Stretch Drive

Jim Barry

The Cover Drive Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Dried cherry, savoury herbs, rose petal, gravel. Plenty of acidity. Fine, but not worth the coin. 89. — 4 days ago

Paul and Dawn liked this

Borgo Scopeto (Tenuta Caparzo)

Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2020

Almond, cherry, dried rose petals, leather... This is nice. There is a barnyard funk think too, which goes away after a while. The palate is very well done with a good acid drive, some nice cherry notes all along, a vivid mouthfeel, some drying tannins in the rear, some savoury touches blossom in the finish along with bright cherry notes and that dried layer. It's a very good effort, one of the best classico I have tasted recently, quite easy going. — 6 months ago

Juan, Paul and 6 others liked this

Henry's Drive

Magnus Padthaway Shiraz 2017

Still letting it decant (1 hour), but lots of blackberry & anise. I had it three years ago & the eucalyptus was really prevalent. Luckily that has faded. — a year ago

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

Dark ruby center with lighter tawny rims. Not quite opaque. Nose is quiet at first and doesn't bloom until 3+ hours in a decanter. Notes of dark fruit, tobacco, leather saddle, barnyard ground, some stones and minerals, brush-like spice and some mocha. Seductive in the mouth. Great balance between very present fruit with good structure and softened tannins. Haven't had this in awhile, and this wine still is hitting it out of the park. At peak but it'll be around for the long haul. Started out second to the 94 Dominus and then took the race by a nose in the stretch. — 2 years ago

Juan, Bob and 26 others liked this

Yannick Amirault

La Source Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil Cabernet Franc 2022

Opened yesterday, drank over 2 days.
The nose is very fruity and intense with dark cherry touches, earthy notes, some raspberry and blackberry scents too. I could even smell some peony notes too. This is really inviting. The palate is wide and long and quite complex. A good acid drive, some dark cherry notes all along, some very soft and easy going mouthfeel that is changing in mid palate with a great tannic wall, which adds a layer of dust over an otherwise quite juicy and fruity finish. In the back-end though, there is a tiny savoury note that pops along with a subtle bitterness. This is really my kind of cab franc. Really good stuff!
— 2 months ago

Peter, romo and 8 others liked this

Oakridge

Single Block Release 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2011

Last bottle of this very impressive Chardonnay. Still very flinty and burnt match on the nose with a slightly sweeter palate than the last note. That grapefruit in its youth is now more yellow peach. Technical notes - using the P58 clone. All grapes were hand harvested prior to whole bunch pressing to French Oak puncheons - 30% new oak. Malolactic conversion was prevented. Drinking at its peak - made by one of Australia’s leading exponents of Chardonnay In David Bicknell. This is world class! — 7 months ago

Ray, Jan and 21 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

Opened yesterday and 2/3rd of the bottle was left to rest. Yesterday the nose was made of tar, cigare, cedar and oaky notes. There was very little fruit. 24 hours after the same notes are still showing but I can smell some cassis, some meat juice and a tiny peppery note. This is very concentrated and intense. The palate is very well made with a very strong acid drive, some very nice matter on the sides, a great width, a plush mouthfeel, some cassis and meaty, salty touches, a great mid palate with grainy, dusty tannins that power up a very long finish that tend to expand on the rear: there is that grainy, dusty layer of tannins that carries on for a very long time, these cassis notes that bring a bit of tanginess, and some smoky, oaky notes linger for a while too. This is an aristocratic wine and my last bottle will rest for another 10 years at least. Off vintage but great bottle — 2 years ago

Martin, Andrew and 18 others liked this

Henry's Drive

Parson's Flat Padthaway Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Big fruit berry and jammy with some spice - a perfect accompaniment to a Christmas lamb leg! — 4 months ago

Vincent Dauvissat

Les Preuses Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2020

A profound young Preuses. Decanted 90 minutes in advance, and only to improve in every facet as each minute passes during dinner, 2020 Preuses is a tremendous success and already showing so much of its brilliance. It’s aromatics are layered with ultra defined orchard fruit, white flowers and citrus oils with an oceanic edge and the palate is concentrated, mineral and focused with considerable tension, drive and a racy mineral-saline finale. Stunning wine with an amazing future. — 4 months ago

Severn, Shay and 5 others liked this

Domaine Le Roc

La Folle Noire d'Ambat Fronton Negrette 2020

First take on the '20 vintage that we brought back to Poland after Christmas . Very intense nose of violets, blackberries, raspberries, cherry, licorice... There is a tiny earthy note too, along with an irony thing. The palate is very well made as always, with a great acid drive, a good width, some red and black fruits touches all along, some drying tannins in the rear and a long finish with fruit and a bit of an umami touch that makes you want to pour yourself another glass right away. It's a bit more complex than '19, with some more layers of texture and taste. I'm obviously partial here but for about 8 eur a bottle from the producer this is extremely great value. — a year ago

Paul, Douglas and 14 others liked this