2011 Mystery Hunter Valley Shiraz Deal No. 5635

97 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion

Like all the ***** Hunter Valley wines, is the epitome of elegance, yet has untold depths of blackberry and plum fruit that have brushed aside the high-quality oak you know is there, likewise the ripe, plum tannins. I will be long gone by the time this wine reaches its peak. Drink to 2051.

96 POINTS

Ned Goodwin - Halliday Wine Companion

A museum release from a distinguished vintage, this is drinking very well. There is no mistake about its origin, as the warm loamy scents of sweet earth and worn leather flow across a finely tuned palate, still sweet of fruit and jubilant of life. Inimitably Hunter. Tertiary suggestions of mulch, dried porcini, soy and dashi make for a savoury conversation with the palate. An exceptionally fine regional expression, aged and ready to drink.

95 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Deep, dark red/purple hue and a very floral, lifted and slightly fumey bouquet. This is different! There's a super-ripe quality about it and it's quite luxurious on the tongue; rich and fruit-sweet, with glycerol and texture, but also bright acidity showing through. Preserved blood plum. It's a big wine, but the fruit is to the fore.

94 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

Hmm, one of those wines you cross your fingers for sexiness from just taking a whiff – clove, dark fruits, briary, earthiness! Boudoir. Seamless and slippery across the palate, great textural drinking experience and svelte through the brisk, bright finish. Lots of future potential too. Tannins fine and bony. Great wine at play

Tyson Stelzer

In years to come, we may look back on <this wine> as Jim Chatto’s most profound and longest-lived achievement in his years at <redacted> He describes 2011 as his “attack on Graveyard”. In brilliance of controlled power, there’s no question it’s one of the standouts of an incredible Hunter vintage. An impressively inky and focused core of black plum and black cherry fruit is drawn inwards toward a singularity like a vortex. Firm and controlled yet silky and supple tannins spiral downwards into a finish of intense focus and mesmerising length.

Sean P. Sullivan - QWine Reviews

The flagship of the range, the fruit comes from vines just over 90 years of age. Medium bodied, some unique characters for a Hunter Shiraz which I found intriguing. Mulberry, cherry tart, tobacco leaf aromas. Fruit is good but could be more concentrated. There's plum, spice and it's juicy. I just felt I was waiting for more something special to arrive, only to be stood up. The second day it was open the wine unleashed some beefy and gamey characters. Some oak char chiseled its way through too. I'd be interested to see where this goes in coming years. A wine made to be put away, it nearly seems unfair to make comment on it now so early on during its development.