Yarra Valley Melba Lucia 2006

92 points
"Glass-staining purple. Exotic, floral-dominated bouquet evokes red- and blackcurrant, fresh rose, pipe tobacco and sexy oak spices. Sweet red and dark berry flavors are braced by dusty tannins and given spine by juicy acidity. A suave mineral quality adds focus and punch to the long, sweet finish."
Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar,September/October 2008 – Issue 140

Yarra Valley Melba Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

90 points
"Ruby-red. Youthfully brooding cherry and blackcurrant aromas are complemented by smoky tobacco and graphite. Slowly opens on the palate to reveal deep, sweet dark berry and dried cherry flavors and chewy tannins. Pretty serious stuff, and reluctant to offer much right now. But what I was able to glimpse gives me confidence that this will reward patience."
Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, September/October 2008 – Issue 140

Agreeable
"Quite mature and has varietal character and cigar box complexity."
Winewise, Volume 22, No. 1, April 2006


"Soft, aged fruit on the palate but still surprisingly quite fresh with a nice savoury finish."
Winestate, Varietal Tasting, September/ October 2005

"Lots of developed fruit characters backed by mocha and vanillin oak accents. An elegantly proportioned cabernet."
Winestate, Varietal Tasting, September/October 2004

"An oaky, developed style. Lifted fragrant oak aromas. Complex developed flavours: sweet, stalky and oaky."
Winestate Varietal Tasting, September/October 2003

93 points
"Melba is a 90 / 10 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Look for a peppery, resiny, black olive nose streaked with barnyard, leather aromas and hints of gamey licorice root. Rich, round and elegant it is loaded with supple, round tannins. Pencil lead, iron, vanilla, coffee, blackberry jam and rootsy resin flavours preview its coffee, smoky plum jam aftertaste. Very polished and balanced. Drink now or over the next five years."
Wine Access, Canada, November 2003


"Good development showing on the raspberry fruit nose with lovely oak complexity. Generous developed palate - supple, textured and flavoursome. Tobacco leaf and cedar-like characters."
Winestate Varietal Tasting, September / October 2003

"Dense fruit nose almost has a tawny port character, with a full, soft, long palate of rich chocolate, cedar and tobacco."
Winestate Regional Tasting, September / October 2003


"Rich ruby-red colour with hints of development. Ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit aromas surrounded by a vanilla scented oak; a light herbal lift. Some good concentration and richness, balance the fine-grained tannins and still fresh acidity. Moderate length."
Winestate, September / October 2002

"Look for a peppery, resiny, black olive nose streaked with barnyard, leather aromas and hints of gamey licorice root. Rich, round and elegant it is loaded with supple, round tannins. Pencil lead, iron, vanilla, coffee, blackberry jam and rootsy resin flavours preview its coffee, smoky plum jam aftertaste. Very polished and balanced. Drink now or over the next five years."
Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi.Com, Canada's Most Influential Wine Critic, January 2003