Animally, meaty, dark, smokey and brooding - on the nose at least. Opened up after an hour’s decant and was far more rounded on the second night. Has that classic piercing Syrah quality that seems to swamp one’s airways - and plenty of barnyard funk for some time after opening.
On the palate it’s quite mellow, enveloping, beautifully rounded, medium bodied, with just enough acidity and tannin to give it life. I’d love to have tried this five years ago when I feel like it would have had the power to better impersonate a Hermitage. But, no doubt, it’s superb now.
Interestingly (to me!) I actually found this quite hard to distinguish between a decent Rioja. It is very similar in many ways to La Rioja Alta’s Viña Ardanza. Both in the fruit and the presence / quality of oak. The only difference lying perhaps in richness and depth of fruit.
Overall, a beauty of a wine - one of the appellation’s finest. — 5 years ago
Dark ruby in color with a cloudy brick rim.
On the nose, currants, plums, light wood, vanilla, spices, wet leaves, forest floor, pencil lead, vinaigrette, leather and peppercorn.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with blueberries, oak, red currants, vanilla, licorice, earth, eucalyptus, vinaigrette, leather, dark chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy pomegranates.
This is a very nice aged Shiraz from Australia. Not fully balanced anymore, but showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.
Showing a nice tangy ending, which would pair well with food.
Interesting and enjoyable, although this was probably better a couple of years ago.
Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.
Thank you, Scott for sharing.
I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.
15% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$75. — 6 years ago
What a wine! Last time I had this was 4 + years ago, and the wine has evolved beautifully. By far the best example of this Colombis 2007 I’ve had, it combines great strength with finesse, first aromatics of wild berries with some secondary notes of sous-bois and truffle. Grand. — 7 years ago
One of the pleasures in life is having a 10 year old Clare Valley Riesling. Had the last one a year ago in August 2020. This time some kerosene notes creeping in with the peachy notes. Honeyed nuances on the palate. Delicious. Diminished acid but could be kept for a few more years. A little chalky minerality. I think I have one left. — 4 years ago
What a pretty lovely medium-light bodied Pinot. Really in its drinking window. Perfect mid week sharing with my beloved wife. Especially as we bought it together at the winery around 7 years ago. — 6 years ago
This is just the Pinot Noir but that choice not available from Delectable. Quite dense in colour. Notes of beetroot and rhubarb on nose and palate. Full lush and delicious. A great discovery from the annual Tasmanian Pinot expo at the Pinot Shop in Launceston which we visited a few months ago. Exceptional QPR at $35. Some savoury aspects - suspect a % of whole bunch. Soft and flavoursome from a good vintage. Similar notes to a 2nd bottle 171 weeks later on 2/2/22. Quite a rich Pinot and thoroughly delicious. Luckily I have 4 left. — 7 years ago
I so rarely encounter a great Gewürztraminer from outside Alsace, and when I do, it’s most likely from the Anderson Valley. This Phillips Hill bottling is no exception. Striking in its aromatic intensity - dried ginger, rose water, thyme, pine sap, crushed stones, and white pepper - the wine is vinified nearly bone dry, resulting in a taut, lean structure that moves with spritely dynamism. The floral and spice tones meet fruitier flavors on the palate - white peach and lemon soda. A far cry from the California Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs that dominate the Golden State’s white wine scene. — 7 years ago
Wow, what a wine! Best of 2018 for us so far. Pop and pour. Lovely garnet color. Gorgeous nose of dark cherry and plum, mocha, tobacco and graphite. At first there was an overt cinnamon and vanilla oak scent, too, but that dissipated within an hour. Palate was silky smooth and elegant and perfectly balanced. For a nearly 10 year old wine this was still lively, broad, and deep. Tannins had subsided a bit but provided great grip and balanced well with the remaining acidity. Classy wine and that really blew us away. Recommend an hour or two of decanting for this. — 8 years ago
See previous tasting note from 43 weeks ago. This is an excellent aged Chardonnay from Great Southern in WA, an area better known for excellent Riesling and Shiraz. This had remnants of toasty oak, stone fruit and a little leesy funk. Drinking really well. — 4 years ago
I tried the 13 vintage a couple of years ago. This one is just as smooth. A full, ripe, and fruit forward wine. I like it. — 6 years ago
Purchased not long ago by Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines, who will continue traditions that Fred Furth began in 1972. 2015 was a perfect year for Chard. Aromas of tropical fruits, spice and citrus. On the palate melon & apricot, tad creamy with some citrus zest and toasty oak notes. Smooth and lingering, well balanced, nice acidity, ending with fruit and spicy oak. A Fav! Good value! — 7 years ago
Went to a tasting and they were featuring Chalk Hill, winery now owned by Bill Foley, of Foley Family Wines, who continues the traditions that Fred Furth, who founded CH in 1972. Had this ‘16 about a year ago. Rich deep straw color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits and citrus notes. On the palate ripe apple, sweet melon and lemon flavors with gentle vanilla toasty oak. Well balanced on lingering finish ending with oak and mineral notes. Aged well. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago
Ming L
Tasted this about a year ago. This second bottle does not have the wow factor like the first one. The nose is less fragrant and more meaty, and the palate a bit more herbal and angular, which is probably true to the varietal. Still a very complex wine. Have 1 bottle left and hopefully I can keep my hands off for another 2-3 years.
250 cases, and I believe the wine maker for the vintage is Bevan. Bennett Valley is the smallest, and probably the least known Sonoma sub AVA. — 4 years ago