Bob McDonald

9.5

I have several previous Delectable notes on this brilliant wine. As fellow Delectable taster Scott Rowe said of this wine “Epic”. Sadly my last of the 2015 vintage Tolpuddle Pinot Noir. There were too many things going for it not to be a success. :-
Coal River Tasmania; Shaw and Smith Winemaking team; 2015 vintage. There were spicy red cherries on the nose. A stalky whole bunch note. (50% whole bunch fermentation). See previous notes. Every year since has been a similar success. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Brief notes. Sweet red fruits - raspberry and strawberry. Whole bunch influence. An excellent Yarra Valley Pinot Noir with a proven track record but at the end of the day Applejack Vineyard is marginally in front of Sexton Vineyard IMO. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Strong red florals and fading (compared to the previous tasting) yet noticeable oak. Also whole bunch influence. Tastes a bit bunchy. A little coarse on the medium plus bodied palate. Dark fruits - plum and cherry. Finishes with silky tannins which redeems the wine somewhat. A Shiraz drinkers Pinot with a twist - not very Burgundian. Amazingly Bob Campbell MW gave this wine 99 points in January 2015. — 7 months ago

Will Stanley

9.3

Well, what an overachiever this wine is! Mayne Lalande, a little known chateau in Listrac-Médoc, and a bottle which I picked up for a humble price at auction around a year ago. It’s fresh, sappy, delicious and positively refreshing at 12% abv. I wish I had more of this. A joyous rendition of old left-bank Bordeaux. — 2 months ago

Jae Cho

9.1

Black cherries for days within a tobacco/black tea vanilla that has integrated in due time. Dark and deep mountain fruit. It reminds me how much even humble aged Napa can reward. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Brief notes. Another excellent example of Pinot Noir from the Applejack vineyard. Red fruited with strawberry and cherry. Definitely more fruit driven than the Wombat Creek which has more whole bunch in the ferment. The differences are more in wine making technique than in terroir I feel. Sexton possibly a bit of each. Had my last bottle on 6th September 2024. Applejack is definitely my favourite Giant Steps cuvee for Pinot Noir. The perfect balance of fruit, Sous Bois, acid and tannin. The 2023 just awarded Halliday’s Pinot Noir of the year for 2024. — 8 months ago

Valkyrie Dwag

10

My current favorite — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

See 4 previous notes on Delectable for the 2015 Primavera. This is my last bottle. The whole bunch stalky elements have toned down in the last few years. More balanced with the red fruits. Perhaps that was Steve Flamsteed’s plan and it needed to be cellared for at least 9 years.? — 5 months ago

Chris Haywood

9.7

This has done the business. Initial terror at a loose Cork did not translate into spoiled juice. Black fruits and cloves still there but a lovely evolving pronounced mushroom tertiary in the mix. — 6 months ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.7

Beautifully layered, and incredibly consistent on the palate. It doesn’t drop for a moment like many other wines this year. 60% whole bunch. 50% Franc 30 Sauv. 20 Merlot. Creamy and balanced. Dense and intense. 97-98/100. — 9 months ago