Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I used to drink this producer in the late 90’s & early 2000’s. I’ve been revisiting older vintages based on recent price points. I think they sold a bunch of their cellar for revenue. It is out of need after the Glass Fires. They were somewhat consumed by it. The winery & part of their vineyards. Unfortunate!!!

Decanted an hour and enjoyed over 2-3 hours.

I was further inspired to acquire the 2006 by @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego who posted more than respectful thoughts of the 2006 not long ago. So, I acquired some winery stored bottles at $39. A more than fair price point. The cork had a millimeter or less along its side. The bottle neck showed trapped tannins. Extremely solid.

The nose is inviting. Slightly smoky & nicely ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries and pomegranate. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola/licorice-red vines, soft dry tobacco, used leather, very soft graphite, graceful herbaceous notes, whiff with black & white pepper, dark, rich soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms.

The entry is elegant, ripe, slightly rich with nothing bitty. Medium, softened, mushy tannins. It shows nearly perfect elegance at or just and I mean just the other side of its peak. Ripe; dark core of blackberries, dark cherries, poached/baked strawberries, plum, blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate hues. Slate, gentle, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid & light berry cola, soft dry, used tobacco w/ ash, used leather, graphite, herbaceous notes, stem inclusion, some black & white pepper, dark spice box with mid intensity palate heat, layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & understated vanillin, dark chocolate, caramel, steeped teas, moist to dry volcanic clays, rich, dark, almost sweet soils, mix of limestone/sandstone, red florals/roses, dark florals and purple lily blossoms, very nice acidity, evolved, well-knitted, balanced, structured, tensioned, elegant finish that lasts nearly two-minutes and long sets on spice and beautiful earthiness. This will drink nicely for another 5+ yrs.

A good revisit and perhaps the most elegant Cain Five I’ve had.

Photos of; the Cain Five vineyards, Chris Howell-Winemaker, pressed grapes and the somewhat unglamorous cleaning out of stainless steel tanks after initial fermentation. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

My first 2016 BP Estate. Powerful red fruits with a whole bunch stalky element. A typical BP Estate with that stewed fruit rhubarb type character Similar to many other BP Estate Pinots I’ve had on Delectable from other vintages. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2016 vintage. One of the best wines to be found under the humble "Bordeaux Supérieur" appellation. Very elegant with bright crisp red fruit and a minty freshness. Impeccable balance and very good length. As always very reliable. Highly recommended. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Always a treat to try a Bell Hill Pinot Noir. Quite light in colour. Wonderful florals of violet, roses and a stalky whole bunch note - a nose reminiscent of Vosne Romanee. A light to medium weight palate showing more body than the colour would indicate. Strong Sous Bois character with red fruits and great persistence. I have very few wines from Canterbury NZ but on this showing, should have more. This is Bell Hill’s 2nd ranked Cuvée. I have a few bottles of their 1st ranked Cuvée but they need more cellar time before popping the cork, as does this Old Weka Pass 2016. A great Pinot with further potential. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

A peppery note on the nose showing evidence of whole bunch in the ferment. Rich red fruits of cherry and raspberry on the palate showing more new world in the warm 2015 vintage with ripe tannins. Some new sources apparently in this year’s blend including declassified Beaune and Monthelie villages alongside the traditional Santenay villages and Santenay 1er cru Commes. Excellent quality for a Village wine and great QPR. — 6 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Rhubarb sauer vegetables. Sour red currants. Really sour. Needs to mellow out. Fine tannins. Pretty good but I am not 100% in on this wine. Not drink now for sure. Tart. — 6 years ago

ESF

9.2

holding steady - see previous notes, a real well-knit, oak is so well-integrated at this point, the black & red fruit has such depth, sweet earth & soil, spices are just so captivating- crowd pleaser, glad i bought a bunch of these — a year ago

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Stunning pinot and testament to how Tasmania has benefitted from climate change and now taken its place at the top of Australian pinot, along with Yarra, Geelong, and Mornington. The nose is all dusty cherry and deep savoury spice. The palate is elegant, but the impact and concentration of dark cherry fruit is what makes this special. A hint of herbal/vegetal whole bunch. Then the savoury sandalwood kicks in and does not give up. One of the longest finishes i can remember. Cracking. — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1.5 hour decant(little fine/cloudy sediment). A majestic deep ruby red color. On the nose: perfumed nose of plum, smoked meat, old leather, eucalyptus, burnt cedar, green veggie. Taste: smooth, slightly creamy, elegant, structured wine with black plum, currants, herbaceous, nutty chocolate, leather, graphite and a long peppery savory dry finish. YUM!

The financial crisis and excess wine to sell had the 08 1st growths all priced less than $200 a bottle so I bought a bunch.  At 15 years,  it's finally time to check em all out. This Mouton is a nice start. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Bob McDonald

9.5

After the recent straight entry level Giant Steps Pinot from 2017 which was fruit driven and quite delicious this is one of their individual paddock wines - Applejack which is made in a different style with whole bunch ferment to the fore. Notes of anise and white pepper to the red fruited nose and palate. Hint of clove. Oak is resolved to my palate. Impressive and showing Steve Flamsteed’s ability as a winemaker. Postscript: Jackson Family Wines from the USA has acquired Giant Steps as of a year ago I believe. I would expect Giant Steps to be more readily available in the US now. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

The first of the reds at the Grand Cru Burgundy Dinner Heady aromas of plum and violets with a high percentage of whole bunch, around 85 to 100 percent apparently. - more fruit driven though, before the Sous Bois characters develop with a few more years. Ramon, the importer, said 12 bottles came into Australia and 4 bottles consumed at this dinner. Red fruits on the medium weight spicy palate - 70% new oak. Close to my WOTN. Interestingly Negociants the importer are also the sole importers of DRC into Australia and Ramon said they get much more DRC Echezeaux than Dujac Echezeaux. — 6 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.0

Beautifully structured and restrained. Nice balance of savoury whole bunch and concentrated fruit, delicate yet persistent. Still young, with its best yet to come. — 6 years ago

with Sam

Bob Dylan

9.4

Love. Different blend but same effect as last year. Thanks Eben! — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

My last bottle in the cellar but first Delectable note for this vintage. A good balance of quality ripe grapes with the savoury peppery tannins from use of whole bunch in the ferment. — a year 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. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.0

The 2012 Les Carmes Haut-Brion was the first vintage with whole bunches (40%) and 18 months in barrel. It was the introductory vintage under current winemaker Guillaume Pouthier. This is much more enticing on the nose after the 2011: well-defined black cherries, cola, peppermint, light rose petal scents and a hint of marmalade that emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, more freshness and tension than the 2011, and frankly, you would never be able to tell there was whole bunch here. This appears to be maturing with style and panache, but it will give another decade or more of drinking pleasure. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2012)
— 4 years ago

Carolyn Jane

9.8

Delicious. Complex but smooth. Medium tannin. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Mid Ruby in colour. Red fruits of cherry and strawberry with a bit of whole bunch influence on the nose. The palate showing savoury red fruits but also a little sweetness. Certainly a good future in front of it - I should try the next one in 1 to 2 years time. Tom Carson has probably never made a bad wine in his life and he has a great terroir to work with when he is not in demand for judging at Royal Shows. Tasted another bottle 65 weeks later on 24th July 2022. Quite red cherry on the nose and palate. Sooty notes from whole bunch in the ferment. The perfect balance between sweet and savoury. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Ruby in colour. Initial aromas of red and black fruits particularly raspberry and also whole bunch notes. Rich and sweet on the palate with plums and cherries finishing with smooth tannins. Fruit for this Pinot was sourced from the Coal Valley, East Coast and Channel sub-regions of Tasmania - the latter adding that richness like you see in Home Hill Estate. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale to mid crimson and a little cloudy - a characteristic one used to see occasionally in Bass Phillip as they are bottled unfiltered which adds to the flavour intensity. A beautiful perfume of whole bunch notes, sous bois and a touch of toffee. Amazing intensity for Bass Phillip’s 5th ranked Pinot Noir cuvée. Sweet and savoury fruits. Delivers more fruit on the palate than one would expect from the nose. For short term drinking but still delivers the Bass Phillip stamp of quality. — 6 years ago