Penfolds Grange Shiraz 2000, South Australia

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/ brick rim.

Nose of black currants, blueberries, black cherries, light earth, tobacco leaf, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, forest floor, mildew, black pepper and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, herbs, earth, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, Indian spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 24 year old iconic wine from Australia is still drinking beautifully. Tasty and smooth with good structure and great complexity. A little bitter on the ending for me, though.

Feels like a 30 year old Left Bank Bordeaux. Might be a bit past its prime, but Interesting stuff nonetheless.

Robert Parker 93 points.

Needed 3 hours of airtime to open up properly.

It is delicious, but I expected more from it. Might just be this specific bottle. I’ve had a few different vintages of this great wine and it is always an experience.

Good by itself or with food, like a nice piece of steak.

100% Shiraz grapes from Barossa  Valley were aged in American oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$400.

Mollydooker Wines The Scooter Merlot 2020, Mclaren Vale, Australia

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.

Nice nose with red fruits, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice and peppercorn.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red currants, cherries, raspberries, earth, black coffee, bitter vegetables, light oak, spices, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

This Australian Merlot is drinking nicely now. Earthier than I expected it to be. Feels like a blend of new and old world.

Showing a soft and plush mouthfeel, and a bit bitter once it opens up.

Easy drinking and better after a couple of hours of airtime. Changes every 30 minutes in the decanter. Interesting.

I had a few different vintages years ago, and it is a completely different wine today.

Aged in American oak barrels. Vegan.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$30.

Torbreck Vintners Run Rig Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002, Australia

99 POINT WINE

Dark ruby in color with a very short reddish rim.

Sweet nose with lots of black fruits, cedar, vanilla and chocolates.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing black currants, plums, cedar, cooked cherries, spices, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco leaf, black pepper, barnyard, earth, light vegetables and pencil lead.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. Extracted, bold and rich.

This 21-year-old is drinking beautifully now. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Robert Parker 99 points.

A good quality wine that very aged nicely. Fruit forward and elegant. Good stuff.

A blend of 97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier. Aged for 30 months in new French oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200.

Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 1996, Australia

Here is a delicious 100 point wine from Australia.

Deep inky in color with a short brick rim. Not showing age much.

Strong sweet nose of black fruits with tobacco, raisins, dried fruits, oak, licorice, eucalyptus, light vinaigrette and peppercorn.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on and fruity on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee and dark chocolates.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Shiraz from Barossa Valley. Rich and elegant, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

A good quality wine that needs a couple of hours to open up properly.

This 27 year old is still drinking very nicely. Past its prime, but still very enjoyable.

Robert Parker 100 points.

Good by itself or with food. A good sipping wine.

100% Shiraz grapes were aged in American oak barrels for 3 years.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$300.

Possums Mclaren Vineyard Shiraz 2002, Mclaren Vale, Australia

This 21 years old Shiraz from Australia has seen better days. It is a few years over the hill, but still enjoyable.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with wood, earth, mildew, vinaigrette, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, peppercorn, chocolates, spices, wet leaves and herbs.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself.

Grapes were aged in American oak barrels for 18 months.

15% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, South Australia

This is a very young Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco and coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

Delicious right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

Shows nice complexity and mouthfeel, with a great nose. Feels more like a California Cabernet.

Nicely balanced and rich. Elegant, fruit forward and luscious.

Robert Parker 90 points. Wine Spectator 93.

Delicious right now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French and American oak barrels for 12 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$80.

Penfolds Wines Bin 60A Cabernet Shiraz 2004, South Australia

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Gorgeous nose of black currants, cooked plums, figs, dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, turmeric, fennel, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, peppercorn, coffee, herbs and Mediterranean spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity, elegant and smooth.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, tobacco leaf, earth and dark coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This 18 year old Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Australia is drinking so nicely now. Fruit forward and concentrated.

Showing great complexity, especially on the nose. Spicy and interesting. Rich, yet elegant.

I did not decant it, but left it in the bottle to open up. Delicious right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Loved the nose here, and kept smelling on it for a while.

Wine enthusiast 96 points. Robert Parker 99 points.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

Nicely balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% shiraz. Aged for 13 months in new American Oak barrels. Bottled in April 2008.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$650.

Mollydooker Wines Velvet Glove Shiraz 2018, Australia

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, alcohol, licorice, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, milk chocolates, tobacco and peppercorn.

Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

On the palate black currants, cooked plums, sweet cherries, vanilla, spices, cedar, espresso, cola, light herbs, licorice, mocha and red chili pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Shiraz from Australia. Big and bold, and somewhat sweet. Has a lot of acidity on the finish for all that fruit. Rich and extracted.

Very much “in your face” kind of wine, and not for the faint of heart. Feels very much like a Napa Syrah, with a teeth staining color.

Needs a couple hours to open up properly, which I didn’t have, as it finished too quickly.

Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, and calm down a bit. Will be a 95+ wine in 10 years. Will age nicely in the next 15 years.

Wine Spectator 95 points. Robert Parker 96 points.

Good as a sipping wine, and good with food too. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$215.

Penfolds Wines Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2018, Australia

Deep Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Dry and very fruity on the palate.

Showing black currants, cooked plums, figs, earth, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, vanilla, spices and peppercorn.

Fruit forward with medium acidity.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Rich and extracted. Showing nice complexity with a strong nose.

This delicious “baby Grange” is starting to drink nicely now. Still young, and would be better in 5 years. Will age nicely in the next 15 years.

Wine Spectator 92 points. Robert Parker 93 points.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime, which I did not have, as it finished way too quickly.

I had the 2017 a couple of years ago, and liked it even better, even though the 2018 was a better vintage.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Shiraz.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.

Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2018, South Australia

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, cooked plums, figs, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs and peppercorn.

Nice finish with fine tannins and bitter herbs.

This is a very tasty Shiraz from Australia. Still young and will drink better in 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Big, extracted and rich, with mild complexity.

A nice sipping wine, and good with BBQ Meats too.

Robert Parker 93 points.

100% Shiraz grapes were aged in American oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$30.