2017 Henry's Drive Shiraz/Cabernet, Australia, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 72% Shiraz, and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is a lot of black raspberry and black cherry fruit.  Some alcohol is noticeable.  It is very tasty but somewhat one dimensional.  A throw-back to the Aussie Shiraz of twenty years ago.  Good value if you like this style.  

2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love, Australia, McLaren Vale, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

It has been a long  time since I tried a bottle of this.  Back in the day, this wine was the poster child, good or bad, for the high alcohol, full throttle Australian Shiraz.  Lots of people said they would not age, but the fact is, if you liked that style then and still like it, it has aged fine.  This was the last vintage of this that I bought.  At age 11 years from vintage it tastes how I remembered.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with some alcohol but also black raspberries, cassis, roasted meats and herbs and slight prune.  Full bodied.  The first sip packs a wal

1990 Penfolds Grange Shiraz Blend, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1990
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$450.00USD

Australia's most iconic wine.  Always a pleasure to try one and this, at age 30 is just showing traces of age.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, vanilla, spice and slight black pepper.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Plenty of black raspberry fruit.  Fresh with lots of energy.  Plenty of depth.  This is drinking well now but may still improve as it matures.  It should drink well for another fifteen years or more.  This is great on its own and will work with roasts and drilled meat, fowl or veggies.  

2013 Adir Ben Zimra Plot Ninety Eight, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$53.00USD

This is a "Port" styled wine made in Israel from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Shiraz.  Made more in a tawny style but not quite.  It is very interesting an certainly good.  Deep brick red in color, clear and bright.  The nose has toffee, slight cassis and a bit nutty.  Full bodied and viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet but not overt.  Toffee, chocolate and raspberries.  Slight warmth on the finish.  This is Kosher.  It is hard to say how long this will last.  My guess is that it should be consumed over the next five years, but it might last much longer.  It went very well with pecan r

2017 Five Stones Vineyards D vs G, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

The D vs G stands for David versus Goliath.  This is a blend of Shiraz, Marselan, Carignan, and Petite Sirah.  Purple in color with a thin ruby rim.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, spice and slight tobacco.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black raspberries come thru over a gravel base.  Moderate acidity.  Right now, the Carignan and Shiraz dominate the blend but the Petite gives it a nice backbone.  It will be interesting to see how it ages.  This drinks nicely on its own and will work well with grilled meats or fowl.  

2011 Mollydooker Enchanted Path, Australia, McLaren Vale, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is still one of the poster boys for big, fruity Aussie wines.  It can be a love it or hate it wine, but I find, as long as you know what to expect going in, this is a well made and delicious wine.  A blend of 71% Shiraz and 29% Cabernet.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, black pepper, slight dill (American oak?), and smoke.  On the palate, this is rich and full bodied.  Black raspberries, slight raisins with light tannins.  There is some alcohol/heat on the mid-palate and finish.  It is ripe and delicious and probably better on its own, but it trying

NV Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is one in a series of Tawny "Ports" made by Penfold's.  It has very attractive packaging although no longer in the wood box.  Made in a Solera style, the minimum blended age is 20 years old.  The Solera currently contains vintages from 1960 to 2004.  Mostly Shiraz, Cabernet, Grenache and Mourvedre but others as well.  Iced tea in color.  The nose is a bit oxidized (in a good way) with brown sugar, toffee and crème brulee.  On the palate, this is viscous.  Lots of caramel notes.  Some heat.  There is a nice depth to it.  Long finish.  This will work well on its own or with toffee/carame

1982 Penfolds Grange Hermitage Bin 95, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1982
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$435.00USD

What a treat.  The iconic wine of Australia.  This is Syrah or Shiraz as they call it down under.  This wine is 37 years old and drinks like it is just getting to maturity.  No hint of age.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black pepper, black raspberries, some chocolate and baking spice.  On the palate, this is starting to show some layering.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying char and spice.  Great texture.  Long finish.  It probably won't improve from here but should be at this level for at least another decade.  This will work well with stews or roasts and is

1999 Penfolds Grange, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

A chance to try the iconic wine of Australia is pretty special but a chance to try one with age is amazing.  This bottle was decanted for a couple of hours and then poured back into the bottle and served after an additional two hours.  It was still a bit tight but opened up in the glass quite well.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, black pepper and slight roasted meats and roasted herbs.  On the palate, it is medium to full bodied.  Great balance.  Nice black raspberry and black cherry fruit over char.  This is drinking well and probably at or close to peak.  No hurry, there

2012 Penfolds Grange, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$450.00USD

Grange is arguably the best wine from its entire continent.  That's a pretty bold statement.  This is the iconic wine from Australia and has, and continues to, earn that reputation for over almost seventy years.  This is of course, young.  Grange is a wine that can easily do a few decades.  Yet, it drank well as pop and pour  Purple in color.  The nose is very pretty with black cherries, ginger, cedar, and spice.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, a bot of char/toast.  Great mouth feel.  Long finish.  This will get better with cellaring.  It needs

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