Bob McDonald

9.4

Even though this wine is 27 years old I might have opened this a little early. This will cruise to its 40th birthday without a problem. This was the period when Hunter Valley decided to emulate the big ripe oaky styles of South Australia instead of sticking to the HV medium bodied savoury style which Maurice O’Shea himself pioneered back in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. A palate staining and concentrated palate of profound intensity with a black fruited perfume. An impressive wine but thankfully the Maurice O’Shea Shiraz of the last 10 to 15 years have returned to their medium bodied roots. — 6 days ago

Vanessa

9.1

This is a BENCHMARK dry Bordeaux blanc made w/ 65% Sauvignon Blanc, lending aromatics, acidity, and brightness; and 35% Semillon, lending weight, body, and softness.

It was fermented in stainless steel, then aged 10 months in oak (25% new), with routine bâtonnage.

It has a brilliant lemon hue with concentrated aromas and flavors of lemon curd, vanilla, cream, gooseberry, freshly cut grass, boxwood, chervil, lemongrass, white peach, white blossom, cheese rind, gunflint, and wet stones. It’s dry with mouth-watering acidity, a medium (+) body, medium alcohol (13% ABV), and a lingering, elegant finish.

It’s complex and balanced, with runway to age and a capacity to develop layers of tertiary characteristics such as honey, dried fruit, and nuttiness.

It comes from the Pessac-Léognan AOC in the Graves region, on the “left bank” of Bordeaux, just south of the Haut-Medoc; an appellation known for its high quality red and white wines. — 2 months ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.3

this was delicious and beats a lot of white Bordeaux in price quality matters, a great value (70% sauvignon blanc, 30% semillon) — 5 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Light golden color. Aromas of straw/hay, wet stones and Asian pear. Flavors of green melon, key lime, sour quince, beeswax, dried herbs and lemon zest. Touch of minerality on the lingering and quite refined finish. Mouth coating oily texture. Medium acidity and plush texture. Only 11% Alcohol. Quite unique and interesting. Solid QPR. — 15 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.4

Such an interesting wine. Super minerally and almost smokey. White Bordeauxs are still a mystery to me. Would drink this anytime happily though! — 13 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A mid straw yellow in colour. Aromas are lemon and lime, lemongrass, mineral, wet hay with toastiness and lanolin starting to emerge at 13 years of age. Light bodied but great intensity - a richer texture for a Semillon, bearing in mind that this wine sees no oak at all - stainless steel all the way. Only 11% alcohol. Luckily I have 4 bottles left - a cellar life extending to 2030+. — 4 months ago

David White

9.2

Opaque black dark red colour with a bright red to dark hue. Smoky dark plum and liquorice scents and peppered clove scents Rich plum and liquorice fruits carry good weight and it has a plush feel across the palate. Scorched earth, dried meats, Very polished tannins yet structurally sturdy and firm. The long finish has black pepper characters. — 16 days ago

Doug Scott

9.1

Hay. Nice citrus and stoney combination. — 24 days ago

Donald Williams

9.4

Got careless and held this longer than intended. Didn’t matter. It was near perfect. — 3 months ago

with Bonnie

Ira Schwartz

9.4

There’s nothing like the excitement of head to head competition. Unfortunately, that excitement ends quickly when one of the participants has to withdraw. The 2013 was extremely advanced with a heavy petrol nose. The 2014 on the other hand was a great example of what this wine should be. A clean nose of grapefruit and grass but not in that overbearing way that can be the case with SB. Once in the mouth SB steps aside and the Semillon becomes the “boss”. Apricot and pears pop up and the initial dose of mouth watering acidity gives way to a wonderful roundness that allows for a long finish. — 5 months ago

with Stephen