Bob McDonald

WSET Level 3 Pass with Distinction.

4565 wines • 316 followers • 220 following

Woodlands

Margaret River Wilyabrup Valley Chardonnay 2020

9.5

Excellent quality for the price ($37). Ripe peach, grilled nuts and a touch of guava. Oak has been absorbed. Ticks all the boxes of a quality Australian Chardonnay. This is a lesser Cuvée to their top notch Chardonnay, “Chloe”. Congratulations to Stuart Watson and the Woodlands winemaking team. — 2 days ago

Ira, Tom and 14 others liked this

Giant Steps

Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

9.1

My last bottle in the cellar but first Delectable note for this vintage. A good balance of quality ripe grapes with the savoury peppery tannins from use of whole bunch in the ferment. — 2 days ago

Aravind, Doug and 17 others liked this

Domaine de Marcoux

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2015

9.3

A lovely tarry note initially amongst the red fruits. On the medium weight palate sweet and savoury red fruits. Love CdP from a good year like this one. 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Cinsault and the remaining 5% split between Muscardin, Counoise and Vaccarese. Completely destemmed and fruit driven. Soft pliant tannins. — 7 days ago

Neil, Tom and 17 others liked this

Château Lafleur

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

9.3

A rich crimson in colour. Initially a note of Animale (Barb thought a brief note of cow yard) amongst the dusty cherry, dark fruits, violets and mushroom notes. Great balance between the 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Medium bodied with smooth supple tannins. The next day: Elegance with length - shows the quality of the fruit IMO. My first Lafleur, I think, and it was excellent as expected. — 9 days ago

Tom, Rob and 22 others liked this

@Tom Casagrande @Doug Powers I doubt I will buy another bottle. The asking price has become prohibitive.

@Bob McDonald — @Tom Casagrande and I could probably fly to and from Australia to share 2 or 3 bottles of Lafleur with you, it’d be cheaper than us each buying bottles here in the U.S. — LOL!!

@Doug Powers I very much doubt that Lafleur or any other Bordeaux or Burgundy would be cheaper in Australia than the USA. Only Australian wines would be cheaper here than in the USA I would imagine.

Elio Grasso

Rüncot Riserva Barolo Nebbiolo 2007

9.7

Savoury yet ripe cherry notes. Great depth of flavour coming out after 18 years. A medium bodied palate with medium plus intensity. A trace of that elusive iron amongst the earthy notes. A brilliant wine - thoroughly enjoyed it. A pity that we have to wait 15 to 20 years for Barolos like this to be at their peak, but it is worth the wait. Runcot is only bottled in the best years. This is one of the 1001 Wines and one of the best reds I’ve had this year. — 2 days ago

Doug, Tom and 17 others liked this

Congratulations Bob, that is stunning Barolo.
That producer, from that vintage and at that age. Truly representing the beauty of Nebbiolo.
The stars and planets have aligned for you.

@Jamie Lauder Yes Jamie I agree. One of the better Barolos in my experience. 👌

Voyager Estate

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2010

8.9

Trophy Best Red Blend Qantas Wine Show of WA 2014 Trophy Best Older Red. 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot; 4% Petit Verdot. Leafy and savoury more than fruit driven. The second night - didn’t age well overnight. More astringent and bitter than the previous night. Lacks mid palate fruit ripeness. — 4 days ago

Tom, Somm and 9 others liked this

Sami-Odi

Little Wine #10 Syrah

9.4

I ended up editing my previous note of 68 weeks ago in drinking my last bottle on 4th May 2025. Blackberry currant and chocolate with a pruney note. A blend of 6 different vintages. — 9 days ago

Tom, Rob and 23 others liked this

Moss Wood

Moss Wood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

9.6

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. — 2 days ago

Doug, Tom and 16 others liked this

@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

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

@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?

Mount Mary

Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2015

9.2

I have previous Delectable notes. Crimson, becoming tawny, garnet on the edges. A medium + weight palate and medium + intensity. Sweet red fruits (strawberry). The next night quite a full bodied Pinot. Tannins are a little coarse. 99 points from James Halliday and his Pinot Noir of the year in 2017. I have 2 bottles left - next in a year. — 5 days ago

Tom, Somm and 14 others liked this

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2013

9.5

A pale lemon yellow in colour - quite youthful looking for a 12 year old Chardonnay. Aromatics of white peach - mealy and nutty notes, still with a nice acid cut at the finish. Drinking at its peak. Fuller than some Marg River Chardonnays I’ve had lately like Xanadu and Fraser Gallop. I have had richer Art Series Chardonnays but personally I love the balance in this. — 9 days ago

Jeroen, Tom and 21 others liked this

@Bob McDonald wow that looks like an amazing bottle of aged Chardonnay

@Rob Brobst III Always a quality bottle of Chardonnay Rob. Varies between medium bodied to medium/full bodied but built to last 10+ years.