Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep, dark Ruby color with a fruity nose and tons of ripe berries with oaky notes. Jammy big and bold blackberry flavors with some spice, cacao, cedar and leather notes with nice mouthfeel. Big fine tannins with berry fruit carried over to the finish with oak and sweet spice. Nice! — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Deep crimson in colour. Notes of blackberry and other black fruits, quite bold for a Coonawarra (cool climate) Shiraz. In this warmer year of 2008 in South Australia this wine tastes more like a Barossa or McLaren Vale Shiraz than a Coonawarra Shiraz. Dry herbal notes and verging on full bodied. Being a Penfolds Bin No. red it will easily pass 20 years in the cellar. Hasn’t got the usual spice and pepper of a Bin 128 in this warmer year. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Woodcutter is entry level for Torbreck. For just under $20, a very good Shiraz for the money.

This is young and full throttle. Alcohol seems hotter than 15%. But their reds need time.

Lots of ripe; mulberries, blackberries to pie, gooseberries, black raspberries & dark candied black cherries. Anise into black licorice, sweet tarriness, black ground pepper, fresh tobacco, leather, barrel shavings, dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, dry crushed rocks, red flowers, lavender, violets, full round acidity and nicely balanced, big tensioned, well structured, lush, elegant, well polished finish that lasts 90 seconds and falls on spice and pleasant earthiness.

It needs to shed its baby fat. Let rest another 3-5 years before opening. In Australian Shiraz hard to beat at this price point. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First, if you haven’t had this producers wines at 15-20 years of age, you’re missing some spectacular juice. I bought this at auction for $38-$40 a bottle and because I was unaware of its storage, I was prepared to short decant it. Well…until I pulled the cork, smelled it and saw the color. This nearly 20 year old bottling is still big but with nice integration & evolution. I would say it has another 5-8 years of good life in it.

The palate fruit is ruby, ripe and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum. Mid berry cola, dark chocolate to pudding, mocha powder, wet clay, light, black pepper, Asian spice, dry-ish tobacco, black licorice, some dry herbs-sage dominate, limestone, dry top soil, dry brush, used leather, sandlewood, fresh to slightly withering, dark, purple, red florals set/framed in violets and lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The well balanced, structured, knitted finish is excellent and lingers minutes. Steal for the price. Another excellent gourmet burger wine. Beef Patties from El Salchichero. — 3 years ago

Michael Roberts

9.1

Delicious this is one of my go to wines. Low tanning taste, with the perfect amount of sweetness for me — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Impossible to tell that this is made by a convict.
The nose ticks all the right boxes. Rose petals combine with toasty oak to shape the experience. Palate displays soft cherries, balsamic reduction, with hints of tobacco. Finishes with sweetness and perfect acidity. Our only bottle... sniff.
Screw cap to boot. — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

Leslie Fresco

10

Amazing wine! — 9 years ago

Oscar Bolanos

9.3

Smoky flavor with hints of cherry — 10 years ago

Andrew Rothwell

10

My favorite booze of all time. Stunner. 2002 vintage tasting so good. — 12 years ago

Jordan Shackel

9.6

Double in price because of Asian market — 13 years ago

Ed Chin

9.0

Full of dark fruit and acid to keep it fresh. A touch disjointed so it needs a few years to integrate. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Red and black fruits - a savoury plum character - also a note of creosote and tar. A lovely medium to full bodied palate - reeks of old vine Barossa Shiraz. Drinks well now but will easily last until 2030. Malcolm Stopp is the Brand Ambassador for Peter Lehmann and his comments are worth repeating, particularly the last sentence, “The bouquet beautifully incorporates dark briary fruits, chocolate and a touch of aniseed, whilst the finish is firm yet finely grained. A wine of great dignity that will continue to improve with still many years of careful cellaring. If you don’t like this wine there’s bugger all we can do……!!! — a year ago

Rina

9.5

Delicious Shiraz. I wasn’t expecting much from it as it’s from the grocery store & was already 5 years old with a twist top instead of cork. I am pleasantly surprised that the taste isn’t sour. This was definitely a win — a year ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Concentrated extract. Nearly pitch black in the glass. Takes an hour to come to complete expression with layers of dark red fruit of cherry and plum soaked in spice. Remained very centered on the palette and settled in a complex, layered finish. Since we have been in Australia for more than six weeks I have to use the cricket lingo: this wine was all about ‘Lane and Length’. Much, much enjoyed it. Blew my head off. — 3 years ago

with Tammy

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.8

The 2018 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz is a utterly sensational bottling that rivals any wine of its kind. Aged in all new American oak, this shows a gorgeous bouquet from blueberry pie to espresso grounds, graphite and toasty oak tones that all impress. The palate is deep and utterly seamless. A massive core of blue and dark fruits collide with white pepper, minerals, firm tannins and a light dusting of salinity. While obviously big, this has a weightless quality and wonderful verve. Wonderful to enjoy now, this outstanding Shiraz will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. But why wait? Drink 2021-2038- 98 — 5 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.5

Always a pleasure drinking Edelstone! One of my favorite Aussie Shiraz — 7 years ago

Nils Andersson

9.1

The palate is rich, round & soft with concentrated berry fruit & hints of anise. These flavours are enhanced by velvety tannins & spicy length of flavour on the finish.

Pepperjack Barossa Shiraz is a blend of Shiraz parcels sourced from premium vineyards throughout the Barossa. Parcels selected for Pepperjack Barossa Shiraz have bright, rich fruit concentration with a range of flavours from red berries to rich plums and a hint of savoury notes.

The fruit is fermented for up to ten days depending on the parcel of fruit, then aged for 12 months in a mix of American and French Oak. Individual parcels of fruit are matured separately to maximise the blends complexity through a staged selection process. The resultant wine is soft and plush with lots of flavour, balance and a fine tannin structure — 8 years ago

Nick Rugen

9.0

John Duval previously caretaker of Penfolds Grange! The Shiraz and Grenache combine flawlessly on the palate, the Shiraz peppery and biting with Grenache berry tones. The Mourvedre is the hidden gem. Balanced and structured. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Very Northern Rhone on nose and palate. The white pepper trademark of Craiglee is tempered with age to be merely spicy. This is the complete antithesis of a Barossa or McLaren Vale blockbuster. Lacked some palate weight - more structured like a Pinot Noir. Some licorice notes. No need for further cellaring. 17.5+ — 12 years ago

Trish Barry

10

Nothing more to say about this wine except for AMAZING!!! — 12 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Wow… this is a wonderful Ozzie Shiraz in that typical, oldfashioned, high-octane, push-the-pedal-to-the-metal personality.
Beautifully aged, showing a mahogany rim plus great secondaries and tertiaries over the still abundant baked plum and blackberry goodness. I’m talking smoked meat, sweet licorice candy, cocoa nibs, caramel, black pepper and olives, espresso, damp forestfloor and BBQ sauce. Delicate hints of orange zest, uplifting balsamic acidity and soft yet palpable tannines make this quite a bold but very classy drink!
Deep, dark and dense. Last bottle of a sixpack and easily the best. Terrific!

I also like the clever, tongue-in-cheek message on the backlabel: “Your wish is our Command” 😁 — a year ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Dark purple/black color. Aromas of cooked black fruit, violets and Asian spices. Blackberry compote, huckleberry, blueberry jam and black plum fruit flavors along with notes of chocolate, black licorice, basil, tobacco, coffee and vanilla. Hint of saline on the long and drawn out finish. High, but not obvious, alcohol (16%). Velvety texture and tannin structure. Plush, bold and powerful. Thanks for sharing, James W. — a year ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Gorgeous nose of classic grange. Deep pure plum and tangy fruit. Amazing stuff. — a year ago

with Rick

Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous notes on 2 tasting occasions. Coincidentally all at Paros on the Beach Apartments - all 3 tastings. One of my favourite 2nd wines in Australia. Often associated with white pepper, this exhibits more plum and spice. A very good wine and great QPR. — 5 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.1

A very lively and aromatic blend with loads of cherries, sweet pipe tobacco, licorice, mint, and incense. — 7 years ago

with Krystal

Frank Kuo

9.6

Color of dark ruby, quite opaque and a bit bubbly. Nose is interesting in a nice way. Some blackberry, some plum, round, chocolate, a bit barley, oak, and black cherry note. Taste follows the nose, with addition of green pepper, very nice black cherry note, and beautiful oak note, sage, olive, polished tannins, salty bacon, and subtle acidity. Aftertaste is long with some more rose pedal note. Tasty. — 8 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.4

Drinking like a champ right out of the chute. Dense berries and pencil shavings galore. — 8 years ago

with Krystal

Mike Dombrow

Buyer Sunfish Cellars

9.5

I know a girl
Who is like the sea
I watch her changing
Every day for me
...
Immaculate. Cigar box, blueberry, kiss of acid and a helping of, still tight, tannins. Stunning. — 11 years ago

Nestor Tsioustas

9.3

I love Dan Standish. He is one of the best winemakers. Lovely wine, very young. Blueberry and Red silky fruit. Full Bodied but not overly alcoholic, heat isn't obvious in this wine. Great length and layers of flavours. Big points from me 95 points. A producer I highly recommend! Typical sweet Barossa fruit, very seductive... — 12 years ago

Patrick Dolan

9.7

Aroma of rich berries. Smooth and slightly sweet with a sour note. Very good. — 13 years ago