Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.

This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I opened it and let it breathe in bottle for 45 minutes and then decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.

This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.

The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. Dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful style!

To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 13 days ago

Enrico Nicoletta

9.5

Bright, focused and pure. Excellent richness and energy, Sava, Savart, can’t go wrong with Frederick. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Herbal aromas (typically Margaret River) with Geranium Capsicum and a touch of menthol. Some green notes - medium weight. Savoury wins out over Cassis and black fruits. Not in the upper echelon of Margaret River Cabernet. Just a silver medal. We went to the Cellar Door some years ago and the story goes that the Reserve Cab was served at the wedding of Prince Frederick of Denmark to Sydney Real Estate agent Mary Donaldson originally from Tasmania now Crown Princess Mary and one day will become the Queen of Denmark. Fred is a keen sailor who was representing Denmark at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and they met at Sydney hotspot The Slip Inn where Fred was flashing his Black AMEX so the story goes and was captivated by Mary and the rest is history. — 6 years ago

Jason Phillips

8.9

Spicy with lots of pepper with a hint of smoke. — 6 months ago

William

9.0

Whitney Frederick brought. Really good. Dark brown — 3 years ago

Harold Flamenbaum

9.4

Great with Brisket on Sept 18,2020 — 5 years ago

Tara Rudo

9.1

Ginas favorite! From paradox in Stevenson — 6 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Amazing after eight years — 9 months ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Biodynamic Aussie Grenache from the Hongell Vineyard’s 90 year old vines. Partial whole cluster and neutral oak. Cherry cordials. Just shy of reading jammy. Not sure what’s crossed out on the label, maybe Australian drink units?
Thoughts anyone? — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

I don’t drink many purple wines these days in fact if any, but this was a gift from a colleague & supervisee so I felt a certain obligation. Not a bad one: new oak obvious, still has some lift and floral notes through that blueberry/ blueberry pie palate. You could do a lot worse, and Frederick Wildman thought enough of it to import. Still, caveat is that not my taste but some may be wild over it ( a 92 from J Suckling?! My lord, he does score high). — 5 years ago