Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

In 1829, Champagne Bollinger introduced an instantly recognizable, dry, toasty style that has been coveted ever since. Six generations of the Bollinger family have maintained that trademark style, and still owned and managed by the same family since it was founded. Gold color with a nose of fruit and baking spices. On the palate apple and peach, toasty notes with great bubble flow. Long crisp finish ending with yeasty mineral tones. Nice! — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

The latest release of the iconic Mount Edelstone. Quite contained on the nose - more is promised - rated as an exceptional vintage and will cellar for 30+ years. A lovely broad palate showing sweet red and black fruits, sage and black pepper. - medium plus intensity. finishing with the trademark Edelstone seamless tannins. — 8 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

This hasn’t yet shed its trademark austerity even at 30 years. It was actually better day 2(!) This was built to last to put it mildly and has a gruff, craggy nobility befitting its mountainous origins. Dried black fruits (plums and currants), pepper, leather, graphite, violets, chocolate, cloves — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Mid yellow in colour. Nose of really ripe grapefruit and that trademark dried pear character. Good to see the oak dialled back in this Art series from their previous big style. This is an excellent new world Chardonnay (more Stone fruit than citrus/grapefruit) drinking at its peak. Wonderful Balance- medium minus acid with medium plus intensity. Consistent with previous notes from October 2019 and also 86 weeks ago. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Ruby/crimson in colour - a tawny rim developing. A little porty to begin with - the trademark Wendouree/Clare Valley menthol/eucalyptus. A note of Iodine. Very earthy on the palate. This wine speaks of the ancient terroir where vines have been planted since the 1880’s. Full bodied, intense and powerful even at 25 years of age. A true icon of Australian wine but even Wendouree Shiraz does have an end point and I think this 1999 has reached its peak. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous note in June 2023 where I questioned the ripeness of the fruit. This has the trademark spice and pepper. Very little fruit, more savoury characters. From one of Australia’s leading cool climate wineries. As Jancis said, “a real sense of place “ - in this case the Macedon Ranges just north of Tullamarine Airport. Very different to SA Shiraz. Just medium bodied - a leathery note with balanced tannins. As in previous note a touch of astringency at the finish. — 10 months ago

Chris Cline

9.5

Yogi-Berry is a great sweet blackberry wine. Not near as acidic as many other black berries we have tried. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.9

This is Stephen Henschke’s favourite vintage of H of G he said. This was the first vintage he bottled under screw cap and all subsequent vintages have been bottled that way. They have also experimented with the Vinolok glass stopper. As Stephen said “I love tradition and it is very important as a 6th generation family owned winery. However when tradition lets you down as it has with cork, there is time to evaluate better closures. “ He went on to say the 2002 has that distinctive Hill of Grace nose which you can’t define but it does have the trademark mint, spice and sage. The palate is profoundly intense and could go on for another 10 years but flirting with perfection right now. — 8 months ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Wheat 🌾 Whiskey. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Prior notes apply. Always a pleasure to drink a Sami-Odi red wine - great as the weather cools down in Autumn. Plum and chocolate with those trademark silky tannins from mainly old vine fruit. An assemblage of casks from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 - all good years. — 4 years ago