Okay so here we go. After you pull the cork take a sniff & you will know what's coming...wow so good.

The nose offers you aged mahogany & cedar wood, earthy mushrooms & rich soil with hints of sweetness, even caramel. The palate is silky smooth, i mean suave & provides plenty of woodsy caramel, bold coffee, and dark berries. It's creamy without being too dry. For a bad vintage, this wine blows your socks off. Even though it's drinking like a dream right now, it has the backbone to last a decade.

This wine really impressed me. Price 24.95, cheers!

Deep blood ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: I found that after 2 hours I detected new flavours. It's a wine that keeps on giving. Notes of cedar, expresso, gun smoke, cassis, leather, blackberries, black olives, earthy, black currants, all-spice, vanilla bean, pencil shavings, spinach & a beautiful kirsch nose. Medium to full body, medium+ tannins & acidity with a long complex length.

Negatives: A little astringent at this time.

Drink now, but decant for an hour. This should age nicely over the next 5 years. Pair this with Chateaubriand.

Tasted: 30 Aug 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10, Score: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Agree with all the local critics and bloggers (esp DL re the oak and Edward R re the youthful astringency).

Will let this breath a bit, and will also buy a couple more and sock away for a few years (as JH suggests).

No regrets!.