Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Everything about this wine is DARK. Deep ruby/purple color bordering on black. Aromas of black and blue fruit, Asian spices and coffee. Flavors of cooked black berry/plum/currant fruit, bakers chocolate, tar and espresso. Hint of black pepper on the long, lingering and silky finish. Extremely concentrated with lively acidity. Tannins are firm but in harmony. This is a wine you quickly take notice of. Probably at (or just past) its peak. Thanks for the wonderful gift, Petey P! — 2 months ago

Marc Melser

9.3

We had the 2012 Vintage on 2/14-15/25. An excellent Syray with tastes of blackberry, plum, mocha, leather and spice. As time went on the bouquet developed eucalyptus. Full bodied, New World. Fruit forward. I’m glad I gave it 13 years in the bottle. — 3 months ago

Carol Tait Olson

9.2

My go to Sauvignon Blanc — 4 months ago

Monique Stanley

9.0

Very good. Almost smoky taste Cherry and plum. — 4 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.1

2013. Eleven years under a screw cap and it tastes very fresh with dark berry fruit and no visible signs of age. From the other reviews, I think the oak has probably mellowed a bit and I really enjoyed it with a meaty patty melt. — 5 months ago

Geoff Buswick

9.2

Plum jam with a nice dry finish. — 5 months ago

Steve Goore

9.1

While its name doesn’t sound like an SB from NZ, it sure tastes like one. Pronounced passion fruit, a little green apple, and more lime than other Sauv Blancs. Refreshing and great value at TJs. — 5 months 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

Henry Fuseler

9.2

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

Hall’s Chophouse — 8 months ago

Taras Matiychuk

9.0

Light, citrucy, crisp but not dry. Will buy again. Good with watermelon 😋🍉 — 4 years ago

Patrick Miller

9.0

Favorite daily bottle — 9 years ago

Joe Fischer

9.3

Slight yellow tint with an aroma explosion of jasmine, grapefruit, passion fruit, and lime. Slightest tartness. Really nice SB. — 2 months ago

Shane Walker

8.9

Clear, pale lemon colour. Clean, pronounced floral bouquet. Dry, with high acidity and medium bodied. Intense flavours of lime, lemon and citrus blossom. Long finish with significant minerality. A very good wine that would no doubt be better after a few years.

Britannia Restaurant, Queen Anne. In the South Pacific en route from Tonga to New Zealand. — 3 months ago

with Michele

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1997 Grange pours a deep purple color with an opaque core moving towards a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black, red and some blue fruits: blackberries, raspberries, Fig Newtons, tobacco, purple flowers, cocoa, coffee, some mint and other green herbs as well as earth and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is so long and there is remarkable density. I would say this is entering its early drinking window, but just barely. I find these wines need decades to shed their fat and really start to strut. Regardless, this is delicious now with a healthy decant and should drink well through 2057 without breaking a sweat. — 4 months ago

Jeffrey Trezek

9.5

One of the faves for Shiraz. Big, bold, yet easy to drink. Punchy with black and red fruits, not to tannic. — 4 months ago

Matthew W.

9.1

Always a crowd pleaser. 🤗 — 5 months ago

Ash Anderson

8.9

So jammy on the nose, fruit bomb for sure. Blueberry, boysenberry, and blackberry bramble. Notes of charred wood and meat. A hint of eucalyptus. Nice spice. Medium acid, high alcohol and medium plus tannin. I think it would do well with a few years and a nice barbecued hunk of meat. — 5 months ago

Alan Johnston

9.0

3.0. A passable Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but with a somewhat dull taste. On sale for $10.99, regularly $13.99. — 6 months ago

Shuhui Ng

9.2

Deep ruby, heavy bodied - nose opens up to strawberry, spice and bubblegum. Mouth feel: blackcurrant, black pepper, liquorice, vanilla. medium acidity, well integrated tannins… very smooth to drink! — 8 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

Kirsten Christiansen

9.7

Excellent example of why Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs are my favorite Sb wines. Crisp, clean, light yellow with a hint of green. Just unripe peach, sweet bell pepper. Wonderful. — 3 months ago

Kristin

9.5

From triangle wine — 2 months ago

AEL

8.9

Granular, ripe and heavy. Syrupy berry and smokey notes. Quite smooth. Enjoyable? Yes. Whopping alcohol level? Yes. Worth fifty bucks? No. At mom's. — 3 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

Love the special character of these South African Chards — 4 months ago

Christine Peterman

9.3

Like the BBQ chilled red in the Hamptons — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Presented to me double blind, powerful peach and pineapple fruit cup with jalapeño and bright citrus fruit. Acid was medium+ and so was alcohol. I was between Riesling from Wachau or Sauvignon Blanc…when with the Austria call. Dang…Kim Crawford is making some fun wines with Loveblock. Drink now with hedonism. — 5 months ago

Charles Houssa

8.9

At Apero with Moules Frites — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.2

I don’t have much experience with the Bin 407 from Penfolds compared to others in the portfolio, but I was curious to see how this was drinking at 20yrs after recently getting locally for a steal.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Even knowing this is cab, I still expected a Penfolds Shiraz type aromatic, and while I didn’t exactly get that, the American Oak in the background alongside the ripe fruit do help bring Penfolds semi in to focus. This needed about 90mins in bottle to wake up…initially I was concerned I had missed a window as it was very stewed and fig dominant (not much fruit). The American Oak notes started appearing (faint coconut and dill) and then high toned red fruits. After 90mins, the palate bulked up and showed some black fruits, cassis, espresso, and even some Andes mint at the finish. Plenty of tannin too.

I’d open soon if you have any left, but give it some time to wake up. (Yes, the ‘94 Monte Bello was insanely good, as was the still young ‘06 Unico). — 6 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

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