Bob McDonald

9.3

Previous bottle tasted a year ago in September 2024. Mid lemon in colour. Aromatics of struck match, white flowers, lemon and sea spray. Hasn’t got the delicious ripe fruit I am used to with Australian Chardonnay but it does have its charm and attraction in a more mineral restrained style. — 3 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Savoury red cherry with powdery lavender aromas. On the palate sour red cherry - a brilliant food wine. As Morrell wines said and I agree, “2016 is without a doubt the finest vintage for Chianti Classico. “ Drinking well right now. — 6 days 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……!!! — 11 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Crimson with a cherry red tinge. A certain pong on the nose - a cowyard note but not off putting - I like it. On the medium bodied palate black fruits and sour cherry. Highly savoury on the palate. The cowyard notes remained throughout the 3 to 4 hour time frame to consume the bottle. I drink very few Loire Valley reds but on the basis of this wine I should drink more. — 3 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

I unwisely drank my collection too young. This was my last of 3 bottles. Some citric tang on the nose and palate. A touch of stone fruit with notes of nectarine. Certainly has the power and acid drive to go on into the 2030s. Excellent value. Neighbours of the big gun Chardonnays like Cullen Vasse Felix and Pierro without their price tags. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Rich and ripe - still with balsamic notes - lovely aromatics. A lively nose from this excellent Chianti vintage. Plummy, savoury red fruits, earthy, a trace of mushroom. Goes without saying that this is an excellent food wine, even with the extra ripeness from the 2016 vintage. — 14 days ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

Particularly good value for the quality from a new producer (to me) in Patrick Sullivan. I paid $27 per bottle from this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist. Stone fruit and fresh herbs - excellent balance. According to the producer - made for immediate enjoyment. Fruit from the Gippsland district in southern Victoria. — 15 days ago

Bob McDonald

8.8

Somewhat underwhelming for a Yarra Yering wine, a brand for which I have been a lifelong fan. Very restrained. For a wine costing $99 there are many Chardonnays that would outperform this one at half the price. As HH said “It’s missing Chardonnay richness and ripe generosity.” Hopefully the next 2 bottles will have a better showing. — 5 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

One of the better Village Bourgognes I have had of recent times. From Vosne Romanee and an excellent producer. Bright red berries (strawberry and raspberry). Sweet and luscious on the palate with low tannins. Thoughtful wine making with only 20% new oak. If tasted blind I probably would have said new world. Bottled by gravity and not fined. — 8 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Delectable: Dry Red No. 3 is not a Shiraz blend. It is a blend of the Portuguese varieties of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Alvarelhao and Sousao. Aromas of red berries, dried herbs (sage) and a potpourri of spices. A savoury red fruited palate. Stellar winemaking from talented winemaker, Sarah Crowe, a former Halliday winemaker of the Year. Sarah shows confidence in blending these Portuguese red varieties to make this delicious red. Originally planted in 1990 in a hot dry corner of the vineyard by Dr Bailey Carrodus in order to make Port. A lovely and unique red wine from Sarah who I had the pleasure of sitting opposite at a Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane earlier this year. — 15 days ago