Fraser Mckinley

Fraser Gallop

Parterre Chardonnay 2022

Lean and taut currently, shows more oak and structure than the Singlefile, this needs 2-4 years of further aging, I think, but lovely complexity and long finish. — 3 months ago

Jim PowersMonique
with Jim and Monique
Jan, Bob and 3 others liked this

Basel Cellars

Mckinley Springs Vineyard Malbec 2018

Candy, a bit sweeter than most other Malbecs — 6 months ago

Sharon liked this

Sami-Odi

Baby Tui Syrah 2012

As with all of the top Cuvées of Sami Odi there is a lot going on with the wine as a product of ancient vines going back to 1912. Ripe plums, black olive, earth, some game and meaty notes and prune. Bold flavours delivered with a trademark silky texture with supple fluid tannins. Rich chocolatey notes on the palate mingling with the ripe plum. Followers of Sami Odi will know that Fraser often blends 2 or 3 vintages but with “Baby Tui” the 2012 vintage was so good that it stood alone. The unusual and attractive label is apparently a collection of vintage match box labels belonging to Fraser’s grandmother I believe. Correct me if I’m wrong. I have one of these gems left in the cellar. — 4 years ago

Paul, Ira and 31 others liked this
Travis W

Travis W Influencer Badge

Stunning label Fraser!
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Travis W Great to see you came out of hibernation Travis. Would be great to see some tasting notes from a Diploma Graduate!
Fraser McKinley

Fraser McKinley Influencer Badge

Thank you kindly @Travis W

Sami-Odi

Hoffmann Dallwitz Syrah 2017

@Delectable Wine this is the 2017 Hoffman Dallwitz. @Fraser McKinley may be able to give you some more details about the name.

This wine would go well with a big ass porterhouse. But this wine needs to be cut with a knife and fork as well! Perfume slaps you across the face after you exert 100 calories trying to get the cork out of the bottle. Black and purple and blue fruits. Baking spices. Cinnamon. Entry is full throttle, but rather soft and rounded. Roasted black fruits, baking spice, roasted nuts. Insane. I'm rather certain that this one is going to be 97/98 in 5-7 years. Has the potential for my first 100! Unfortunately I'm pretty dang certain they will all be gone by then!

Wow! Excellent wine
@Fraser McKinley !!
— 5 years ago

Dan FitzgeraldBradley DavisShay A
with Dan, Bradley and 1 other
Shay, Neil and 36 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Trade you 2 Caymus for 1 of those
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

It’s official...these are the most incredibly aromatic/my most favorite aromatic wines I’ve ever come across. This is so good that if I decanted for 8hrs, I’d be ok staying next to it and smelling it the entire 8hrs. Purple in the glass. Fruit cake, baking spices, toasted mixed berry pie, & savory bacon fat. Powerful (obviously). Plum, slightly stemmy, ripe dark fruit. Some cocoa. Gorgeous. Almost a carbonic type nose? If you aren’t a believer by now, move over so others can enjoy these! Thanks @Mark Flesher , and I’m glad I’ve got a stash of these tucked away!
9.5
Bill Bender

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Everything goes with a big ass, if you ask me.

Sami-Odi

Little Wine #10 Syrah

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. — 4 months ago

Shay, Tom and 23 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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Ugh, unintentional breakage 😥
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Sorry about the drop-sie.

Mckinley Springs

Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

For a Washingtonian wine on the upper half of the scale but just can’t throw above a 9 — 4 years ago

Sami-Odi

Hoffman Dallwitz Little Wine IV Syrah

Very dense ruby. Aromas of ripe black plum with a note of prune. Silky palate showing its old vine origins / supple slippery tannins. This wine is instantly loveable by all who taste it and ridiculous value at only $38 back when I bought it. To pay that amount for what is essentially a hand made wine of small production from ancient Shiraz vines is a wonderful thing and explains why Fraser sells out every year in a few weeks. This is my oldest Little Wine (#4) which combines vintages 2012, 2013 and 2014 - all good vintages. Just bought Fraser’s latest offering from the 2018 vintage today - includes Little Wine #9 — 4 years ago

Stanley, Billy and 15 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Billy L. Yet to make a visit to Sami Odi.
Fraser McKinley

Fraser McKinley Influencer Badge

Thanks for the lovely note @Bob McDonald I’m thrilled to hear that it opened nicely and must check in on one of those. I look forward to tasting with you here one day, you are always welcome.
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Thanks Fraser.

Fraser Gallop

Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Absolutely lovely Margaret River Cabernet from a property new to me, we were also able to purchase 6 bottles of their higher end Cabernets and Chardonnay for import, my wife loved this when we tasted it and we bought it to go, finally drinking it with some great Aussie lamb (her) and steak (me) we cooked on the barbie!!

Dark fruits, oak is moderate, this is a mid-term drinker, lovely balance, soft tannins, but excellent depth as well, long finish, very fine!!
— 6 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Jan, Peter and 4 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Great value for money isn’t it Doug. Up in Wilyabrup where most of their neighbours are Margaret River royalty.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald , agreed!! And the higher end stuff was even more impressive, although was had a great QPR!!

Sami-Odi

"Little Wine" #6 Syrah

This Little Wine #6 is a blend of 2016 (47%), 2015 (44%), 2013 (5%), and 2012 (4%) - all good vintages and sourced from that precious old vine material in the Dallwitz vineyard. This wine had an array of black fruits of berry, cherry and currant with hints of spice including clove on the nose. Fraser seems to have a process of picking early so his wines even in ripe vintages like those in the blend are not porty. Always finishing with those silky tannins. A lovely wine at a good price. — 3 years ago

Matt, Ira and 24 others liked this
Simon Gilligan

Simon Gilligan Influencer Badge

I rate this higher than you Bob! Maybe it hits my soft spot, love it.
Fraser McKinley

Fraser McKinley Influencer Badge

Great to hear that it opened nicely for you Bob!

Backyard Vineyards

Brut Blanc de Noir

Breakfast bubbles. — 5 years ago