Extraordinary. Inky, deep purple color. Intoxicating bouquet. Plums, blackberries, dark cherries, chocolate, and a hint of tobacco. Full mouth feel. Elegant. Complex. A finish with a hint of sweetness. Decant for at least 60 minutes - it’s worth the wait. — 6 years ago
Delicious! — 7 years ago
It’s a nice wheated bourbon, and at the price can be a go-to workhorse. It’s got the same spice profile as ORVW, but lacks the soft finish. It’s good though, and just being in the Van Winkle conversation is saying something. — 8 years ago
Love this — 9 years ago
Bold and smooth. Let it breath — 4 years ago
Lovely southern Rhône white blend from the Barossa at Heckfield Place, The Sun House restaurant - partnered both fish and meat dishes well. — 6 years ago
Dark and jammy — 8 years ago
Patrina is essentially Alban's second label - mostly declassified barrels from Reva, Lorraine, and Seymour's if I remember what John told me. It's got a lot of the tell-tale characteristics of an Alban syrah in terms of the nose (e.g., the roasted meat, blackberries, and hints of iodine and camphor), just less of them. Medium-plus bodied on the palate. What it lacks - and why I rated it as low as I did - is any tannic backbone. I imagine this is in part by design: kinda like a Rosso di Montalcino to be consumed while the Brunellos are ageing in the cellar (in this case the "Brunellos" are Reva, Lorraine, and Seymours). Still a terrific wine for the price, though: lots of CA wines out there at double the price that deliver one-fouth what this does. Doesn't have the stuffing to age very long, though, so enjoy this one early!
(Increased my rating a bit - started evolving a bit more with time in the glass) — 8 years ago
Not sure about it. Mouth feel is good earthy sanguine flavors that I am still processing. — 4 years ago
Beautifully aromatic showing blueberries so I though it might have a fair amount of Malbec. Texture is supple yet there is a bit of a grip. A little astringent. A nice sipping wine and pairs nicely with our rib eye too! TD-9 is named for the tractor John Shafer drive in the vineyards. May he rest In peace.
62%Merlot, 22%Malbec, 16%Cabernet Sauvignon — 6 years ago
Savory, strawberry, pomegranate, forest floor, truffle. So crushable. — 7 years ago
This Syrah is made in conjunction with Consultant, John Duval of Penfolds fame. John has also been making his Duval private label wines since he departed Penfolds back in Barossa. Gorgeous nose of sweet dark currants, dark moist soils, licorice, smoke, grilled meats, violets and fresh florals. The palate is rich, round, thick, sexy and elegant. Blackberries, liqueured, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, lots blue fruits, smoke, grilled meats, cinnamon, vanilla, rich scorched earth, loamy soils, touch of crushed dry rocks, liquid violets, dark fresh flowers and full, mellow acidity. The structure, length, tension and balance are drop dead gorgeous. The finish is thick, full and flat out mouthwatering and jaw dropping gorgeously sexy. Photos of the Long Shadows logo, one of their vineyards and beautiful tasting room. — 8 years ago


Joe Dunn
Great black fruit. Black pepper. Ripe and slight underripe. 36th bday wine. Violet tar tabaco. Charred earth. — 4 years ago