Bob McDonald

9.6

Last Sunday lunch with Roast Lamb. A 20 year old Rioja fitted the bill nicely. A blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Aged in new French and American oak for 24 months. Aromatics of tobacco leaf, plum, ashphalt and a bit of tar. A medicinal note the following night. The palate is medium to full bodied with berry, plum and liquorice. Resolved Tannins - quite fluid. This was Wine Spectators No. 1 wine for 2013 and now drinking at its peak but could go on for another 5 years on the evidence of this superb wine. — 9 months ago

Becky lyttle

9.1

Didn’t know what to expect. It’s a gorgeous clear copper colored wine. Coats your tongue- guessing that must be the muscat? Hint of sweetness, ripe stone fruit, no pronounced aromas but a nice long finish of sherry. Super fun, will try again and think about what to pair it with. Or just enjoy it on a Sunday afternoon. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Our final lunch in Cairns last Sunday for the boys weekend away. A wonderful lunch at the Salt House on the Cairns waterfront. No formal notes. Pepik is the 2nd label of Josef Chromy from the East coast of Tasmania. Red fruits on nose and palate with a little white pepper. A good match with the superb seafood curry. — 3 years ago

John And Jen Leonard

9.3

I like Paso Robles more than some other micros that’s my baseline. Consumed with a Sunday steak dinner. Tasted first. Surprisingly ready 2020: aroma more tobacconist or saddlery rather than orchard. smooth not tannic, but with underlying structure. Fruit flavors and notes are deeper underneath, plums, currants, Maybe dried cherries ? Fully ripened fruit neither just-picked floral nor over ripe sweet. Fruit was not forward, rather the base for notes my wife and I were scrambling to put “wine critic” descriptions to: pencil shavings minerals tobacco graphite maybe a touch of white pepper ? No vegetal notes at all. A pretty substantial wine; weight to it with mouth coating glycerine viscosity but no tannic pucker We sensed it more front of mouth and absolutely in the back of mouth and throat going down “Masculine wine” said my wife who “really liked” vs my “loved” Great steak wine that matches perfectly a minimalist prep of the meat solid flavor galore, but not tons of conflicting and competing notes The grape speaks as sometimes should the steak Bought on special I hope to get more ! — 9 months ago

Daniel Bloom

9.3

From Bodegas Alvear, all Pedro Ximinez
Vineyards since the 1700’s.
8 yrs. under flor in Montilla.
Big buttery, old boats(wood) nose, pepper.
Pepper on the tongue, some butterscotch, salinity. The mouthfeel is ridiculously seductive.
I used a bit to deglaze pan of merguez sausages…Yah!
Thanks @ enramistas — 2 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.7

Palomino harvested from Carrascal vineyard in four passes during the season. Grapes exposed to sun for approx. 4 hrs to elevate sugars, no fortification necessary. Vintages prob-2013-2017 Saca iv.
N: Old wooden boats, tinned peaches, iodine, the sea baby!, Hazelnuts,Orange and lemon rinds, wax, petroleum, …
P:Oranges and peaches, So delicate, some wood, tactility seductive, Viscous yet refreshing.preserved citrus. The “ inner mouth energy” is tremendous.
Not overly oxidative, I could go on.
Find some.
Thanks @enramistas, @NickAfricano, @LuisPérez — 2 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

Sunday evening casual pour. No real notes. Flinty and lemony on the nose. Fresh, acid driven with almond and lemony notes all along. Fresh and minerally finish that goes on for a while. It's simple and fresh and everything I want to drink right now. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Guests over for Sunday lunch. No formal notes. Went down well with fresh strawberries and cream. The colour was like a dark burnished copper. An apricot note - not overly sweet which was good. The bottle size at 500ml was perfect. One of Australia’s best performed dessert styles on the Australian show circuit with numerous trophies and gold medals. — 2 years ago

David Bourke

9.5

Easy like a Sunday morning. Consistency of pasta water, quenched like fresh pear juice with a little honeysuckle tenderness. Could drink all day or all night and then all day again, no judgement here. Because after two glasses, that’s kinda what I wanna do. On the Mediterranean. With a James Bond looking boat. And some Dickey Greenleaf fashion.

— 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Our final lunch in Cairns last Sunday on the waterfront. This wine chosen for the few guys who were having a steak instead of the stellar seafood curry on the menu. No formal notes but a good workmanlike Argentinian Malbec. — 3 years ago