Helen Arvanitopoulos

9.0

I’ve been drinking a lot of Margaret river Chardonnay and it truly doesn’t disappoint. Beautiful lightness. Green apples, nice light buttery goodness with the light citrus. Yum — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

I unwisely drank my collection too young. This was my last of 3 bottles. Some citric tang on the nose and palate. A touch of stone fruit with notes of nectarine. Certainly has the power and acid drive to go on into the 2030s. Excellent value. Neighbours of the big gun Chardonnays like Cullen Vasse Felix and Pierro without their price tags. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A blend of 6 vintages - 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%), and 2015 (2%). From the Hoffmann’s Dallwitz vineyard. 6327 bottles filled. Aromatics of old vine Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is so plush and ample together with liquorice, chocolate, blue fruits, and spices that it masks the M plus tannins. I note that Fraser likes to taste these Little Wines “when primal and vital, a year or two after vintage “. I totally agree. I have tasted Little Wines with over 5 years of cellaring and find that you are giving up that freshness and vitality for a limited increase in savoury profile. The secondary value of Sami-Odi wines have increased dramatically in recent years. I paid $55 per bottle on release and note that United Cellars are now selling for $325. All the more annoying when I broke a bottle unpacking the tricky little cartons of 3 when I received them. The odd 4 letter word was uttered!!! Therefore I have one left for future enjoyment. I ended up having the last bottle 68 weeks later on 4th May 2025 with consistent notes taking into account Fraser’s note that he likes to drink Little Wine in its first couple of years. Blackberry currant and chocolate. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A highly awarded Grenache from McLaren Vale made by the talented Peter Fraser. Sweet red earthy fruits but not overly raspberry as Aussie Grenache often is. Has a lovely sweet smooth texture. James Halliday awarded this wine his Wine of the Year in 2020 and 99 points. Vines planted in 1946 in ancient sandy soils ideal for this Grenache. If not Australia’s best Grenache then certainly in the conversation. The main reason we drank this wine a few days ago was to remember Peter Fraser who sadly passed away unexpectedly in a tragic house fire. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A pale lemon yellow in colour - quite youthful looking for a 12 year old Chardonnay. Aromatics of white peach - mealy and nutty notes, still with a nice acid cut at the finish. Drinking at its peak. Fuller than some Marg River Chardonnays I’ve had lately like Xanadu and Fraser Gallop. I have had richer Art Series Chardonnays but personally I love the balance in this. Tasted in May 2025 the first bottle. Had my 2nd last bottle on 20th September 2025 and it was utterly delicious. Stone fruit and dried pear character to the fore. I will have my last bottle in the coming summer or early 2026 and will make a fresh Delectable note. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Dense purple/black in the glass - opaque. Not giving much on the nose initially following decanting. Needed vigorous swirling. Barossa plum, prune and earth. Very full bodied on the palate. Quite concentrated. A very big wine in comparison to many other Sami-Odi Cuvées I’ve had over the years. HH said It needs ages (“drinking window of 2018 to 2041 - over extracted?)” I tend to think the difficult vintage conditions in 2014 as explained by Fraser is the reason. Harvest was a full 2 months later than normal - harvesting the 2nd shooting of the vines during the first 2 weeks of April. Yielding only 274 dozen. This wine has a long cellaring future. An element of tannic astringency which is more a result of the size of the wine. This is the first of 3 bottles I purchased in 2016. It will be many years before I have the next one. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A single vintage unusually for Fraser. Obviously the product of old Vine fruit. Colour is a deep Ruby - call it black. Black and blue fruits. Such a rich, sumptuous sweet and full bodied robust wine - profound intensity of flavour with silky tannins. Definitely not hangover inducing and thoroughly enjoyable like every Sami Odi wine I’ve ever had. The first of 3. — 5 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Mainly 2019 & 2018, supplemented with 2017, 2016 & 2015.
Just lovely…. Crunchy black fruit, soft spices, great tannines and a wonderful coolness in the mouthfeel. Packed with flavor and depth.
Bravo, Fraser! — 9 months ago

Shay A

9.5

@Delectable Wine : This is Little Wine #11. I didn’t see it in the database.

My last bottle of the #11 Little Wine. At this point, my notes for Sami-Odi all come across as love letters because I am captivated every time I have one. I’ve still yet to smell a wine that smells as good as these do.

Pop and pour initially for a glass, then slow-ox overnight and consumed the next day. This is an assemblage of 2021 (46%), 2020 (18%), 2019 (16%), 2018 (2%), 2017 (9%), 2016 (5%) & 2015 (4%).

As is normal, the aromatics upon opening fill the room. I’ve had plenty of SamiOdi and it never ceases to amaze how powerful the aromatics are. Deep purple in the glass (stains the glass type purple). Heady aromas of concentrated red and black fruits, boysenberry jam, violets, and sweet spice. You’d think with all those big aromas the palate would slap you around, but as Fraser can do, there is a fresh profile here. It’s extremely concentrated but somehow stays light. More dark fruits (freshly squeezed), espresso, small hint of both oak and green herbs down the middle to frame it. Tannins were still powerful on day two, but by no means overly so. Give this a half day decant, or slow ox overnight, and you’ll be enthralled.

Thankfully I’ve got the HD’s resting, and more on the way. — 2 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.3

So stinking good — 3 years ago

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