Bob McDonald

9.7

Initial impressions - Earthy, Herbal, Soy. Cherry complex and long. Much intestinal fortitude ie. guts. Thankfully not overly menthol/eucalyptus (just a trace) as you often get with all Wendouree Cuvées. Amazing the intensity provided by those old vines going back to the 1890’s. Could easily last another 5 to 10 years but pretty much at its peak right now. This is as good as Australian Shiraz gets - up there with Grange and Hill of Grace and recognised as such by Langtons. With time in the decanter, like all great wines, they develop and change. I was getting raspberry and mineral after a few hours. An exceptional wine and in the top 5 or so wines I have had this year. In good vintages I don’t think Wendouree Shiraz should be approached at under 20 years of age. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; brambly, blackberries, dark cherries, stewed strawberries, blueberries, hints of slightly cooked rhubarb, mix of black plum & plum, creamed raspberries, vanilla, touch of cinnamon, clove and even less nutmeg, dark spice, underbrush, soft leather, fresh tobacco, limestone minerals, dry herbs-bay leaf, mid, mixed, berry cola, crushed, dry rock, steeped fruit tea, cherry kirsch, slight liqueur notes, candied; violets, fresh dark & red florals with hints of lavender.

The body is full, still youthful and lush. The palate & tannins are rounded but, teethe, tarry & a touch austere. The tension, structure, length and balance are very nice but, still have 7–10 years good drinking ahead. Brambly, blackberries, dark cherries, stewed strawberries, blueberries, hints of slightly cooked rhubarb, mix of black plum & plum, creamed raspberries, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, clove and even less nutmeg, dark spice, black licorice, underbrush, old, soft leather, fresh tobacco, limestone minerals, dry herbs-bay leaf, mid, mixed, berry cola, tarry notes, crushed, dry rock, dry top soil, steeped fruit tea, cherry kirsch, slight liqueur notes, candied; violets, fresh dark & red florals with hints of lavender.

One flaw, the first glass showed a little to much alcohol heat but, dissipated after. 14.5 ABV...seemed more like 15.5.

Photos of; our visit to Larkmead’s tasting room, the back courtyard and two aspects of their tasting patio. — 6 years ago

Adam shaywitz

9.2

Nice, berry-flavored — 7 years ago

Ryan Mayes

9.2

Amazing how unique these three wines are. There are obviously, in the grand scheme of things, more similarities than differences between them, but the differences are tangible. For 2015, the VH has dark explosive nose, somewhat gritty tannins, and ripe dark berry core. — 8 years ago

with Marcus

John

9.0

Very smooth light Cab, slight velvety overtones with a berry finish — 8 years ago

Christina Arellano

9.3

I love this wine. Dark berry light tannin — 8 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.0

Nice Magnum-dark berry fruit — 4 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.5

Wowow. Salmon-ruby colored, packed with red fruit, pink-green just ripe strawberries, wild berry, and zingy minerality and acid. But with a leesy, buttery quality reminiscent of great rosé champagne. Intoxicating combination, leading with the nose. Excellent texture and mouthfeel, and a long finish. Great stuff; some of the top rosé, anywhere. — 5 years ago

Flobaco

9.2

Lovely sweet fruit. Delicious — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Dense ruby in colour. Blackberry and mocha aromas - Berry flavours with dark chocolate on the palate - Oak has integrated with the fruit finishing with chalky Tannins. Medium to full bodied. Excellent quality from the second cheapest Penfolds red wine Cuvée and good value - still with a good future. The Cabernet showing itself with a little astringency at the finish. At the Gold Coast. — 6 years ago

Nicholas Evans

9.1

Heaps of sediment, big heavy Shiraz — 7 years ago

with Michelle

Martin G Rivard

9.4

This will take a bunch of you by surprise but this is my absolute first bottle of 2012 edge Hill Bacigaluppi that did not literally blow my mind! I consider this one of the top five Chardonnays that I have ever had from Napa and I’ve had a lot of Chardonnays from Napa! It was not Corked but definitely fell 100% flat tonight. No depth, no structure simply fruit. I had friends at the house and was trying to impress them But literally threw this bottle down the drain and open to something else. Oh well, shit happens as they say! @David L @Shawn R @Joe Lucca @Mike R @Ron R @Howard Greenfield @Shay A — 8 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

8.9

#clarevalley #riesling Great producer. I believed this wine to be very good, but yet not outstanding because of its over the top burnt matchstick aromas and flavors. They sort of mask and ruin everything for me. It has many good qualities like pronounced aromas of yellow apples and quince and limes. With a long finish and pronounced flavor intensity but with the phosphorus quality becoming annoying. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded by Donn and Molly Chappelet in 1967 on renowned Pritchard Hill. A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 8% Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, cedar, cacao and sweet herbs. On the palate rich flavors of blackberry and currants with sweet oak and herbs with a great mouthfeel. Tight tannins, a bit chewy, long ending with fruit, cacao and sweet oak. Will improve, just starting to drink well now! Decant! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Part of their "Blue Series," Isabelle, named after the birth of Jim’s daughter in 1995, was first top end Pinot Noir that was a blend from different locations, 6 in 2015. Ruby, Aromas of berry fruits with citrus, herbs & floral notes, aged for 2 years in new French Oak. On the palate layers of gentle ripe fruit flavors of raspberry and cherry with citrus and oak wrapped in gentle spice. Wine has great depth, soft tannins, well integrated, savory, long ending with a nice mouthfeel. Very Nice! Last bottle! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this about 10 months ago, still very nice. Located halfway up the hill dominating the principal valley of Barolo, supported by steep slopes lined by orderly vineyards, lies the 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Dark Ruby with ripe berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate cherry and strawberry, some spice, well balanced with savory chewy tannins on a medium finish ending with mineral notes. Great value. Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Janessa Wright

9.0

Rich dark berries of cherry and black berry with hints of oak and good body supported by firm tannins. — 6 years ago

JJ Lumia

8.9

Current and mushroom bouquet. Plum and licorice flavors, little heavy on the licorice. Medium bodied. A WS Top 100. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Superb €38 now £65 personal fav from St Em in top year 👍 w/ fab QPR & a soft spot for me as I had this same vintage from the barrel 😍 93 going 95-96

🍇 71% Merlot & 29% Cab F

🍷Opaque ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Chocolate coated black cherry, berry & plum through smokey oak, liquorice & wet crushed mineral rock w/ violets

👄 Med+ creamy silky mocha dark berry plum bang w/ liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long mocha berry plum slight dry mineral linger purple teether — 8 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.0

Lovely straw green/gold color with lots of glycerin. At eight years this wine is full of CHARDONNY flavors without oak tones. With salmon this was a good match. Stony Hill produces pure top quality CHARDONNY . Kudos to Mike Chelini and his wine making skills. — 8 years ago