Stumbling Block (wine Of Australia)

Penfolds

Grange South Australia Shiraz 1998

Wow. Just wow

It starts off kinda like a deep and dark Rhône wine with a sweetness and kirsch like flavor but then in the palate it just explodes about 4-5 second later and there is a whole different level of expression.

Wine was best at about 1.5-2 hour decant and actually better without food.
— 23 days ago

Tom, Ira and 9 others liked this
Ethan Karas

Ethan Karas

Legendary wine and vintage! Glad it lived up to the hype.

Mount Pleasant Wines

Maurice O'Shea Hunter Valley Shiraz 1998

Even though this wine is 27 years old I might have opened this a little early. This will cruise to its 40th birthday without a problem. This was the period when Hunter Valley decided to emulate the big ripe oaky styles of South Australia instead of sticking to the HV medium bodied savoury style which Maurice O’Shea himself pioneered back in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. A palate staining and concentrated palate of profound intensity with a black fruited perfume. An impressive wine but thankfully the Maurice O’Shea Shiraz of the last 10 to 15 years have returned to their medium bodied roots. — 2 months ago

Tom, Doug and 19 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Jeroen Koenen @Doug Powers Thank you Jeroen and Doug. I am a big fan of the Lovedale Semillon as well.
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Ceccherini Cristiano It is a small world isn’t it. I think the chap you are talking of is David Withers. A lovely family in Toowoomba.
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

@Bob McDonald 😁that's him
He is a great guy!
Great palate too!!

Grosset

Polish Hill Clare Valley Riesling 2023

Clear, pale lemon colour. Clean, pronounced floral bouquet. Dry, with high acidity and medium bodied. Intense flavours of lime, lemon and citrus blossom. Long finish with significant minerality. A very good wine that would no doubt be better after a few years.

Britannia Restaurant, Queen Anne. In the South Pacific en route from Tonga to New Zealand.
— 4 months ago

Michele Walker
with Michele
Ira liked this

Jansz Wine Company

Premium Cuvée Tasmania White Blend

NV Australian challenger of champagne — 14 days ago

Daniel, Paul and 9 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 1994

Somm David T
9.4

Out of mag and shipped from the property was in fine shape. Really good.

@Pebble Beach Food & Wine.
— 2 months ago

Jay, Neil and 13 others liked this

Penfolds

Bin 28 Kalimna South Australia Shiraz 2018

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 2. The 2018 pours a deep purple color with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, dill, vanilla, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and pretty decadent with a velvety texture. Drink now through 2033. — 3 months ago

Juan, Tom and 9 others liked this

The Standish Wine Company

The Relic Shiraz Blend 2019

Jan A
9.5

My first Standish from the cellar. After raving reviews from amongst others the WA, bought some at relative low prices (v.s. the 96+ish ratings across their range).

This is young but full of potential. I'd give these 10 years of cellar time based on this bottle, but you can definitely drink this now. It is modernly made with ripe and rounded tannins. It has a very compact core that reminds me of how SQN wines are made, but then with the Australian flavor profile. It is almost too seamless / polished, so that it is coming across as flat on first sight. Nothing sticks out. But with air more and more layers come to play. It just needs more time.

95+ for now with 98ish potential in a few years.

The 2022's just came out with 98-100 scores. I guess it is time to stock these up before prices begin to soar.

— 4 months ago

Tom, Jeroen and 9 others liked this

Moss Wood

Moss Wood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Margaret River herbaceousness and mint but richer in this excellent vintage with plum and mulberry. This wine is 20 years young and will cellar for another 10 years without a problem. 14% ABV. First planted in 1969. Un-irrigated, Scott Henry trellis. One of the great Moss Woods - up there with 2001. If the Barolo I had yesterday was one of the best reds so far in 2025 this was only a point behind it. — a month ago

Doug, Tom and 18 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers Doug, Moss Wood was founded by Dr Bill Pannell and his wife in 1969 but in 1985 ownership went to Keith Mugford and his wife. The winery is still under the ownership of the Mugfords. The Pannells had a son, Stephen who is a very successful winemaker in his own right.
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

Nice one @Bob McDonald …. Still got some bottles in the cellar , I hope ?
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Andrew Cullimore Started with a dozen and happy to say I have 4 bottles left. This will be a 30+ year wine. Maybe a bottle every 18 months to 2 years going forward?

Henschke

Hill of Grace Vineyard Shiraz 2018

Fantastic cult wine that I’ve had the pleasure of trying a couple of times now. Lives up to the hype. Amazing in all aspects. Big but super pretty and just keeps rewarding you with greatness every time you return to you glass. — 3 months ago

Ron and Andrew liked this

Two Hands

Bella's Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013

Everything about this wine is DARK. Deep ruby/purple color bordering on black. Aromas of black and blue fruit, Asian spices and coffee. Flavors of cooked black berry/plum/currant fruit, bakers chocolate, tar and espresso. Hint of black pepper on the long, lingering and silky finish. Extremely concentrated with lively acidity. Tannins are firm but in harmony. This is a wine you quickly take notice of. Probably at (or just past) its peak. Thanks for the wonderful gift, Petey P! — 3 months ago

Tom, Paul and 1 other liked this