Doug Powers

8.9

Lovely cool climate Victoria Shiraz, this is right in the ideal window to drink, spicy notes, blue fruits, very good acid balance, solid!! — 3 months ago

with Jim and

Mark S.

9.1

Lemon yellow with green Chalk. Citrus peach. Mango. Pineapple. Vanilla. Rich. Buttery. Herb. Honeysuckle. From cool. Without MLF Elegant. From Calistoga.
Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M+ Acidity M++ Bitterness M+ Body M Finish M 13.8%
Fresh Dry Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 22 @17600, AD, 251210 — 7 months 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. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Very dark Crimson particularly for a cool climate Tasmanian Cabernet. Aromas of dark plum, clove, tobacco leaf and oak spice on the nose with a medium to full bodied palate with dusty plum and integrated oak - perfect balance. Seamless with resolved tannin and finishing with persistent length. Matured in 100% French oak Barriques. After a couple of hours in the decanter a lovely left bank perfume of rose bush and brambles. A wonderful Cabernet (90%) by any measure and a fitting tribute to Peter Althaus, the founder, who passed away unexpectedly in early January aged 79 in his native Switzerland. I like many others said that Tasmania was too cool to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon but Peter Althaus proved us all wrong. Vale Peter. — 5 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.5

Yes! My wine of the night appeared in the first quarter. I bought this early on at Les Marchands. So glad I kept it cool until today. That vineyard, my goodness. What a gem. Value and quality. — 6 years ago

with Mark

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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you like Ca Chardonnay with firm wood-warmer climate backbone structure, this probably isn’t for you. It is closer to white burgundy, which is why I buy it occasionally. It reminds me of the a leaner, less viscous, 2014/16 Domaine de la Bongran Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet.

The palate is perfectly ripe; green apple, lemon/lime juicy pulp w/ zest, grapefruit with pith, tropical melon, white stone fruit, marmalade as it warms & opens up, Bosc pear w/ skin & lychees. Honey notes, but less than Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet, caramel, milk froth, vanillin, dry limestone powered, toast crust, some white spice, grey volcanics, saline notes, yellow lilies, white flowers, jasmine blossoms, mixed in greens, very pleasant acidity, well; knitted, balanced, good tension, medium structure and a smarty polished 90 second finish that settles on spice and minerals. — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Very pretty. Initially some tropical notes. Settled into gorgeous lifted lemon fruit, subtle salinity and cool stone. Really poised and subtle- very Raveneau. Long and pretty. — 3 years ago

with Major-General and Bex

Johnno Harris

9.6

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

Bob McDonald

9.5

Deep Ruby in colour. Cherry, red fruits generally, stems and a Jujube confectionery note. Intense red fruits on the medium bodied palate. Lovely texture and mouthfeel - sweetish. So obviously delicious it is difficult to look beyond anything else. From Australia’s most southerly vineyard in the Huon Valley south of Hobart. Visited there a few years ago with the family and had a lovely lunch. This wine won the Trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the Australian Cool Climate Wine Show in 2014 - and one can see why. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Grabbed another bottle, keeps getting better with age. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Fruit from vineyards in warm Oak Knoll and cool-climate Carneros with just a touch of Roussanne. Pleasant aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. Fresh flavors of peach, apple and lemon zest, well balanced, vivid acidity with nice mouthfeel. Lingering finish ending with mineral notes. wow! — 7 years ago

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

Conrad Green

9.7

Oy vey. This is gorgeous. Soft edges and intense but blanched fruit. Cool wet stone, delicate citrus, an oily complex note. Spectacular but quiet — 5 months ago

with Bex

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

Solid waxy honeycomb #viognier with a cool matchstick reduction screwcap — 3 years ago

Alex Shmelyov

9.6

Fantastic! Cool crisp and delicious! Everything you expect from a good Sauv Blanc — 3 years ago

Morgan Leathers

9.4

Cervos good price — 5 years ago

Jim Chen

9.0

Aged cool climate Syrah from a consummate family. The tertiary flavors are stellar. — 5 years ago

Matt

9.3

I love this wine. Subtle nose, generous texture, incredibly refreshing. Aromas of cherry blossom, kaffir lime, citrus, and spearmint. Palate shows a touch of leesy goodness backed by riper orchard fruit. Then this wine moves to something that is reminiscent of cool mountain streams running over wet stones and is so cleansing on the palate. — 7 years ago

Katherine Keim

9.0

Amazing Chilean wine! But it truly reaches its full potential when you drink it with shellfish, like fresh oysters or scallops! — 8 years ago

Daniel K

9.2

A shining example of cool climate, domestic syrah — 8 years ago