JM 1ST APPROACH

Yalumba The Scribbler 2010 opens with a lift of raspberries, sweet spices and licorice followed by the fresh aromatics of herbs and crushed plums. This is a beautifully polished wine of medium to full body. The Cabernet Sauvignon structure defines the palate with the Shiraz cascading generously through the middle.

I don’t know what they’re doing at Kirrihill – but they’re not making a $20 wine. - OK, so it needs some time. The acid needs to settle, the tannin needs to relax, it all just needs to knit together some more. But the purity of fruit – blackcurrant, dust, brambly blackberries – and the firm seriousness of the finish mark it clearly as something other than a mere quaffer. A touch of chocolatey oak completes the picture. Good bones here. Rated : 92+ Points Winefront.com.au

.... It is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc (the proportions vary from year to year) with quite exceptional colour, and is absolutely full to the gills with juicy cassis blackcurrant fruit, fine, ripe tannins and quality French oak in abundance. It's way better than the 2009 and, indeed, one of the best 'The Blends' to date. 95 poins James Halliday

Vivid crimson-purple; like a rich little boy, has everything he wishes; a fragrant dark berry bouquet with notes of French oak, leather and spice, than a full-bodied palate with a dazzling array of flavours; however, it is in the supple texture, perfect balance and line that the greatness of the wine finally takes shape.” 97 Pts James Haliday, Australian Wine Companion

a dense and powerful old-vine wine from the Biscay clays of Bethany, inky black colour, intense kirsch and dark plum with mint, graphite, bay leaf, herb, dark chocolate and violet notes, full bodied, extractive palate with firm, gravelly tannins and plenty of new French oak (****1/2) GenXYWines

Disciples of this fabled label will fondly recall the precision of 2004, the concentration of 1990 and the savoury appeal of 1987 and 1989. 2010 encapsulates all there is to love about this blend: density of black  fruits, light-footed elegance, vibrant, lively, cabernet-led fruit lift, lingering violet perfume and finely textured tannins.” Wine Taste Tyson Stelzer, Mar 2012 94 points

Amazing that wines of this quality can be available for under twenty dollars. Mulberry, cherry, chocolate and vanilla with a gentle perfume of bay leaf. Ripe and fleshy with milk chocolate coated berries, round grainy tannin and lovely balance throughout. It's not exactly a wine for hedonists, but does deliver so much pleasure you can almost hear it purring. Nice.  Rated: 92 Points Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $23  Gary Walsh; The Wine Front