Bob McDonald

9.1

See several previous notes. My last of these Cuvées from Kangaroo Island South Australia and owned by the French Lurton family of Cheval Blanc fame. Savoury plum with earthy overtones. With air the aromas were almost intoxicating. Quite bold and full bodied on the palate - oak has integrated. Rich and spicy yet cleansing and moreish. Touch of camphor finishing with fine sandy tannins. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.6

2018 vintage. Merlot 71%, Cabernet Franc 16%, Cabernet Sauvignon 9%, Carmenère 2%and Noir de Pressac (Malbec) 2%. The 2009 tasted yesterday was very good but I believe this 2018 is even better. Very attractive nose with red and black fruit mixed with complex spices jumping out of the glass. Layered and intense with an impressive finish. Terrific value too. Abv. 14,5 %. — 4 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

The 2015 BDX continue to amaze and this Fronsac fits the bill. No decanting necessary. Jumping out of the bottle with beautiful red fruit and cassis notes, silky, and nicely balanced and integrated tannins, at such a young age, I am amazed. Feels like drinking a Grand Cru from a slightly lesser vintage. Great value too. If I can find it, I’ll buy a case. Hopefully two. — 6 years ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

10

Pours this wine for everyone in the cave jumping for joy yelling “Merry Christmas!!” — 7 years ago

Sam Zimman

9.2

Delightful clementine peel turmeric tonic. Master cleanse. Jumping in the ocean then taking a warm shower. Nom nom — 8 years ago

Ted

9.3

Iced up in snow and getting nicer as it warms up. This is going to be very tasty with my Cajun shrimp dish that I am concocting. Still to cold since it’s been outside for most of the day but a little lemon drop is jumping out. Yum!! — 8 years ago

with Jeni

Severn G

9.3

1500ml
Closed and stinky on cork pop, 3+ hours later had lucious strawberry jam jumping out of the glass from 12" away, amazing! I've been buying this in mag. since '10 ($60) and never been disappointed...Patience aways wins, this bottle is ready! — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

See previous notes. My last bottle - purchased at the winery on Kangaroo Island. 100% Cabernet Franc. Herbs , Tea leaves, Charcoal, Black, fruits, a touch of caramel oak. Quite a full bodied opulent wine showing those black fruits. A product of the warm 2008 vintage in South Australia. A classy wine balancing the ripe fruit with the right amount of oak treatment. Very polished as you would expect from a $150 wine. Shows Jaques Lurton’s (Cheval Blanc) experience with the Cabernet Franc grape. — 4 years ago

Jason

9.2

Never had a Kangaroo Island wine but I was impressed. Earthy volcanic tones like some Malbecs. Good mouth feel with no harshness. Would buy again. — 5 years ago

The Pretentious Gentleman

8.9

Did not improve my jumping ability. Once I got past the disappointment, what I was left with was a decent blend that was sort of mellow and understated with low acidity. It seemed as though it was trying not to provoke me but that, in itself, set me off a bit. It was a B-level ambassador of a wine. — 6 years ago

Stuart Scheff

9.2

Smoother than a baby’s ass. Cranberry, cherry, strawberry 💥 jumping out of the glass. — 7 years ago

Mark

9.0

More MED than full body. Smooth. Missing the bite I expected. Nice fruit and aroma. Not jumping out of my shoes on this one, but good. — 8 years ago

JFS

8.9

Great Cabernet Sauvignon.... — 8 years ago

Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

9.4

2013 vintage tasted Jan. 2018.

Lovely ruby violet color. Aromas are jumping out of the bottle immediately upon opening.

Nose is provocative and complex. Rich black and blue fruits with savory notes. Very fresh and pure. Would have pegged it as a new world wine if tasted blind.

Rich flavors, mouth coating, dry but gentle tannins. Really quite impressive and pleasurable. — 8 years ago

Willie Carter

9.2

California Syrah the way I like it. And I do definitely like it. A really pretty deep dark purple with a wide brim and little cherry red flecks. This nose is just plain silly good and exciting. Plums and raspberries abound here. Blackberries with a touch of fennel go a long way. The olive aromas are jumping out of the glass and my goodness it’s special. There’s a rich meaty, fatty aspect to the nose that just blows me away. Stupendous.

Every wine I have from Big Basin is just as good as the next one. All so good and so well crafted. Hailing from the Rattlesnake Rock vineyard in Santa Cruz and definitely fruit forward. At this age, it’s drinking with more refinement than you may expect. Classy and stylish but never forgets about the fun. A lesson in how to make a big and bold Syrah without even coming close to going overboard. Smoke and grilled meat in the mouth to go with the vibrant red and blue fruits. Black pepper and menthol. The finish is long and fulfilling. Don’t listen to me, seriously don’t. Just go taste it. — 4 years ago

Sarah Oettel

9.7

Holy F, this is amazing!!! The color, the nose, just about every element is hitting the mark and then (somehow) jumping even higher. — 5 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Fantastic wine — 7 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Perfect nose of great and subtle fruit.
Like the first whiff of my grocery store fruit aisle.

Dark berry skin, dark fruit, no sugars, yet full of dark flavor. Acidity and tannin playing very well with one another, like two kids jumping rope.

Winery, worth looking into.
— 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.6

Right behind the Rurig in this tasting event, and almost just as equally my favorite!

Before I get too far ahead here, I want to thank Matt, the VP from Torbreck for an awesome presentation, and @Kyle Groombridge, TWP for orchestrating this extremely last minute tasting event of some AMAZING shiraz. Truly a special event to kick off this new year!

The Descendent is also a co-fermented Shiraz/Viognier in style of Hermitage. Compared to RunRig, much more lean and slightly muscular in the glass - lean muscle like a kangaroo. Also, very dark in the glass, if not more dark purple notes than any other of their wines. Burnt ends from beef brisket, lavender syrup, black plum, hickory smoke, black and green peppercorns, silver dollar eucalyptus, and blackberry jam. Again, lean structure and grippy tannin.. meaty, which I absolutely like - rhubarb, anise, baked black plums, herb de Provence, crushed rock dust, fresh picked cherries, and a gripping finish, yet completely elegant and silky tannin.

The Torbreck team spends a lot of time working in Rhone, often times getting to work with amazing producers such as Jean-Louis Chave and Guigal, so if you can imagine they have high standards and most certainly perform at their level and higher. They also pay homage to Rhone with an engraved crest on the bottle such as CDP or Lirac; a tribute to the Torbreck Forrest. — 8 years ago

John Zuzek

9.0

Lots of dark fruit flavors with herbs and wild mushrooms. Holding up well from the "kangaroo" vintage. — 9 years ago