WSET Level 3 Pass with Distinction.
I bought this litre bottle at Easter earlier this year duty free when we visited Norfolk Island. Typical Barbados Rum with caramel and vanilla notes. I only ever have it with a small block of ice. The palate shows same caramel with some charred burnt notes. Some tasters detect Banana notes. Only 37.5 % ABV. This was an occasional after dinner sipper through the winter months. I finished it off last night. — 5 days ago
See previous Delectable notes. We love this New Zealand Riesling from Central Otago - made in the Germanic style with a little residual sugar. Minerality and peachy with M minus acid at its current age. Would go on for a year or two but essentially at its peak. When one thinks of NZ wines many tasters think of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, also Chardonnay but Riesling flies under the radar somewhat. Note to self - buy more NZ Riesling. — 9 days ago
Celebrating an LNP win in the Qld State Election. Aromatics of citrus, also Granny Smith apple which persist on the palate with great length. Reflecting the excellent vintage and excellent producer. 9 years on lees. After all, this is basically the 2nd label of Salon. A very good BdB. See previous Delectable note. One of the 1001 Wines. — 2 days ago
Hospices de Beaune Cuvées are aged (raised) by various Negociants, in this case the highly accredited Australian winemaker, Jane Eyre. The nose is a little closed initially. Might have been opened a little early in its drinking window. The palate shows ripe red fruits (cherry) reflecting the warmer vintage. See previous Delectable note. The following night a peppery note. Luckily I have 3 left. Hopefully this will open up in the next few years and gain some complexity. — 3 days ago
A deep Ruby red - no hint of bricking. Coonawarra mint noticeable on the nose. Possibly drinking this a little young at 16 years of age - at least a 20 year old wine. From a warmer year showing cassis, blackcurrant, milk chocolate and a little bay leaf. Fine grained persistent tannins. Hand pruned and picked, natural yeast fermentation, matured in French oak. A gift to us from the owner and winemaker, Sue Bell. Drinking well, thanks Sue. I hope you don’t think we drank it too early. — 9 days ago
An absolutely alluring nose with cloves, spice, dried meat and a trace of pepper. Barely medium weight on the palate. Barb loved it for that. Very different to Barossa or McLaren Vale Shiraz. Without a doubt the best Shiraz Viognier blend in Australia although Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 (with a few other Rhone varieties in the blend) would give it a run for its money. Really very good with a few years to go but pretty much at its peak. — 2 days ago
See previous Delectable notes for the 2007 “Nicolas”. Incredibly youthful in colour, nose and palate for 17 years. Full bodied and powerful still with years to go. Palate shows blackcurrant, mulberry and spice. This is a wine where most experts underestimated the drinking window. Sadly I only have one bottle left and I will leave until at least 2027 when it is 20 years old, and preferably longer if I can summon the willpower. — 3 days ago
As previous Delectable notes. Still whole bunch notes with an aromatic red fruited perfume. A luscious texture in the mouth with great length. From the most southerly vineyard in Australia. Typical of the terroir of the d’Entrecasteaux channel south of Hobart. Similar to its illustrious neighbour, Home Hill Estate. — 9 days ago
Winner of the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge from 680 entries in 2014. See previous Delectable note. Those modern leesy, flinty, struck match and smoky notes have come together nicely at 11 years of age together with nectarine. Delicious - sadly my last bottle - wish I had a few more. Yet another great producer of top quality Chardonnay from Margaret River. — 10 days ago
Bob McDonald
Still celebrating that LNP win in the Qld State election. Deep crimson with a tawny meniscus. Dense and rich on nose and palate. Blackberry, mocha and dark plum as mentioned in prior notes. Very balanced with nothing protruding. At 34 years of age the oak has totally integrated when in its youth it was prominent, like many Penfolds reds. Supple mouth feel and incredible palate length. Previous notes mention that this was Wine Spectators Wine of the Year and definitely put Grange on the map in the USA. 95% Shiraz, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Unreal! 98 points. — 2 days ago