Bob McDonald

9.4

Hopefully Delectable will allow me to write a complete note. Here we go ….
Dark Ruby with a crimson rim. Closed on the nose initially. Straight from the bottle - should have decanted it. Rich on the palate. Latent power with much to give. Dark cherry with dried herbs still to come with further cellaring. This is the first of 5 bottles. In the early days Block 3 was the undisputed best Pinot in NZ but now Block 5 is considered along with other contenders from around NZ. Have the next one in a year. Many good judges think this is the best ever Block 3 up to this point. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

A bright Ruby red in colour. Red florals, touch of violet with red cherry and notes of compost heap. A dusty component to the nose Barb thought. Not as much perfume as I was expecting in a Premier Cru Chambolle. Medium bodied and latent. More mineral, dusty and earthy than a new world Pinot Noir. A perfect match with Duck a l’Orange. One of the 1001 wines. This was a major stuff up. I meant to drink the 2013 and picked the 2015 by mistake which is nowhere near ready. — 4 years ago

Chris Regina

9.1

Fading jam but still latent tastiness. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Rich Ruby in colour. Muted nose. I made the mistake of not decanting but ended up putting it through one of those funnel type aereators. With swirling this released black pepper, red and black berries with a note of cinnamon. The medium bodied palate was latent, tight and self contained finishing with fine sandy tannins. In hindsight I should have left this for a few years but was guided by JM’s drinking window from Wine Spectator of 2019 to 2021. This is a better class of CdR and priced accordingly. Vine age is 30 to 60 years with a small amount (2%) from young vine Cornas. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Mid Ruby red in colour. Somewhat closed on the nose - red fruits - cherries in particular. After a decant and an hour with regular swirling still a muted nose. On the palate savoury red cherry with medium minus acidity. At 5 years it would appear to have a huge future - this is my first of 4 bottles. Solid and latent on the palate - yet to open up but the quality is there. Main Ridge was the first licensed winery on the Mornington Peninsula in 1975. This producer not always easy to source. Had another bottle 64 weeks later on the 10th May 2022 with similar tasting notes. Perfect balance between the red fruits and a touch of charred oak. Travelling well. Try and have the next one in 2023. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Toasty oak with black fruits and liquorice. The palate latent and brooding promising a big future. A little early to be drinking this at 8 years with projected drinking windows going up to another 20 years. I love Grampians Shiraz - this is more dried black Cherry than my favourite, Mt Langhi Ghiran - the latter more pepper/spice and Northern Rhone in style. Just a personal preference. — 6 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.5

Exceptional chardonnay with the latent power of a GC burgundy, but with salinity and tannic grip. Beautiful nose with reductive gunsmoke, apple, and baking spices. The structure is the perfect fit for the intense and powerful flavour bomb: lemon merengue pie, smoke, tangerine, all in perfect balance. The concentration and length are world class. As long as I can remember of ANY wine I have tasted. World class for A$90 — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Wanted to compare this 2016 Bourgogne Rouge with the recent Dom Bellene Vosne Romanee village wine. This was similar - very self contained and restrained. Too latent to provide an educated assessment. One dimensional and lacking in complexity - the best is yet to come. After vigorous swirling some black cherry and spice is evident. The first of 6 - try the next one in 1 to 2 years. I note that Wine Spectator had a drinking window of 2022 to 2038 which I thought was optimistic for a Village wine but it’s not once you taste it. A wonderful producer. — 3 years ago

romo

9.0

Correct but tough to get past a latent olive note. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Very dark Ruby with a crimson edge. A closed latent nose after decanting initially. Aromatics of black and blue fruits with Cassis, chocolate, oak spice together with plum and tobacco leaf. I didn’t realise how Tempranillo (100%) could be as rich as this. The same complex aromatics feed through to the full bodied palate. Gorgeous - a dense and thick mouth feel without being heavy. Will leave the next one for a year or two. The 2nd wine of the famous Pingus. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Initially ungiving on the nose - latent but the power is there. With air a rose petal note developed. On the light to medium weight palate there was Dark cherry, spice and some stalkiness. An excellent new world Pinot, considered Australia’s best - it should be for the price, but I have had better Bass Phillip Reserves. The following night, stewed fruits- a rhubarb and savoury cherry note. I have one left which I will probably drink in a year or two. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

Delectable - this is the Craighall Vineyard Pinot Noir - not offered in your choices. This wine had a lovely vibrant colour of dark crimson. Aromas of cherry but somewhat latent and still promising much. My experience with Dry River Pinots is that they need at least 10 years and I cannot understand the Drinking Window from the winery as 2019-2022. I have made a note to drink my 2nd one in 2025. This is a big full bodied concentrated Pinot with plenty of Tannin. Only 649 bottles of the Craighall made. The next day still solid, dense and ungiving - without nuance. Needs cellaring time. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Dark Ruby red almost Black in colour. Dense on nose after decanting - quite closed restrained and latent needing time and swirling to open up. After 2 hours a nice plummy earthy perfume coming through. On the palate plummy tarry notes with cherry. Dusty and discreet Barb thought. Ultra savoury with very fine grained tannins. A great match with Lamb Chops. I’m not familiar with all of the individual Cuvées of Domaine Tempier but I believe Cabassaou is regarded as top of the tree - the others being La Miguoa and La Tourtine. Medium weight with medium plus intensity. Probably the best straight Mourvèdre I’ve ever had. Footnote: It appears this is a blend of at least 90% Mourvèdre with some Syrah and a little Cinsault. — 6 years ago

Norma Normington

9.4

Big jammy but also a latent reminder of straw and a hint of black pepper. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense dark Ruby, almost black - impenetrable. Full bodied with M plus intensity bordering on profound. Cassis, blackberry, a touch of black raspberry and mocha on nose and palate. Palate a little self contained and latent needing more time in the cellar. Fluid tannins with great persistence of flavour. This is Catena Zapata’s premium Cuvée “Argentino “ - showing its premium status at 16 years of age. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Nice aromas of mint (not positive but this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is probably mainly from Coonawarra) and cassis, black currant aromas. Medium bodied with an inner core of latent strength, inherent in most Penfolds Reds. Tastes way younger than 13 years and will cellar for at least another 10 to 15 years or more. Postscript: I thought this statement was appropriate from Penfolds First Chief Winemaker and the creator of Grange, Max Schubert said, “Penfolds different cuvées may differ in character Year by Year, but all bear an unmistakable resemblance and relationship to each other. “ This is pertinent when tasting Bin 407. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid Ruby with a tawny rim. A little closed 15 minutes after decanting. Still contained and a little latent at 12 years of age. With air red berry fruits and florals and a touch of pepper. Wonderful palate intensity showing the quality of the fruit - raspberry notes coming through. One of Australia’s best Pinots although I have had better Block 5’s. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

The final wine at the Downs Club Filipino Dinner on Wednesday night - the mystery wine. This was a rich full bodied red from Coonawarra ( atypical for most Shiraz from this region) and I incorrectly picked McLaren Vale. This had a closed latent brooding nose and should have had a longer decant I feel. Ripe black fruits with some liquorice and plenty of tannin. This has a long way to go to achieve some nuance and detail. A whopper for a Coonawarra Shiraz. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A rich dark Ruby in colour. Initially a little closed - needed a longer decant. Dense and latent on the nose offering black and blue fruits, black pepper with an earthy minerality. A medium to full bodied palate with much yet to reveal - acid and tannin - everything here for the cellar. In 2015 this wine won the James Halliday Shiraz of the Year and 98 points from James. Honours the legendary Hunter Valley pioneer Maurice OShea when he started in 1921 in Pokolbin. This is the first of 6 and probably too early to be opening. An exceptional Shiraz in its infancy at 10 years of age and destined for a very long life. Had another bottle 117 weeks later on 8th June 2023 with similar notes. Earthy - full bodied on the palate. A much longer drinking window than suggested by Jancis of 2015 to 2025. Crllartrack said to 2046!! — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

This was the mystery wine and I had a premonition that the Sommelier was going to pick Astralis, the rich Australian Shiraz from McLaren Vale because he had just got some into the Club. “Don’t second guess the Somm”. On 2nd thoughts the La Turque would not be as rich as the Astralis. This wine was latent and ungiving - very solid - leather, bacon and pepper. — 6 years ago