Jay Kline

9.4

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. Early on, this was a probably my favorite of the three Moutons and showed well throughout the course of the evening. Expressive red and dark forest fruits with tobacco, leather, earth and baking spices. The structure was still showing its tensile strength. This has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2040. — 6 months ago

Alexander Bastian Nielsen

9.0

Spiced bramble, baked plums, touch of smoke, dried herbs, bbq, meat, big bold and beautiful.
Deep concentrated flavour with good structure. — 7 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.2

8/2024. Big and bold. Sits well on the palate. Nice finish.

Hall’s Chophouse — 8 months ago

Steve Mitchell

9.4

Nicely done McPrice Myers. — 9 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Really great. Love that it’s southern Rhone style with quite a few obscure varieties. — a year ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Concentrated extract. Nearly pitch black in the glass. Takes an hour to come to complete expression with layers of dark red fruit of cherry and plum soaked in spice. Remained very centered on the palette and settled in a complex, layered finish. Since we have been in Australia for more than six weeks I have to use the cricket lingo: this wine was all about ‘Lane and Length’. Much, much enjoyed it. Blew my head off. — a year ago

with Tammy

Morris Birnbaum

9.1

Dark, dense — 5 years ago

with Barbara

Rick Legare

9.1

Delicious — 6 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

NV Sparkling Shiraz. Basket press. Dark purple hue. Wow - amazing nose. Black plums, sweet spice, mulberries, leather, and hints of earthy manure. Fabulous. On the palate, off dry, high acidity, deep concentration of flavours, medium plus body and medium alcohol. Great depth on the long lingering finish. A revelation. Clearly the best sparkling Aussie wine I have tried, never mind sparkling red wine. Awesome. 94 points. — 8 years ago

Fred Calatayud

9.0

This highly rated (for this vintage), very affordable reserve Shiraz has lasted nicely. Found it tucked away in the storage unit after its two dozen cousins disappeared probably 5 to 8 years ago. It was very strong still, with lots of fruit surrounded by hints of black pepper. Pleasantly surprised. — 9 years ago

Peter Plaehn

8.9

Hot, hot, hot. Lots of candied fruit and jam. — 11 years ago

Selfvingster

9.4

I received a bottle of Rockford as a 40th birthday gift, a wine I wasn’t familiar with at the time. After five years of aging, I opened it in the company of good friends – and what an experience! A rich and well-balanced wine, with intense flavors of berries and plums that really impressed. Wow, a wine that captivates with its harmony and depth. — 7 months ago

with Henrik, Gus and 1 other

Ron Siegel

9.3

Rustic old school styled Bordeaux with black fruits, cedar, leather, earth, graphite & cigar box. A wine I have had many times that is just hitting its prime with many years ahead — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured, enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1998 “Command” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. Definitely some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and mostly dried black and red fruits: brambles, blueberries, blackberries, dates, grilled meat, leather, purple flowers, marjoram, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (mostly integrated) and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the addition of an umami/Maillard reaction sort of thing giving a rich, savory finish. Drink now as it’s in slow decline. — 8 months ago

Michael Phillips

9.6

One of the smoothest and most luscious wines i have tasted recently. At 19 years it is still brimming with dark fruit and berries — 10 months ago

Kenneth

9.3

Full body, high acidity, deep ruby, high tannin , fine tannin, super smooth, good structure, dark fruit, black berry, blue berries, plum, chocolate, good finish. Good aroma, — a year ago

eamon gallagher

8.9

Love me some AUS Barossa Shiraz — 4 years ago

Clive McNish

9.3

Really good Shiraz that is starting to age well. Plenty of heavy blackcurrant, diesel and menthol with a finish that is long and complex. This will get smoother over time but it drinks well now. Only complaint is that there was a lot of sediment, meaning the last eighth of the bottle was lost (unfortunately no decanter available). Great Penfolds example without the huge Grange pricing. — 6 years ago

Philip May

9.1

Intense nose, blackcurrants, blackberry, dark cherries, alcoholic nose. Rich berry taste, ribena like. £29 in restaurant. Very nice. Pepper. — 8 years ago

David MacMillan

9.5

Amazing wine......drinking with Rob K who just got promoted (again) to Full Prof (yes the spelling of Full is correct).....at this rate he will be Dean of the Faculty by August. Wine is a wild mixture of petroleum, chocolate, toffee, blueberrys.......everlasting finish......for a 2002 this thing is hitting its prime right now — 8 years ago

Mike Merriman

9.3

Beautiful Aussie Riesling. Dry as the Sahara, complex and acidic. Will get more of this. — 10 years ago

with Patrick

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

What a pair w/ Crostini, Chervil Sheep Cheese & Duck Confit. 👌

Dark, juicy, lush to mid fruit core, dark cherries, strawberries, hues of blueberries, raspberries, limestone, softened granitic earth, deeper red cola, black & red licorice, baseball card bubble gum, understated fresh herbs, dark, rich, sweet earth, hints of maple syrup, tree bark w/ sap, dark & red florals for days, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, relaxed tension, polished, lush finish that lasts 90 seconds. Delicious.

This is better than some premier cru red burgundies for far less $.

Absolutely one of the top three producers of Grand Cru Gamay. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2019 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherries, red roses, tangerine, pomegranate, talcum powder, dried sage, truffle, and dried stony earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. A lovely expression of 2019 Barbaresco. Drink now with patience and through 2049. — 9 months ago

Daniel M

9.1

After Thorne shotfire barossa shiraz which was round, very oaky and lacking a bit of acid, I wanted another expression of the same varietal from the same region, but with more zing to it.
Boy this one is zingy!
The nose is showing blackberry, black pepper, a tiny soy sauce note along with an eucalyptus thing. This is very inviting and quite complex! The palate shows a massive acid drive, extremely powerful, but not overpowering at all. A big and bright blackberry note shines through and through, some width, some matter on the sides, a silky mouthfeel that turns into a great tannic wall in the rear with a strong grip and a drying effect that continues till the very end. The finish is all about blackberry and a reminiscence of that eucalyptus /mentholy note that could be felt on the nose. The finish is long and the after taste of blackberry keeps on for almost a minute. Great take on Australian Shiraz, without the artificial, sometimes overwhelming oak treatment. I like it very much. Two hands deserve a high five! — 10 months ago

Anthony Pro

9.0

I haven’t had this wine since the late 2000’s.

As good as I remember it.

#Nostalgia — 2 years ago

Paul J

9.1

1hr+ decant and could have used more. Dark red color. Interesting nose with metallic, medicinal tones that tingled my nose. Wine has massive strawberry and cassis; and is sweeter than I was expecting. Very concentrated. The tannins reduce with ample air and the spicy aspects dissipate with time as well making it more approachable. Medium finish. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Jonathan Pytko

10

Education wine, awesome earth and acid. Still has time in the bottle — 8 years ago

with Andrew

Risika Nyx

8.9

Smells kind of like... Wax, I suppose and mild oak.

Tastes big. Dark berries, nice round tanins with a mild finish. — 8 years ago

Paul Taylor

9.1

Thick. Luscious and got plenty of legs. Love this blend — 10 years ago

Nestor Tsioustas

9.3

I love Dan Standish. He is one of the best winemakers. Lovely wine, very young. Blueberry and Red silky fruit. Full Bodied but not overly alcoholic, heat isn't obvious in this wine. Great length and layers of flavours. Big points from me 95 points. A producer I highly recommend! Typical sweet Barossa fruit, very seductive... — 10 years ago