Doug Powers

9.2

Lean and taut currently, shows more oak and structure than the Singlefile, this needs 2-4 years of further aging, I think, but lovely complexity and long finish. — 3 months ago

with Jim and Monique

Boris Mathiszik

9.0

Fruit forward, big cassis notes. Not the longest finish but this is definitely a good value quaffer. Having it chilled after a long exhausting day on Fraser Island adds to the allure. 🇦🇺 — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Dense dark crimson, almost black in colour - opaque. Lots to unfurl on the nose with initial aromas of Tar, Black pepper, plum, black and blue fruits, dark chocolate and a herbal nuance. Densely packed and full bodied. Obviously the product of old vines. The vineyard was planted over a hundred years ago in 1920. One of those unique wines that has the ability to be full bodied and elegant at the same time. Never heavy, you could drink this all night. Still has latent energy at 16 years of age. An aristocratic Shiraz in company with the world’s finest. Jay Miller had an erudite comment when he said that the only competition for this wine comes from the likes of Guigal, Chapoutier, Chave, Krankl, and Ringland. I would be patriotic in addition to Chris Ringland, and include Peter Gago and Fraser McKinlay. Roman Bratasiuk is the winemaker of Astralis- which is made from a 4 hectare paddock in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A blend of 6 vintages - 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%), and 2015 (2%). From the Hoffmann’s Dallwitz vineyard. 6327 bottles filled. Aromatics of old vine Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is so plush and ample together with liquorice, chocolate, blue fruits, and spices that it masks the M plus tannins. I note that Fraser likes to taste these Little Wines “when primal and vital, a year or two after vintage “. I totally agree. I have tasted Little Wines with over 5 years of cellaring and find that you are giving up that freshness and vitality for a limited increase in savoury profile. The secondary value of Sami-Odi wines have increased dramatically in recent years. I paid $55 per bottle on release and note that United Cellars are now selling for $325. All the more annoying when I broke a bottle unpacking the tricky little cartons of 3 when I received them. The odd 4 letter word was uttered!!! Therefore I have one left for future enjoyment. — 4 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Not as good as the 2018 which is weird as 19 is usually better than 18 in Cote Rotie. Let’s see what air does. Noseis funky, floral, spicey and a bit horsey. Hopefully it blows off. Very nice framing minerality but the horse is here and will gallop off into the distance soon. Paste is ripe and juicy with terrific power, depth and concentration. Big, ripe and sweet tannins. Super pure and super young. Engaging freshness and energy but the tannins are a bit aggressive and less focused than I’d like. 9.3 for now. Let’s see. It is opening up to be very elegant but also there is a sur maturite factor that’s not that great and the fruits is losing focus. HMMMMMMM??? — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

This Little Wine #6 is a blend of 2016 (47%), 2015 (44%), 2013 (5%), and 2012 (4%) - all good vintages and sourced from that precious old vine material in the Dallwitz vineyard. This wine had an array of black fruits of berry, cherry and currant with hints of spice including clove on the nose. Fraser seems to have a process of picking early so his wines even in ripe vintages like those in the blend are not porty. Always finishing with those silky tannins. A lovely wine at a good price. — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Absolutely lovely Margaret River Cabernet from a property new to me, we were also able to purchase 6 bottles of their higher end Cabernets and Chardonnay for import, my wife loved this when we tasted it and we bought it to go, finally drinking it with some great Aussie lamb (her) and steak (me) we cooked on the barbie!!

Dark fruits, oak is moderate, this is a mid-term drinker, lovely balance, soft tannins, but excellent depth as well, long finish, very fine!! — 6 months ago

with Jim

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2005 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 15 mins, 45 mins and 2 hrs. Throwing decent sed. Great color. Overt baby fat from this producer dissipated but plenty of the usual, front-palate richness found in the first decade of life still evident. In “the zone” currently. Medium bodied. Not improving but tasting like it’s closer to the front of “the zone”than the mid-section or the caboose. Flavors, concentration and overall impression sez this continues to gallop along in this lane and at this pace for another decade before fading noticeably. 11.5.23. — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

In Adelaide tonight and trying the entry level Yangarra Grenache from McLaren Vale made by Grenache master Peter Fraser. No detailed notes - but medium bodied, medium tannins - red and black fruits. Driving 4 1/2 hours to Coonawarra today. See you at Bellwether. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

As with all of the top Cuvées of Sami Odi there is a lot going on with the wine as a product of ancient vines going back to 1912. Ripe plums, black olive, earth, some game and meaty notes and prune. Bold flavours delivered with a trademark silky texture with supple fluid tannins. Rich chocolatey notes on the palate mingling with the ripe plum. Followers of Sami Odi will know that Fraser often blends 2 or 3 vintages but with “Baby Tui” the 2012 vintage was so good that it stood alone. The unusual and attractive label is apparently a collection of vintage match box labels belonging to Fraser’s grandmother I believe. Correct me if I’m wrong. I have one of these gems left in the cellar. — 4 years ago