JAMES HALLIDAY – March 4th, 1999
Medium red, with just a touch of purple. The bouquet is clean, moderately intense, with mint and red berry aromas. The palate offers chocolate, berry and a touch of mint, with soft tannins and minimal oak influence. All in all, a lovely, fleshy wine. Rating: 88 Points.
THE WEEKEND FINANCIAL REVIEW – 28-29 August, 1999
Plum crumble and vanilla nose with chocolate and maraschino cherries. Some grassiness too. Concentrated strawberry, blackberry and vanilla in the mouth, sweet syrupy and warm from the alcohol which reinforces the fruit sweetness. Tannins are super-soft and the overall mouth feel is 'essency'. Rating: 88/100
WINE SPECTATOR - 15th November, 1999
Ripe but refined in style, this frames the distinctively ripe, licorice-scented plum, blueberry and black cherry flavours with a smooth texture and a sense of restraint on the long finish. Drink now through 2010. (1800 cases produced). Rating 91 Points.
THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN Halliday’s Top 100 – November 27-28, 1999
Produced from estate vines planted in 1847, before the US Civil War, before Hill of Grace and (quixotically) the Russian Revolution. So the back label says. Ripe, sweet and luscious raspberry and cherry aromas lead into a succulently smooth palate with well balanced oak and fine tannins. Drink: 2002-17 Best with: Braised Ox Cheek. Rating: 94 Points.

