Bob McDonald

9.5

An assemblage of casks from 2019 (42%), 2018 (37%), 2017 (13%), 2016 (4%), and 2015 (4%). From plots within the Hoffmann Dallwitz vineyard with the oldest vines dating back to 1912. 6,451 bottles filled. Great depth - sweet exemplary fruit. Notes of spice and plush black fruits. Lush silky tannins go without saying. The demand for Sami-Odi wines has gone through the roof in recent years in Australia. A wine shop is currently asking over $500 AUD for this wine. I paid $50 from Fraser. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Great to try a 10 year old Sami-Odi. The ripe fruit quality from very old vines is so rich, luscious and alluring there doesn’t seem to be any point in keeping these wines for 15 to 20 years until they develop savoury characters. Colour is dense, dark and impenetrable. Plummy notes on the palate with a little chocolate (see previous Delectable note). Trademark silky tannins. Back Story on the Vineyard: Dallwitz Old is the Hoffmann vineyard’s oldest and most highly prized block - sown by Oscar Falland between 1888 and 1912 on land that at the time belonged to the Dallwitz family. The 2.12 hectares are farmed solely by the Hoffmann family and have been tenderly cared for each season since they began share farming it for the Dallwitz’s in the 1920’s (the Hoffmann’s later acquired it in the 1940s). 3074 bottles were filled. Unusually for the top Cuvée from Sami-Odi this one comes from a single vintage in 2013. — a year ago

Mark S.

9.0

Plum, violet, blueberry etc. comfortable sourness. 2017 @1850, xuaduo, 220623-22062- — 2 years ago

Mark S.

9.0

Flower, lily like. Into taste. Stone. Minerally. Almond. Not simple acidic. 20 @5841, Pieroth, 240413
Cider, lemon. Complexity. Salty, minerally. 20 @, Pieroth, 240420 — 7 months ago

Bonnie Chu

8.9

Low tannin, earthy, light cherry ludens — 10 months ago

Daniel M

9.0

Thorn Clarke Barossa single vineyard selection Mataro 2018
A 100 % Mataro (mourvedre) from down under. Spice, black pepper, plum, blackberry on the nose. The palate is surprisingly easy going and plush where I expected something a bit rougher around the edges. Rather low acidity, a great width blackberry notes and black pepper, there are tannins but they caress the tongue rather than disrupting the mouthfeel and they kick off a long fruity finish that ends with black pepper and a tiny bitter note. It's 14,6% abv but you don't feel it. Good aussie red! — a year ago

Mark S.

9.0

Oak, rich, butter, citrus. 2017 @1550, xuaduo, 220623-220722 — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Delectable - this is the Sami Odi Our Hill Cuvée. Notes later. 2021 vintage. This is the 2nd ever vintage of Our Hill from Sami-Odi from Shiraz grapes grown in the Eden Valley. The 3rd vintage released earlier this year only had a production of around 280 bottles (weather problems - hail) and sold out in under 30 minutes. I missed out. Delectable has done well to recognise this bottle - very cryptic even on Fraser McKinley’s highly cryptic labelling standards. I made a note of the first Our Hill about 93 weeks ago. All whole bunch vinification. Quite rich for an Eden Valley Shiraz. Interestingly Fraser says “Our Hill “ is best enjoyed over the next few years in its youth (finest on the day of opening) contrary to the old vine Hoffmann wines. Reminiscent of Henschke Mount Edelstone in some respects without the longevity of Edelstone probably. Delicious nonetheless. — 9 months ago

Kate Rawlins

9.5

Beautiful aged English sparkling. Wtlgi with George and Lucy. — a year ago

Paul T HB

9.6

THE GROWERS’ CUT PAYS HOMAGE EACH YEAR TO A SELECTED TORBRECK GROWER WHOSE PARTICULAR VINEYARD HAS BEST EXEMPLIFIED THE SEASON OR PRODUCED AN EXTRAORDINARY PARCEL OF WINE
This special release, cellar door only wine is produced from one of the traditional Torbreck and Barossa varieties of Grenache, Shiraz or Mataro.
The Hoffmann family are the winners of The Growers’ Cut 2016 award with a unique single vineyard Shiraz, known as the ‘Track Block’, located at the northern end of the western range in the Barossa sub-region of Ebenezer.
Planted on dark red earth over deep clay with a chalky layer of limestone, this is a consistently low yielding block that provides immense depth of flavour.
VINTAGE
Despite a dry winter during 2015, rains in January and March 2016, freshened the older vines and provided long, slow ripening periods in between, which led to a stand-out vintage with high quality fruit.
TASTING
Showing a deep saturated dark red colour and expressing notes of bay leaf, mulberry and cracked pepper this wine will reward those who can hide it away in the cellar. — 2 years ago