Barry Morgan

9.6

The Canberra district's best red wine. Opulent with a heady perfume of raspberries and cassis. A smooth palate with dark plum, cherry and berry flavours. Tim Kirk is an impressive winemaker. — 5 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.1

Yes! A great representation of what can become of gamay from a Cru village wine. The typical esters are there on the nose but the overall fruit and some darker tertiary flavours are present. A bit light on the palate despite the 14% but this is made up for by the long delicate spicy-flowery finish. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

At the Peter Lehmann dinner at the Downs Club a few days ago. Very dark in colour - almost black. Still a detuned style from the Stonewells of 10 years ago Still manages to be rich, luscious and decadent. Dark plum and chocolate flavours. The winery says this can be cellared with confidence until 2035. — 6 years ago

Michael B

9.2

Laughing stock and specifically portfolio remains one of my favourite BC wines. It’s composed of 45% Merlot, 25% Cab Sav, 22% Cab Franc, 7% Malbec, 1% petit Verdot. The 2012 vintage is still holding well. Dark plums, cherries, raspberries. medium earthiness, mild cigar box followed by red peppers spices, cloves and anise. It is just past it’s peak but still holding well. Should drink within the next year. — 7 years ago

Jason Brater

9.2

Sampled over time over about 3 hrs. This needs at least 2 hrs decanting as it only started to hit its stride after it past the 2 hrs open. Lingering tannins w dark red fruits. A beautiful example of syrah. — 8 years ago

with Heather and Trent

Jay Kline

9.4

Brought the bottle up from out of the cellar and pulled the cork about an hour before the first pour. Bin-stained label. Cork was in perfect condition. After pouring the first glass, it was clear that we were in for a treat as we could smell the bouquet from across the table, drawing me in closer. Notes of cassis, dried apricots(?!), tobacco, damp forest floor, well-oiled ball glove, fresh asphalt and a touch of green bell pepper. So many wonderful layers! The color was deep garnet and hardly showing any signs of age. Some fine sediment was present. On the palate it was cassis, tobacco and a touch of cocoa. Finish lasts for 20-30 seconds. Beautiful body. Tannin is still a factor though it's not a chore to get past. Considering the adequate acid, considerable structure, and the fact that this tasted nowhere near 17 years old, I would have to say that the 2000 vintage will last for decades to come. This was an outstanding bottle. Drink now or Hold. — 9 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.0

CabS 60%, Merlot 29%, CF 9%, Petit Verdot 1%, Carmenère 1%. Deep reddish purple color. Powerful, concentrated and aromatic. Persistent flavors of black fruits. Complex with good finish. Wine have just reached its peak and will stay there for at least 5-7 years. Château Clerc Milon rated as a 5th growth Grand Cru (1855 Class.), but given its great quality for past decades deserves 3-4th growth. So it is a bargain most of the time. Belongs to Baron Philippe de Rothschild since 1970. Rating 4,0/5 — 9 years ago

Max Kelly

9.3

My last bottle, and caught just past peak. Beautiful cassis and mulberry fruit framed by a prominent note of pipe tobacco from start to finish. Tannins fully resolved into a soft, velvety mouthfeel. Delicious if perhaps missing that bit of structure that has given it focus in past bottles. Beginning it’s slide from secondary to tertiary. Still - lovely bottle to drink with a great friend. — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

The wine is deep ruby colour. On the nose the wine has pronounced intensity aromas with primary aromas of black fruit (blackberry, black cherry, black plum); secondary aromas of oak (vanilla, cloves, coconut, cedar) and Malolactic conversion (butter, cream); and tertiary aromas of dried fruit (prune), earth and meat.
On the palate the wine is dry with high acidity, high fine grained tannins and medium alcohol. The wine has pronounced intensity flavours with primary flavours of black fruit (blackberry, black cherry, black plum); secondary flavours of oak (vanilla, cloves, coconut, cedar) and Malolactic conversion (butter, cream); and tertiary flavours of dried fruit (prune), earth and meat.
The wine is full bodied and has a long finish.
The wine is outstanding. The wine is balanced with ripe, rich and dried black fruit supported by a high acidity and medium alcohol and while tannic, the tannins are fine-grained. The wine has a long finish that is full of flavor. The aromas and the flavours are pronounced and full of nuanced tertiary aromas and flavours. It is showing typicity of an old-world continental moderate climate/vintage Syrah. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Beautiful deep purple color with a nice, translucent red edge at the glass.

Nose has plum, cedar, violets, cedar, moist earth and fresh black pepper.

Palate has plum, black cherry, bitter dark chocolate, over-ripe strawberry and faint oak.

This wine is very plumy, and just delicious. 2021-23+ for future bottles, likely in a very nice place in 8-10 years past vintage. QPR delivered at our purchase price of $24! — 7 years ago

Marek Svanda

9.7

Lots and lots of vanilla. But not overpowering. Just lovely piškot flavours. Finish is never ending. Basically there is no finish as that would employ an end. Lovely stuff — 8 years ago

with Kamila

Matt

9.0

Seemed a bit tired and operating on a low frequency. Don't have much experience, if any, with old Bordeaux but despite the lack of presence I enjoyed the tertiary notes this wine has. Texturally the wine was elegant and beautifully textured. Curious if past prime or off bottle? — 8 years ago

Matt Brock

9.3

I've had this bottle in the cellar for a LONG time (probably past peak)...waiting for the right occasion. Here is to ten eventful years of Builders Bargain. Jammy, delicate flavor. 13 years of aging has given this a very earthy quality. Decanted for 90 minutes but should get even more spectacular through the evening. Cheers! — 9 years ago

with Jennifer

TheSkip

9.1

A much better showing than the previous couple of times I have had this. I was so disappointed to not like this in the past. Today, a much more well balanced and rounded classic Australian Shiraz. Not jammy but certainly background notes of blackberry jam. Appropriate acidity to balance it out. I guess it just needed some time! — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A complex nose of red and black berries (raspberry) with mocha, dark chocolate and coffee beans. Medium to full bodied rich earthy and berry flavours on the palate with soft yet persistent tannins. An amazing inner core strength even at 18 years which will go on for at least another decade. Richard Hemming MW had a drinking window of 2010 to 2042!! He could well be right. I have been collecting Penfolds Bin 389 for many years and the best practice is to buy at least a dozen, put it in a cool dark corner of your cellar for at least 15 years. I have 8 bottles of this 2002 left. This was a cool vintage with a long hang time for the grapes making it exceptional. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Shiraz. — 6 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

It's so interesting to have my first CA Zin post-Puglia trip. So, I've been drinking Zin since at least the famous 1994 vintage. I've known the grape's heritage for quite a while. I drank a lot of Primitivo in Puglia this past month. And honestly, they didn't evoke memories of Zins, but now the reverse is certainly true. This reminds me of a ripe, big fruit Salento Primitivo.

Lytton Springs is 74% zin, 16% petite sirah, 8% carignane, and 2% mourvedre. It's a deep purple, medium plus bodied wine with white pepper, licorice, and a blackberry undertone. A bit hot on the alc, medium tannins, medium minus acidity.

I've had better from Ridge, but they rarely disappoint and this doesn't.

92 points — 6 years ago

Matt Franco

9.1

Perhaps just past peak but plenty of pleasure to be had. Into its 4th hour lots of smoky/meaty nuance emerged. — 8 years ago

David Wanek

9.8

Need to try this in a line up of other HS. The nose seems to be bigger and more aromatic on this one versus past vintages (from memory). As always super smooth, concentrated and exceedingly well made. — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.3

1994 vintage. On a sailing boat in Sydney Harbour not with the proper glassware. On the nose, fresh black fruits, gentle spices and leather notes. More savoury than sweet. Not obviously a 20+ year old wine. On the palate, mild alcohol and body, good concentration of flavours and soft but noticeable tannins. Elegance with a touch of umph. Very Hill of Grace. The finish was good, but not quite as long as some other vintages I have recently had. This wine was certainly not fully mature. Could age for another 15 years I suspect. Very good. — 9 years ago

Rob Squire

9.4

Very tasty. Nice cab sav bite and flavours with no after bite of nitrates — 9 years ago