Bob McDonald

9.3

Quite delicate with traces of vanilla oak. Green melon, grapefruit and citrus on show. Light to medium weight palate. A well made Wine which won the Pam Dunsford Trophy for Best Chardonnay at the Limestone Coast Wine Show. Good QPR. Drink now or cellar for a few years. Bought this at the Cellar Door in March when we went to Bellwether in Coonawarra for vintage. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

The oldest and the best Coonawarra Cabernet we have had this week. Singing in its 16th year. Black currant, mint and capsicum. Medium bodied, fine and long. Proves again the foresight of John Riddoch being the first to plant vines in the Coonawarra all those years ago. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

Fresh and uncomplicated. 40% carbonic maceration highlights the aromatics. Fruit from Wrattonbully. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Brought this to Bellwether to match with the 2009 Bellwether Cabernet Sauvignon. A pretty even match - both top quality. Shared with Penfolds Viticulture senior executive Ben Harris and Sue Bell both excellent palates. This is more herbaceous and hay silage than the Coonawarra. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Bought this in a 6 pack at the Cellar door in Coonawarra a few weeks ago after doing vintage at Bellwether. Bright and fresh with well balanced stone fruit, pear and nutty notes with medium minus acid. Made to be drunk young - cellar if you wish for 2 or 3 years maximum. Great value at $100 for the 6 pack including freight from SA. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

This is the Bellwether Wrattonbully Shiraz from 2019. A really smart young Shiraz. Aromatic earthy and spicy. Wrattonbully is just to the north of Coonawarra. A special parcel of clone 1127 Shiraz. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

A rare and unusual grape variety native to Puglia in the heel of Italy. This is fermented on skins. Very textural with a great mouth feel. Ideal for warm climates - this is from the Riverland. Drought tolerant with thick skins. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Similar notes to 118 weeks ago. A dirty mid Orange/Tangerine in colour - a little cloudy. Aromas of apricot and mouldy orange. Skinnsy apricot flavours with mild acid. A skins contact white wine fermented in clay amphora in the ground. We visited there a few years ago in Sicily. Finishes with a trace of bitterness from the skins. Natural wines - when they get them right they can be quite good but having just done a week of vintage in Coonawarra at Bellwether - you need to take risks with natural wine. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

From the warm Riverland area this is a very tasty Monte. Fresh and spicy. Smooth tannins with a slippery mouthfeel. A great bistro wine to serve by the glass. Postscript: The ultimate Pizza Wine. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Fruit from Chalmers in Heathcote. The same DNA as the Champion Wine of the Toowoomba Show. Really enjoying these whites from Heathcote better known for its big reds. Great aromatics and textural on the palate - clean acid finish. — 4 months ago