Bob McDonald

9.0

Mid crimson in colour. More a drink now style of Barolo - only 10 years old - no need to wait 20 years for this Barolo. Red fruited - raspberry and cherry. Soft tannins. Great with home made pasta. Will probably have my last one in 12 months. — a day ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

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. — 8 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous note for this 2017 vintage 143 weeks ago. An impressive Coal River Pinot from Tasmania. Still showing those aromatic red fruits on this very pretty nose. Just the right amount of whole bunch used in the ferment. Pooley Pinot should be an annual purchase. — 14 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Dry red cherries and plums on the nose. Savoury on the medium bodied palate. Finishing with fine persistent tannins. An old style Hunter Shiraz with another 10 plus years in the cellar. 2017 was a good vintage in the Hunter for both reds and whites. — 3 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

A mid cherry red in colour. Aromatics of red fruits, menthol and touches of tar and roses. Light to medium bodied on the palate - surprising for a Barolo with medium plus intensity. Different and interesting in a good vintage from an excellent producer. Next in a year. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

My last bottle of the 2015 Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot. Pale in colour - almost transparent. More savoury, mulchy, Sous Bois than the tasting note in 2021 but it is red fruited with raspberry notes. Fine tannins. I don’t buy much wine these days but I do try to buy Bindi most years. I just received a mixed 6 and put away a couple of bottles of the 2023 Original Vineyard Pinot into the cellar. — 12 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A wonderful Australian Chardonnay - see previous notes here. Applejack is usually my favourite Giant Steps Vineyard for Pinot Noir but with Chardonnay there are a couple of contenders - like Sexton Vineyard and this one. Great balance of stone fruit and absorbed toasty oak. Wine shows adroit winemaking skills - somewhat “worked “ and showing creamy Lees character. Have the last one in 2027 when 10 years old. — 14 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

At an Italian Restaurant on the Gold Coast having a nice pasta dish of Rigatoni with Lamb Shoulder. This wine by San Guido where their top Cuvée is the famous Sassicaia. This wine is 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Oak maturation is well balanced using a combination of new and used oak. The nose shows obvious Cabernet traits and shows again how suitable Bolgheri is to Bordeaux blends - plummy notes. A good match with the dish. A dry finish. — 6 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

An excellent full bodied Shiraz from a warm year in McLaren Vale and South Australia in general. Red and black fruits with a tarry creosote note as in previous notes. Rich and flavoursome on the full bodied palate but not heavy - very well done. The Dead Arm is the top red cuvée from d’Arenberg. Drinking at its peak. — 8 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

My last bottle of the 2014 Bullnose and consistent with previous notes here on Delectable. Hawkes Bay is one of the best districts in NZ for Syrah and Cabernet. Hasn’t really evolved much from the first of 4 bottles I had in 2021. Still has the trademark black pepper and spice in what is essentially an elegant medium bodied wine without the fuller bodied blackberry and tar of nearby Trinity Hill Homage. — 14 days ago