Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale Lemon in colour. White peach notes on nose and palate along with herbal and Lime notes - a little grapefruit. Overall the impression of ripe grapes in a really good season gives one the impression of almost off dry but it is dry. Not as much tension as a few years ago - this being my last bottle. At its peak if you like mature Riesling with a swipe of cleansing acidity to finish off. Again, little or no kerosene or petrol notes which I am starting to believe is a wine fault and the subject of sunburnt grapes as Canberra Riesling producer Ken Helm once told me. 3 Trophies and many Gold Medals on the Show Circuit. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Dark crimson in colour. Notes of cedar, cigar box, mulberry and blackberry but not too much of the latter. Tannins resolved. The wine is in a good place at 13 years and my last bottle. Great value at around $30. A good example of continental Cabernet from the Canberra district. Pretty much equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Clonakilla better known these days for its stellar Shiraz Viognier. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Typical Shiraz/Viognier Blend of the Canberra District without the oomph of the benchmark Clonakilla. Strong white pepper and brambley notes. Pepper and Spice on the medium weight palate. Good drinking and may be peak drinking at 5 years of age. Like this style a lot. — 8 years ago

Craig Mitchell

8.9

Plenty of flinty minerality and acid, maybe lacking a smidge of fruit flavour? — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Won the Trophy for Best Shiraz at the National Wine Show 2012. Fruit from the Gundagai region and starting to put this region on the map. Peppery red fruits and starting to develop some leather notes at 7 years. A nice counterpoint to the lush Barossa styles showing the versatility of Shiraz. — 9 years ago

Jordan Kerner

9.3

A gift from the Premier of South Australia. A brilliant blend of Shiraz and Cabernet from all the wine regions of Australia. It was supervised by Len Evans, Brian Croser, John Hanley and Ian McKenzie all great wine makers and wine judges in the mid 70's to this collaboration in 1999. — 10 years ago

Brash Higgins

9.3

Saline citrus talc, acid, refreshment, savoury, mineral as in magnesium, sweet/sour/salty-rim of a salted Margarita glass, chalky-China plate-whoa! Who's got some oysters? — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Mid Ruby turning tawny. Spicy perfume, a hint of violet, and with time notes of Rhubarb. On the palate easy power and intensity with red cherry and plum flavours. I have always enjoyed this Pinot Noir from when I first tasted it at a restaurant in Canberra 7 or so years ago. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Aromas of plum, tobacco and pencil shavings with a leafy dusty note. On the palate silky smooth filling every corner of the mouth. Great texture and balance with fully resolved soft tannins. Once it warmed up (from a 10 degree Celsius cellar) and time in decanter it became a very presentable Merlot. Traces of violets after a few hours. We do some excellent Cabernet Merlot in this country but very little straight Merlot. This is from the Canberra District. — 6 years ago

Ezza Kimberley

9.1

Beautiful smooth and full bodied Shiraz. This gem is a small batch vino with class and elegance. Notes of raspberry and cherry join with hints of white pepper and the soft tannins make this drop very quaffable indeed. — 7 years ago

with Daniel

Jeremy Pollard

8.9

Well this really is an unusual beast. Much darker in colour than expected, very much looking like a rosé. Completely dry and savoury. Structural. Needs food, but I'm not quite sure what. Very interesting and well made, but perhaps not one I'd choose again. Edit: Revisiting on the second day and liking it a lot more. Reminds me more of a dry cocktail than a wine. Great aperitif. — 8 years ago

with Sam

Jackie Smith

9.1

127 year old vines, a serious wine with pepper red fruits tons of savory components. A ton of structure. — 9 years ago

Craig Mitchell

9.2

White pepper and delicious meaty goodness. Plenty of cool climate acidity and red fruit bang. — 10 years ago

Ben de Vin

9.2

This is the first vintage of Seven Months and I believe the first time Ravensworth used these new labels (which I love.) 3 years in bottle it's developed some more honey characteristics and textually it's very alluring. An excellent wine by one of the most exciting winemakers in Canberra district. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Continuing my theme of Australian cool climate Shiraz - this from the Canberra District. Considered by many to be as good as Clonakilla’s flagship Shiraz Viognier. Nose of pepper and spice with red fruits. On the palate cherry and spice with earthy mineral notes finishing with persistent fine Tannins. A very good cool climate Australian Shiraz in the mould of a Saint Joseph or Cote Rotie. NB Delectable this is Clonakilla Syrah. Not offered in your choices. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Love these cool climate Shirazes from Canberra District. A riot of white pepper and spice. Medium bodied with earthy minerality with some charcuterie notes. Short term cellaring from this point. Took a bottle to the UK 23 weeks later on 26th July 2019 and had it with chicken at sister Helen and Nick’s place. Consistent tasting notes as above. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.0

Friday options.
I missed the mark of Canberra District.
A ripe showing for the region. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Found this in a forgotten corner of my cellar. For an entry level red which cost about $25 I wondered how it would be holding up at 14 years - particularly when the label says “would benefit from 4 to 8 years in a cool cellar””. It was a marvellous cool climate Shiraz showing plum and pepper with silky tannins. Sometimes I think Producers underestimate the cellaring potential because they want you to buy the current vintage and not cellar the earlier vintages for 15 years plus. A great effort for the price. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Very pale - just a tinge of lemon. Floral aromatic notes with some honeysuckle. Clean fresh fruit flavours with a light oak touch and unctuous full mouthfeel. Great intensity and acid - a refreshing finish. — 9 years ago

Tom Wood

9.5

Never in my life been more in love with this wine, pairing incredibly with Penne Vodka. Beautiful perfume of cranberries and pomegranate juice. Some juicy red cherries, earthiness and licorice. There is a savoury element that comes through after a little bit of air and some feint stalky notes coming through potentially through the small percentage of cabernet through it. Silky tannins, juicy acid, super pretty and fragrant. — 10 years ago