Bob McDonald

9.6

An absolutely alluring nose with cloves, spice, dried meat and a trace of pepper. Barely medium weight on the palate. Barb loved it for that. Very different to Barossa or McLaren Vale Shiraz. Without a doubt the best Shiraz Viognier blend in Australia although Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 (with a few other Rhone varieties in the blend) would give it a run for its money. Really very good with a few years to go but pretty much at its peak. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Brief notes. Had my last bottle on 17th August and it was sublime. More fulsome with less citric acid than the early years. Notes of mandarin and a little white peach on the palate. Not a hint of petrol/kerosene. Worth the patience to cellar it for 11 years. Tim Kirk, the winemaker reckons you could cellar it for 15 years. — 3 months ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.0

Light gold hue. Aromas of acetone, apple, butter, coconut, cream, graphite, oak, pear, vanilla. Medium body with medium acidity. Lovely finish but relatively short. Complex, but otherwise a standard New World Chardonnay. — 4 months ago

David White

9.2

I preferred Mt Pleasant much better under McWilliams ownership, single vineyard expressions are not as clear cut as they used to be.
1946 Rosehill not as distinct as it used to be.
Sill one on the Hunter’s better wines — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Bright mid yellow. Citrus with wet straw, lanolin and a faint paraffin note. On the palate such purity with that zesty citrus and those waxy lanolin notes you get with mature Semillon. Enough acid to propel this wine into the 2030’s to achieve 25 years of age. Lovedale is one of the leading Semillons in the Hunter Valley - the vineyard being planted by Maurice O’Shea in 1946 and the first vintage in 1950. This was my first of 4 bottles, so , fun times ahead!! A multi Trophy winner in National Wine Shows. — 3 months ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

I’ve been fascinated by these older Lindemans bottlings ever since my first one aeons ago. Low octane, high acid Hunter shiraz with a confused identity makes for a rather interesting drink and table convo. The only thing Burgundian about it was the colour. Haha.

My first bottle of this 91’ Bin 8203 was unfortunately on the cusp of death. I decided to pop open another one and thankfully, second time’s a charm. Shitty cork still, but the wine poured out in great shape. Sweet red fruits, almost like preserved cherries; floral, leathery, and a touch spicy, with a juicy, silky palate. Quite a treat! — 4 months ago

with Michelle

Bob McDonald

9.2

Deep Ruby in colour. Strong earthy stony aromas with deep ripe plum plus red and black fruits. An example of a Hunter Valley wine trying to be like a South Australian Shiraz - too ripe and full bodied. “Clumsy” HH said when it was first released. Thankfully wine makers lately in the Hunter have returned to the old medium weight, savoury, “sweaty saddle “ style. Returning to this 2005, this is more full bodied and rich but the quality of the very old vines planted by Maurice O’Shea pulls it over the line as a high quality wine. The more recent vintages of Maurice O’Shea are of extreme quality (2014 - 99 points), back to what the Hunter does best, and will live for decades. — 2 months ago

Galen Hasler

9.1

Meyer lemon, hint of petrol and beeswax Beautiful bouquet. Crisp acidity. — 3 months ago

Andy Thomson

9.0

Delicious — 3 months ago

with Cheryl

Bob McDonald

9.4

Tasting from a week ago at Mick’s place. This was very restrained for a Hunter Valley Chardonnay. Nothing like Tyrrells Vat 47 for example which is usually ripe and buttery. Light to medium weight - more lemony and citrus than stone fruit. An excellent Chardonnay nevertheless. — 5 months ago