Bob McDonald

9.0

See several previous tasting notes for this wine. This was made back in the day when Hunter Valley reds had strayed from their medium bodied, savoury, sweaty saddle origins to being riper and more full bodied like a South Australian Red. This was declared in a speech by Chief Winemaker at the time, Jim Chatto, at a dinner I attended at the winery. Also plenty of oak still evident at 15 years of age. I prefer the original Hunter Valley style which Mount Pleasant has wisely reverted to utilising the wonderful old vine fruit at its disposal. Tasted again 35 weeks later on 26th March 2022. Nothing to add to the note here. A Hunter Valley wine trying to look like a South Australian wine back in 2006 with ripe fruit and oak. Thankfully HV reds have returned to the medium weight savoury long living style that Maurice O’Shea made in the 1950’s. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

No formal notes - dining with friends at a BYO Italian restaurant in Surfers Paradise. Interesting background story - this is made by Australian winemaker, Dave Fletcher, in the old Barbaresco train station. Dave is one of the chief winemakers at Ceretto. Ceretto allow him to make wine under his own label on the side. A well made correct medium bodied rendition showing red fruits and fine powdery tannins. A great match with Fettuccini Puttanesca. — 4 years ago

Laura McLaughlin

10

Delicious and bold — 6 years ago

KG

9.3

Delicious! Had it as part of a wine flight at Salish Lodge in WA. Celebrating our 2yr anniversary of the day we met. — 6 years ago

with Eric

C Burwell

9.0

bday celebration w the chief — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Our first wine from the Wynns dinner with chief Wine maker Sue Hodder. This is a very approachable young yet soft Riesling aimed at early consumption. A fuller fruity palate with light acid. I could happily drink this now. Short term cellaring. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

At the Wynns tasting at the Downs Club with chief winemaker Sue Hodder prior to their Annual Release on Wynnsday as it is known. This is their premium Shiraz from Coonawarra. Very closed and dense. I don’t believe it was decanted and it should have been. Has huge potential and an excellent wine but just not my thing compared to the stellar John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon. Both priced the same at $120. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Medium to full crimson in colour. I love GSM - or as this wine is SGM with Shiraz predominant. Spicy Tarry red berry aromas. All the varieties blend well here but overall it is very Barossa. John Duval, the winemaker, was once Penfolds Chief Winemaker from 1986 to 2002. There have only been 4 Penfolds Grange winemakers - Max Schubert (creator in 1951), Don Ditter, John Duval and now Peter Gago the current Chief Winemaker since 2002. A wine that goes well with food or has the substance to do equally well on its own. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale Lemon in colour. Some initial caramel notes, light fruited and light weight from the cool climate Orange district. On the palate under ripe nectarine with grapefruit notes - quite a delicate Chardonnay with light acids. Has Medium intensity for Its light palate weight. Philip Shaw has quite the CV as a winemaker. From Chief Winemaker at the huge Lindemans, headhunted by the Oatleys to be Chief Winemaker at Rosemount which became a world wide brand before being sold to Southcorp (now Treasury) for a fortune to the Oatleys, and a stint with Treasury all the while developing his vineyard at Orange now run by his sons and he has gone on to his next venture. He has collected International Winemaker of the Year twice in 1988 and 2000. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

From Polar’s Australian wine tasting. Mellow with soft pliant Tannins in a more drink now style. Interestingly John Duval was chief winemaker at Penfolds for 29 years when most of the previous Penfolds wines just tasted were made. This wine made very differently to how he made them at Penfolds. — 6 years ago

with Andrew, James and 1 other

C Burwell

9.3

again, chief brings the heat — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

I have had quite a few tasting notes of this wine on Delectable over the years. An excellent Bin 28 from a good vintage showing Penfolds’s mastery of Barossa Shiraz. Chief Penfolds winemaker Peter Gago likes Bin 28 between 15 and 20 years of age. This is in the window at 16 years. 90% of the production is probably consumed before that window is reached. Out of the dozen I bought many years ago this is the 2nd last and the best so far. Definitely no Barossa fruit bomb showing stalky savoury notes. 2002 was a cooler slower ripening year. Excellent wine 96 points. Gago was right.! — 7 years ago

C Burwell

9.2

amazing - this is a pinot. happy bday to the chief. — 8 years ago

Erik Michielsen

9.3

Beautiful and elegant. The nose is so pretty (like Big Chief). Dark fruit - well integrated - and oh the long licorice run. Don’t ever - ever - go to Barcelona without making the trip to Priorat / Gratallops. — 4 years ago

with Debbie

Sherri Cornett

9.2

I think Abby suggested this one as a sub for The Chief. Very good,balanced, interesting. Would buy again. — 4 years ago

Michael Seely

9.6

This old vine Howell Mt Zin is emblematic of perfection. In honor of Bernie, the commander in chief! — 5 years ago

with Jeff and Joe

Matthew Bromeland

9.0

Very good. Unique flavor. Robust. Almost smokey on the front end. Deep fruit notes. Gift from Chief Newsham. — 6 years ago

Willie Carter

9.2

Dark, dark ruby with a slightly orangish rim. Minimal to no bricking. Cedar, forest, chocolate mousse, and tart cherry on the nose. A 23 year old Baga hitting it’s peak right now? Sign me up chief. This actually is slightly reminiscent of Nebbiolo with the structure and leathery influences on the palate. Smooth tannins along with high acidity compliment the full body. On the palate there’s enough fruit left, though it is subtle at this point. Notes of dry leather, coffee, wildflowers, and tons of earthy funk. Super interesting wine that’s in a beautiful place right now. — 6 years ago

C Burwell

9.2

chief broke a glass but this is still an italian party — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

The 61st vintage of this remarkable wine - the Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon. Sue Hodder Chief winemaker said she had recently tasted all 61 vintages. I asked how the 1950s were holding up. She said apart from cork issues not too bad but the 60s were outstanding. This 2016 was from a slightly warmer vintage than 2015 and not as leafy as normal. Oaky but lovely Cabernet fruit. Obviously with a long future. — 7 years ago