Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 2. The 2018 pours a deep purple color with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, dill, vanilla, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and pretty decadent with a velvety texture. Drink now through 2033. — 9 months ago

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. — 4 years ago

Lam S

9.4

fruity mainly black fruit. vanila nose with spice.not oaky. full body. medium bold. very soft tannin and adequate acidity. very well balanced. — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.1

A very lively and aromatic blend with loads of cherries, sweet pipe tobacco, licorice, mint, and incense. — 6 years ago

with Krystal

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

Scott Taddeo

9.1

It’s a good wine, but feels very safe and is somewhat uninspiring. Has a great mix of primary and secondary (winemaking) characters and strokes a good balance between the varietals. Still very primary with an an abundance of ripe tannin that gives the wine plenty of approachability. — 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

Dave Amos

10

Well. Pretty much perfect. A serious 97-98 points for sure. Glad I waited 7 years. Incredible berries and not a hint of acid just the right heat. Like drinking a thin smooth syrup. Perfect. — 10 years ago

Michael Moser

9.3

Enormous oak. Hard to believe this is 16 years old. Plenty of life. — 12 years ago

Patrick Dolan

9.7

Aroma of rich berries. Smooth and slightly sweet with a sour note. Very good. — 12 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.8

Fantastic cult wine that I’ve had the pleasure of trying a couple of times now. Lives up to the hype. Amazing in all aspects. Big but super pretty and just keeps rewarding you with greatness every time you return to you glass. — 9 months 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. — 2 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

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.7

This is close to perfection
Fairly big body not huge, but driven by an agility, suppleness, drinkability tremendously out of the ordinary
I have had other vintages and I must admit 2012 is arguably the best or close second to the 98.
Statement :I love Clare Valley shiraz, it is surely the most Rhone like 100% shiraz, for the big bold body u need to add malbec or mataro. Almost flawless
Silky tannin and long — 6 years ago

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. — 7 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.6

Holy smokes. This is the best of Australian Barossa valley wine. This Shiraz was gifted to me 13 years ago by a good friend, Ron Candy - a gentleman of gentleman. A true Ozzie with a heart of gold. It was on this date too, while I was living in Sydney, 13 years ago that I lost my friend, my golf buddy, my business partner and father-in-law Herb Schimeneck to the wicked complications and consequences of cancer. If you’re drinking tonight, and so moved, raise a glass to Ron, and especially to Herb - two great men that helped me became a better version of myself than I could have imagined or hoped for. Cheers to you all.....my friends today and of tomorrow. — 8 years ago

with PJ, Sonia and 5 others

Risika Nyx

8.9

Smells kind of like... Wax, I suppose and mild oak.

Tastes big. Dark berries, nice round tanins with a mild finish. — 9 years ago

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. — 10 years ago

Dave Amos

9.4

Love this wine. Thick, smokey. Fruit and liquorice totally coat your mouth. Just the right amount of heat. — 11 years ago

Jordan Shackel

9.6

Double in price because of Asian market — 12 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Everything about this wine is DARK. Deep ruby/purple color bordering on black. Aromas of black and blue fruit, Asian spices and coffee. Flavors of cooked black berry/plum/currant fruit, bakers chocolate, tar and espresso. Hint of black pepper on the long, lingering and silky finish. Extremely concentrated with lively acidity. Tannins are firm but in harmony. This is a wine you quickly take notice of. Probably at (or just past) its peak. Thanks for the wonderful gift, Petey P! — 10 months 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. — 2 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of purple with grapefruit. Nose of cherry jam, medicinal note, dried strawberry, a bit plum, a bit blackberry, a bit minty, quite fruits oriented. Taste is similar with addition of good smoky note, ripe grapes and cherry jam, rose, medicinal note again, and quite sweet. Aftertaste is bit hickory with zesty bitter note. Will be popular for sweet teeth. — 6 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 — 6 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.5

Always a pleasure drinking Edelstone! One of my favorite Aussie Shiraz — 6 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 — 7 years ago

Leslie Fresco

10

Amazing wine! — 8 years ago

Michael Meagher MS

Chairman/Founder Boston Sommelier Society, Beverage Director Cafe Escadrille

9.3

I don't always drink #australianwine, but when I do, I prefer at least 10 years of bottle age. — 9 years ago

Andrew Rothwell

10

My favorite booze of all time. Stunner. 2002 vintage tasting so good. — 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... — 11 years ago