Bob McDonald

9.5

Meaty aromatics with spice, liquorice and a little pepper. An excellent medium plus bodied Shiraz which has always been one of my favourite Australian Reds. Medium plus intensity of flavour. Oak has been totally integrated. The next day comparing with a Te Mata Bullnose Shiraz from Hawkes Bay NZ. This is definitely more full bodied and less peppery than the Bullnose. Still an inner core of strength to the Langi which will see it last for another 5 + years. It’s fair to say the style of the Langi has changed over the past 20 years but it remains an Icon. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

The final wine at the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday night 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. Fitting that Dry Red No. 1 should be the final wine - arguably the Jewel in the Crown. Initial aromatic impressions are gorgeous. This is the 50th vintage of Dry Red No. 1. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Brief notes - blackberry, aniseed and bay leaf. A medium bodied Cabernet with M+ intensity and finishing with fine boned tannin structure. Power with poise, concentration with finesse. Will live for 20 years plus. I have been buying on an irregular basis for many years. The 1990 was a highlight. I asked Sarah, who was Chairman of the Royal Sydney Wine Show this year to compare 3 of the main Cabernet producing areas in Australia - Yarra Valley leafy fragrance, Coonawarra Mint, and Margaret River herbaceousness. At Restaurant Dan Arnold. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Currently about 5 hours east of Melbourne in east Gippsland tasting this brilliant William Downie Pinot Noir. See several previous Delectable notes from earlier vintages. This wine manages to combine light to medium weight with medium plus intensity. Red fruited with Sous Bois. Downie is a gifted winemaker working in an excellent terroir for Pinot Noir. Would like to have more access to his wines up in Queensland. — a year ago

Big Wave Dave

9.2

Good mid palate weight and purity. Red sweet raspberries get swamped in grippy acid and savoury notes. excellent balance. Good but not great p/q — 4 years ago

Scott Rowe

8.9

A good Pinot.
Options time for the last hooray of V20 — 5 years ago

Nedas Ka

10

Ritch oily smoothness😉 — 6 years ago

Ron R

9.4

It’s been years since I tasted this wine. Indeed, I was drinking the stuff made by Dr Bailey Carrodus before he passed. I’m pleased to note that the current winemaker hasn’t stepped off the reservation.
Nose is brambly and dense. Notes of figs, dates and cedar waft from the glass. Not as dense on the mid-palate as i recall, but well balanced, with no overbearing oak. Texture on the palate invokes a crunchy mouthfeel. This will benefit from more cellaring, but drinking very well right now.
Thanks to @Bob McDonald for reminding me how much I have missed this wine. — 6 months ago

with Anne-marie

Bob McDonald

9.3

Brief notes. Great Pinot from the Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard are an annual event these days. The 2023 vintage has just been awarded Halliday’s Pinot Noir of the year. This wine was pale to mid crimson. Red cherry. Essence of Pinot Noir and one of Australia’s best. The reputation set up by Steve Flamsteed and carried on by Melanie Chester and the new ownership in the USA. Sweet sappy red fruits. Medium weight. Very good. — 7 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2023 Selección Especial Nº2 Victoria was sourced from a 1920-planted vineyard in Vélez-Málaga, Alta Axarquía, in the Sierras de Málaga. This late-harvest wine was aged seven months on the lees and bottled with 190 grams of sugar. Yellow in hue, it presents herbal aromas with peach and apricot notes and a faint hint of nard. Sweet and balanced on the palate, it offers an intense mouthfeel with a long-lasting savory finish. This is a delicate, well-crafted wine. (Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous, September 2024)
— 7 months ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.3

It’s been a while between Curly pinots. Always a joy to open one, with fond memories attached along with the pleasure of the wine itself. Despite five years from vintage, this is still young and stern but elegant. Clear lines and structure, a spicy, cedary top note amongst red fruit and firm but soft tannins. Clean, I’d call it, plus whole bunch characters. Quality pinot undoubtedly, that should improve even more. — 3 years ago

with Sam

October Cleveland

9.0

Don’t know how this one escaped my attention for so long, but I get why it’s so well loved. Ridiculous QPR. At the risk of both revealing my ignorance and offending everyone, I reckon this is the drink Stanley Dry White cask (a seminal drop in my existence, and fellow Australian cheapo icon) aspires to be. Whistle-clean citrusy drinker with intensity right round the edges. Cellaring a few of these from now on. — 5 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.4

Another 1998! This one was more dense, strong on the nose leaping out of the glass. Very surprising, vast palate. — 6 years ago

with Mark and Matt

Hessel Idema

9.6

Dark, full bodied, fruit and a dry finish. Highly recommended! — 6 months ago

Scott Gould

9.1

Letty’s 50th Bday — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

At the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. A blend of Shiraz, Viognier, Mataro and Marsanne. The original vineyards of Shiraz and Marsanne were established in 1969 with additional vineyards of Mataro and Viognier planted from 1984 to 1995. A lovely red berried perfume (raspberry) with some stalks added back in. Interestingly some fermenters have added frozen Viognier skins to the bottom, some have Marsanne skins. Sarah is always wanting to push the envelope with her winemaking. A classic Rhone style, blended with perfume in mind. Red wine of the year from the Halliday Wine Companion and awarded 99 points from Philip Rich from that publication. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

At my 2015 Chardonnay Challenge the Bindi Quartz was the consensus winner from 6 Chardonnays. Ripe grapefruit and mineral - very balanced. Finishes with a touch of moreish salinity. Quite an achievement to finish No. 1 in this field. — 8 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Fourrier x Australia — 3 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

V17. Pretty good... opaque color. Smokey nose. Substantial black cherry fruit. Black pepper, chocolate and earthy finish. Nicely balanced . — 4 years ago

S T

9.4

Currant and perfume on the nose with some vanilla and subtle saline minerality. Full bodied dark fruits, velvet on the tongue, great mouthfeel. Tight, moderately tannic, then a smooth prolonged finish.
(Opened on my dad’s 80th) — 5 years ago

Michael Roberts

9.1

Delicious this is one of my go to wines. Low tanning taste, with the perfect amount of sweetness for me — 6 years ago