1976 ««««« Drink now to 2026.
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh redcurrant, roasted walnut and shellac aromas. Generous and supple with inky redcurrant cassis, roasted walnut, tobacco leaf and umami flavours, fine slinky-dry tannins and superb mineral length. A classic Australian Claret style with marvellous complexity, richness and inkiness.
70 percent shiraz and 30 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Still in very good health. A beautifully supple wine with elegance, poise and melting textures. Sandalwood top notes with lighter mint toffee nuances. (NB)
Surprisingly youthful and remarkably fresh with floral, cassis, blackberry and tobacco notes, creamy textures and flowing tannins. (JR)
1990 ««««« Drink now to 2030.
Medium-deep crimson. Intense and fresh blackberry/blackcurrant, roasted walnut and sous bois aromas. A deep- set chocolaty wine with rich overlapping blackberry, roasted walnut and mocha flavours and fine plentiful-but-vigorous tannins. Finishes chalky firm with graphite leafy notes. Another classic Australian Claret style with a firm structure.
67 percent shiraz and 33 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Incredibly elegant, attesting to one of the great modern Australian vintages. (JH)
Brooding and heavier on the nose with dark soy sauce and savoury notes. Much more umami than the 1976 with greater breadth. Will hold in this stage for quite a while yet. (FW)
1996 ««««« Drink now to 2025.
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh red cherry, dark chocolate and graphite aromas with
vanilla notes. Attractive light red cherry, herb garden and meaty flavours, fine loose-knit chalky tannins and underlying savoury notes. Almost Barolo-esque. Finishes long with a firm tannin plume.
51 percent shiraz and 49 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Almost too good to be true with attractive line, length and balance. (JH)
Dark berry fruit, a touch of violet and lavender, woody spices, mocha and Dutch liquorice. A tight tannin profile, firm finish and slight salinity/mineral notes. (NR)
1999 «««« Drink now to 2030.
Medium-deep crimson. Beautiful and complex roasted walnut, black olive and cassis aromas with cedar complexity. Concentrated and inky with deep-set juicy cassis, black olive flavours, fine chocolaty tannins and underlying herb garden notes. Finishes cedary and firm with attractive mineral length. Powerful and expressive with leafy Claret-like notes.
74 percent shiraz and 26 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Very intense, penetrating and persistent wine with gamey smoked meat characters, vibrant and slightly pepped up acidity and marked tannins at the finish. (NB)
Quite upright in structure with power, density and gripping tannins. Give it some air or keep for a while longer. (JR)
2004 ««« Drink now to 2025.
Medium crimson. Lighter in style, with cranberry and red cherry aromas and toasty herb notes. A medium-bodied wine with fresh red cherry, strawberry and cranberry fruits, fine loose-knit slinky textures, attractive mid-palate viscosity and a long, fresh acidity. Some al dente firmness at the finish. Not as focussed as top vintages but sturdy and fresh.
62 percent shiraz and 38 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Still primary with dark fruits, some smoky notes and hints of cracked pepper. Tannins kick in at the finish. (JR)
The wine jumps into a different style with much riper sweet fruit notes. Its bright and vibrant with lots of drinking time ahead of it. (FW)
2006 «««« Drink now to 2026.
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh herb and inky tobacco aromas with cranberry, red liquorice and pepper notes. Medium concentrated with inky red liquorice, chinotto, cranberry and redcurrant flavours, fine bittersweet tannins and marked acidity. A lovely mature vintage with a sturdy structure.
80 percent shiraz and 20 percent cabernet sauvignon.
A lovely medium-bodied wine with gentle lissom fruit and fine tannins. Screwcap has preserved its freshness. (JH)
Broad, silky and sweet with a gentle grip at the finish reminiscent of a Cru Bourgeois Claret. (JR)
2008 ««««« Drink now to 2035.
Medium-deep crimson. Expressive wine with black cherry and blackberry fruits, espresso, dark chocolate and roasted walnut notes. Lovely concentrated blackberry, mocha and roasted walnut flavours, fine-slinky graphite tannins and integrated mineral acidity. Finishes firm with an inky plume.
70 percent shiraz and 30 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Intense, sharply focussed and nicely balanced with ripe red and black fruits, quite firm steely tannins and good vibrancy at the finish. More water colour than oil painting through. (NB)
Shiraz leads the way with all the elements deliciously in sync. (JR)
2009 ««« Drink now to 2028.
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh herb, black cherry, cranberry and a hint of cedar. A well-concentrated and supple wine with rich redcurrant and blackberry fruits, fine-supple tannins, inky/creamy notes and integrated fresh acidity. A touch stretched across the canvas but flavourful, complex and easy drinking.
73 percent shiraz and 27 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Glorious spice box, sweet black cherry and blackberry aromas. Rich, ripe, plush and layered textures with gently supportive tannins. (NB)
A bit more spice and a touch of mintiness. A much bigger wine with discernible ripeness and weight behind the fruit. Can go for a long time more. (FW)
2010 ««««« Drink now to 2031.
Medium-deep crimson. Classic cassis, cranberry and cedar aromas with herb notes. Fresh and velvety in texture with cassis and cranberry fruits, mid-palate generosity and fine chalky-yet-vigorous tannins. Unforced and animated with slinky textures and inky persistency. Finishes al dente firm. A very satisfying wine with energy and flavour.
76 percent shiraz and 24 percent cabernet sauvignon.
Exciting Claret style with dark fruit, spice notes, beautifully sleek tannins, superb fruit integration and overall harmony. Ready to drink but will keep going for a long while. (NB)
Classic each way drinking tonight or in 10 years. (JH)
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