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

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

9.7

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

Good Depth. Dense masculine and concentrated. Medium plus body and Intensity. More how I would identify Gevrey Chambertin Grand Cru. Biggest wine in the bracket. Dry powdery Tannins. I thought this was the Dugat Py Mazis when tasted blind and most of us were gob smacked when it was revealed as a Charmes. James Halliday who was at the tasting, and who has tasted more Burgundy than the rest of the room put together, said put this one away “for your grandchildren”. No. 4 of 9 in bracket. — 7 years ago

Poka Hontas

8.9

Fresh, crisp and not too sweet. Also labelled as top five star winery from HALLIDAY 2017 WINW COMPANION — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Pulling out some Icon Aussie wines before our kids go back to chilly New York. This is the 91 Hill of Grace. The 91 Grange will follow. The H of G has a slightly vegetal nose with hint of ground coffee. Rich ( but fading) full mouthfeel. Medium + intensity with medium minus finish using the WSET method. A classy wine with supple silky tannins. Interesting diversity of opinion from the experts with Hooke and Halliday saying drink by 2013 and 2014 respectively whereas Jancis Robinson in London is saying to 2040. Loved the wine but prefer to drink now rather than 2040. — 8 years ago

with Hugh and Georgina

Bob McDonald

9.3

Not as opulent as some Central Otago Pinots. This is from Martinborough. James Halliday who has had more Burgundies than most of us called this the "Pommard of New Zealand"! Notes of spice and rhubarb with excellent length. A top quality Pinot. Not cheap at $100+. — 9 years ago

Elissa Lancaster

9.9

After receiving 97 points from Halliday, tgis shiraz is the perfect example of a cool climate shiraz. So smooth and delicious with a lovely white pepper finish. The perfect bbq red! — 10 years ago

Lauren Elizabeth

10

We found this wine in Ohio. We love it! It's sweet, and so refreshing on a warm summer night! — 10 years ago

Andrew Whittle

Co-Owner/Director Summit Estate Wines

9.8

This is something special - not a big fan of the standard NV offering but having read Halliday in the Oz, thought it was worth a try - fresh with great balance & beautiful fruit/mineral - will definitely get some more for now & later! — 10 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.1

94 points from Mr Halliday, beautifully appointed. Medium bodied and chocolatey with layers for days. — 12 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

9.6

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

Bob McDonald

9.4

First of a group of 3 Red Burgundies from Aloxe-Corton. All had excellent colour of bright mid crimson. Bearing in mind we knew the identity of the 3 Wines but not the serving order. A jubey fruity nose showing Liqueur Cherries and some stalky stemmy notes. Had persistence and length with good acid. James Halliday noted Burgundian Tannins. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Another excellent cool climate Shiraz Viognier - this one from the Yarra Valley. Serrat is Tom Carson's family venture away from his mainstream Yabby Lake. The 2014 vintage of this sold out in 48 hours once it James Halliday Red wine of the year for 2015. Loved the Nose on this of Minerals Dirt Coal Dust - Sulphidic one could say. Very close planted at 8800 vines per hectare. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon. A nose of citrus but a palate of stone fruit. White peach and cream. Palate staining intensity with great length. Oak is totally integrated into the fruit at 9 years. Used to be regarded as Australia's premier Chardonnay and probably still is depending on your style preference. Other Margaret River icons plus Giaconda , Oakridge and Bindi amongst others in the East also vying for the mantle. World class. Halliday once compared the 1987 to a premier Cru Puligny. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Deep purple in color. Amazingly full bodied and "thick" for a Craiglee which one normally associates with spicy peppery cool climate aromas, but hardly a trace of this in 2003, a drought year. Some cherry vanilla notes. For all of our OS Delectable members, if you ever fly into Melbournes Tullamarine Airport, instead of going south on the Freeway to the city go north for 15 to 20 minutes and you will come to Craiglee. Vines first planted in the 1860s and best known for its marvellous long lived Shiraz. James Halliday tasted the 1872 (not a misprint!!) in 1993 and gave it 95 points! Challenges Biondi Santi Riserva re longevity!! I have a magnum of the 2003 which will stay sleeping for many more years. — 9 years ago

Matthew Deavin

9.0

Halliday gave the '12 95pts - who am I to argue. — 10 years ago

Jimmy Lee

10

2015 Wine companion wine of the year. $89 at restaurant. 99 points Halliday. It's awesome. I'd give it 97 points though. Definitely have had better wines, but at the price it's pretty darn good. Sold out everywhere. — 11 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

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

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

9.3

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

9.3

Raspberry notes. On palate smooth with medium intensity tannins. Excellent QPR. The 2015 vintage was just very highly rated in James Halliday annual awards at 98 points. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

This is the 6th of an original 6 and from the first bottle the tasting notes have been consistent. This wine has a weird vegetal nose. I have described as H2S in previous notes. This off putting note does not come through on the palate which exhibits ripe fruits with raspberry to the fore. Finishing off with trademark silky tannins. As a coincidence of timing it's illustrious elder brother Hill of Grace - the 2012 vintage was just judged Wine of the Year by Australia's leading wine scribe James Halliday. Well done to Henschke. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Now to the star of the show the launch of the 2014 - generally considered to be the best vintage since the storied 1965 (examples of the 65 Lindemans HR Burgundy still fresh and drinking superbly according to Jim Chatto). Now using up to 66% Rosehill fruit. Bright Ruby with a purple tinge. Primary fruit aromas of plum and cherry with vanillan oak and palate staining intensity. An inner core which will carry this on for decades - Halliday says as close to a 100 year old wine as you are ever likely to see. Most probably but who will be around to check? — 9 years ago

Rubychick

9.5

Wowsers. James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge 3rd place in Australia. Insanely good, struck match intensity. Reminiscent of a mighty fine Burgundy. Immediately channelling Erika Turner. — 10 years ago

with Erika

Bob McDonald

9.0

I have been trying to love Wendouree for about 15 years but I am still struggling in the face of expert professional opinions such as Langtons (multiple) and James Halliday who is a long term fan. This 02 Cab Malbec is in the mainstream of Wendouree tasting notes. Iodine and menthol - full bodied but ending up with a slightly bitter and astringent finish. I Just don't get the admiration for Wendouree and still have a lot of bottles in my cellar! 17. — 10 years ago

William Douglas

9.5

Plenty of time left in this one. Big fruit, dark colour, plenty of acid - unusual in a 12 year old red.
3/6.5/9.75 = 19.25
Score 95 out of 100
Halliday rated 94 drink by 2016 — 12 years ago