Bob McDonald

9.5

Beechworth is in the foothills of the Victorian Alps and is fast becoming one of the premier districts for Chardonnay in Australia thanks to the burgeoning success of Giaconda (and also Savaterre). The Rodda Smiths Vineyard is a neighbour to these 2 Icons. Aromatics of grapefruit, white flowers and grilled nuts. On the medium bodied palate Peach, citrus and ripe grapefruit of medium plus intensity. Ticks all the boxes. 2021 was an excellent vintage in Beechworth as it was for most of Australia. Excellent wine and good value. — 13 days ago

Mary Ellen Bonisteel

9.5

Great wine!! — a month ago

ESF

9.4

reviewed this 216 weeks ago, still love it - great beer to sip whilst smoking ribs, Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark purple in color with a wide purplish rim, and medium plus intensity.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, tobacco, licorice, light oak, spices and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, currants, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, herbs, peppercorn and tobacco leaf.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 5-year-old Syrah blend from Columbia Valley is drinking nicely right out of the bottle, but better after 2 hours of airtime.

As it opens up, more earth notes show up and bring more complexity. Feels like a heavy Southern Rhone red.

This 5 year old Syrah is drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Rich and fruit forward. Soft and elegant, with a mouth coating feel. Spicy and complex.

A blend of 70% Syrah, 22% Carignan and 8% Mourvedre.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$25. — 25 days ago

P Plusquellec

9.7

What a fantastic wine, vintage — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2018 “Il Rosso delle Donne” pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, mostly red fruits: Morello cherry, raspberries, strawberry, roses, a whiff of horse blanket, red rope licorice, dried green herbs, and dry gravel. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is a slightly wild but positively gorgeous example of a Nebbiolo-based blend from Alto Piemonte. There’s an old school feel about this that completely charms the heart. Too bad there is so little of it: the entire Boca DOC has less than 50 acres planted to vine. Castello Conti only made 3912 bottles of this gem. Drink now through 2048+. — 5 months ago

Tyler Felous

9.4

One of Hirsch’s more rugged bottlings, being on the east ridge. Opened way to early. So much acidity and freshness overwhelmed the darker fruits you could tell sat beneath. Lots of promise. Will wait on the next one. — 25 days ago

Mark Rosse

9.7

A singular wine! — a month ago

Jason Keefer

9.3

Honeymoon wine! Lush and robust, nose a little funky, but the taste is phenomenal! Dark berries, kirsch, lomey soil, dried herbs, and smoky! Fantastico! — 4 months ago

with Natasha

Ely Cohn

9.1

Rustic and hearty and a little bit boxy until it loosens. It's shy aromatically. Earthy, bing cherries, prunes, and crushed rosemary.

Tannin, structure, and acid seem intact when a little give would do.

Cali wildness that doesn't feel quite as psychedelic as the Chardonnay (see previous note) — 6 months ago