WSET Level 3 Pass with Distinction.
I had this lovely wine last Sunday night at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast. This is the best Cabernet blend from Vasse Felix and is different from the other premium Cabernet blends in Margaret River because it has 17% old vine Malbec (originally planted by Dr. Tom Cullity himself in 1967 and are the original vines planted in Margaret River). Of course it was infanticide drinking this superb wine at only 7 years of age………but sometimes you have to do these things!! I swear I could detect the presence of the Malbec on the nose as it was so different from the other big name neighbours like Moss Wood, Woodlands and Cullen. A beautiful floral nose of roses and violets. I have been collecting the Tom Cullity since the first vintage in 2013 through to 2019 but for some reason never bought the 2017. This is the first Cullity we’ve had. Just waiting for my cellared examples to get some age. HH gave this wine 98 points and a drinking window of 2021 to 2041. — 16 days ago
So much cassis, black currant and rich sweetness. Very atypical for a Margaret River Cabernet - this is more Barossa or McLaren Vale. Less herbaceous than is usual for Margaret River in this warm vintage. A rich medium to full bodied palate with excellent concentration and smooth persistent tannins. My 2nd of 6 and a vintage that will last well beyond 2025 as one well known expert predicted. Should have the next bottle in 2 to 3 years time. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon; 4% Petit Verdot; 4% Cabernet Franc; 1% Merlot. — 8 days ago
See previous note for this vintage and cuvée in July 2022. An exceptional Tassie Pinot Noir. My last Freycinet in the cellar which is an oversight on my part. A sweetish yet earthy palate showing savoury root vegetable flavours, like beetroot as well as black cherry. A luscious flavoursome delicious palate. I have had 15 year old Pinots from Freycinet before and this one could go the distance. — 10 days ago
An old favourite Pinot Noir chosen off the Wine List at Blowfish Broadbeach. Red fruits and confectionery. A lovely volume to the medium weight palate with excellent mouthfeel - supple tannins. Always enjoyable - from the Adelaide Hills. — 17 days ago
Last Sunday lunch with Roast Lamb. A 20 year old Rioja fitted the bill nicely. A blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Aged in new French and American oak for 24 months. Aromatics of tobacco leaf, plum, ashphalt and a bit of tar. A medicinal note the following night. The palate is medium to full bodied with berry, plum and liquorice. Resolved Tannins - quite fluid. This was Wine Spectators No. 1 wine for 2013 and now drinking at its peak but could go on for another 5 years on the evidence of this superb wine. — 22 days ago
See previous note for this Cuvée. Shows the brilliance of the 2019 vintage in Tuscany. Dried cherry and earth. I bought some newly released 2019 Brunellos last week which will be put in the cellar for a long slumber. — 9 days ago
A pale crimson with a tawny edge - almost transparent. A high quality Pinot Noir from Canterbury wizards Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen. As I said last tasting note - pale but powerful. As good a new World Pinot Noir as you will find, and this is Bell Hill’s second wine. I can’t improve on the previous Delectable note from October 6 2023. These wines from Bell Hill aren’t cheap but are a lot cheaper than good Burgundy. — 9 days ago
Brief notes at a good Italian restaurant in Sanctuary Cove. We don’t often drink Amarone but we love it when we do. Rich and supple, blackberry like liquid Fruit and Nut milk chocolate. Touch of liquorice. An excellent match with Beef Ragu with Pappardelle pasta. — 16 days ago
Delectable - this is the Sami Odi Our Hill Cuvée. Notes later. 2021 vintage. This is the 2nd ever vintage of Our Hill from Sami-Odi from Shiraz grapes grown in the Eden Valley. The 3rd vintage released earlier this year only had a production of around 280 bottles (weather problems - hail) and sold out in under 30 minutes. I missed out. Delectable has done well to recognise this bottle - very cryptic even on Fraser McKinley’s highly cryptic labelling standards. I made a note of the first Our Hill about 93 weeks ago. All whole bunch vinification. Quite rich for an Eden Valley Shiraz. Interestingly Fraser says “Our Hill “ is best enjoyed over the next few years in its youth (finest on the day of opening) contrary to the old vine Hoffmann wines. Reminiscent of Henschke Mount Edelstone in some respects without the longevity of Edelstone probably. Delicious nonetheless. — 23 days ago
Bob McDonald
At a good French restaurant in Sydney - Franca Brasserie. Place of Changing Winds is the brainchild of Robert Walters, one of the leading importers of Fine Wine into Australia - IFW. This is his local venture based in the Macedon Ranges, to the immediate north of Melbourne. Specialising in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 2020 as a vintage is well described on the label as “Annus Horribilis”. Terrible weather including a freak frost meant only 100 dozen bottles were produced. As often happens in these difficult vintages the resulting wine was very good - pretty and perfumed yet structured and fine boned at the same time. Looking forward to trying more bottles from this ultra boutique winery. — a day ago