Anne Gaffney

9.0

Easy drinking pleasant red — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Lemon in colour. Another stunningly good Semillon and non Hunter Valley @Ceccherini Cristiano from Kangaroo Island of all places which was recently badly damaged by bushfires. The Islander is owned by Jacques Lurton and family of Cheval Blanc, other right bank wineries and wineries around the world. This wine was more Bordeaux Blanc than Hunter Valley in style with perfectly judged oak giving the wine a rich texture and excellent mouthfeel. Peachy ripe fruit which is unusual for a Semillon. A stunner. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Plummy mulberry aromas with dusty tobacco notes. Took a while to open up. Fruit driven on the palate with dense mouthfilling flavours finishing with persistent powdery Tannins. Not particularly “Italian “ - could be new world. I bought this at Roscioli in Rome @Ceccherini Cristiano where you were the Sommelier. An excellent restaurant and outstanding cellar. One of the 1001 wines. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Almost a year since my first Joshua Cooper wine and probably at the same restaurant at Burleigh Heads. Unlike last year’s note, the Ray-Monde is made from fruit sourced from Gippsland, not their home base of Macedon Ranges. Mid Ruby in colour with noticeable whole bunch influence - a light peppery note. A stalky bunchy dried cherry perfume. This wine walks the line perfectly between fruit (red and black cherry) and savoury characters. 33 year old Joshua Cooper is almost considered a natural winemaker. The only thing he adds is sulphur dioxide. His wines are now featuring on some of the leading Restaurant Lists in Australia and @Ceccherini Cristiano has posted previously when he was a Sommelier in Melbourne. Worth seeking out but unlikely to be found away from Australia. Winner of the Young Winemaker of the year in 2020 by Gourmet Traveller wine magazine. — 2 years ago

Jessy Manuel

8.9

Nice table wine. Bold, fruit forward, a decent amount of body. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Aromas of Iodine Earth Menthol/Eucalyptus, Bark of Medium plus Intensity. On the palate red and black savoury fruits which fill every corner of the mouth. A full bodied old school Australian Cabernet blend of amazing intensity coming from those ancient vines in the Clare Valley. Wendouree is an Australian vinous treasure which @Ceccherini Cristiano and I post about from time to time. The wine finishes with ultra fine persistent Tannins. I have not always been a fan of Wendouree (see previous Delectable notes) but this is an excellent wine. They probably need at least 15 years before they start to hit their straps. — 5 years ago

Mary L Young

9.4

Perfect balance — 5 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Inspired by @Ceccherini Cristiano and @Josh Morgenthau, decided to get curious about my local shops Aussie selection & found this. I’ve had good experiences w Hunter Valley whites before, so this Shiraz was correspondingly fresh, restrained in any oak monster(apparently in large open oak vats), & had a lovely CDR savory quality. The blueberry/red fruits of Shiraz were there but more background & on nose as well. Not a big wine nor small-perhaps a shade over it’s listed 13.5%. Very well done, & for 21$, I dare say good QPR. — 3 years ago

Ian Bassin

9.2

Dinner w Simona and Eli w NYT chicken braised w tomatoes and chick peas and yogurt. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

This was a fascinating Italian White from Piemonte. This is 100% Timorasso a varietal that was rescued from near obscurity by Walter Massa. It’s native and unique to the Colli Tortonesi. In the past many growers were ripping out Timorosso and planting the more prolific and boring Cortese (Gavi). Thank God for Massa once you taste this. Mid Gold in colour. Rich and textural with notes of fruit salad and honey. Apparently aged versions show petrol like aged Riesling. Amazingly zero new oak. On the palate an absolute fruit salad of flavours with a note of guava. Medium Acid. A flat out delicious wine which I will definitely seek out in the future. Could keep this in the short term but irresistible now. Bought at Roscioli in Rome @Ceccherini Cristiano - your old haunt as a sommelier. One of the 1001 Wines. — 5 years ago