Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon in colour. Stone fruits on nose and palate. The big peaches and cream style. A typical delicious Leeuwin Art Series palate of profound intensity with Oak playing a supporting role to the abundant ripe fruits. Medium minus acid. A big generous Art Series Chardonnay which went well with fresh prawns. I think I would need to drink the remaining 3 in the next 18 months. Had another bottle with friends for lunch 9 weeks later on 16th November. All agreed this was the white wine of the day marginally from the 1998 Lovedale. — 7 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.3

Probably opened this too soon, which is so unlike me😬
Curious how this will stack up against the Carter Hossfeld which is almost the same blend of Merlot & Cabernet.
Find out in a couple weeks when Carter ships
Same price & almost exactly same ratings from WA,
95 for this & 94+ for Hossfeld — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this a few years ago, disappointed that I opened this wine early so I opened one now. Deep Ruby red, with aromas of dark fruit and spice. On the palate, the blend of 51% Cab Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 12% Cab Franc, had blackberry and plums with notes of cacao and gentle smoky/toasty oak. The wine spent 16 months in 40% new French and American oak. Full bodied, nice balance and well integrated soft tannins. Time will continue to enhance this wine. Very nice! — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

First of the two blind Zinfandel blends paired with our turkey burgers and black bean veggie burgers. Deep garnet red. A bit herbal on the nose with dark fruits that became stronger with air. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and light plus to medium bodied. Rich and plush attack, drinking its best between hour one and two. Notes of strawberry jam, boysenberries, blackcurrants, bramble berries, blue fruits, asian spices and a touch of cocoa. Finish lingers for quite a bit. Drink till 2019.

This Prisoner was the first vintage under their new ownership (no longer with Orin Swift). This vintage is made up of 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Malbec and 1% Grenache. Needed twenty minutes or so to open up but beautiful fruits after that. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Marshal White

9.4

From a few weeks back. Superb — 9 years ago

Joe Willey

9.4

Delicious. Almost more Syrah like than Sangiovese. — 10 years ago

Marcus Lancaster

9.0

Surprising! A touch of butterscotch quickly followed by Meyer lemon and lime.with chalk. — 10 years ago

Angel Martinez

Brand ambassador GHMumm Spain, Wine reviewer www.theluxury.es"

9.8

51 -1a , 33 años, en rama, 5-6 de fino, 28 de oxidación. Elegantísimo en boca , afilado.
Un avión.
— 10 years ago

Erica Smith

9.0

Drank this mid-week a few weeks ago. No notes but it was very good and I would drink again. — 11 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.6

Open about 6 weeks. Fresh acidity, Brazil nuts, black tea tannins, salty caramel. I fucking love this wine. — 12 years ago

Rob Russell

9.0

Just had this in Bordeaux a few weeks ago. Like most wines of this vintage it took a bit of imagination to fully appreciate. It is clearly time to drink this wine, it may be on the downhill side of life. Overall a good experience for what was not noted as a premium vintage, but is a very solid wine. — 7 years ago

Love You More

8.9

Silky, smooth and fruity. — 7 years ago

Susan Neil

9.1

Excellent Chardonnay, Well rounded, White fruits, kiwi, melon, vanilla, butter and Oak. — 8 years ago

Shawn R

9.8

Had one a few weeks ago, in a great spot. Not sure this gets any better. — 8 years ago

Michelle Beer

9.0

Leather and smoke on the tongue, aromas of green pepper. Nicely balanced and not too boozy or over oaked. Great with steak. — 9 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.0

Dec 14, 2016. Top Ten "Bubbles" Tasting. 51% Pinot noir, 49% Chardonnay. Lovely pink color. Strawberry on the nose. — 9 years ago

Eric Egan

9.5

Another level... Still dense at the core, with steady, attractive bricking: Wonderfully dense nose of blackcurrents, pencil shavings, fine tanned leather, and a hint of woodland floor (fine moss, leaves, and fresh soil after an autumn shower). Velvety tannins and great acidity. Along with the '66 this is one of my all-time favourite Bordeaux vintages. Seems to be keeping up better than the '61s I've had over the last few years!

We drank half of it from the coravin before waxing the top in case the cork had lost too much elasticity to self-seal. I'll have the rest with my brother in a few weeks' time! — 10 years ago

Stephany Duvall

9.1

Very refreshing, 51% sav blanc and 49% Semillon. Ripe green bananas, apricot, pineapple aged in oak 8 mo. — 10 years ago

Zach Cherry

Account Manager Worldwide Wine & Spirits

9.2

I loved the 2009 I tasted a few weeks ago, this showed how well it will develop. Still young, but I was even more impressed after some maturation. — 11 years ago

Doctor No

9.1

Mag of Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill. Drank beautifully. Seamless cab, still fairly primary. Medium long finish, moderate acidity. Not overly extracted. In Ligonier a few weeks ago. — 12 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

More berry/cassis than leafy herbal Margaret River style - touches of capsicum though. Very enjoyable but I don’t know whether I would pick this as Margaret River in a blind tasting. Medium bodied but M+ intensity. Nearby neighbors of some of the big name producers without the price tag. Tasted another bottle 43 weeks later on 7th February 2020 with similar notes but showing more Margaret River herbaceousness. Excellent QPR for a Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon. 92 points. Tasted another bottle on 19th March 2022 with consistent notes. Pretty much a typical Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon. 3 bottles left. Tasted another on 3rd February 2023 with consistent notes. Had this with pasta. I didn’t think that was a good food/wine match but it worked perfectly. Tasted my 2nd last bottle on 28th June 2023. Certainly not a typical herbaceous Margaret River Cabernet. More cassis and blackberry like a South Australian Cabernet. — 7 years ago

Mike Smith

9.2

I was very surprised with this Pinot. Darker in color than most and not much legs. Letting it set 1 hour was a good thing. A very nice wine with fruit on the front and back and finishes nicely. — 8 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

8.9

Juicy and delicious and very much ready to go. 4 bottles downed in the last 3 weeks pretty much says it all. — 8 years ago

Sara Murrill

9.0

Tastes great after a little aeration! Smooth and dry but not too dry. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Clear rich Crimson in colour. Whiff of wood varnish which blew off. Spicy - not as much pepper as usual. Cherries and supple savoury tannins. Medium bodied. One of my favourite Aussie Reds in the $20 to $30 category. 2nd ranked cuvée to their much vaunted "Langi" Shiraz. Tasted again 54 weeks later with totally consistent notes. Tasted beside Salo Syrah, from the much vaunted Hawkes Bay NZ District for Syrah. I preferred the Langhi. — 9 years ago

jarred gild

Head Wine Buyer Western Market

9.6

picture from a few weeks ago, but still on my mind — 10 years ago

with Kyo, Kim and 2 others

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.6

This wine is a stand alone gem. Very difficult to read and closed and may be too light and disappointing right now but that is deceiving. I am collecting these wines and they are ridiculously good with age. Currently available only from Crush or Chambers or Winfield Flynn in New York. I also tasted the 2015 in barrel 3 weeks ago which in the barrel is a flat out 10. The 2014 is chalky and herbaceous very subdued. The power and elegance of this wine is hidden right now almost like a sleeping giant. — 10 years ago

with Lyle

Molly

9.0

Smells like winter ❄️ menthol, apple, toasty, creamy, touch of honey on the nose. The taste lemongrass, rose petal... Gives you a silky tongue 🌹😛 — 11 years ago

Aran Healy

Partner Ruby WIne, Carlotta Cellars, Thistle Cellars

8.9

Chenin, skin fermented 2 weeks — 12 years ago

Sam Bilbro

Owner/Vineyardist Idlewild Wines

9.7

Acidity, texture, stones, umami, and lemon. Yum. — 13 years ago