David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nose of ripe; blackberries, blueberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, white & black pepper, soft, chalky minerals with light & dark fresh florals. On the palate, lean; blueberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black licorice, soft baking spices; clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, powdery crushed rocks, leather, dry & fresh dark florals with understated white & black pepper. Photos of parts of the soil structure in the Gimblett Gravels and vines around their Cellar Door. — 7 years ago

Trevor Loomis

9.2

I have drunk cases of this wine over the last 8 years, I'm personal friends with Bob, Dinah, John and Brigid. This wine has surprised me for years. Back in 2008 we thought the wine was falling over so we tried to sell it out through the cellar door, but it just keeps going. I had another bottle with my wife the other night and it didn't disappoint. Beautiful savory notes on the nose and the palate. Lashings of tobacco, dried herbs and iodine on the nose with a touch of molasses. On the palate flavours of stewed plums, herbs, iodine and slightly gamey. Lovely integrated oak with silky fine grain tannins on the finish. This wine just keeps going. The only fault would be the corks are dried out and a bitch to get out in one piece. Gordon Russell is an icon and one of New Zealand's greatest winemakers. — 8 years ago

Tom Gable

9.0

Dark purple; cocoa, prune, ripe grape nose (13.5 alc); big body chewy; a little one dimensional; hard finish; needs time. — 8 years ago

Nichole Mao

9.4

Fruit forward, dark cherry, dried herb. Fruit upfront, ripe cherry, texture tannin, dense flavors, structured with good body weight. — 9 years ago

Johan Enoksson

9.0

A big suprise. Fruity, yet spicy. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Earlier notes more than5 years ago indicate the unlikely scenario of a Kiwi Fruit Bomb.
Gaining complexity with an intoxicating concentrated nose. Northern Rhone characteristics. Very impressive. 17.5+. — 10 years ago

Keith Crump

8.9

Deep blue red light spicy red fruit — 10 years ago

Lee Warren

9.5

Quality bottle — 10 years ago

David Quammen

9.7

01/06/14, Salt Lake City, Kris's house - Luke Patterson's Birthday — 10 years ago

Phil Stark

9.1

A really good honest drop. Big and full of flavour. Really good value when on special! $14.99 — 11 years ago

Liz Hale

9.5

Violets on the nose, big badass Malbec. Gimblett Gravels, nuff said. — 7 years ago

Harri Sharman

9.5

Dark chocolate, deep earthy leatheriness, dark dried red currant, balsamic strawberries... 😍 — 8 years ago

John Wight

Sommelier/Wine Director Luce Restaurant

9.6

Another beautiful, black pepper spice. Blackberry, stunning depth and length — 8 years ago

Rob Sonogan

8.9

Good wine with plenty of fruit. Was expecting a bit more. — 9 years ago

Nichole Mao

9.4

Pronounced fruit on the nose. Good tannin texture. Pepper, dried herb, structured. Long finish. — 9 years ago

Amy Monroe

8.9

From Gimblett Gravels. Black raspberry, blueberry, anise, pepper. Proper Syrah with excellent lift. — 9 years ago

Phil Stark

9.6

Smooooooth! Pepper and coffee on the nose. Berries and a hint of licorice. Lovely.
— 10 years ago

Phil Baker

9.6

NZ Bordeaux blend. At Marche aux Fleurs. — 10 years ago

Scott Claffee

8.9

Damn. Why did Blake Family stop making wine? It's good! — 10 years ago

John Murphy

9.7

07 @missionestate Jewelstone Cab; seriously complex full bodied Bordeaux blend. Still dark Gimblett Gravels wine. Opening next bottle 2016. — 10 years ago

Douglas Renall

8.9

Buttery and oaky with stone fruit characters #nzwine #hawkesbay — 7 years ago

Neil McGregor

9.2

When I opened this the first thing I got was Marmite! But once it settled I got good fruit and vanilla from oak. I loved this - it's different and it's very good. — 8 years ago

Keith Crump

9.0

Grrat drinking Spaniard style with kiwi twist — 8 years ago

Rob Patchett

9.3

Single vineyard cab Franc, touch of cab sauv. Not stalky, good fruit, awesome wine. Food definitely 22. 99 — 9 years ago

J. Xiang

9.0

2010 ruby with brown, bright blackberry, cameral, licorice, cough syrup. Round mouthfeel, dry, bitter jammy finish. — 9 years ago

Stephane Leduc

9.0

Had 2008 with a nice steak! — 9 years ago

Ian Benson

9.0

Peppery and easy to drink — 10 years ago

Kevin Yen

9.5

2014/5/23@An-Fu Rd Shanghai with Nancy — 10 years ago

Melvin De Boer

9.8

Very very nice! — 10 years ago

Alexander Ushkvarok

9.7

Rich fruit aroma, cherry, and some other black fruits. Strong, but at the same time very harmonious tannins, full body! Taste like dried fruits! Long and warming aftertaste! — 11 years ago