Tom Garland

9.1

Pop and pour. A beautiful dark ruby red color. On the nose: very aeromatic with dark fruit, herbaceous, some funky earth, leather and touch of mint. Taste: dark cherry, chocolate espresso, spice, tar, little bit of green veggie, and a medium dry finish with a slight still there tannic kick. — 10 months ago

with Brenda

Bob McDonald

9.4

At the Shaw and Smith tasting from the Cellar Door. The Balhannah Shiraz is made from a few select rows in the Shiraz vineyards. From a cooler year - very stalky, herbal and earthy. As different to Barossa Shiraz as you can imagine. Detailed and fine. Ultra ultra savoury and just medium weight. Not for everyone - vive la difference. Barb loved it. Just checked Huon Hooke’s rating where he gave 97 points and said “sensational Shiraz “. — 4 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.0

Chocolate lover as a beer! Cheers 🍻 — 5 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.3

One of my all time favorites under $35 and still the only wine I buy by the case. The 2016 vintage sticks to the classic MCK and Washington Syrah notes but turn the black pepper level way up. Never tasted so much black pepper in a wine. Fantastic — 5 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.3

A few months in bottle now and ready for an impending release. — 6 years ago

Yash Gala

9.5

Delightful little wine. In retrospect, should have waited for a few years before opening it. Recommend decanting it. — 6 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Unofficial Thursday HdR opening dinner with a loose “non-Rhône” theme. — 7 years ago

Michele Hug

9.5

Opens up super nicely, immediately pleasant on the nose. Plummy and buttery, classic example of a good Napa cab. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Similar to notes of 31 weeks ago here on Delectable. Very pale lemon in colour for a 6 year old Chardonnay. Sulphidic notes on the nose with Citrus and Grapefruit. In the lean style. Next day still plenty of citric acid. It remains a classy modern Australian Chardonnay but I have had better examples. — 4 years ago

Karen Tripson

9.2

Saving this for a big juicy steak night soon. March 5, 2021 found the moment to open with s dear friend and a lamb leek mushroom cottage pie. Fabulous. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

One of my favorite small production wine, 300 cases. Cal Nicholson spent his youth in So. CA & after a long marketing career he hung up his spurs to follow his 2 real interests in life – surfing & wine making. Jones is the maiden name of Cal’s wife Pam. A wonderful wine. Aromas of lemon citrus with herb, stone & tropical fruits. Palate, peach, Granny Smith apple & ripe melon flavors with lively citrus zest wrapped in lbalanced acidity. Lingering finish ending with mineral citrus finish. Consistent! Nice! — 5 years ago

A E Weber

8.9

Each of the varietals is present like the uncomfortable, yet reassuring experience of a class reunion. Together, you’re the Class of 86. — 6 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.3

This is a very fine Sauvignon blanc. Lots of honey suckle aroma and layers of fruit. A Best Buy imho — 6 years ago

Shawn R

9.5

George III is my least favorite vineyard from the Grand Cru Beckstoffer site however, @Mike Smith has done a magnificent job with this offering and changes all that. 2 hour decant and the tannins are supporting the wine and nearly not in play. I can’t get over the balance of this wine...fruit, acid and tannins are in perfect harmony. Nice offering! — 7 years ago

Michelle M

9.4

Blackberry bramble, baked black cherry and plum, hints of maraschino, mint and menthol, bell pepper and geranium, cedar, tobacco, and bakers vanilla with whiffs of aged leather jacket on the nose. Blackberry, cherry, juicy raspberry, vanilla extract and weak black tea on the palate with a medium heavy body but a medium short finish. Overall a great wine for pumpkin pie brunch on Christmas morning (no it’s not too early). Merry Christmas! — 3 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.0

Color of bubbly purple, nice legs. Nose is fruity of dark berries, like blackberry and grapes, some ripe pineapple too, spice, a bit fermented cabbage, a bit peppery, and a bit coke cola. Taste is mellow tannins and a bit sweet, with bittersweet zest plus the notes from the nose. Aftertaste is a bit overpowered by bitterness. Average. — 4 years ago

Dawn E.

9.3

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all!
Exceptional bottle...a bit more complex than the 2015! Delicious Mike Smith magic! I cannot say enough about this wine! QPR is outstanding!
One hour decant on this! — 5 years ago

Nick H

9.9

Does it get better from @Mike Smith? Decanted 12 hours ahead of dinner and this baby was still wound for sound. I missed the boat on the 2012, and (sadly) only ordered one 2013 on release. Big, earthy nose gave way to beautiful dark fruit, espresso, and spice. A pinnacle expression of the site, and I certainly look forward to babying the bottles I have from subsequent vintages. — 6 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.3

Not your typical plush mike smith cab. Fruit is definitely hidden on opening, but a little air reveals some of it. Interesting to see what time does with this one. We personally like it now for it’s focus, acid/tannin/fruit balance, freshness. — 6 years ago

Ben Edwards

9.2

A replacement for the Pairing as a Marry Edwards regular bottle. Definitely sharper and less pronounced stone fruit, but nicely balanced and went well with all dinner courses. Bottles went too fast to see how they opened, so questionable still as a stand-alone (probably great); high marks for elevating the usual crisp white wine dishes. — 6 years ago