Tahbilk, Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, Central Victoria

National treaure without doubt. If not flying then not far from, particularly so at 41yrs of age. Old red fruits, fading tannin, drying finish.

Inky purplish crimson color. Nose: vanilla and savory cinnamon cookie with dark berry syrup (cassis and prune) - not overly complex but harmonious golden combination. The mouth confirms the nose, with exceptionally silky and round texture. Medium+ amount of ripe sweet tannins are backed up by solid clean acidity and spicy sweet umami like Worcestershire sauce. The finish is rich and soft, melting like a marshmallow, with high-pitched and lingering fragrant back-nose.

Ullage just below base of neck. Lovely colour: bright red, with just a little browning. Gentle nose of sous bois, bay leaf, and cherry. Delicate flavours of raspberry, tomato, and tarragon, with a hint of char. Mouthfeel is light and pale, with faint tannin and moderate acidity. Overall, it's light and delicate, but drinking beautifully. At 40 years old, it's certainly done better than the 6 years promised on the label. I agree with the notes below. Drank another bottle …

Very top shoulder level, good cork extracted in one piece with the Durand. Bright and clear, thinning considerably but not anaemic or metallic, fresh and lively Cabernet character, mint, cool minerality, juicy cassis fruit and cassis leaves (there's 10% Cabernet Franc in the blend), hint of cedar (two years in French oak), medium body (13% ABV), good resonance and length. In context this is really very good - an excellent bottle. Drink up if you have any.

Trip to Victoria AU; 9/28/2023-10/4/2023 (Mornington Peninsula, Nagambie Lakes) : Deep ruby. Aromas of pepper, plum, some violet florals, hay, and smoked meat. Full bodied, bright acids, and firm tannins, with ripe plum, violets, pepper, and some cedar and somewhat meaty as well

Not decanted, opened thirty minutes in advance. Fresh and lively, lean and clean but not dried out, blackcurrant leaf, delicately nutty, candied fruit.

Another good bottle, with a cedary, tobacco character, and quite remarkable leafiness - is this the 10% Cabernet Franc coming through? Medium body (13% ABV), still lively and fresh, resolved tannins, has lost a lot of flesh but not skeletal, transparent, good length. Very good for age and a pleasant drink.

After the gorgeous bottle in April, this one is not so good. Very top shoulder level, soaked and rather tough cork; very mature colour, little red left; the nose has good presence but it displays old acidity; the palate is slender (verging on thin), with slightly metallic acidity; slightly volatile finish, decent length. Really shows signs of age. Not rated.

Stunning, classic mature left-bank claret nose, richly expressive, crushed red berries and beef stew, harmonious and deep; fully mature but lively palate, silky and creamy, perfectly integrated without any rough edges, mostly resolved tannins still provide grip, medium body, real style and elegance; outstanding resonance and length. Second growth level easily, Pichon-Lalande 1985 comes to mind. Pretty magnificent.

First bottle from an 18-bottle mixed lot of Château Tahbilk, which included eight bottles of this wine. Top shoulder level (the other seven bottles are base of neck or better). Made from 90% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged for two years in French oak. Fully mature appearance; claret-like profile on the nose, fresh and cedary, transparent, smoky warmth from the wood, good depth; the palate is gentle and mature but lively and energetic, with a crisp and leafy freshness, …