Bob McDonald

9.5

Mid yellow in colour. Musky notes with a little talc - white and yellow flowers. On the palate lovely ripe peach flavours. Incredible flavour intensity. Irresistible. Low acid. Definitely one of Australia’s best dry Rieslings. No notes of TDN. Have the last one in a year or two. See previous Delectable note 6 years ago in June 2018 when it was carrying more citric acid. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous notes here on Delectable. Mid to pale ruby in colour. Pale yet powerful. Great aromatics of pansies, rose petals and violets also stalkiness. As Barb said the aromas of a beautiful garden. After a while an Animale, feral note not unlike some Burgundies we’ve had. Medium bodied palate - dried red fruits with a sweet yet savoury twist. A very polished new World Pinot by any measure. Tasters often identify with Central Otago and Martinborough for quality NZ Pinot Noir. Don’t forget about Canterbury in the South Island not far from the city of Christchurch. Luckily I have 2 left. Bob Campbell MW says drink through to 2025. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of the pleasures in life is having a 10 year old Clare Valley Riesling. Had the last one a year ago in August 2020. This time some kerosene notes creeping in with the peachy notes. Honeyed nuances on the palate. Delicious. Diminished acid but could be kept for a few more years. A little chalky minerality. I think I have one left. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Rich and luscious - ripe red and black fruits. It’s a funny thing how full bodied this wine is which comes from one of the most southerly (cold) vineyards (Huon Valley Tasmania) in Australia. We visited there a few years ago and had lunch. Medium to full bodied with sweet black cherry flavours but I might have gotten the Food/wine match wrong - too floral and pretty perhaps to go with venison. I should have chosen Syrah or a GSM - an excellent wine nevertheless. — 6 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

Wow. If this was blind - I would’ve guessed 20 year old Bordeaux. Super complex and combo of tannins, fruit, meat, and some tobacco. Crazy. Nothing like I remember it from last bottle we had 10 years ago — a year ago

Ross Bathgate

9.4

So gorgeous. Bought from the winery more than 10 years ago. Fruit still so pure and luscious tannin on the back palate. Love it. — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.0

Tasted this about a year ago. This second bottle does not have the wow factor like the first one. The nose is less fragrant and more meaty, and the palate a bit more herbal and angular, which is probably true to the varietal. Still a very complex wine. Have 1 bottle left and hopefully I can keep my hands off for another 2-3 years.
250 cases, and I believe the wine maker for the vintage is Bevan. Bennett Valley is the smallest, and probably the least known Sonoma sub AVA. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Delectable - this is the Sami Odi Our Hill Cuvée. Notes later. 2021 vintage. This is the 2nd ever vintage of Our Hill from Sami-Odi from Shiraz grapes grown in the Eden Valley. The 3rd vintage released earlier this year only had a production of around 280 bottles (weather problems - hail) and sold out in under 30 minutes. I missed out. Delectable has done well to recognise this bottle - very cryptic even on Fraser McKinley’s highly cryptic labelling standards. I made a note of the first Our Hill about 93 weeks ago. All whole bunch vinification. Quite rich for an Eden Valley Shiraz. Interestingly Fraser says “Our Hill “ is best enjoyed over the next few years in its youth (finest on the day of opening) contrary to the old vine Hoffmann wines. Reminiscent of Henschke Mount Edelstone in some respects without the longevity of Edelstone probably. Delicious nonetheless. — 9 months ago

ESF

9.3

In the pocket w/long life ahead: solid Napa CS - usually priced out of these wines, but I picked this up years ago and decided to see where it was: super inky, not a sign of age, very generous fragrant nose right away, lots of [chambord] liqueur like blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry, cassis, and well integrated oak. Rich luscious viscous on palate, finely grained tannins, loads of fruit from nose and a lengthy finish. Perfect w/ribeye — a year ago

Doug Powers

9.0

Somewhat herbal with some faint mushroom notes, solid fruit, last bottle I have, but ideally I should have finished this 5-10 years ago, but still nicely balanced. (While drinking this, I’m humming China Grove by the Doobies!!) — 3 years ago

with Jim