Bob McDonald

8.9

Notes of Capsicum (red pepper), mulberry and leafy notes. A good entry level Cabernet from Xanadu. Medium bodied with all the characteristics of quality Margaret River Cabernet but a little detuned. Xanadu is one of the up and coming wineries in the west winning major trophies on the Show Circuit like Deep Woods Estate who are challenging the established Margaret River hierarchy like Moss Wood, Cullen, Woodlands, Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, Leeuwin Estate etc etc. — 6 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.0

Some heavy hitting on Monday night with Domaine Brin’s “Vendemia”. Mostly Duras with some Fer servadou and Merlot blended in. From SW France, this is a bit unyielding similar to the neighboring wines in Cahors. Dark & loaded with cracked pepper notes, this needs to open up a bit, but the future will be delicious. The record from Circuit Des Yeux, titled- Finding Indigo had a similar effect. It demands your undivided attention to hear the haunting interplay between the soaring vocals and meticulously nuanced arrangements.
One of my favorite albums of the last few years. — 6 years ago

Lindsey King

9.4

How do I even begin to comment on the privilege of lapping up the last drops of a life's work? Puffeney's 52nd vintage, his final potion. The wine that made me aware of the Jura, that first sparked sensation of time and place, a wine that exists equally in bottle as it does in brain. When you find yourself paused mid-step on the walk home, paralyzed by the distant sound of a youthful pianist stretching their hands across blessed white and black keys. Recognizing the tension that folds over their shoulders in tandem with the all encompassing lightness of body that accompanies practice. There is something so real about the way they are playing, without too much fluidity, they stop and start again and somehow that's better than an unstopping song. There is no performance here. What is it about the walls, windows and air between you that deliver these wafts of sound in such a pleasurable way? How does the space aid the aesthetic? You keep standing there, basking in this auditory coat, and for a sliver of time you want nothing. You want no one. You have everything. This pianist will never meet you, nor you them, yet there is partnership, a unity, an offer and reception. An electrical circuit you have both worked to complete. You want to cling tightly to this moment and you find yourself searching for evidence to make you present. The sky was blue, the pavement was wet, I was just about there, I was happy. But all of this is already phrased in the past tense, the moment has already slid away from you. You pick up your forgotten step and continue forward, dizzy from experience, left with only a stamp in your mind that you can picture but never fully revisit. Little death. — 8 years ago

noriko machida

9.1

Perfect for girls night out! — 9 years ago

with michele and Erica

Nina Sosnovskaya

9.2

Минеральное и свежее. Приятный аромат галечника, минералов, немного цитрусов и белого перца.
Пикантный и свежий вкус, хорошая кислотность и приятное, освежающее послевкусие. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Still very dark Crimson at 11 years of age. Earthy mineral nose with cherry/berry notes. No Hunter Valley sweaty saddle. A wine with a solid core with still a long future. Highly awarded on the Australian Show Circuit- 3 Trophies etc Tasted again 110 weeks later on 28 May 2018. Not a typical HV nose - a little closed. Made more in the SA Style of blackberry. Chocolate and a bit monolithic. Full bodied with a long future. With air - herbal and stalky notes. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

A challenging vintage in Oz except for the Hunter Valley and WA with plenty of rain around harvest. However this wine won one of the most coveted trophies on the Oz Show Circuit - the Jimmy Watson trophy for Best one year old dry red at the Melbourne RNA. Very Northern Rhone with white pepper and spice. Like a junior Mt Langhi or a Craiglee. Enough mid palate fruit for the complete package. 17.5. Tasted a 2nd bottle 7/9/15. Tasting notes as above. I love this style of wine. — 11 years ago

Spottiswoode Klaus

9.0

Hello light firewood — 11 years ago

Richard Lewis

9.3

2008...black cherries, inky, deep smoothness. — 12 years ago

Francis le cave

9.3

La surprise. Originalement 39$, soldé à 19$. Coup de circuit. Superbe chardo de climat frais au boisé subtil. Vive l'Orégon! — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Citrus and Beeswax aromas getting honeyed nuances at 14 years. Fuller on the palate raising it to medium bodied but still lively. Different to old Hunter Valley Semillon. A marvellous drink showing the longevity of Semillon and another multi trophy winner on the Australian Show Circuit. — 6 years ago

Rod Bob

9.0

Ottimo rosé, lungo e robusto in bocca — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Pale Gold. Aromas of grilled nuts (cashews) and stone fruit. M+ intensity Medium to full bodied with excellent length. A lovely mature Margaret River Chardonnay. Has won 12 Trophies on the Australian Show Circuit and will probably win more as it ages. Tasted again Easter 2018 on the Gold Coast with consistent notes. Lovely balance of sulphide funk grilled nuts and stone fruit. World Class. — 8 years ago

Akkelly 71

9.3

Very little body up front but a long lingering smooth circuit — 8 years ago

speedy duncan

8.9

perfect acidity with g&g shrimp and grits — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A rich full bodied Pinot showing lavish notes of cherry and spice. I could be trite and say a Shiraz drinkers Pinot Noir but it's better than that showing complexity and length - not just a fruit bomb. Highly awarded on the Australian Show Circuit and great value at $29.95. — 9 years ago

Butch Gage

9.0

Crazy good Italian Syrah! Think northern Rhone with cranberries... — 10 years ago

Virgile Leyva Charles-Mangeon

9.5

Excellent vin. Parfait pour la cote de bœuf — 10 years ago

with Tac

Bob McDonald

9.1

Somewhat of a cult Pinot in Tassie. Home Hill wins many trophies on the Show circuit. Very aromatic nose - a touch sooty. Medium
Weight palate quite long. Noticeable acid at finish. Good. 17+. — 11 years ago

Thomas Pastuszak

Sommelier/Wine Director The NoMad

9.5

Mountain air, mountain wine — 11 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.2

Astringent raspberry chalky burlap leather smell that works, thick rusty purple in color that you can see through from a top, the taste comes in bright before getting tongue numbingly tannin, leaving a raw and fresh oak taste that tingles the tongue like if you licked and completed the circuit on a 9V battery, the malt is so delicately in there too, give like 90 min to open — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Aromas of white flowers and a little petrochemical. On the palate developing fuller flavours with a nice touch of nectarine - great purity. A multi Trophy winner on the Australian Show Circuit. Riesling is another grape varietal very suited to Tasmania. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Pale Lemon with a youthful greenish tinge. Aromas of wet straw and starting to develop secondary notes of lanolin and a little toast but a long way to go to reach full maturity. On the palate Citric Acid floods the sides and back of the tongue- mouth puckering. Tastes about 2 years old, not nearly 9 years and at least another 10 years cellaring ahead. Receives no oak influence and only 10.5% Alc. Highly awarded on the Australian Show Circuit with 4 Trophies. from the Royal Queensland Wine Show. From a 10 acre block at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges in the Hunter Valley. First vintage in 1973 was a labour of love for the partners friends and families with the first grapes carried to the Winery in buckets in the back seat of Len Evans’ Bentley. .....a funny story 😉 — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

8.9

Black cherries, pepper, lavender. Really approachable and very tasty with meats and cheese. — 8 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.1

This a fantastic juice. Pale straw. Muscat on the nose. Flowers. Fantastic acidity zinging through the structure like a current through a circuit. Enough purple prose, this is a beguiling (and pleasing) blend of riesling and gewürztraminer co-fermented in tank, blended with roughly 10% early muscat from neutral barrel. Single vineyard (Elkton, planted in 1983). Alpine in character. You'd never guess southern Oregon. — 8 years ago

with Alsu

Brian King

9.3

A surprisingly good wine. Full bodied and lush... Will definitely keep this on the touring circuit. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A much awarded Riesling on the Australian Show Circuit. Starting to develop more mature characters but still Limey chalky mineral notes. Pure as the driven snow with good acidity which will propel it for another 10 years plus. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Highly awarded on the Australian Show Circuit. Hints of Kero and musk. Not fully evolved. At least another decade in front - still ripping acidity. Marvellous purity. 18.5. — 11 years ago

Jordan Skinner

9.8

Leather and toasty nuts and awesome — 11 years ago

Michael Madrigale

Sommelier/Wine Director Bar Boulud, Epicerie Boulud, Boulud Sud

9.7

Blind tasted and said it smelled French but tasted Italian. Yup, Valle d'Aosta. — 11 years ago