Bob McDonald

9.5

One of the Hunter Valleys premium Cuvees honouring the legendary Maurice O’Shea. Very dark ruby - impenetrable in colour. Aromatics of sweet earth - very earthy - plum, red berry and dark chocolate - very Hunter Valley. Amazingly strong for a 27 year old wine. Very Rich, full bodied and concentrated for a Hunter Valley wine. I’ve commented on this before that there was a period of 10 plus years where HV wines were made to imitate South Australian wines - ripe and full bodied. This wine represents that style. Thankfully the current style is more medium bodied but nevertheless this is an outstanding wine with at least 10 plus years left in it. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Very Hunter with earth, leather and red cherries, presented in a savoury manner. More full bodied on the palate than Hunter Valley Shiraz should be. In the mid 2000’s it was when Mount Pleasant was trying to emulate full bodied South Australian Shiraz instead of doing what they do best. This was most enjoyable but I still enjoy the old fashioned style made by Maurice O’Shea in the late 1940s and early 1950s in primitive conditions which were just medium bodied and very long lived. I once had a 1952 Mt Pleasant Stevens Vineyard made by the legend (birth year wine) which I bought at auction. It was over 40 years old when I consumed it. Barely medium bodied with amazing length and still kicking goals. A wonderful old curio and a privilege to drink. The “Maurice OShea” is the top Cuvée from Mt Pleasant these days. Had my last bottle of 2006 OP and OH on 10th July 2024. Becoming more Hunter Valley and earthy than South Australian as in the last note but still ripe and full bodied. Oak has diminished in influence. 93 points. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Mid Ruby in colour with a youthful purple tinge. Aromatic red fruits with some stalky peppery notes. On the palate - one word YUM. This is all about primary fruit flavours and freshness and is totally smashable. Barb loved it. This would be a huge hit in Bistros in the capital cities over summer. An unusual blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah pioneered by the legendary Maurice O’Shea in the Hunter Valley back in the 40’s and 50’s. Now being adopted by Giant Steps and other progressive wineries like Yarra Yering. A thoroughly delicious wine. So fresh it’s impertinent!! The 2019 I believe has just been released. Tasted the last bottle 111 weeks later on 13th January 2022 with consistent notes. Has become an annual purchase for me. I find the drinking window of HH through to 2030 to be amazing. I must find the willpower to leave one for several years to note the changes. It is difficult to believe it would be any more delicious than it is now. — 7 years ago

Hannah Vickers

9.0

Oak with a bit of butter — 9 years ago

with Gordon

Kelly Wilson

9.0

Such an enticing and exciting nose. Very drinkable, but noticeably better after letting it air. Little more sour than I generally prefer, but I think a lot of people would enjoy this one — 10 years ago

Dart Parker

9.0

This is a nice medium btwn what @Victoria Scarborough and I like — 10 years ago

Steve Rura

8.9

Think of this as a cider or maybe a spritzer, not a wine. Light and quite dry, with nice perfumed blueberry flavors. 6.8% abv. Good casual aperitif. From Scarborough, Maine. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Notes of dusty dark plum with raspberry, earth, dark chocolate and leather. Savoury notes of sweaty saddle with a touch of menthol. Like a traditional middle weight Hunter Valley red with more oomph. Silky tannins - an excellent dry red. Really enjoyed this and very easy to keep sipping on it. If you have any you could keep for several more years. From vines planted by Maurice O’Shea in 1946. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

At an old friends place in Scarborough on Moreton Bay having a wonderful seafood meal. The nose is textbook Art Series with ripe grapefruit, citrus and pear Toasty notes. The palate shows that rich oak is resolving with the powerful fruit - profound intensity which is a great match with the mornay seafood. Great persistence and length in this 3rd of 6. Hope I have the patience to have just one each year until 2024. — 6 years ago

Andy Thomson

9.0

Creamy and smooth — 6 years ago

with Don and Cheryl

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

Good, I had no expectations
Pure semillon from fruit to lanolin — 7 years ago

Chris Gillott

9.0

I’m drinking the Obsessive Shiraz. Great length, almost star anise with meatiness. Some fruit (red currants?) at the back of the nose, but the initial impression is all protein based. Middle weight pallet, some lovely silkiness and really great length... — 9 years ago

Naomi Seifert

9.0

sweet dessert wine, hunter valley (scarborough wine co), $20 — 10 years ago

Jason Duff

9.5

Going back to 1986, happy birthday to @Lance Scarborough . — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Bright mid yellow. Citrus with wet straw, lanolin and a faint paraffin note. On the palate such purity with that zesty citrus and those waxy lanolin notes you get with mature Semillon. Enough acid to propel this wine into the 2030’s to achieve 25 years of age. Lovedale is one of the leading Semillons in the Hunter Valley - the vineyard being planted by Maurice O’Shea in 1946 and the first vintage in 1950. This was my first of 4 bottles, so , fun times ahead!! A multi Trophy winner in National Wine Shows. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

See several previous tasting notes for this wine. This was made back in the day when Hunter Valley reds had strayed from their medium bodied, savoury, sweaty saddle origins to being riper and more full bodied like a South Australian Red. This was declared in a speech by Chief Winemaker at the time, Jim Chatto, at a dinner I attended at the winery. Also plenty of oak still evident at 15 years of age. I prefer the original Hunter Valley style which Mount Pleasant has wisely reverted to utilising the wonderful old vine fruit at its disposal. Tasted again 35 weeks later on 26th March 2022. Nothing to add to the note here. A Hunter Valley wine trying to look like a South Australian wine back in 2006 with ripe fruit and oak. Thankfully HV reds have returned to the medium weight savoury long living style that Maurice O’Shea made in the 1950’s. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Dense Crimson in colour. The nose and palate on this full bodied red are more reminiscent of a South Australian Red than the medium bodied savoury style typical of the Hunter Valley. Just the faintest hint of HV sweat and earth. This showed rich ripe black currant with smooth tannins. It’s a pity there was a time when HV wines tried to mimic the SA styles which were more popular. This is an example of that. Quite a good wine but not true to its origins. Thankfully the main HV wineries have returned to their original style - think Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea, Brokenwood Graveyard and Tyrells Individual Paddocks. — 6 years ago

Arnab Maity

9.1

A medium bodied Pinot with great taste! Easy smooth drink, went well with cheese and crackers — 7 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.4

Fathers Day in style. One of my very favorite wines from anywhere. Clos Canarelli Corse Figare Rose. It’s simply exuberant, but has a fresh, thirst quenching character to it as well. It takes a special bottle to pair with this album which I received as a Father’s Day present. The one and only recording from Michael O’Shea who played a self made 17 strong dulcimer of sorts and was encouraged by members of The The and Wire to record this in the early 80’s. Both have a soulful mystery to them which make for a wonderfully introspective time on an introspective day. I love that my family humors these little obsessions and shares them with me. — 7 years ago

Justin Anthony

8.9

2007- plenty of acid still — 10 years ago