Tyrrell's, Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet, Hunter Valley

Pale garnet with a slight brick hue towards the rim, clear meniscus. Classic aged Hunter River Burgundy impressions, although look a bit deeper and there's a touch of mint and eucalypt announcing its Coonawarra component. Light bodied with red berries, earth and spices, sprightly acidity, touch of mint on the finish. Very pleasant.

tired and past it's peak. still fine with the NY steak. fruit faded but acidity remains.

Excellent wine. Colour: dense black berry Bouquet: sweet fruit, liquorice, mint, spice, dried herbs Palate: full sweet black fruit, liquorice, full bodied, long dry finish, otherwise as bouquet, big soft tannins. January 2015

Very good. 13% alc. Colour: light brown berry Bouquet: very savoury herbal and green tea notes Palate: as bouquet with some sour cherries, spices, medium body, nice long clean acid finish. November 2014

Quite a juicy wine, some noticable oak but enough fruit to stand up to it. Very enjoyable.

Lovely expression of a hunter shiraz blend. Nice and savoury.

I drank a 2003 Tyrrell's Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet (Hunter-Medgee) last weekend, and honestly, it was a lovely wine. Meaty but not overpowering, fine tannins, discreet acid, lovely developing brambly earth/fruit flavours, 13.8% or similar, good balance, respectable finish; everything you could want in a wine. Quaint retro label as well. Will last for years, but drinks OK now. Maybe the wines of the 80s were a bit toxic, but Tyrrell's have really got their act together these days. At …

Menthol and earth on the nose. Palate is hard and ungiving. Tough to enjoy.