David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There are some professional critics that would tell you this 09 Bella’s Garden is at the end of its life. I understand this producer to buy into that. This wine is drinking beautifully with at least five years of good drinking still ahead.

The nose reveals slightly stewed dark currants and fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, touch of rubber toy=va, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs and withering & fresh dark florals, violets and lavender.

The body is lush, ruby, elegant and full. The tannins are round, velvety smooth and still have some teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance says this wine is right around its peak. Great mouthfeel. The fruits on the palate are candied. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, mid intensity dark spice, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, hints of black olive, touch of rubber toy=va...a bit less than the nose, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs, moist clay, underbrush, dry crushed rocks and withering & fresh, amazingly bright dark florals, violets and lavender. The acidity is a lukewarm rain shower. The gorgeous finish is flat out elegant, well balanced fruit & earth and persists for minutes.

I would have given this a 94 if not for the touch of va.

Photos of; Two Hands Cellar Door, fountain in the courtyard, tasting bar as you walk in and the view from our patio tasting. — 5 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

So pleasant. Complex, fleshy, superfun.
It keeps changing all the time
22 dollars super well spent
And long after taste too — 5 days ago

Amritha Surath

9.2

Just the perfect explosion of fruit and earth. This is my first time tasting a Barossa wine and won’t be the last! — 11 days ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

This is easy drinking, as far as Shiraz goes. Lush but not jammed up jammy fruit, earthy bacon (I dunno what this means I’m a vegetarian but it feels right), some chocolate and cocoa butter. Totally very easy to take down swifter than the average Syrah-based wine which is both stellar and caution-worthy. And the price point it likewise stellar so you may throw caution to the wind. — 2 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; beautiful; ripe, jammy, blue & red fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, raspberries. Black cherry cola, black licorice, weighty granitic soils, some black pepper, dark, rich soils, crushed dry rocks, dry stone, dry tobacco, black olive with bright; red, blue, purple and violets.

The body medium full. The tannins firm and dusty. The structure, tension, length and balance are made to drink early but, will benefit from five years in the cellar. Ripe, jammy, blue & red fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blueberries, raspberries. Black cherry cola, black licorice, weighty granitic soils, some black pepper, dark, rich soils, crushed dry rocks, dry stone, dry tobacco, black olive with bright; red, blue, purple and violets. The acidity is like a fresh stream. The finish is ripe, elegant and finishes with spice and dark tannins.

Photos of; Tokara front desk in the tasting room, tasting room statue, old distiller (they still make a Chenin Brandy but do not export it to the US) and their Estate hillside vines. — 15 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Aged in 20 months in barrel. All used oak. Large & small barrels.

The nose reveals; a touch of funk, sour notes on the fruit, blackberries, blue & purple fruits, black raspberries, black licorice, whiff of herbaceous notes, some white & black pepper, dark rich soils, black cherry cola, crush rocks, soft wood notes with; violets, lavender, red & purple flowers.

The body is medium with firm, tarry, chewy tannins. The fruits are bright and juicy and falls into dusty dark earthiness. Sour notes on the fruit, blackberries, blue & purple fruits, black raspberries, black licorice, whiff of herbaceous notes, some white & black pepper, dark rich soils, sandstone, black cherry cola, crush rocks, dry stones, soft wood notes with; violets, lavender, red & purple flowers. The acidity is high and waterfallish. The finish is leaner, nicely balanced & ripe.

Photos of; the entrance to Waterford, tasting patio, Waterford grounds and large tasting table.
— 21 days ago

Ryan Vento

9.0

Birthday celebration for @Cody Uzzel at Lucio’s with a bunch of friends. All wines (except sparklers) tasted blind.
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The only wine of the night whose varietal/region combination I managed to get right 🤪 Totally off on the vintage, though, but I should have known it was older when I saw Cody use the ah-so. This is typical Barossa Shiraz through-and-through. Gritty, powerful, loaded with red/black fruits, menthol/eucalyptus, tilled earth, and sure to impress for many many more years. — 5 days ago

with Krystal and Cody

Bob McDonald

9.4

I once heard chief winemaker at Mount Pleasant, Jim Chatto, give a speech saying that stylistically Mount Pleasant was copying South Australia in making riper richer Shiraz back around 2000 to 2009. This wine reflects that. These days they have returned to a more traditional medium weight yet still long living style. This wine is much more dense ripe and concentrated but still with traces of Hunter Valley earthiness and sweaty saddle. Even at 14 years this wine has a long future in front of it. Of my 2 remaining bottles I will have the next one in 2025. — 16 days ago

Joe Gillies

9.3

Pnp. Wonderful. The tannins are fading and it is drinking so perfectly right now. — 5 days ago

Martijn

9.5

Can only imagine what this wine will become. This is pure grapejuice. Purple to the max. Fantastic fruit in the nose. — 13 days ago