Bob McDonald

9.4

A cellar release from Dry River I bought a few years ago. Mid to deep crimson with a hint of tawniness. Great intensity - ripe strawberry - liquorice notes - savoury and sweet at the same time. A strange thing to say but it doesn’t scream Pinot Noir. Grainy tannins. Similar experience as with previous Dry River Pinots to be robust, muscular and contained. Following day big and savoury - I stand by yesterday’s note. A great drink but lacks Pinosity. At least Bob Campbell MW liked it giving it 99 points. — 3 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.3

Apropos for Halloween!!! A dark blood crimson color. Nose — fills the senses with blackberry-cassis fruit, classic Bordeaux aged perfume and earthy notes followed by a slight barnyard funk, chard cedar wood and toasted vanilla. Taste - red cherry plum and cedar with pepper spices, and a jammy graphite mineral dry long finish. A medium bodied wine with the tannins still present giving it more years to age and surprising new flavors that can develop. Happy Halloween 🎃 ! Luv the label!!! — 4 years ago

with Jill and Karin

Bob McDonald

9.1

Mid to light crimson in colour. Red fruited, cherry and strawberry, and light spice - a touch of Sous Bois. Surprisingly light in palate weight - more fruit than savoury driven. Tastes a lot younger (and fresher) than 7 years of age. A sweetish jujube character on the palate - light tannins and acid. The following night, a stewed rhubarb character on the palate. In summary a very good new world Pinot if not a little on the light side. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

As per previous notes. Dense crimson in colour. Cedar, blackberry and geranium. To borrow HH’s phrase “effortless style”. Demonstrates why Coonawarra’s red dirt is marvellous for Cabernet. 96% Cabernet 4% Petit Verdot. The Tally is the top Cuvée from Balnaves. Rich, medium to full bodied. — 5 years ago

Nic Anderson

9.0

A lighter, fruitier cab. Tasting notes of vanilla, blackberry, and cherry. Really enjoyed this and paired very well with tri-tip. Absolute would buy again. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Had a bottle of this 2 years ago after it scooped the pool at the Royal Brisbane Wine Show. I can’t see why it got the accolades - an excellent Pinot Noir no doubt but not Champion Red of the Show. Colour of mid crimson with dark cherry. Initially on opening some oaky varnishy notes with stalkiness. On palate good intensity where the savouriness presides over the fruit dry cherry flavours. Will cellar. — 7 years ago

Paco Suro

8.9

Fresh. Bright. Medium to full. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

The first of 6 of the annual Bass Phillip order. A slight cloudiness to the mid crimson colour which is typical as the wines are often unfiltered. A very Bass Phillip nose and palate of dried cherry, spice and forest floor. A light to medium weight palate. I have been drinking BP Pinots for many years now and this is very much the house style. To be critical the price has crept up under the new ownership and is now just under $100 for the Estate. The following night a note of raspberry. — 3 years ago

Meg Herring

9.0

From Magnum — Bruised apple. Some signs of aging. Should improve. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

2 hour decant (decent chunky/cloudy sedimeny). A splended dark crimson color with some bricking. On the nose: very fragrant nose that burst with dark plum, stewed meat, raspberry, pine, cedar, spice, and forest floor. Taste: rich, creamy, fresh medium plus body wine with dark berries, that COS spice, earth, tobacco, pencil lead, and a smokey chocolate coffee long finish. Good depth, balance, and complexity...in its drinking window with a long life ahead of it!! — 5 years ago

with Brenda

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Bond 2001 Cab. The color shows little age —a bright dark red crimson. Nose floats with dark black and red berries, wet earth cedar and sweet honey spices; a minty menthol lingers filling the senses with utter satisfaction. OMG! a very sensual experience in the mouth —full body flavors coat every corner of the tongue with raspberry and blackberry flavors. A minerally, pencil lead, caramel mocha sweetness follows ending with a grippy tannin long finish. Can definitely age another 10-15 years. What can I say, WOW! — 5 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Lyndsey Wegner

9.5

Tiny bubbles dancing on my tongue for a sweet treat! Tastes like grapes...concord like when you drank Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice as a kid. Slight tart cherry keep it from being too sweet. It's really just right :) — 7 years ago

Bekah White

9.5

Best chilled. Good at regular temp. Sweet at first but finished dry. It's a very pleasant balance. — 7 years ago

Sheena Kwon

9.3

Sweet and easy red wine to drink as table wine. Really liked it surprisingly and was very affordable . — 4 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.0

Have to say I like the 2014 vintage better but guessing this will get even better with age. Very good representation of KS wine! — 4 years ago

Aravind A

9.8

Popped, 1.5 hrs slow ox. Used a Durand to open, and the cork was probably penetrated 7/8 of the way through with a soft crimson hue, but probably could have opened this with a regular corkscrew. A sublime bottle of wine. I adore this BDX vintage, and this btl was no exception. Pitch perfect aromas of soft cedar, charcoal, smoke, dries bluberry and raspberry. Gorgeous on the palate, with a still present juicy acidic core, lovely density, waves of dried fruit, secondary and tertiary flavors and a very soft tannic finish. — 5 years ago

with Peter

Monica Strazzante

9.0

Had this with trout and it was delicious! — 5 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.3

Caine 5, 2006. Color - dark crimson red and murky. Red plum pine and menthol on the nose floating with sweet age perfume and florals. An initial sweet plum blackberry flavor —soft and elegant. Tobacco cigar peppery long finish lingers on the taste buds bringing about the spices and milk chocolate on finish adding a satisfying and wonderful overall experience with the wine. — 5 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Willie Carter

9.0

Revisiting this burly beast almost a year later and it’s still as it was before: terrific. Impenetrable dark crimson with a little more bricking going on. Vanilla, lavender, a good bit of oak, and blueberries on the nose. At almost eleven years old, this doesn’t remind me so much of a standard Napa Can but rather a nice Bordeaux. The heat from the alcohol has definitely settled down and is presenting some wonderful balance. There’s still some fruit here with layers of blueberries, cherries, and cranberries. Tobacco, coffee, and leather on the palate. This is a wine that’s absolutely singing right now. All hail to Last Bottle. Just like I said a year ago, powerful, ripe fruit, and great structure. — 7 years ago

Awe Some

8.9

Aging really well (as of May 2018). Smells a little hot and ripe, but mellower than expected fruit. Cherry and apple crisp, without too much jammy mouthfeel. A lot more finesse than expected. Like watching a linesman who can dance the tango. — 8 years ago