Silver Bay Point
Domaine Eden
Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Smooth after taste. Very light. Good wine for price point — 2 years ago
Ocean Eight
Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2016
At East Bay Nasty Women Pinot Noir tasting. This might have been my favorite of the line up. I immediately, confidently (and very incorrectly) called Burgundy (Cote de Beaune) based on the texture—lithe with silky tannins that are ever so slightly rustic on the finish. Lovely purity of fruit - tart red cherry, rhubarb. Savory/herbal finish reminded me of the Sonoma Coast. At one point, the fruit ripeness would have screamed new world but with warmer and dryer recent vintages in Burgundy, that’s no longer a given.
This producer, like nearly everyone else in the world making Pinot outside of burgundy, cited Burgundy as their influence and has spent a good deal of time there, but in this case it really shows. Of course, there are likely details that make this uniquely Mornington-Penninsula-esque and I can’t pretend that I’ve had nearly enough Australian Pinots (shame on me!) to tell you what those are. This is one of the coolest growing regions in Australia, and these vines are grown in soils with a high % of sand.
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Found this photo via search as I forgot to snap a bottle shot. I *think* the vintage was 2016. — 4 years ago
Dog Point Vineyard
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Dog Point Vineyard combines experience of Ivan and Margaret Sutherland & James and Wendy Healy. Ivan and James met while working at Cloudy Bay Vineyards. Light straw with typical SB aromas adding a touch of floral mineral notes. On the palate flavors of melon and grapefruit with citrus and honeysuckle notes, generous acidity, great mouthfeel with long finish ending with a salty spice character. Exceptional wine! — 8 months ago
Othello
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Excellent. I guess there's no point in looking for sweets in it. There is licorice, but my palate is not shocked by it. 😂 There is dark fruit, but only in the nose. There is leather, some sweet cigar smoke (nose) and - hmmm... - bay leaf, or a general spicy note.
— 2 years ago
Juniper Estate
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
See previous notes from November 2020. Herbaceous is the word together with plum and blackberry - some earthiness with a note of mushroom. In summary - Herbal, Mineral, Bay leaf. Not the complete package like it’s more illustrious Wilyabrup neighbours like Woodlands, Moss Wood, Vasse Felix, Cullen etc but also half the price so good QPR. Tasted again 60 weeks later on 6th September 2022 with similar results A good wine that drinks to its price point. Not quite the standard of its illustrious neighbours. Not as much maritime influence? — 5 years ago
Rivers-Marie
Silver Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014
When TRB started this label, I thought a primarily Cabernet Winemaker is going to make Pinot Noir? I wondered how his first vintage would be and while it wasn’t bad by any means, it wasn’t what this 2014 Silver Eagle is at this point. TRB has/is honed/honing his craft. This 2014 will likely continue to improve a bit going forward over the next three years for sure & maybe five. This 14 Silver Eagle is definitely hitting its stride. The nose shows the blue & purple fruits I enjoy on the Pinots I prefer to drink.
The nose reveals nicely ripe blackberries, black raspberries, plum, baked cherries & strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, dry cranberry & raspberries hues on the glass edges. Mid berry cola/licorice, soft baking spices-clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, dark, Asian/Indian spice mix, light mix of fresh & dry herbs, dark rich soil w/ dry leaves, limestone, dry top soil with fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in a fresh violet field.
The palate shows good mouthfeel & wire to wire consistency. Juicy, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, baked cherries & strawberries, blueberry & mulberry tones, pomegranate, cranberry & raspberries hues. Mid berry cola/licorice, soft baking spices-clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, warm caramel, toast, steeped fruit tea, dark, Asian/Indian spice mix with deep palate penetration & heat, light mix of fresh & dry herbs, dark rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry brush, sandalwood, grey volcanics. wet clay, sandstone & limestone powder, dry top soil with fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in a fresh violet field. The acidity is excellent with a long, elegant, well; balanced, tensioned & structured finish that lasts minutes and lands nicely on dark spice as it sets.
I really enjoy this vineyard and some of the Winemakers that make Pinot from it.
Plenty of life left in this one. 8-10 years well stored.
Photos of, Rivers-Marie facility (2), Owner/Winemaker-Thomas Rivers Brown & beautiful prime Pinot clusters ready for harvest. — 2 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
From 3L.
Mid red color with very light bricking.
The nose reveals; cherries, poached strawberries, spiced plum and just a hint of late to the party raspberries and rhubarb, red cola, dry leaves, dry soils-volcanics, soft, dry herbs, dry tobacco, used, dry leather, withering red flowers and red roses,
This is fresh, nice but it needs more 5-7 yrs more time in the cellar. Add a point then.
The palate is ripe, juicy with dry M tannin powder. Tart cherries, dry plums, rhubarb, strawberries, blackberries and some pomegranate and late arriving raspberries, dry soils-limestone-sandstone, crushed rock powder, bay leaf, very understated baking spices, dry tobacco w/ ash, dry, used leather, grilled meats w/ a touch of char, dry twig, steeped tea, some white & black pepper, soft Asian spices, withering to dry, red flowers, nice acidity, well balanced, nicely knitted, good; structure, tension & length 90 second finish that lands on dry earth.
3000 bottles made and only nine 3L’s. This is one of them. — 12 days ago