Bob McDonald

9.1

I consumed my stocks of this dozen way too soon. I had the first bottle 209 weeks ago and now only have 1 left which I will leave until 2027 when 10 years old. Currently stacks of citric acid - lemon and lime. A whiff of Granny Smith Apple. Rob Diletti also makes the Riesling for his near neighbour Dukes which win awards left right and centre - 99 points from Halliday for the Dukes. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dark deep Ruby in colour. Red and black berries, plum and dirt aromas. Sweet and tarry on the medium to full bodied palate with a dash of black pepper - from the excellent 2018 Barossa vintage. Won the hotly contested Best 2018 Barossa Shiraz Trophy at the 2019 Barossa Valley Wine Show. 10 months in 95% French and 5% American Oak (25% new). Probably too heavy for the Pork mince (thought we were having beef mince) but doesn’t alter the quality of the wine. 97 points from James Halliday. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

At the monthly Downs Club Committee Dinner. A treat to be tasting one of Australia’s best Chardonnays. Pale Lemon in colour. Modern Chardonnay winemaking on show. Notes of struck match sulphides together with ripe grapefruit and citrus. On the palate on the lean side, but with its youth it will fill out with age. A classy Chardonnay which ever way you cut it with a long future. 98 points from James Halliday. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense Ruby in colour. All the classic Cabernet descriptors - Blackberry cassis, black olive and of course Mint - textbook Coonawarra Cabernet. On the palate such purity - ground cocoa, call it dark chocolate, berry fruits, touch of cedar. This wine at 10 years of age, whilst only young, and will live at least another decade, is drinking beautifully now. Made by the talented Sue Bell who was the Dux of the 2007 Len Evans Tutorial ( a handpicked group of only 12 - outstanding winemakers, somms and other full time wine professionals. Aubert de Villaine every year generously donates a mixed dozen of DRC, such was his friendship with Len Evans and James Halliday). Needless to say Sue Bell has one of the best palates in the country. A few years ago she was a guest Judge at the Toowoomba Wine Show where I often judge. I was in awe of her knowledge and her palate. On the strength of this wine I will order her 2015 Cabernet. — 5 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.2

Halliday says at its best 13 years ago? But wow, still ruby red and fresh, full of life. Opened dry and dusty but after an hour of decanting opened up beautifully. Rustic, spicy, unctuous with fine dusty tannins. So enjoying it. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

This is Clonakilla’s signature Shiraz Viognier blend. Very peppery from a lighter year in the Canberra district. Barb thought aromas of a spice drawer (nutmeg) and I have seen Halliday use the term “Arabian Nights” in similar vein. Light to medium bodied. Love the style but this is more elegant than usual. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Juicy red fruits with whole bunch stemmy notes coming through along with smoky nuances. A lovely bouquet. Finishes with a touch of astringency. James Halliday raved about this Wine and gave it 98 points. I was probably a bit stingy in retrospect with 93 points. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid Ruby red in colour with a tawny edge. Sour cherry with touches of pepper and cloves. Not as raspberry as I was expecting from old vine Mataro. With a couple of hours of aeration the raspberry notes started coming through finishing with Sandy tannins. This wine is made by the multi talented Andrew Caillard who is the supremo of Fine Wine retailer and auctioneer Langtons who allowed Andrew to make his superb range of wines under his own label using old vine Mataro and Shiraz; painted the exquisite labels himself and who achieved a Master of Wine in his spare time. I am lucky to have 5 of these beauties left. 96 points from James Halliday. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Similar to the note I made a year ago in August 2020. Aromas of dried herbs, bay leaf, tomato bush with a woody note (not Oak) which we identified as Walnut similar to the previous note. This Cabernet is slightly different to the northern Margaret River (Wilyabrup) Cabernets like Woodlands and Moss Wood. On the Medium plus bodied palate red and black fruits with currants and mulberries. This was from a good vintage and is currently in a great place. Enjoy a bottle if you have any. POSTSCRIPT: A note by James Halliday from the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting in 2010 , for the 2007 vintage - “the trio of Cape Mentelle, Moss Wood and Woodlands pushed Leoville Las Cases and Chateau Margaux out of contention. “ Admittedly 2007 was not a great year in Bordeaux. — 4 years ago

Ross Bathgate

8.9

Bought from Langton’s 2003 vintage. Both Oliver and Halliday say past it’s best. However a really lovely wine. Rich and luscious with bright fruit and chocolate at the back. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Very pale lemon - almost water white in this young Riesling which belies the profound intensity to come later. Aromas of talc and citrus. The first sip delivers mouth puckering acidity which the palate becomes used to and not as noticeable. On the palate notes of peach with the citrus and grapefruit. Light yet intense. A wonderful young Riesling with great potential for cellaring. The Drumborg vineyard planted in 1964 by Karl Seppelt and swept by icy winds from the Southern Ocean, it is one of the Southern-most vineyards of mainland Australia. James Halliday gave this wine 98 points and in his Top 100 wines of 2019. “Purity Balance and Length “ he says. — 5 years ago

Paul T HB

9.2

Its no Peter Michael, but not bad. Winery notes, Hunter region their home since 1960. Joss and Anna De Iuliis followed their family passion for wine and chose a property in the Lovedale Road region of the Lower Hunter Valley, converting a grazing property into a 20ha vineyard with the first vines planted in 1990. Australian wine critic James Halliday has been rating De Iuliis Wines a 5 star winery since 2010. The 2011 Aged Release sémillion is kept at the winery and aged in bottle for an additional seven years, allowing it to develop beeswax and honey characteristics while maintaining a fresh citrus palate. This is sémillion the way it is meant to be, without having to invest cellaring space. Only 250 cases produced.
You also might be interested in... click to collapse contents — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Pale to mid crimson with a Tawny aged Burgundy colour. Aromas of forest Floor Twigs with Asian Spices chiming in. Medium weight palate of profound intensity. Living up to its reputation as Australia’s premium Pinot producer. One should not drink Bass Phillip Premium under 10 years of age. With time the palate became sweeter but at all times delicious with the bouquet becoming more loamy and compost heap. As Australian Wine scribe James Halliday commented “eerily Burgundian.” A Wine to savour over a couple of hours with your partner. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

The chosen white wine for the Downs Club Magnum dinner This was a cellar release from Jim Barry recently purchased by the Club. Noticeable Kerosene aromas. Lime and mineral on the palate developing toasty maturity. A long life ahead coming from magnum. The Florita vineyard was famous in the 70s and 80s for the brilliant long lived Riesling made by John Vickery for the Leo Buring label. This wine given 98 points by James Halliday. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Herbal notes wth ripe red fruits. The palate reflects that ripe profile with savoury red and black cherry. Medium bodied - succulent texture. The 2020 vintage won the Victorian leg of the Australian Pinot Challenge and 98 points from James Halliday. Giant Steps Applejack PN is a regular purchase for me. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Aromatics of Talc, white flowers a little peach and grapefruit. On the palate citrus and peach with diminishing acid. Just a fabulous mature Riesling with just a hint of petro chemical developing in the form of paraffin. It stamps the Great Southern in Western Australia as one of the premium Riesling districts in Australia. One of the 1001 wines and deserves to be. James Halliday wrote “year in, year out, one of Australia’s best Rieslings”. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See many previous notes. Holding up comfortably from this excellent cooler vintage . 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Shiraz. I am lucky to have 6 bottles left from back in the day when I bought 2 dozen. Definitely drinking on the plateau and will carry on for a while yet. Medium weight palate but with great length and persistence. Will probably consume the rest over the next 3 to 4 years. Penfolds 2020 collection (17 wines)just released in Australia. The 2018 Bin 389 received 96 points from Halliday. The 2016 Grange is being talked about as one of the greats - 99 points from Halliday. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Crimson with a Tawny rim showing its age. Mellow and resolved - round and soft at 17 years of age. Black Olive tapenade and chocolatey notes. Leading Australian Wine Scribe, James Halliday, describes Wynns Black Label Cabernet as “the most important Cabernet in Australia with a magnificent history “. The first vintage was 1954 and in a few months time when the 2018 is released it will be the 63rd. Amazing QPR - the current 2017 can be purchased for $31.90 AUD. The wine is matured in new (never more than 20%) and old French and American oak for between 12 and 18 months depending on vintage. — 5 years ago

Nils Andersson

9.0

JAMES HALLIDAY 95 POINTS!
“Another vote of confidence in this relatively recently introduced label, sister to the Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon. It deserves to be so rated, with a particularly complex palate in terms of texture, structure and flavour. Red fruits lead the band, and there are some darker, savoury, earthy nuances, in turn enhanced by quality oak and fine, but persistent, tannins.” Peak Duration Cellar carefully for 5 to 12 years — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Good strong colour. Nose of dried cherry. Plenty of Extract and flavour. Smooth supple tannins James Halliday said the first and last Wines in this bracket of 5 were both Echezeaux and he was right!! Years of tasting good Burgundy to have those skills. — 7 years ago