Doug Powers

9.2

Burnt match/sulphur initially, fair level of new oak, round and voluptuous, solid acidity, lingering finish, not sure how long this would age (@Bob McDonald, any thoughts), but liking this tonight a lot!! — a month ago

with Jim

Boris Mathiszik

9.0

Fruit forward, big cassis notes. Not the longest finish but this is definitely a good value quaffer. Having it chilled after a long exhausting day on Fraser Island adds to the allure. 🇦🇺 — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Dense purple/black in the glass - opaque. Not giving much on the nose initially following decanting. Needed vigorous swirling. Barossa plum, prune and earth. Very full bodied on the palate. Quite concentrated. A very big wine in comparison to many other Sami-Odi Cuvées I’ve had over the years. HH said It needs ages (“drinking window of 2018 to 2041 - over extracted?)” I tend to think the difficult vintage conditions in 2014 as explained by Fraser is the reason. Harvest was a full 2 months later than normal - harvesting the 2nd shooting of the vines during the first 2 weeks of April. Yielding only 274 dozen. This wine has a long cellaring future. An element of tannic astringency which is more a result of the size of the wine. This is the first of 3 bottles I purchased in 2016. It will be many years before I have the next one. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A pale lemon yellow in colour - quite youthful looking for a 12 year old Chardonnay. Aromatics of white peach - mealy and nutty notes, still with a nice acid cut at the finish. Drinking at its peak. Fuller than some Marg River Chardonnays I’ve had lately like Xanadu and Fraser Gallop. I have had richer Art Series Chardonnays but personally I love the balance in this. — 2 hours ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A blend of 6 vintages - 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%), and 2015 (2%). From the Hoffmann’s Dallwitz vineyard. 6327 bottles filled. Aromatics of old vine Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is so plush and ample together with liquorice, chocolate, blue fruits, and spices that it masks the M plus tannins. I note that Fraser likes to taste these Little Wines “when primal and vital, a year or two after vintage “. I totally agree. I have tasted Little Wines with over 5 years of cellaring and find that you are giving up that freshness and vitality for a limited increase in savoury profile. The secondary value of Sami-Odi wines have increased dramatically in recent years. I paid $55 per bottle on release and note that United Cellars are now selling for $325. All the more annoying when I broke a bottle unpacking the tricky little cartons of 3 when I received them. The odd 4 letter word was uttered!!! Therefore I have one left for future enjoyment. I ended up having the last bottle 68 weeks later on 4th May 2025 with consistent notes taking into account Fraser’s note that he likes to drink Little Wine in its first couple of years. Blackberry currant and chocolate. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

In Adelaide tonight and trying the entry level Yangarra Grenache from McLaren Vale made by Grenache master Peter Fraser. No detailed notes - but medium bodied, medium tannins - red and black fruits. Driving 4 1/2 hours to Coonawarra today. See you at Bellwether. — 4 years ago

Joanne Frette

9.0

A sophisticated take on a Cabernet Merlot Cabernet frank blend. This classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Merlot is from Margaret River. It’s well balanced and sophisticated and beautifully made. the nose is a red cherry and cedar and the pallet is full of red fruit and integrated tannins. A nice persistant wood spice on the finish. — 6 months ago

Geoff Upston

9.2

Couldn’t pick the bay leaves, sorry. 2019, drunk in 2024. Really nice drinking right now, feeling it will be awesome in another few years. Will try and get a case of this vintage. — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2005 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 15 mins, 45 mins and 2 hrs. Throwing decent sed. Great color. Overt baby fat from this producer dissipated but plenty of the usual, front-palate richness found in the first decade of life still evident. In “the zone” currently. Medium bodied. Not improving but tasting like it’s closer to the front of “the zone”than the mid-section or the caboose. Flavors, concentration and overall impression sez this continues to gallop along in this lane and at this pace for another decade before fading noticeably. 11.5.23. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Not as good as the 2018 which is weird as 19 is usually better than 18 in Cote Rotie. Let’s see what air does. Noseis funky, floral, spicey and a bit horsey. Hopefully it blows off. Very nice framing minerality but the horse is here and will gallop off into the distance soon. Paste is ripe and juicy with terrific power, depth and concentration. Big, ripe and sweet tannins. Super pure and super young. Engaging freshness and energy but the tannins are a bit aggressive and less focused than I’d like. 9.3 for now. Let’s see. It is opening up to be very elegant but also there is a sur maturite factor that’s not that great and the fruits is losing focus. HMMMMMMM??? — 3 years ago