McLeish Estate Shiraz Reserve

Medium colour, dark crimson. Dried herbs, dark berries, light varnish. Blackberry in charge, plum, mulberry, olive. Cocoa, I would say anchovy, but not in a completely unpleasant way. Fine but strong tannin, can be a bit overtaking. Acidity is a bit sour. Just doesn’t blend together, any of the characteristics by themselves wouldn’t be too distracting, but together they lower the quality of the wine. I don’t think time will help.

Quite dark black crimson with a thin light hue. Aroma of sawdust, spice, grilled meat, nutty. Plum, blueberry, cashews, stewed apple, rhubarb to finish. Fine tannin with a puckery finish. Sharp acidity. Good fruit, sweet, dry finish. Clearly not at its peak, give it another couple of years.

Perfume aroma, dry fine tannin. Unfortunately I can’t read my shorthand for the rest of my notes.

Hunter Whistlestop - the road less travelled #4 (Hunter Valley) : Quite confected plum, caramel oak, sweet spice, slight stalks (?), jubey blackberry. In the mouth it's juicy and savoury with plummy fruit, gritty but integrated tannins, a little Christmas cake on the finish. Nicely done. good.