James Mosman

9.0

Good. Had one a year ago. Will need another before another year goes by. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2004 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Used a Durand but cork was great. Top-notch fill. Super chunky sed..like vintage port. Nose good, not great, but biggie structure and balance all there. Medium body. Not a personal fave but may hafta pick up a few more of these for those inclined to partake. There will be 2004 Insignia going steady for quite some time. 12.22.23. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

You would never pick this as a 26 year old red wine from the colour. A rich Ruby red with no tawny rim. This has the Penfolds DNA of ripe plum, mocha, coffee bean and chocolate - a trace of liquorice. The palate is medium plus weight, balanced and harmonious maintaining that core strength. Those initially firm tannins have become supple. Drinking at its peak but could stay on this plateau for a couple more years. My last bottle of the 96 but I still have a few more bottles of the Bin 707 from 1996 which was a huge wine. — 3 years ago

Stuart Pollack

8.9

A nice Syrah for under $30. Not an extraordinary Syrah, but it tastes like Syrah and is a good value at its price point. — 8 months ago

Seth Masterson

9.0

Great spiced fruit aromas- like a pot of cherries stewing in mulling spices. Good balance. Also carries that pheromone odor that I pick up in many good Italian wines. — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(some fine/cloudy sediment). A striking dark murky crimson red color. On the nose: candied blueberry/plum, menthol, eucalyptus, new leather, baked brownie brittle. Taste: silky smooth mouth coating/teeth staining wine with dark cherry, tobacco, dark chocolate espresso, and a peppery herbaceous cedar medium plus finish. 1st time sipping this wine and will have to find me some more. Nice mid week pick me up! — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Limpid pink. Expressive red berry, orange zest, nectarine and floral aromas show fine definition and a hint of spiciness. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering taut red currant and strawberry flavors that pick up a minerally nuance with air. Smooth and focused on the finish, which lingers with bright, floral- and mineral-driven persistence. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
— 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Generally one of the best Cabernets in Margaret River and therefore Australia. Very dark Ruby in colour. Cassis and blackberry, ripe and rich. I would never pick this as Margaret River in a blind tasting. Where are the herbal notes? But still recognisable as a quality Cabernet. The 2009 Moss Wood was given a poor score of only 84 points by Huon Hooke who is one of Australia’s leading wine scribes. He said “over ripe fruit is the problem “. I have always rated Huon’s reviews and have been a long time subscriber to his website and always will be but I don’t believe he got this right. On 4th July 2012 he said “I can’t see this ageing well” and gave a drinking window of 2012 to 2018. Well tonight at 15 years of age it is drinking very well. James Halliday gave the wine 95 points. — 8 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2014 Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of my favourite vintages of this decade and here it outclasses the 2015. Superb delineation, this exudes gorgeous blackberry and earthy scents on the nose, soon overtaken by saline, almost briny aromas wafting from the Gironde estuary. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, layers of black fruit, sweet with blood orange and Asian spices developing towards the finish. Blind, it might pick this as coming from a warmer summer. It’s a great Ducru-Beaucaillou with charm and personality. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2022)
— 2 years ago

Kevin Pierce

9.0

I was pleasantly surprised on how nice this wine tasted. It was slightly sweeter than I’m used to. I had it with Sheppard’s pie and it was very tasty. — 4 years ago

with Cheryl