98 Points Robert Parker
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2013 RunRig has a tantalizingly exotic nose of cloves, fenugreek, star anise and cassia with a core of mulberries, baked blackberries and blueberry preserves plus hints of potpourri and dusty earth. The full-bodied palate is multilayered with tons of spices and berry preserves notes, supported by firm yet velvety tannins and finishing with incredible length and depth. This is a very impressive RunRig.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. June, 2016
96 Points James Halliday
All the hurly burly of immense fruit flavour and yet there are pretty elements to this wine. RunRig shiraz, in a nutshell. Inky depths of asphalt, licorice, and saturated plum are met by volleys of five-spice, cloves, toast and chocolate. Tannin rumbles from the mid-palate onwards. The flavours are super-ripe but alcohol doesn't overly intrude on the palate. It's long and intense. Drink to 2030.
Source: James Halliday.
98 Points Hooke
(Two and a half years in 50% new French oak.) Very deep, dark purple/red colour, with an amazing bouquet redolent of star anise, blackberry conserve, preserved plums, graphite and espresso coffee. The palate is staggeringly powerful, concentrated, dense and thickly textured, with a richness and density of licorice, blackberry conserve, black coffee, meaty charcuterie and toasty oak flavours that linger on and on. The length seems endless. The tannins are dense and thickly textured, with high extract lending it a striking texture. There's a lot of everything, and it's in balance. The wine is massive yet retains freshness. An awesome wine and an impressive RunRig. Drink 2021 - 2051.
Huon Hooke, The Real Review. March, 2016
97 Points Hooke
This bottle is right up with the previous one tasted. A very deep, dense, opaque colour with aromas of crushed ants, raisins, roasted nuts and various cooked fruits. It's big and chewy, dense and thickly textured, with masses of mouth-coating, somewhat grippy tannins. It needs ages to soften and mellow. There's a big fruit-sweet middle, then a wave of tannin rolls in. One for the most fearless of big red lovers! Drink 2023 - 2048.
Huon Hooke, The Real Review. May, 2019