Well, I obviously didn't (couldn't) wait another 5 years, as per my 2022 note, but with friends over from WA, I was keen to see if and by how much this wine had changed . . and the answer is not by much. Still very dense colour right to the rim; it's a definite black/red, much the same as previous bottle. I decanted it and there was a small amount of sediment, easily removed. What impressed me this time was the lovely aroma of Cabernet 'blackcurrant' that wafted up, more like what I'd expect from Coonawarra. Some nice French oak cedar character, light touch of chocolate, but really fine boned and velvety mid palate before firm but fine grained tannins still kick in. Oodles of rich fruit left and lovely balancing acidity for a 14.5% A/V wine, so the remaining bottles are definitely staying put now.
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Bought this several years ago and have been patiently waiting for it to open up. Incredibly dark black/red colour still, with a hint of browning at the edge, but not a worry. Very little sediment. Bouquet is redolent of dark berries with hints of cassis, chocolate and subtle oak. Beginning to enter its secondary phase - plenty of mid palate fruit richness and intensity. Tannins are well built into the wine, and while firmish still, with food (grilled eye fillet) they worked well. 3 bottles left and I'll give them another 5 years, given the power and alc level. Screw cap; 14.5% A/V
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Blackish red, edge still young. Bq w dark chocolate, blackberries, cedar, some herbal notes (oregano, eucalypthus). Medium+ body w nice sweet fruit on attack, finegrained tannins, rather high acidity. Some drying of the fruit in the aftertaste, but still good aftertaste. The high alcohol (14,5%) barely noticeable. Has begun its descent now.
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4/17/2024 - Neddy9 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well, I obviously didn't (couldn't) wait another 5 years, as per my 2022 note, but with friends over from WA, I was keen to see if and by how much this wine had changed . . and the answer is not by much. Still very dense colour right to the rim; it's a definite black/red, much the same as previous bottle. I decanted it and there was a small amount of sediment, easily removed. What impressed me this time was the lovely aroma of Cabernet 'blackcurrant' that wafted up, more like what I'd expect from Coonawarra. Some nice French oak cedar character, light touch of chocolate, but really fine boned and velvety mid palate before firm but fine grained tannins still kick in. Oodles of rich fruit left and lovely balancing acidity for a 14.5% A/V wine, so the remaining bottles are definitely staying put now.
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9/7/2022 - Neddy9 wrote: 92 Points
Bought this several years ago and have been patiently waiting for it to open up. Incredibly dark black/red colour still, with a hint of browning at the edge, but not a worry. Very little sediment. Bouquet is redolent of dark berries with hints of cassis, chocolate and subtle oak. Beginning to enter its secondary phase - plenty of mid palate fruit richness and intensity. Tannins are well built into the wine, and while firmish still, with food (grilled eye fillet) they worked well. 3 bottles left and I'll give them another 5 years, given the power and alc level. Screw cap; 14.5% A/V
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9/21/2020 - chirp54 wrote: 93 Points
Gloriously rich and well-balanced.
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11/16/2019 - Michael Brooks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep, rich flavours - cassis, prunes
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10/19/2019 - Leto South wrote: 89 Points
Blackish red, edge still young. Bq w dark chocolate, blackberries, cedar, some herbal notes (oregano, eucalypthus). Medium+ body w nice sweet fruit on attack, finegrained tannins, rather high acidity. Some drying of the fruit in the aftertaste, but still good aftertaste. The high alcohol (14,5%) barely noticeable. Has begun its descent now.
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