Ray Vanderhoff

9.6

What a fantastic wine! Light ruby color. Aromas of red and black fruit, dried rose petals, light smoke and orange zest. Flavors of red and black cherries, blueberries, tobacco, black pepper, brine, fresh savory herbs and minerals. The lightly smokey/salty note extends to the long and silky finish. Sensing whole cluster vinification here. Beautiful “Pinot Noir-like” elegance and finesse. Such amazing complexity. Cool climate Syrah at its best. Thanks so much to Kasey for selecting this wine and bringing it on our 2026 Cape May vacation! — 13 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and some rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, blackberry, black plum, tobacco, menthol, leather, and mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is really delicious.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or other Bordeaux-styled blend or a Tempranillo based blend from the United States, France or Spain. This saw French oak so I eliminated Spain. I thought the fruit was outshining the structure…so I liked the USA over France. And, based off the appearance, I thought this probably had 30+ years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from the United States, from California, Napa, Rutherford; 1994. Ugh…the 1990 vintage in Bordeaux has bit me twice now recently. Really awesome stuff! Drink now through 2040+. — 8 months ago

Dom Such

9.5

Wow. Yes. Tough vintage, cool year with late heat spike pushing ripeness. This 1999 showed the vintage character well, not a powerhouse but well balanced. Gorgeous layers and nuance from black fruited, pencil graphite, savory tobacco. Impeccable balance on palate with melted tannins and well judged acidity. — 2 years ago

Gor

9.5

As usual off the charts cool. Opened up over the course of a couple hours. Expressive nose of fresh cut red flowers, raspberries, black pepper, undergrowth, dried herbs, some vegetal hints. Fantastic concentration and elegance with fine tannins and beautiful acidity that ends in a medium+ finish. — 5 years ago

Jim Chen

9.0

Aged cool climate Syrah from a consummate family. The tertiary flavors are stellar. — 6 years ago

Stacy Livingston

9.1

Warm and smooth with a spicy nose and some floral on the finish. Let it open up for a good long time and it was really cool! — 7 years ago

with Benjamin

Bob McDonald

9.4

Craiglee have been making wine on this site since the 1860s In a 3 Level bluestone gravity fed winery - about a half hours drive north of Tullamarine - Melbourne International Airport. Aromas of Liquorice and Spice. Medium minus palate weight - very different to Barossa or McLaren Vale Shiraz. Medium To light weight tannins. Great length despite the lack of palate weight - like a Pinot lovers Shiraz. Years ago I used to buy this cool climate Victorian Shiraz because of the white and black pepper, but no sign of that in this one - is Pat Carmody picking a little riper? Worth a visit for any visiting overseas Wine Lover so close to Tullamarine. — 8 years ago

jochen rueckert

8.9

Light and simple. Not super exciting — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

4th wine . medium deep ruby garnet , thinner garnet rim . Quite deep and serious again , spicy with more cassis , touch smoky , mineral with touches of dry spice and cool sea breeze . On the palate this again has more grip a touch more mid palate , quite masculine in style, cassis , tobacco , grafite and resonable length. Polished and quite suave in style , more intensity and density than the others , more generous too. Probably better in 5 years and will last well a further 10. Guessed Mouton on this one . — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Dark dark Ruby - call it black. From the ripe 2010 vintage. Black fruits, mulberry, anise, herbs - very full bodied, very Barossa and very Penfolds. At least 10 to 15 years in front of it. As HH said undoubtedly a warm climate style, and it’s so true. On the palate ripe plum, blackberry and liquorice. Oak not as prominent as in previous tastings. Next one in mid 2025. — 3 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.6

This is such a good LL release. Cool climate Shiraz / Syrah at its very best. So good. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Fruit for this Pinot comes from two of the coolest, most coastal parts of this appellation, linked by the influence of the Pacific’s cool marine air, which delays ripening. Ruby with berry fruit, citrus and floral spice. On the palate, strawberry and cherry, tangy, with cedar notes and earthy tones. Bright acidity, soft expressive tannins, long finish ending with tobacco and woody spice. Very nice, drink now & over next 5 years. — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.4

Pax Mahle makes majestic Syrah that is light and gentle as single vineyard cool climate Pinot. His wines encapsulate the best of the idiosyncratic grape in a more delicate than typical frame that is complex and lean, but neither thin nor meager.

His Wind Gap Majik single vineyard has funky expressive aromas of iodine, menthol, violet, olive, and black peppercorn. Flavors of herbs, unripe blackberry, and salty minerals. Tons of flavor and body at an astounding 11.5% ABV (2014 was 10.4%!).

P.S. considering buying his Pax Hillside which got 100 points from @Antonio Galloni last year. If anyone has tried 2017 please let me know how it was. — 8 years ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Spice, blue and black fruits, such a lovely cool climate Aussie Shiraz that is a wonderful QPR ($18-22 or so out here), a perfect weekday Shiraz with some ooomph and complexity. — 3 months ago

with Jim

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby , with garnet ruby rim . Quite cool spicy cassis , mineral grafite nose . Blackberry , seashell , mineral notes . On the palate good richness with ripe blackberry , cassis and grafite . Lovely ripe , fine tannins and really good freshness . Good grafite , cassis tinged length. Shows a lot of potential , young still , needs time .. come back in 10 years and will last well a further 10 . — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Spicy and peppery on the nose with a hint of apricot from the Viognier whose influence has diminished over the years. Red cherry and pepper on the palate. Generally regarded as one of the finest Shiraz blends in Australia. Cool climate - Intensity without weight. I love this style and this 2004 was a treat for the senses. Soft resolved fine savoury tannins. Sadly my last 2004 in 750ml although I did find a magnum after making this note. — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Explosive Aromas of Blackberry, Purple flowers, Meat and Charcoal. Blue and black fruit flavors with hints of dried herbs, briny black olives and minerals. Extremely earthy with heightened black pepper on the long finish. Old World in style. Light in body and alcohol but full of flavor. Rich and Powerful expression of cool climate Syrah. Revisited in May 2022. Just an incredible offering. Could easily be interpreted as excellent Red Burgundy. Spectacular vino! — 6 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.1

Napa Syrah. Med+ acidity. Only 12.9% ABV. Hot Napa climate gives this deep, dark fruit. Nose has savory elements at first, that quickly dissipate, revealing black cherry. Reminiscent of Grenache. — 8 years ago