1985 Diamond Creek - Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (94 pts)

ℹ️ The wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Petit Verdot from the Volcanic Hill single vineyard in Diamond Mountain AVA of Napa Valley, California. The vines were planted in 1968 on ashy soil of the south-facing hillside estate vineyard. The wines were aged in 💯 new French oak.

👁 Deep ruby color with a pale garnet rim. Incredibly youthful appearance.

👃 An expressive nose that didn't show its true potential until the end of a long evening. The nose started with ripe to overripe black fruit and pen ink, but with air showed rosemary, lavender, pen ink, sweet baking spices, and dried leaves.

👄 The palate is dry, high acidity, medium+ brawny tannins, moderate alcohol (12.5%), and medium+ body. The palate had a ton of primary fruit that was ripe but not jammy. Quite dense and mouth coating but quickly cut by the beautiful acidity. Medium+ length finish of black fruit, garrigue, and integrated oak spice.

🔔 When will the Diamond Creek wines from the 80s be ready? Well, no one really knows exactly. If you get a well-stored bottle like this one, don't be afraid to decant it or open it a day in advance. The Volcanic Hill started as my least favorite wine of the trio, and by the end of the night, it was challenging the Dominus. These wines are almost impossible to catch at their peak due to their backward nature. Yes, yes, it was beautiful, but the patience required to enjoy these wines in the modern era is almost inconceivable. I haven't had a young Diamond Creek in ages, but it seems like I should be drinking their wines from the 70s now.

 1985 Diamond Creek - Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (94

Quin Wines 2016 Barossa Shiraz… what a cracking way to celebrate mid-week. 60 minutes in the decanter and this Shiraz was absolutely signing! Of course it’s on the young side, but there’s trademark Barossa fruit concentration and tightly woven savoury / spicy notes that make it bloody good drinking now. It’s an impressive wine, no doubt about it, wish I had a few more for the cellar!

 Quin Wines 2016 Barossa Shiraz… what a cracking way to

Hard to beat a cheeky trip to Magill Estate when you’re in town. Bin 150, it's a pretty classy drop. ⠀

 Hard to beat a cheeky trip to Magill Estate when you’re in

That feeling when you definitely shouldn’t, but you do. My excuse, you don’t see these very often! Straight to the cellar! ⠀

 That feeling when you definitely shouldn’t, but you do. My

Ochota Barrels 186 Grenache and Home Pinot Noir. Two wines in the collection I can’t wait to try! If you’ve tried either please let me know what they’re like!?!? -

 Ochota Barrels 186 Grenache and Home Pinot Noir. Two wines

Here’s a bit of vertical love for your Thursday evening. If you could pick a vintage, which one would it be? 🍷 ​

 Here’s a bit of vertical love for your Thursday evening. If

First drop of the night and rumour has it it’s a stunner! I hope you’re all lining up something special 🍷🙌🙏

 First drop of the night and rumour has it it’s a stunner! I

It turns out Pikes, synonymous with stunning Clare Valley Riesling, are also pretty adept at the odd red too… who’d of thought it?! The Dogwalk is a savoury, earthy Clare Valley cabernet with a touch of mint leaf and spice in amongst the mulberries and blackcurrants. Tannins, soft and gentle, are present but nicely balanced. Everything’s in the right place to pop, pour and enjoy, no messing about and it’s all the better for it.

 It turns out Pikes, synonymous with stunning Clare Valley

We're truly spoilt for choice when it comes to shiraz in Australia. Dare I say it... best place for it?!? ⠀

Either way, I'm loving the Shiraz now the colder months are coming in!⠀

 We're truly spoilt for choice when it comes to shiraz in

Kicking off Saturday eve with this cheeky little Ebenezer

. The nose is packed with sweet strawberries, raspberry liquorice, a raft of red frogs and Turkish delight. Light bodied, sweet red fruits, and  pomegranate across the palate. Very easy to drink, too easy perhaps! -

 Kicking off Saturday eve with this cheeky little Ebenezer

​​Tiptoeing my way into the revered world of red Burgundy and Domaine Dujac. This Dujac Fils et Père, Nuits St. Georges “Les Damodes” ​2016, one of the négociant range, is treated much the same way as the Domaine wines just with younger vines. There are suggested likenesses to “Vosne” spices with this wine.  Light, long and elegant. It's off to the cellar for a few more years sleep before its debut. ⠀

 ​​Tiptoeing my way into the revered world of red Burgundy

Have you seen a wine this colourful before? If so, what was it? This is insane!

Beyond the colour this Atze’s Corner ‘The Giant’ Durif 2019 is a one way ticket to flavourtown, with a detour through the black forest of Gateauxville. This is to say it’s not a shy wine. Dark cherry, pomegranate, mulberry, liquorice, spicy vanilla, chary oak on the nose. The palate’s rich and robust, full, definitely full. It’s all dark fruit, cherries, blackberries, mulberries, with spice and woody layers. Vanilla is the common thread throughout. No bad thing. The richness is very impressive, second only to the colour. 🍷👏🏼🍷

 Have you seen a wine this colourful before? If so, what was

Les Amis 2015, arguably my favorite from the

It’s a complex beast. Don’t let the medium pale colour deceive you. Five spice, cherry bake, rose petals with a mystifying savoury edge. It’s a ripper. To taste, oh to taste. Berries. Red. Cherry Bakewell tart goodness with a solid pinch of fine emery board tannin to round it all off. It’s a stunner, quite possibly the best Barossa Grenache I’ve tried. 🍷

 Les Amis 2015, arguably my favorite from the

Perhaps the best value wine find of the year! The Calabria Family make some awesome wines, Old Vine Shiraz and the Saint Petri selection (check them out) two name a few, but this Nero D’Avola for sheer drinkability is a quality find at a fraction of the cost. Red berry fruit, earthy and herbal aromatics, fine grain emery-board like tannins on the finish. Sub $15, unbelievable really. A fun, super enjoyable drop that’s well worth trying, end of.

 Perhaps the best value wine find of the year! The Calabria

​​Stocking up for winter is so much fun! Yarra Valley goodness courtesy of

. Two of my go to wines for price and quality. Next on the list, Standish and Giaconda new releases! What's on your list?⠀

 ​​Stocking up for winter is so much fun! Yarra Valley

Now, I’m no Oliver Twist, but… “Please, sir, I want some more”. This Sanglier Wines Grenache Shiraz Tannat is fresh, vibrant, and beautifully reductive. A gem of a wine that delivers bundles of fruit depth, savoury pepper notes and a smoky wildness that’s elegantly clean in a rugged kind of way. What a find. I wouldn’t hesitate to get this again!

 Now, I’m no Oliver Twist, but… “Please, sir, I want some

Some pretty serious wines found their way into the cellar today. Three Aussie “best of breeds” and this bucket list Super Tuscan! I’d of thought it’ll be a few years before these come out again... fingers crossed!

 Some pretty serious wines found their way into the cellar

Parker Coonawarra Block 95 2016, a single block release of the classic Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Petit Verdot (25%). Not a wine you need to rush to open, this’ll chill for decades before you’ve missed the window! But, sometimes curiosity gets the better of me and I can’t help myself...

In a nutshell it’s elegant and super classy. Stunning dark fruit depth, black currants and cassis for days with spices, coffee grinds, and gum leaf all converging supremely. If you can resist, do so. The future is very bright for this wine!

 Parker Coonawarra Block 95 2016, a single block release of

This is one of my go-to Pinots from the Apple Isle. It’s a sizable and complex beast bursting with intrigue. Dark fruits and oak, cherry-cola smoke essence and spices with woody undertones. To get this much complexity into a wine is awesome. Constantly changing, evolving with time in the glass, resulting in an experience not a moment. Well worth testing if you love a bit of complexity! -

 This is one of my go-to Pinots from the Apple Isle. It’s a

I’m a sucker for single vineyard, small batch, productions regardless of the variety and this

 Montepulciano, affectionately named “The Mob” is limited to 200 dozen and comes from a 1 hectare single vineyard in the Barossa. So with both boxes ticked, what’s it like? Black cherry in colour, impenetrable beginning to end. Sets the scene nicely for the dark cherry and red plum blast, twiggy herbals, and almost tarry edge all balanced nicely with chewy tannins and medium acidity. It’s a taste of Italy that’s had the Barossa treatment, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

 I’m a sucker for single vineyard, small batch, productions

100% pure Barossa Shiraz at the iconic Rockford Winery. This was a shot of the soon to be 2017 Basket Press Shiraz. I just couldn't get over the colour and the fact this stunning wine is made in a shed. A tin shed nonetheless, bloody brilliant!⠀

 100% pure Barossa Shiraz at the iconic Rockford Winery

​⁠That nervous feeling when your boss says "order the wine" and this rocks up. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission right? Especially when this beaut puts a smile the size of a house on your face. Highly recommended! ⁠

 ​⁠That nervous feeling when your boss says "order the wine"

From a small, 72 year old, single vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of the McLaren Vale this Grenache from Longline Wines has everything going for it. Combine that with 20% whole bunch, time in a concrete egg and seasoned French Oak puncheons and the end product is a wine you just want to savour. Lovely crunchy red berry fruits, red currants and raspberries with spices and earthy undertones. Crisp acidity and fine grained tannins wrap up this medium bodied package. It’s a gem of a wine with interest and complexly, and did I mention it’s only $26.....? You can’t buy better than that, end of. -

 From a small, 72 year old, single vineyard in the Blewitt

Signed, sealed, delivered. This is THE best way to start the week. 12 of my favourite wines from

 that are destined to spend a long time on my "do not touch" list. What's on your list?⠀ ⠀ ⠀

 Signed, sealed, delivered. This is THE best way to start

Lake's Folly, top 5 most collected wines in Australia and easily a highlight of any trip to the Hunter (if they have any wine left to taste!). Production is low, generally sold on pre-release, and limited to two flagship wines. Roughly 1,000 cases of Chardonnay and 3,500 cases of a Cabernet blend are produced and are of exceptional quality. Both wines are elegant, complex, and fantastically age worthy. Easily one of my favourites from the region!⠀

 Lake's Folly, top 5 most collected wines in Australia and

There’s something special about adding another vintage to the vertical collection, 5 and counting! If I’m not mistaken this is the first vintage from the new Giaconda cave cellar. Grand Cru Classe status? 🍷 ​

 There’s something special about adding another vintage to

Interview with Enrique Tirado, Winemaker & CEO of Viña Don Melchor

 We talked about the unique Terroir of Puente Alto in Chile's Upper Maipo Valley. He explained the Andes's influence on the climate and the alluvial soils carved out by the Maipo River. We discussed the pillars of the Don Melchor brand: one story, one terroir, and one wine. As of 2019, Viña Don Melchor was set up as a standalone winery from Concha y Toro to enable the Don Melchor team to communicate their brand better. Finally, we tasted through the 2005, 2016, and 2017 vintages of Don Melchor.

 Interview with Enrique Tirado, Winemaker & CEO of Viña Don

🤔 Sometimes you just get mesmerized by a wine. After being trapped in a bottle for so long this need air to come alive. The next thing you know the bottle is empty and I almost forgot to take notes. The key word is "almost"·

🎥 There is a filter on the video. The full post with notes will be unfiltered·

 🍷1964 Gaja - Barbaresco · 🤔 Sometimes you just get

No need for food or anything else with this wine. Just drink and enjoy…simple…

 Koonara Lucy and Alice 2020 Pinot Gris Rating: B Price: $23

Recommendation: Strong Buy ridiculous value

I’ve had a couple of Georgie’s wines over the past 6 months and without knowing I left the best for last. So good, to good for a Tuesday night. Actually this makes a start of the week bearable (technically today is Monday as yesterday was a recovery day after Australia Day if you know what I mean)

So with this I’m celebrating a short week and schools back tomorrow 🥳. But back to the wine, Georgie you need to put the price up. No wait till I’ve ordered more 😂

You can’t just walk into a bottle shop and get this but trust me it’s worth getting online and buying 6.

 but I’ve bought 6 more tonight...simple...

 Georgie Orbach Cab Sav 2017 Rating: B+ Price: $10

I wanted to see how this was developing in the cellar. Although still very young, I loved this wine when first released and I couldn’t resist opening another one.

The development is slow. Let's start with it is still a beautiful wine and everything I remember. Initial thoughts 🤔  I better buy some more.

High alcohol content hasn’t disappeared. No real changed from the notes I made originally (and that’s not a bad thing)

Recommendation: This will take further time to develop and fingers crossed, I think I will leave it another 5 years before I open another.

The back of the label outlines 10 years but I’m thinking that will be a minimum. I’m thinking more like 15 to reach that peak drinking window. But I love drinking this now and the hardest thing will be letting this wine last that long. Maybe I better buy some more…simple…

 An update of the Pirathon Silver Shiraz 2017 I wanted to

All I want for Christmas is a wine delivery drone. Anywhere, Anytime...simple...

✅ Yes there were a couple of fails (last pic) ✅ School holiday fun with the kids. 🎥 by me