Wendouree, Malbec, Clare Valley

Very much past its prime. Pretty flat and much of the fruit is gone. Before decanting, the alcohol was very strong since nothing else was really there. After a bit, some notes of faint anise, vanilla, and roasted almond begin to emerge on the nose. The clearest aromas were rosemary and pine. There was also some tobacco. On the palette, medium acidity, very soft tannins, and really doesn't taste like much. There were some notes of mushroom, some tobacco, a …

A special wine in a good place. The star of a brilliant trio of Wendouree Malbecs, alongside the 2008 & 2012. Faded brick rim, then dark red. Belies its 30 years age. The blossoming nose likewise defied the laws of time, expanding and becoming fresher and sweeter with air. Not even the initial old bottle funk could suppress the intense blueberry and plum notes at the heart of this wine. Continued to bloom in the glass with intense small berry …

A lovely surprise from a generally wet vintage across S.E Australia, Mid weight wine, clean fruit, juicy red fruits. A fillagreed hint of menthol. Fine tannins. Rather nice.

fruit forward almost hints of sweetness in the fruit but well balanced with good finish

Mint, menthol, red berries. Ripe fruits on the palate, with medium+ acid and chalky tannins.

From a pretty average vintage, this is a nice surprise. Doesn't come across completely varietal but has nice ripe red fruit flavours, leafy forest floor, somewhat gravelly with moderate depth. Smooth and well put together, an early drinker though and not a long term Wendouree I don't think.

Quite rich and enjoyable, plush, ripe red fruit, soft, and early hints of development. Juicy raspberry and blackberry on the palate, firm, lovely tannins, and the slightest hint of development. Somewhat hot on the finish. Still bright and young. Drink or hold.

Jura Focus Tasting : Menthol, stem, blackcurrant, cranberry and spice. The structure seems to be coming loose at the edges a bit, there is good restraint to the fruit but I'm not sure where this is headed. Probably a short term drinking prospect as I have thought might be the case with previous bottles a couple of years ago.

Dark red with a hint of purple. Ripe cherry liquer perfumed nose with hints of 5 spice. The palate is sweet fruited and follows to firm round tannins An excellent result from the tough vintage.

Monthly lunch with Attila : Served blind. Cranberry, spices, tobacco and slight stemmy/herbal notes. Medium bodied, the fruit here is restrained and while there is structure it is well integrated and isn't there unless you look for it. Very civilised drinking now and over the short-mid term.

Australia Day Weekend Tasting : Floral lift with some stem influence and appealing cinnamon and spices. There is some good fruit on the palate, though it is quite held back and not overly deep. Enjoyable now and over the shorter term.

Served blind. Spice, cherry, jubes and some oak. Lithe on the palate, with savoury spices and tannins that are not especially prominent. Good, though not what I expected it to be when revealed. Drink fairly early.