Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend of all 5 Bordeaux varieties, aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, oak and cigar box spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and currants with cacao and herb spice. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak, spice and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Jon Ebsworth

9.4

Joyous intense fruit alongside that Barbera tannic backbone hits all the right notes, up there with my wine of the year to date — 7 years ago

October Cleveland

9.0

Another ripper from AB&D. New Years Eve secco with a bit of zap 👌 — 7 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.1

Mycket god. Söt tobak, viol, blodapelsin, björnbär, rosor. Medelfyllig och otroligt uppfräschande syra. Man återvänder ständigt till glaset och flaskan är snabbt uppdrucken. — 8 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.1

Looking quite good now, really settled into its own with gorgeous notes of lavender, candies ginger, ripe dark cherry, cassis, blood orange and warm earth. Supple and fine tannins, cleansing acid. Nice — 9 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.3

A very different take on Nebbiolo, bags of fruit and unlike its Italian counterparts. Maybe not as long lived but very consumer friendly style that doesn't need too much bottle age or food to be enjoyable. — 9 years ago

Erin Bentley

9.0

Very drinkable — 9 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.4

Deep ruby color. Aromas of blackberry, cassis and cigar box. Gorgeous dark fruit, toasted oak, tobacco and black tea finish. Superb. — 6 years ago

Charlie Horsnell

9.2

Nice clean, normal red wine — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Quite a history to this wine. Back in 1997 Robert Parker gave the 1997 Duck Muck 99/100. A rare event at the time for an Australian wine and rapidly turned it into a Cult Wine par excellence. Almost overnight a bottle of Duck Muck was bringing $1500USD and higher. Unfortunately this led to many Australian winemakers wanting to duplicate this success and began creating these ultra ripe, high alcohol, very oaky Behemoths trying to attract Mega Scores from Parker. This was a trend that set back the Australian Wine exports by 10 to 15 years. We are only recovering now from the image of only producing Massive Shiraz and anyone who knows the Aussie wine industry knows we do much more than that. This wine at 16.5% ABV is not for the faint hearted. Rich Plum Prune and cinnamon notes. On the palate concentration and intensity is off the charts. You would never guess the age of this wine if tasted blind. It tastes much younger than a 2002. On a cold Winters night it’s great to reacquaint with a big Australian Shiraz. This is the whole Box and Dice - Shiraz on Steroids - but from this Burgundy Lover I can tell you it works. Time and a place for everything. — 7 years ago

Jason Wagar

9.0

Bold, luscious, tobacco, black pepper, meaty, earthy. Delicious. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

On the nose, muted dark cassis, wild dark, brambly berries, dry stems, pepper, loamy soils, blackberry cola and dark fresh florals. The mouthfeel is big and lush. Tannins are soft and round. The fruits are very ripe. Blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, dark chocolate, mocha powder, salted caramel, spice-box, soft leather, tobacco with ash, crushed dry rocks, stones, black tea & dark fresh florals. The finish is rich, lush and round fruits with just the right touch of earth. As well, the acidity is very good. Photo tour of; a long twilight view of the exterior of their estate building, main tasting room, tasting area in the barrel room and Winemaker Jean Hoefliger. Jean began his career in wine working for his godfather, who owns one of Europe's oldest wineries, founded in 1536 and located in Epesses, Switzerland. He also worked at Château Lynch-Bages and Château Carbonnieux in Bordeaux, Meerlust Inc., in South Africa, Fonjallaz S.A. in Switzerland and Hartford Court in Russian River. — 9 years ago

Scott Taddeo

8.9

Pretty good summer time fizz option. Grapefruit, sour gooseberry, basil and chalk. Guzzler — 10 years ago

Mattias Söderberg

9.2

Red fruit, lesthery nose!! — 6 years ago

with Andreas

Kristen McCabe

9.0

Sweet cream, camomile tea, oranges on the nose. Full bodied, lightly tannic, caramel flavors. — 6 years ago

October Cleveland

9.0

The clever Ms G called rose petals on this (I might add texturally as well as aromatically), oceanic nose and a touch of lilac. — 7 years ago

with Georgina

Lindsay Biggar

10

Jalapeno notes and so damn good — 8 years ago

Liz Clark

9.2

I do not like Chardonnay, but I really like this. Refreshing. — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.1

So consistent, and represents great value for money. Smooth, lithe and open-knit. Hints of caramel, olives and spice box on the nose. Plush texture and wonderful weight. Blackberries and blueberries are evident. Perfect tannic and acid structure. This is a fun quaff. — 9 years ago

with Anne-marie

Tom Wood

8.9

Almost like a completely different wine. I had to double check the vintage to make sure I was drinking the same wine as I did a few months ago. A ripe cordial like concentration still that had it reminding me of its port-like character, especially in texture. The dried fig, sultana and sticky date element is still there but wrapped in an abundance of fresh raspberry and black cherries. The finish is pretty insane on this, certainly the type of wine you have to be in the mood for — 10 years ago