Bob McDonald

9.3

A flinty funky nose. Palate is balanced showing pear and wet rock and manages to be creamy on the front palate with a cleansing acidity at the back end. Great winemaking - not surprising when you know Steve Flamsteed (ex Giant Steps) is involved. From a great vintage in the Yarra Valley. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Clear rich Crimson in colour. Whiff of wood varnish which blew off. Spicy - not as much pepper as usual. Cherries and supple savoury tannins. Medium bodied. One of my favourite Aussie Reds in the $20 to $30 category. 2nd ranked cuvée to their much vaunted "Langi" Shiraz. Tasted again 54 weeks later with totally consistent notes. Tasted beside Salo Syrah, from the much vaunted Hawkes Bay NZ District for Syrah. I preferred the Langhi. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Comparing 2 cool climate Syrahs - this is the 2nd one from Tasmania. Black pepper with a touch of asparagus (SO2) which blew off. After a few hours delightful florals of gardenia and pansy. Intriguing to say the least. On the medium plus palate fruit and spice driven - more rich than expected from a Tasmanian Syrah. Really delicious with ripe fleshy plum melded with the spicy pepper. Finishing with medium minus tannins. A classy cool climate Syrah a few points above the Salo from NZ. This Mon Pere won the 50th Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at Royal Melbourne and hard to get from this boutique producer. I could only get 2 bottles and this was the last one. Sold out in a day after winning the Trophy. Total production of 250 cases. Wish I had a few more left. Made by Nick Glaetzer whose family built their reputation in the Barossa like Amon Ra. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Nose of peppercorns savoury spices and minerals Medium weight with plummy minerality coming through on the palate. Hawkes Bay NZ Syrah has always been a favourite of mine starting with Te Mata's Bull Nose Syrah 10 years ago. This Salo is made by leading Aussie winemaker Steve Flamsteed of Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley Tasted again 36 weeks later. Lacked a little mid palate fruit when compared to the Mt Langhi Cliff Edge which was a similar cool climate peppery Shiraz. I preferred the Langhi. — 7 years ago