Joanne Frette

9.0

A sophisticated take on a Cabernet Merlot Cabernet frank blend. This classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Merlot is from Margaret River. It’s well balanced and sophisticated and beautifully made. the nose is a red cherry and cedar and the pallet is full of red fruit and integrated tannins. A nice persistant wood spice on the finish. — 12 days 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. — 10 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. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

My first Little Wine #11 from Sami Odi. An unvintaged assembly of casks from 2021 (46%); 2020 (18%); 2019 (16%); 2018 (2%); 2017 (9%); 2016 (5%); & 2015 (4%). The multi vintage adoption adds different dimensions - quite unique. The wine is a deep Ruby with a youthful purple tinge. Light in that it dances on the palate but there is no escaping that profound palate intensity from those old vines. Dark and luscious fruits. Blueberries and blackberries. Little Wine is meant to be drunk young, even Fraser says that, but can be cellared. Fresh, intense and powerful. I have drunk older Little Wines and the premium Cuvée but have found the extra cellar time doesn’t add the expected complexity. I have a bottle of Baby Tui, surprisingly all from the excellent 2012 vintage to put this cellaring idea to the test at some stage in the future. — 2 months ago

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. 🇦🇺 — a year 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

Geoff Upston

9.2

Couldn’t pick the bay leaves, sorry. 2019, drunk in 2024. Really nice drinking right now, feeling it will be awesome in another few years. Will try and get a case of this vintage. — 2 months ago

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. — 9 months ago

with Jim and Monique

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. — a year 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. — 4 years ago