A lovely nose - spice, earth and charcuterie. Really, the previous Delectable note said it all - “more Rhone than Barossa”. A medium weight savoury palate which worked well with home made pizza. With air the aromatics gave more dried meat and charcuterie notes..like a plate of freshly sliced Pastrami. Drinking at its peak I think, but will remain at this level until the end of the decade. Excellent. — a month ago
This is a blend of syrah, cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine is red but completely translucid like a Tavel wine. The nose is funky with dome discreet barnyard notes, a typical herbaceous note that I associate with Sauvignon Blanc, some minerally notes like crushed rocks, pomegranate and strawberry too. Very interesting!
The palate shows a good acid drive, pomegranate and strawberry notes all along, some width, a soft and gentle mouthfeel that changes in the rear with some lively tannins that create another layer over a rather long and fruity finish with pomegranate and strawberry. It's fresh and fun, it's super easy going. Textbook glouglou wine. Enjoyed slightly chilled. 12,5% abv. — 3 months ago
At my 2015 Chardonnay Challenge the Giaconda was a consensus 3rd. Easily the most smoky, sulphidic, struck match of the 6 wines. I loved it. On the palate a powerful wine. Opulent. This wine is becoming difficult to source and sells out in a flash upon release. — a month ago
From the cellar - a little too cold on this cold night. More spice than the usual white and black pepper. Dried meat. See previous Delectable notes. An incredible Show Record:- Good Wine Guides Best Shiraz and Wine of the Year in 2011 - 98 points from Nick Stock. Giving more on the 2nd night. Incredible length of flavour - goes on and on. This has always been one of my favourite Australian Red Wines and I have tried to buy it on a regular basis but it has become very expensive (over $200) - no doubt because of its impeccable quality. Northern Rhone in style. Only 400 cases made. — 3 months ago
The 2023 Selección Especial Nº2 Victoria was sourced from a 1920-planted vineyard in Vélez-Málaga, Alta Axarquía, in the Sierras de Málaga. This late-harvest wine was aged seven months on the lees and bottled with 190 grams of sugar. Yellow in hue, it presents herbal aromas with peach and apricot notes and a faint hint of nard. Sweet and balanced on the palate, it offers an intense mouthfeel with a long-lasting savory finish. This is a delicate, well-crafted wine. (Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous, September 2024)
— 16 days ago
Bob McDonald
Brief notes. Great Pinot from the Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard are an annual event these days. The 2023 vintage has just been awarded Halliday’s Pinot Noir of the year. This wine was pale to mid crimson. Red cherry. Essence of Pinot Noir and one of Australia’s best. The reputation set up by Steve Flamsteed and carried on by Melanie Chester and the new ownership in the USA. Sweet sappy red fruits. Medium weight. Very good. — 7 days ago