Mary

9.5

One of my favorite reds — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

A Collection of great Australian Reds - Christmas Break up of the Tennis Group. Always a consistent Cuvée in the Penfolds stable but let down a little by the so so 2007 vintage in the Barossa. More savoury than fruit driven with liquorice and dark chocolate. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee lunch. Normal format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Birth year Sauternes. Classic profile. Honey roasted cashews and orange marmalade aromatics. Rich and sweet notes of apricot and peach on the palate. Powerful yet not overbearing. I called this mid ‘90s Rieussec. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Will and 2 others

Shay A

9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Imani Williams

9.5

Found on sale for $8 at buschs.Black cherry and plum, one of the more tart reds I’ve had. High tannin, long grit on tongue but not in a bad way. Tobacco leather smoke flavors. Smells reminiscent of slim jims. Very interesting wine well worth the price. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Wednesday Wine Committee and what a fantastic line-up by John! Typical format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Quite fruit forward at first which made me wonder domestic, but lovely yeasty notes and persistent bubbles led me to France. Very nice. — 8 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 2 others

Jon Ebsworth

9.0

Cotes de Catalan red with Guinea Fowl at Spring. Excellent fruit, not the graininess I can find in Grenache/Carignan reds at times. — 3 years ago

Co Hodge

9.5

First time having this wine and it's delicious! So smooth! Loving my reds! — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Rich Ruby in colour. Aromas of mocha oak, plum, cherry and blackberry. Hints of prune and dark chocolate. Great fruit quality - Cabernet 52% from Coonawarra and 48% Shiraz from the Barossa. The percentages are correct - they may tinker with the source from Penfolds vast resources. Dry but polished tannins. Typical of the longevity of nearly all Penfolds Reds, this is the first of 6 bottles at 13 years of age. Richard Hemming MW has a drinking window of 2020 to 2043 so this is just the beginning. Have the next in a few years. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Lots of fun bottles were popped at Al’s hosting this past weekend for his birthday celebration. All were served blind. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 6 reds and 1 dessert wine.

This was en mag. WOW. Slightly cloudy in the glass. My first guess when looking at it was Marcassin, but it wasn’t waxy enough on the palate. Smelled of rich lemon cream, powdered lemon bars and juicy fruit (that should always be my key to guessing PM). A powerhouse on the palate with juicy tropical fruits, marshmallow, and sweet marzipan. Gorgeous stuff. I called this 2012 Aubert Ritchie. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Shay A

9.0

Another killer Wednesday Wine Committee lineup. As always, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

I called this late ‘70s Napa Cab. Sandwiched in between Bordeaux wines, the profile was decidedly sweeter. The fruit has become slightly syrupy with a maple note. Fully integrated and obviously on the decline, it was fun to see how this held up fairly well after 2+ in the decanter...no drop off. Dates, old graham cracker, and cherry cordial were the main highlights. — 7 years ago

with Will, Ryan and 1 other

Shay A

9.1

Weekly Wednesday Wine Committee and this was a special treat as not only was Weston from Montagu Wines in attendance, but Jason Moore, owner and winemaker for Modus Operandi Wines out of Napa. Blind format as always. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert.

One of the more crisp sparklers I’ve had. Had the chalky minerality through and through, but after a while, it gained a bruised pear note aside from the typical Granny Smith apple tartness. This will age nicely. — 8 years ago

Ernst Hierl

9.7

One of the best local reds. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous note from January 2023. Pepper Liquorice and Raspberry. Savoury and full bodied on the palate. Such density despite the drinking window describing this as “Old”. 2011 to 2028. I see this as having many years to go. Riper having blackberry and not as much pepper as you would expect because of this warmer vintage. The vineyards were originally planted in 1964, establishing this as one of Australia’s leaders in cool climate Shiraz. It has always been one of my favourite Australian Reds. Best Shiraz and Wine of the Year for 2011 as voted by the Good Wine Guide. 98 points from Nick Stock. — 3 years ago

Kyra Williams

9.8

Tried this at rooftop event- love. Like kool-aid. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Lots of fun bottles were popped at Al’s hosting this past weekend for his birthday celebration. All were served blind. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 6 reds and 1 dessert wine.

En mag. Probably the most difficult wine of the night to identify. Hardly anyone even got close to calling this cab. I was leaning Grenache or ripe vintage burgundy as I thought I was detecting a bit of whole cluster usage due to the lifted profile and stemmy/spice red fruit notes. Yet by the end of the night, the structure beefed up and the spice turned more sweet. Lovely cherry liqueur, sandalwood, baking spices and baked red fruited pie notes. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Keith Lite

9.4

A wonderful finish to a great evening of Reds. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale lemon in colour. Aromas of talc and citrus Very good palate intensity in the Lime Citrus spectrum. 2011 was a difficult year for Reds in SA but Whites fared a lot better. Probably at least another 5 years of good drinking ahead. — 8 years ago

Amer S. Ahmed

9.0

Gorgeous floral aromas of rose and violet, matched by blackberry, cassis, sweet spice, cedar, cinnamon, dark chocolate, vanilla, and hints of red plum and cherry. On the palate, full bodied with grippy tannins but a nice smooth mouthfeel, hints of mineral and crushed rock. Pleasing to sip for an experienced wine drinker, pair with red meat and heartier dishes if less exposed to fuller reds. Will develop at least 10 years — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Wednesday Wine Committee and what a fantastic line-up by John! Typical format of 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. All tasted blind.

Most guessed left bank Bordeaux here. It seemed the least “Cali” out of the 4 reds...not leathery, but more plum than red, black or blue fruit. Very balanced in terms of sweet fruit vs savory herbal/earthy components. — 8 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 2 others