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. — 5 months ago
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. — 7 months ago
What incredible wine!!🍷 — 17 days ago
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. — 4 months ago
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. — 6 months ago
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! — 7 months ago
A mid straw yellow in colour. Aromas are lemon and lime, lemongrass, mineral, wet hay with toastiness and lanolin starting to emerge at 13 years of age. Light bodied but great intensity - a richer texture for a Semillon, bearing in mind that this wine sees no oak at all - stainless steel all the way. Only 11% alcohol. Luckily I have 4 bottles left - a cellar life extending to 2030+. — 3 months ago
Delicious — 6 months ago
Andrew Cullimore
Pale lemon straw . Quite cool and citrus , lime nose , touch of spicy herbal hints , but quite reserved and understated . On the palate this is really direct and linear , lime and slightly honied , cool green apple , lightly toasty , lightly waxy finish . Sharp piercing acidity . Very elegant and long on the palate , light weight but intense at the same time , really quite a feat to carry off . Just a baby , enjoyable yes , but this has so little development , so fresh needs a little time in bottle to fill out on the palate . I would probably come back in 5 - 10 years , will probably last another 10-15 effortlessly — 38 minutes ago