on the tongue, a very silky tannin with slight astringency at the front of the tongue.
The finish is lingering with fruit, no alcohol over taste ,no out of balance characters, that oak is ever present but not in a bad way.
A finely attuned wine , gives me the impression that another 10 years will see this done but at the moment it is still developing into a classic.
I will taste again in September 2018 or there abouts.
retail $120.00AU
2 December 2018.
The oak has softened and now there is very rich fruit coming through a broad, rich fruit.
On the nose less alcohol , the tongue softer ,light tannin and grip, still alive but intense deepening of the fruit has occurred.
This has to be at it's peak and has improved since my first tasting and gets an extra point.
just a beautiful deep rich wine of immense quality from a low yielding year.
$95.00AU
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7/12/2017 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened first bottle from case given some of the mixed recent reviews here, and with the 2007 Southern Rhone disaster still fresh on my own mind.
Poured into decanter and drank over 1h. Dark garnet in the glass, very fragrant nose, full bodied with sweet blue berries and other dark fruit, wonderfully layered with great depth, some coffee notes. All is well integrated. Long finish.
Excellent quality and great to drink now and over the next 5-10 years. A typical Aussie Shiraz and while this will not be to everybody's taste (if you are looking for a fresh and fine wine don't start here), I see neither issues with heat or lack of balance, nor any indications that this is anywhere near the end of its drinking window
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10/8/2016 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice example of a Command. Blackberry, plum, cedar, mocha, spice. The wine has a really good, savoury length, with tannins that are robust but not grainy. There is still room for the tannins to mellow a bit more, and the acidity to integrate better into the wine, so this has a few more years ahead of it. Very drinkable now, but will certainly last another 5 to 10.
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5/18/2016 - odonnthe wrote: 87 Points
Definitely on the way out. The nose is still full frontal, black forest gateaux in a smoke-filled gents' club, but on the palate it's all alcohol and jam. Long finish but not an altogether pleasant one for that.
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3/24/2016 - nic.fcn wrote: 90 Points
Maybe my expectations were too high, but it didn't taste anywhere as great as the previous bottle.
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9/1/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Pronounced nose, notes of floral, violet, eucalyptus. Black fruit, plum, blueberry, blackberry. chocolate, coffee, spice, clove cinnamon, vanilla, meat, prune, raisin.
Palate is dry, high acid, high ripe tannins, full body, long finish, pronounced.
Black fruits, plum, blackberry, blueberry. prune, raisin, chocolate, coffee, spice, clove cinnamon, vanilla, violet. Black olive
outstanding wine.
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8/14/2015 - sortiarius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with grilled pork chips. Nose with black currants and leather. Full bodied. Fruit dominating the attack. Excellent balance. Finish a bit short, complexity a bit lacking but it does not ruin overall impression of a classic Barossa Shiraz. Ready for consumption now. Too expensive considering the finish and complexity.
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8/3/2015 - il_diavolo wrote: 89 Points
The smell is lush velvety black fruit. On palate I get plum, smoke, chocolate. A bit too jammy perhaps? I think at age 8 this has not aged flawlessly and it is starting to feel like it is a bit tired. The fruit is still there but a bit cooked. I see 95pts from critics and I conclude I just don't get Aussie Shiraz
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5/22/2015 - Andrewbdc wrote: 91 Points
Black Lion Wine Club - New World/Old World Comparisons (Jon Penny's House): Appearance: The wine is clear, medium ruby
Nose: The wine is clean with pronounced complex aromas of baked jammy black fruit such as bramble, blackcurrant, herbs such as dill, dried fruits such as raisins, oak such as toast, vanilla and smoke, spice such as pepper and cinnamon. The nose is developing.
Palate: The wine is dry with medium acidity, medium soft, ripe tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced flavours of jammy black fruit, raisins, toast, cinnamon, pepper. It has a long finish.
The wine is outstanding. The high alcohol is well integrated and the pronounced flavours are balanced by the acidity and tannins. It is complex due to the primary, secondary and tertiary flavours and it has a long finish. The wine can be drunk now but has potential to age further for up to 5 years.
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2/7/2015 - HStaal wrote: 90 Points
WSET Level 4 Course - WSET School; 9/6/2014-5/23/2015 (WSET School, Bermondsey): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Medium garnet colour.
Nose: The nose is Clean and Fully Developed, showing Pronounced intensity primary aromas of dill, fennel, secondary aromas of butter, cloves, cinnamon, toast, smoke and tertiary aromas of cooked black and red plum, raisins.
Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has Medium(+) Ripe/Soft tannins and a High Level of alcohol (14.50%). It has Medium(+) body and Pronounced intensity primary flavours of dill, fennel, secondary flavours of cloves, cinnamon, toast, smoke and tertiary flavours of cooked black and red plum, raisins . The finish is Medium(+). Ripe, jammy fruit character. Fully developed and edging to tired.
Overall: Complex, long and intense. Good balance between all structural components. Starting to fade a bit.
Conclusion: It is a Very Good quality wine. Drink Now; not suitable for Ageing or Further Ageing Fully developed - drink now. Will not improve with further ageing and will fade. ; Super-Premium priced (£60.00)
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11/13/2014 - nic.fcn wrote: 95 Points
Excellent wine. Didn't need to breathe very long to be very enjoyable.
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9/6/2011 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Richly aromatic, toasted, roasted nut and leather around coconut infused blackberry and currants. Big, savoury and glycerined palate with ripe tannins and a long, lush, toasty finish.
5/5
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