Bob McDonald

9.4

Delectable: this is the 2010 vintage which is the 55th vintage of the famous Wynns Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the 3rd of 5 bottles which I bought for the ridiculous price of $23.70 per bottle in 2013. An excellent vintage for Coonawarra (2010) Nose of black fruits , black olive, tomato leaf and earth. Oak in the background at 15 years of age. The palate is medium to full bodied with excellent fruit concentration finishing with firm tannins. At least another 10 plus years in the cellar. One of the great value for money wines in Australia and has been for decades. As good as their premium cuvée John Riddoch is , Black Label is the QPR King. I will enjoy my remaining 2 bottles over the next 6 plus years into 2030s if I have the will power. — 2 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Great intensity, power and persistence for a Village wine. A dry German Riesling (12.5% ABV) plenty of ripe peach and mineral. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous notes. From a warm vintage. Typical Penfolds DNA of choc/malt/mocha with Blackberry, mulberry. Palate strength remains at 17 years of age. Supple, pliant smooth tannins with great persistence. 15 months in older American hogsheads. — 19 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

90% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano. Red fruited perfume, earthy with medium plus intensity. Palate at 21 years is developed, balanced and soft with fully integrated tannins. Medium weight with declining strength to its inner core. Not near as good on the 2nd night. This aged overnight and finishes a little sour. I was going to give it 94 points but will now give 90 points. — 4 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Yet another grape that does well in Tasmania - Riesling. White florals. The palate is round and developed with muted acid. Drinking at its peak. — 6 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Great to taste a classic Vouvray - a classic Chenin Blanc. Aromas of old apple and pear and a little honeysuckle. A mouth filling texture on the palate / unctuous! Low acid. Refreshing. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

This wine was lost in my cellar for a couple of years until I found it a few days ago. As a 2016 I probably would have drunk this a year or two ago. Now at 9 years of age it is a wonderful Chardonnay with more complexity and intensity. More on the citric than stone fruit side. A good example of mature Yarra Valley Chardonnay. — 19 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

I took this bottle from my cellar to a friend who just received his complete allocation of 2022 Wendouree. We obviously compared this 2011 Shiraz Mataro with the latest 2022. If this exercise proved one thing that was that any cuvée of Wendouree should not be opened at under 10 years of age. The 2011 had a gorgeous nose of blackberry, liquorice and spice…..intoxicating! Whereas the 2022 was as tight as a drum…giving very little. The palate was fluid and smooth with those same aromatics coming through on the palate with that amazing old vine opulence and persistence. I had my first bottle back in August 2022. Notes are here on Delectable. — 5 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

This is a riper style than is normal for Craiglee which is usually quite cold climate peppery. This is full bodied showing blackberry, spice, liquorice and some black pepper. Always a reliable top quality Shiraz. The vineyard is just to the north of Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport in cool climate Macedon. Could see out the 2020s in the Cellar. — 6 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

This wine screams left bank Bordeaux. The final blend is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon; 22% Merlot; and 15% Cabernet Franc. Great depth of flavour particularly for a 2nd wine. The medium + palate shows an inner core of strength and opulence which exhibits the class of the producer and the excellence of the vintage. Tertiary aromas and flavours. See last Delectable note of 2020. Very integrated, balanced and polished. Prompts the old saying in a London Club, “Just damn good claret my man”. Excellent drinking now but still 5+ years left in it. — 18 days ago