Jim Barry. 2009 Riesling

General: I tasted this with Thai very early in the year and bought this for our Christmas day. A hit with anyone who tasted it.

Variety: Riesling

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (SA)

Alcohol: 12.0%

Bouquet: Amazing. Intense and pure. Lime and lemon.

Flavour: What I remember most is the crisp acidity of this wine. This very well contained the intensity of the citric flavours.

Points: 83

Notes: I think these wines are in the $17-$20 range (300Kc-360Kc) range. Well worth the price and I think even cheaper when in a case buy.

Westend. 2008 Tempranillo

General: Post-Christmas and a cold day. Time to try something a little heavier.

Variety: Tempranillo

Region/G.I.: Southern New South Wales, Hilltops

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Liquorice with a hint of vanilla

Flavour: Relatively simple but satisfying. Liquorice and some spice with a dry finish. Tannins were a little strong (to my liking) but a little more time will make this even better

Points: 82

Notes: I think this retails, with the usual discounts in the $15 (240 Kc) range. One of the better Australian grown Tempranillos I have tasted.

Silver Ridge. 2008 Pinot Noir

(photo to be added later)

General: Part of the last haul from Vintage Cellars. I bought this to try some New Zealand Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Marlborough, NZ
Alcohol: 12.6%
Bouquet: Lovely combination of some earthy, savoury aromas with ripe fruit (red berries) also there
Flavour: Well balanced and lengthy. The flavour follows the bouquet. Delicate flavours. This is a more savoury Pinot, satisying with a lot to taste without being in your face.
Points: 84
Notes: Available in a 2 for $20 buy. That is, about 180 Kc a bottle

Colveath. 2008 Merlot

General: One from the wine club. I have not tasted much from this region and this was a perfect introduction. This is produced by Philip Shaw and is a single vineyard wine.

Variety: Merlot

Region/G.I.: Central Ranges/Orange (NSW)

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Complex nose. I detected brambles, red currant and a whiff of vanilla. It seemed that every smell had these aromas in a different but pleasing mix

Flavour: Surprisingly lengthy with a lovely smooth finish. Well balanced with the initial fruit gently progressing to the nice dry finish

Points: 83 (but the more I think about it, the more tempted I am to raise it to 84)

Notes: I guess the usual retail price is $20 but in the mixed case I tried, the average priced ended up being $14 (circa 250 Kc).

Grant Burge 2008 Shiraz

General: Part of the case from the first Cellarmasters shipment I bought

Variety: Shiraz

Region/G.I.: Barossa

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Plum paste (I cannot remember what it's called in Czech), vanilla and a hint of spice

Flavour: Excellent. Full, luscious fruit on the tongue with some pepper and vanilla integrated nicely. The texture is silky smooth which surprised me for such a young wine. Medium length.

Points: 84

Notes: Discounted this was $19 (341) and it was special. My Cellarmasters experience to date has been excellent and I am keen to work my way through their range.

Casa Santos Lima. 2008 Bons Ventos

General: The guy at the wine store recommended this and against my previous bad experience with cheap Portuguese wine here, I bought it

Varieties: Castelao (Periquita), Camarate, Tinta Miuda and Touriga Nacional

Region: I thought Lisbon, but online comment suggests otherwise

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Fruity redcurrants

Flavour: Quite a shock. The dictionary entry for "astringent" should cross reference to this wine. It tasted very green to me. The bitterness of redcurrants was also present. After a couple of days, the flavour has mellowed but not by enough to make it enjoyable. It tastes like a home concotion

Points: x (not to be bought again)

Notes: I will have to search out some higher priced Portuguese imports (this bottle $10/180Kc) to show there is great wine out there. Strangely, when looking for a photo I found that this wine is enjoyed in the UK as a good quaffing wine. Picture used although 2008 tasted.

Balthazar 2007 Ishtar

General: Part of a case I agreed to buy over the phone, this wine has a terrible tacky label but proved quite a surprise....

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 53%, Merlot 47%

Alcohol: 14.5%

Region/G.I.: Barossa, Barossa Valley

Bouquet: It actually smelt a bit meaty when first opened but with airing, it was more in terms of Christmas cake flavours - plums, raisons and spices (cinammon, cloves)

Flavour: Layers of flavour in this bottle. Rich fruity flavours matching those on the nose, with some oak in the mix and the spices also balanced nicely. A joy to taste as there was much to discover. At one point I thought I detected chocolate as well.

Points: 86

Notes: This one proves the old saying "Never judge a book by its cover". The best wine all weekend. The undiscounted price was $23 (415 Kc) and with discounts $15 (270 Kc). Absolutely worth the full price and more.

Koonara. 2006 Angel's Peak

General: As the region's speciality and a favourite variety of mine, I thought I'd give this one a go.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

Alcohol: 13.7%

Bouquet: Not overly powerful and typical, with blackcurrant being the main aroma

Flavour: Again, very typical. This has aged well and was medium in length and nice and smooth. Blackcurrant fruit with a good dry finish. Enjoyable.

Points: 83

Notes: At $15 (270 Kc) a decent buy but I have enjoyed others much more in this range

Wood Park Wines. 2006 Wild's Gully

General: I have enjoyed wine from the King Valley region so bought this for a try

Varieties: Shiraz 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%

Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, King Valley

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Plum on the nose with some nice dusty (nutmeg) aromas and a little oak

Flavour: Very nice and smooth. Not young and brutish which is what I expected for the price. Deep plum fruit moves ever so gently to a long, dry finish. Nice tannins linger on the tongue. Quite a good drop.

Points: 82

Notes: This is a cheapie. I will have to try more from the range. Undiscounted $12 (215 Kc)

Taylors. 2007 Shiraz Malbec

General: A random buy as I wondered about the combination

Varieties: Shiraz, Malbec

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Plummy, mulberry, some oak and something I couldn't place. (The label claims licorice which could be right, but I am not 100% sure)

Flavour: Lighter bodied than I expected and moves quickly to a dry, tannic finish. Relatively simple. OK but not great.

Points: 80

Notes: Undiscounted $14 (c 245 Kc). Will skip in future.

Bodegas Martin Codax. 2008 Burgans Albarino

General: Given the controversy of Albarino in Australia (- apparently the Spanish exported us the wrong grape which turned out to be Carigne), I was keen to try the variety and this is one I picked up at the end of summer

Variety: Albarino

Region: Galicia, Rias Baixas

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Ripe, fleshy fruit - I detected pineapple but there was some peach there as well

Flavour: Wow factor. This is semi-sweet providing a rewarding mouthful of fruit, as detected by the nose with excellent acidity and some minerality as well. If tasting blind, I would have guessed this was a full-style Pinot Gris. A lovely drink that went well with our Sunday baked chicken lunch

Points: 85

Notes: Full price, this is around $20 (360 Kc) here but waiting for a six-bottle buy and 30% discount makes the $13 (233 Kc) I paid a bargain . More now!

Henry's Drive Vignerons. 2006 Red Pillar Box

General: Yes, I bought this as the label caught my attention.

Varieties: Shiraz 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Merlot 8%

Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Padthaway

Alcohol: 15.0%

Bouquet: Very juicy fruit - round, dark plums and some cedary tones. Animal (wet cow) undertones. Nice complexity

Flavour: Medium bodied. Flavour is more toward red-current than plums but the cedar is still there. Good dry finish and the tannins balance well. A very pleasant drink. It seems to get better and better

Points: 84

Notes: Undiscounted, this is $13.00 (234 Kc). A good buy and preferable to the Red tasted last week.

Rutherglen Estates. 2007 Red

General: I enjoyed this earlier in the year and bought a bottle to enjoy with family last weekend when we celebrated Fathers' Day

Varieties: Shiraz c.85%, Durif c.15%

Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, Rutherglen

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Plum with black pepper

Flavour: Medium bodied with the flavour reflective of the nose. Nice and dry with decent tannins. A good drink.

Points: 83

Notes: A good wine for casual drinking with some grilled, red meats. Undiscounted at $14 (c.250 Kc) it's worth a go. I see they make Nebbiolo so I'm now looking for it in the shops.

Bleasdale "Bremerview" 2007. Shiraz

General: Another from the Bleasdale range.

Variety: Shiraz

Region:/G.I.: Fleurieu. Langhorne Creek

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Rich, plummy nose - not jammy, more of a dried plum smell with some fresh wood savoury tones.

Flavour: Medium-Full bodied plum fruit (and some sultanas? other dried fruit perhaps) with some spiciness as well, moving to a very nice tannic finish. Very nicely balanced.

Points: 84

Notes: A very good example of Shiraz. Not young and silly, this provides a lovely drink. I will investigate more of the Bleasdale range. This one was $1 more than the Malbec at $16 (287 Kc). Back to the bottle shop for me...

Bleasdale "Second Innings" 2008. Malbec

General: I am always interested to try Malbecs as I am a fan of tannins. In addition, I recently enjoyed a wine from Bleasdale

and the winery has received positive reviews from wineweek.com.au.

Variety: Malbec

Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Very good combination of dry, earthy spices with sour cherry in there as well. Notes of other fruits (juicy plums?) also lingered

Flavour: Great body and long, dry finish. The initial fruit is rich and true to the nose. It lingers and gently recedes to a smooth tannic finish

Points: 83

Notes: Very enjoyable. This is younger than some of the recent drops that I have had so its "youth" was evident. A lovely drink and I am now a fan of Australia's second oldest family winery. Suprising that alcohol is not evident, given it is 14.5%. At $14 (250 Kc), this is a slightly different alternative to the regular reds on the market. I'll buy a couple to cellar. I have one of their Shiraz' to try soon.

De Bortoli "Sero". 2006 Shiraz Tempranillo

General: I tasted the 2005 and wrote about it here . Time for the 2006...

Varities: Shiraz, Tempranillo

Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, King Valley

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Complex. Savoury (a hint of Rosemary) with lovely animal tones. Fruit in the nose suggests sour cherry and there is some oak in there as well.

Flavour: Full mouth of fruit up front followed by satisfying, dry tannins. Not as complex as the nose suggests but a very well made wine. The flavour lingers; very good length.

Points: 84

Notes: At $13.00 (233 Kc) this is certainly a bargain. The wine shows consistency between 2005 and 2006. I must get myself to the King Valley. A perfect reason to visit Eva Kresakova who lives in that area!

Plantagenet Hazard Hill 2003 Shiraz

General: I found this at a shop which is part of a small chain. It's unusual given its age, but I bought it as it is available in the Czech Republic and I was interested to see what has happened since 2003.

Variety: Shiraz

Region/G.I.: South Western Australia, Great Southern

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Mostly animal tones with some earthy background. To be honest, I was a little fearful that it was gone...

Flavour: Yummy. In spite of the nose, it had good peppery fruit giving way to a nice, still surviving but gentle tannins. Some oak in there as well and not surprisingly, it was very, very smooth.

Points: 85

Notes: A very good surprise. This is the entry level for the winery. I must track down their other lables. Undiscounted, I bought it for $14 (252 Kc).

Brokenwood. 2008 Cricket Pitch

General: Friends brought this around for lunch on Sunday and I was pleased as I'd wanted to buy it for a a while





Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Shiraz 25%, Merlot and Petit Verdot - equally in the remaining 15%

Regions/GI: Multiple

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Rich - regular plums but also red berry notes. Concentrated.

Flavour: Wonderful. Great complexity. Initial fruit combination gives way to spicy, almost white peppery notes which stretch across the tongue, followed up by silky smooth tannins. Very good length and excellent balance.

Points: 85

Notes: This was a wonderful drop. The main vineyard is a couple hours north of Sydney and I really have to get up there to try their range. Online, this sells for $19.00 (342 Kc) which is excellent for the quality of this wine. I am keen to see how this ages and will keep a look-out for back vintages.

Freeland. 2009 Pinot Noir

General: Another from the half-case I bought from Cellarmasters, where each case comes with a guarantee so you can be credited for wines that you don't like. No credits for this one.

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Central Otago, NZ

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Crushed, ripe (regular) cherry and some earthy savouriness

Flavour: Good, even flavour across the tongue with a surprisingly long finish. True to the nose, there are well balanced flavours of ripe cherry, earthy flavours and very mild, tannins.

Points: 84

Notes: I was surprised by this wine given it is so young yet the length of flavour is remarkable. The discounted cost of the wine is $18.99 (342 Kc) so this is a higher price than I have previously ventured. Well worth it.

De Bortoli. 2007 Petit Verdot

General: I am a big fan of De Bortoli's Durif sold under the same series and was keen to try how Petit Verdot was done by them

Variety: Petit Verdot

Region/G.I.: Not stated but presumed Big Rivers, Riverina

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Lovely savoury, almost earthy tones with underlying plum

Flavour: Light to medium body with a smooth, tannic finish. Enjoyable savoury flavours add to the complexity.

Points: 84

Notes: A very good drop. I will hunt down more Petit Verdot as I found this style to my taste! Undiscounted, this bottle was $14 (252 Kc) and was worth every cent.

Tandem 2006 ars in vitro

General: One from a group I bought a couple of months ago

Varieties: Tempranillo, Merlot

Region: Navarra, Spain

Alcohol: 14%

Bouquet: Pleasant. Cherry and some vanilla

Flavour: A light-medium bodied wine with a good dry finish. Not much in the way of fruit which leaves the taste somewhat deficient.

Points: 80

Notes: I have tasted higher level wines from the producer with greater success. This is the entry level, discounted to $10 (180) from the usual $15 or so.

David Owen The Advocate 2008 Red

General: One of six from the online wine shop "Cellarmasters"

Varieties: Shiraz 52%, Cabernet Sauvignon 48%

Region/G.I.: Fleurieu/Langhorne Creek

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Rich, deep, ripe plum with some blackcurrant flavour in there as well. A consistent oaky undertone

Flavour: A sensation to drink. Fruit flavours, primarily blackcurrant are supported by dense spice and a solid, chewy tannic finish. Very well done. Well balanced and a delight.

Points: 84

Notes: It will be interesting to see how it ages. It drinks very well now but it is obvious that it is a relatively young wine. At $17 (288 Kc) I am keen to add a couple to the cellar to see how this develops.

Moothi Estate 2006 Moothi Rocks

General: Continuing my tasting of red blends this winter, I picked up this wine as it is from the Mudgee region and I have not tried many wines from there

Varieties: Merlot 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Shiraz 30%

Region/G.I.: Central Ranges/Mudgee (NSW)

Alcohol: 13.7%

Bouquet: Complex. Plum jam and savoury spice and a touch of wood. Very pleasant to the nose

Flavour: Not as complex as the nose suggests. Dry with a good tannic finish holding this medium bodied wine together. Very little in terms of fruit flavour. Rather simple.

Points: 82

Notes: At $15 (254 Kc) from a wine shop it was a good drop. Plenty of choice in the market though, so it will be a while before I try this again

Littore Family Wines. 2008 Tempranillo

General: This was remarkably cheap so I thought I'd give it a go.

Variety: Tempranillo

Region/G.I.: Central Victoria, Heathcote and Northern Victoria

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Surprisingly complex. It is quite plummy with some menthol and a touch of oak

Flavour: Disappointing after the nose. This is a straightforward wine which is very plummy without much tannin or dryness to provide much complexity in flavour. A weak savoury dryness exists but more needed to support the fruit up front.

Points: 80

Notes: At $5.70 (97 Kc) it's a bargain. A fine, simple drink!

De Bortoli "Sero". 2005 Syrah Tempranillo

General: I tasted another of the "Sero" range last year and was impressed. I found this at a local bottle shop. Very nice choice.

Varieties: Syrah, Tempranillo (it appears that from 2006 the maker reverts to the more common "Shiraz" usage)

Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, King Valley, VIC

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Moderate, not over-powering earthy and animal tones. I really enjoy these smells but I know I am in the minority. There are hints of raspberry there as well.

Flavour: Medium bodied with a nice dry finish. This wine opened up considerably after an hour. There is an initial rush of fruit, raspberry being predominant followed by the dry finish. Once properly opened, the wine flavour is much more even with meaty flavours and cedary tones complementing well. Still, I thought it not so complex.

Points: 83

Notes: This is very enjoyable and I will be buying a few more as I like this style of wine. At $14 (252 Kc) - undiscounted, it is very good. De Bortoli seems to be a group which can do no wrong.

Pensilva Estate 2008. Shiraz

General: It's a good time of the year for Shiraz. I discovered after buying this that it is a "home brand" for one of the big supermarket chains. As Shiraz goes, it's fine. Fine but not great.

Variety: Shiraz

Region/GI: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale, SA

Alcohol: 14%

Bouquet: Fleshy, ripe plums with some secondary tones of woody oak

Flavour: Silky smooth. Fruit matches that of the nose. Light-to-medium body. Nice dry finish. Not complex but enjoyable

Points: 82

Notes: Quite a nice bottle of wine. It does not stand out as remarkable and given the choice here, it may be some time before I return to it. Discounted at $11 (187 Kc) it's a fair price.

Cassegrain. 2004 Reserve Shiraz

General: I had some friends around for dinner last night and some of them brought this wine. I almost fell off my chair when I tasted it. It was awesome. I saved a little to try again today. Fantastic stuff!

Variety: Shiraz

Region/GI: Northern Rivers, Hastings River NSW

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Great complex nose. Cedary tones mingled with stewed fruit (plum?) and some spice, black pepper slightly ahead of cinammon.

Flavour: Wonderful. Lengthy stewed fruit evenly spread throughout with a peppery undertone. Delicate tannins. Great structure.

Points: 88

Notes: I am surprised to find this comes from Northern Rivers as this is a small and little known district. This wine has been sitting in a cellar for a while. The 2007 Reserve Shiraz is currently on sale at $35 (630 Kc). The winery has been added to the list of places to visit.

Fischers. 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: After buying this, I discovered it is the private label of a small wine chain here. I tasted it two weeks ago and didn't like it. I retasted my second bottle tonight with similar results.

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot

Region/GI: Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek, SA

Alcohol: 14.3%

Bouquet: The bouquet is very nice - very plummy with a hint of vanilla. (If I tasted this blind, I would not guess Cab Sav)

Flavour: Not good. Simple and rather flat, the only good thing about it is the dry finish.

Points: 76

Notes: At $15 (270 Kc) there is so much better wine on the market. I won't be trying this brand for a very long time.

Tintara. 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: Something being shared by my sister. Fabulous.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/GI: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale, SA

Alcohol: 14%

Bouquet: Deep. Actually a little more plummy than blackcurrant although both present.

Flavour: Dense. Complex. The blackcurrant comes through in the taste as well as dark chocolate. While savouring these flavours which are lengthy, a very smooth, dry tannic finish completes the sensation. Great stuff.

Points: 87

Notes: The 2005 is no longer available in store. The 2007 retails for $27 (486 Kc). The funny thing is that my sister received this as a gift from a friend who took it from her boyfriend's wine collection. It seems he has good taste and we enjoyed it.

Campbells. 2008 Shiraz Durif

General: I'm tracking down various Durif blends at the moment as they seem to be well done here. This was a very enjoyable choice.

Varieties: Shiraz, Durif

Region/GI: North East Victoria, Rutherglen

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Wonderfully balanced bouquet with equal measure raspberry, earthy spice and something like Christmas cake (stewed prunes, sultanas)

Flavour: Given the age, I expected something aggressive but this is surprisingly smooth. Medium length with a mild, tannic finish. The fruit flavours of ripe (black) cherry, hints of raspberry and prunes exist throughout the sip. Gentle and well done.

Points: 83

Notes: I opened the bottle yesterday and prefer the taste today. The complexity is much more apparent and I am tempted to rate it a little higher. I'll be buying more of this at the reasonable price of $14 (c. 250 Kc).

Buller. 2007 Durif

General: I have enjoyed Durif on previous occassions and found this bottle in a wine shop a couple of weekends ago

Variety: Durif (aka Petite Sirah)

Region/GI: Swan River, VIC

Alcohol: 15%

Bouquet: Thanks in part to the alcohol, the bouquet is intense. There is some blackcurrant but earthy spice and some old timber are also present in equal measure

Flavour: The first mouthful leaves one's tongue parched from the tannins. This is a very dry wine with a short rush of flavour which drops away quickly. The flavour itself is interesting - candy/raspberry cordial which is very different to what was expected from the nose.

Points: 80

Notes: Overall, this was a little harsh. It appears this is the entry level wine for the producer. I'd be keen to try others in the higher range. It complimented nicely our kangaroo meatloaf and kale dinner. Price was $14.00 (circa 251 Kc)

Evans and Tate. 2002 Classic White

General: My brother has a small collection of wine which is an accumulation of Christmas presents from clients. I commented on a couple of them and we were all rewarded with this gem this evening. (Note the seal used was a cork).

Varieties: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

Region/GI: Margaret River, WA

Alcohol: I think it was 12-13%

Bouquet: "Aged bottleness"

Flavours: Impressive. Citrus flavours, with lime being the strongest to shine through. Surprisingly, wonderfully acidic given the age. Well balanced and long in length.

Points: 86

Notes: I was really impressed with how great this wine had developed. The producers went bankrupt in 2007 and the wine is now produced by the McWilliams Group. The 2009 "Classic Whites" retail for only $13.00 (234 Kc). Apparently these classic blends from the Margaret River region are a speciality and I am excited to try more. Enjoyed with salmon lasagne.

The Wine Point. 2006 Tempranillo

General: My as yet unsuccessful attempt to find a wine-buddy means that I am trying stuff at home. I don't mind working my way through The Wine Point's stuff as it is reasonably priced and I've enjoyed the range so far . . .

Variety: Tempranillo

Region/GI: McLaren Vale, SA

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Excellent. Very ripe raspberry and a touch of wood. (I didn't get the blackcurrant and blueberry advertised on the label...)

Flavour: Medium in length with good tannins. The flavour did not reach the expectation set by the bouquet. Overall - good.

Points: 82

Notes: I was slightly disappointed by the flavour. This winter, I plan to work my way through the Tempranillo which is increasingly available here. This cost $14 (252 KC). I will have to try a blind tasting of local versus Spanish to make it interesting. Now to continue my search for a wine-buddy....

The Wine Point. 2006 "Barrel Monkey" Shiraz

General: Having enjoyed earlier purchases from The Wine Point, I returned to buy some Nebbiolo and grabbed a couple of new bottles to try as well.

Variety: Shiraz

Region/GI: Margaret River, WA

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Plummy, some cedar and menthol

Flavour: Medium bodied and as expected, nice peppery tones with good tannins.

Points: 83

Notes: Enjoyable and a bargain at $10 (180 Kc - note the CZK continues to slide so comparisons are now distorted). This wine inspires me to see what else the folks at The Wine Points are selling...

Racers & Rascals. 2005 Shiraz

General: Here it's coming into the cooler seasons (although Aussies seem to enjoy drinking red wine all year round)

Variety: Shiraz

Region/GI: Yarra Valley, VIC

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Lovely. Licorice in the main, with over-ripe (round) plums and vanilla in the background.

Flavour: Disappointing given the bouquet. Surprisingly light bodied and a little short in length. Pleasant dry flavour with some juicy fruit. Relatively simple. Aged nicely and an overall good, simple drink.

Points: 81

Notes: Possibly I am too harsh with scoring but I won't be buying this again. On the winery's website they sell this for $20 (340 Kc) which is standard but this line is discounted to $13 (221 Kc) at the national wine retailing chain. Not sure how anyone is making money!

Chain of Ponds. 2005 Nero

General: A random choice of an interesting red blend has yielded excellent results!

Varieties: Sangiovese 47%, Barbera 29% and Grenache 24%

Regions/GIs: Adelaide Hills 56%, Riverland 16%, Langhorne Creek 16% and Barossa Valley 12%

Alcohol: 14%

Bouquet: Mysterious and brooding. Sour cherry is the most recognisable

Flavour: Silky smooth on the tongue. Sour and regular cherry are balanced with gentle tannins. Medium length which has an undercurrent of vanilla as well. Delicious!

Points:85

Notes: Checking my spreadsheet, I am surprised that I picked this is for $12.35 (circa 200 Kc) given its age and wonderful smell and taste. I will have to pop to the shop for a few more

Rolf Binder Wines. 2007 Shiraz

General: Another of the Vintage Cellars' labelled bottles.

Variety: Shiraz

Region/GI: Barossa Valley, SA

Alcohol: 14.%

Bouquet: I was surprised to obtain a savoury smell. Instead of peppery plum I detected something earthy, a little dank in nature.

Flavour: If I had tasted this blind, I would have guessed a simple version of Tempranillo which was in barrels for too long. Dry and very woody, it was hard to avoid the wood. There was however, an underlying good tannic structure.

Points: 80

Notes: I will obviously have to try more Barossa Shiraz to see if this is typical. I suspect this is a simple version which has been over-oaked.

Frog Rock. 2006 Petit Verdot

General: I have bought a few bottles of Petit Verdot and actually enjoyed a bottle from Trentham estates last week. (It was shared and drunk at a bbq where I did not jot down its attributes. I'll buy another bottle and try again :-))

Variety: Petit Verdot

Region/GI: Mudgee, Central Ranges NSW

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Earthy. Some plum tones but mainly earthy.

Flavour: Very nice length. Interesting and enjoyable savoury, almost meaty flavour with a dry, tannic finish. I found the tannins ever so slightly harsh. Very nice complexity.

Points: 83

Notes: This was a present. I will get another bottle to age for a year to see how this develops. It was fine now but I suspect a little more time will make it great.

Matahiwi Estate. 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

General: This week's wine at work is delicious!

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Masterton, NZ
(Not sure of specific region name)

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Rich gooseberry

Flavour: Nice and dry with very good length. The length is above the norm. Nice acidity. Very well done.

Points: 84

Notes: I guess this is about $20 (330Kc) for corporate clients. Impressive and enjoyed.

Vintage Cellars. 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: Although Vintage Cellars belongs to one of Australia's largest retail chains, it projects itself upmarket in competition with suburban wine stores. Their branded wines have been good value in the past and this was no exception.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/GI: Limestone Coast, SA

Subregion: Coonawarra

Alcohol: 15.0%

Bouquet: Blackcurrant with some hint of vanilla. Juicey.

Flavour: Medium length with gentle tannins. Lingering, smooth finish. Very nice drinking and a good example of the variety.

Points: 83

Notes: I am surprised the alcohol content was so high as it did not appear in the wine. This was one half of a two for $20 (330 Kc) buy i.e. 165Kc/bottle although its regular retail is $15 (248 Kc). Very nice stuff but I will continue working through the other offers as Cab Sav remains a prominent variety here. The actual producer of the wine credited on the bottle is Penley Estates from the Coonawarra.

Bridgewater Mill. 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

General: This is another of the wines from where I am currently contracting. Friday afternoon, it's warm and 16:00. This is a lovely way to finish the week.

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region/GI: Mount Lofty Ranges

Subregion: Adelaide Hills, SA

Alcohol: 13%

Bouquet: Rich, overripe gooseberry. Other tropical hints in existence.

Flavour: The flavour follows the nose. It's clean and crisp with good acidity and a lingering mineral finish.

Points: 84

Notes: This is one of the better Sav Blancs tasted this summer. I'm tempted to bump its scoring a little higher but this is the points scored as I was drinking it. Online, I can see it for $16.00 (265 Kc) per bottle when bought in case, so I guess it normally retails at $20-$22 per bottle. Looking forward to next Friday's drinks already...

Long Flat Destinations. 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: Another from the Long Flat Destinations series. This was a pleasant surprise.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/GI: Limestone Coast
Subregion: Coonawarra

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Generous blackcurrant and a hint of vanilla

Flavour: This is a straightforward, textbook Cab. Balanced, medium bodied and mild tannins that hold it together. Very good drinking now.

Points: 83

Notes: At $12.00 (circa 200 Kc) this is well priced and very tasty. First, though, I have to try the large choice of Cabs on the market.

Roundstone. 2005 Chardonnay

General: At work, 16:00 Friday bottles open. The selection is very good.

Variety: Chardonnay

Region/G.I.: Yarra Valley, Vic

Alcohol: 13.0%

Bouquet: Complex. Dense. Almost stewed fruit (apple?) and baked bread.

Flavour: Good length on the tongue and not as complex as I expected. Gentle oak. Perfect for drinking now.

Points: 84

Notes: I am not sure of price. I guess it was about $20 (330 Kc). The winery was burnt to the ground in bushfires last year so there is no way to try recent vintages.

The Wine Point. 2008 "Risoluto"

General: The Wine Point is a specialist "clean skin" merchant with a broad range of wines on offer. I loved their Nebbiolo. Their Sangiovese definitely grabbed my attention.

Variety: Sangiovese

Region/Geographical Indication (GI): Central Ranges, NSW

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Strong nose of sour cherry. The longer the bottle was open, the more that vanilla crept into view.

Flavour: Initially, sour cherry (not dark as per the label) and harsh tannin. There needs to be a rule introduced that for Sangiovese in Australia, the bottle must be opened one hour before tasting as yet again, the initial taste was of harsh tannin. However, after an hour the wine was quite balanced, with possibly a touch too much acidity throwing things a little. The fruit with gentle vanilla tones and less aggressive tannins provided simple yet enjoyable drinking.

Points: 83

Notes: It will be interesting to see how this ages, especially as it is so young now. The Wine Point's Nebbiolo was such a treat that this is weaker in comparison. A bargain at $12 (198 Kc).

Yalumba. 2008 The Y Series - Viognier

General: I am a big fan of Yalumba wines. They offer good wine at a reasonable price. This was a delight on a warm summer's night.

Variety: Viognier

Region: South Australia

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Tropical. Fleshy and white. Lychee was the main fruit I identified among the pungent, dense nose.

Flavour: Fresh, fruit driven and semi-sweet. I liked the lychee flavours.

Points: 83

Notes: An excellent wine, nicely chilled for this warm summer evening. At $9.00 (148 Kc) it's unpretensious, good quaffing stuff. I have checked the Yalumba website and the tasting notes describe the flavour as "honeysuckle" which I have never tasted before. Something for me to try. Also note that Marks and Spencer sometimes use Yalumba wines for their branded wines and they offer good value.

Mount Pleasant. 2004 Elizabeth

General: The Hunter Valley, one of the oldest wine regions in Australia is supposed to specialise in the unusual (and limited in the market) aged Semillon. This is my first attempt at this style.

Variety: Semillon

Region: Hunter Valley, NSW

Alcohol: 10.5%

Bouquet: Pungent. Bottleness and honey. (The deep rich yellow colour is also a giveaway).

Flavour: My first note was how short the taste actually is. There is almost a fizzy, sparkling feeling at the tip of your tongue with lemon and lime flavours. Good acidity as the wine moves down your tongue.

Points: 84

Notes: I am not a fan of aged white wine but this is well done. My only concern was that this wine lacks some length. This is an unusual style for a market dominated by young, fresh wine (see next entry). At $10.25 (circa 170 kc) it is worth giving it a taste.

Brookland Valley. 2007 Shiraz

General: A cooler night and a good time to try some Shiraz.



Variety: Shiraz

Region: Margaret River, WA

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Earthy spice and a little vanilla in the nose

Flavour: A good balance of plummy fruit and spice in the mouth particularly at the start. This leads to a very good dry finish with pleasant tannins along the way. A little mint and some vanilla complement the flavours. Delicious.

Points: 85

Notes: This was a present. I guess it is around $14 (230 Kc). I am interested to try the other varietals in the Verse 1 range.

(Cleanksin) The Wine Point. 2008 Nebbiolo "Lot 33/148"

General: I've enjoyed "branded" cleanskins from wine shops with particular success with Vintage Cellars. I was interested to see how The Wine Point faired.

Variety: Nebbiolo

Region: Technically, the region is called Cowra. Sometimes known, as this label shows, as Central Ranges, NSW

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Wonderful. I got sour cherry conserve, some smoke and possibly a touch of blackcurrant. The bouquet is very rich.

Flavour: When first opened, the flavour was very fruity and gave a good, dry, tannic finish. The longer it was open the greater the feeling of tannins. In spite of the high alcohol, it did not dominate. Although light bodied, it packs a punch.

Points: 84

Comments: This obviously has potential to develop. Think of those wonderful Georgian wines and how they developed. I am guessing that this will do the same. Now I will get more to see how they develop. Not typical for the local market here. I can understand why they have trouble moving it. Cost was $ 12.00 (198 Kc).

Gunns Estate. 2007 Pinot Gris

General: I think Gunn's Estate is better known for its Sauvignon Blanc. This is an odd combination of sourced grapes.

Variety: Pinot Gris

Regions: NZ and Italy (!)

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Very restrained. A faint hint of freshly cut apple (like Jonagold apples)

Flavour: Persistent apple as in bouquet, also with those wrinkly, hard green pears. Dry with good minerality, however the balance wasn't quite right.

Points: 82

Comments: I have not yet tried much Pinot Gris/Grigio yet. This had components of a very nice wine but they didn't gell together for me. Price was $11.00 (181 Kc).

Note that now using an exchange rate of 1 $AUD = 16,5 CZK

Tasting of Mount Majura wines - Saturday 6 February

Mount Majura Vineyards is in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and as such, is part of the Canberra Wine Region. We stopped and I did a tasting of some of their wines on Saturday 6 February. I tasted:

1. Woolshed Creek White. 2009 - Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. 13% alcohol.

This was charming. Semi-sweet with lots of lovely fruit. I thought it was peachy in flavour. Not pretensious. A good summer drinking wine. At $15.00 (225 Kc) something different to the endless Sauvignon Blancs on offer.

Points: 83

2. Riesling. 2008. 12.2%

I did not get much on the nose and the wine itself is very austere. I found the flavour artificial.

3. Pinot Gris. 2008. 12.3%

I found this without much character at all. I quickly moved to the Reds.

4. Dinny's Block. 2006. 70% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon.
13.8% alcohol

My favourite wine from my tasting. Surprisingly some mocha in the nose followed by fruit. Medium in length, smooth and well balanced. Dark chocolate one of the wonderful flavours shining through.

Points: 85

5. Merlot. 2008.

I found the nose and flavour too earthy and stringent. I quickly skipped to the next.

6. Graciano. 2008.

I could not recall ever having tasted this wine. It had a lovely freshly sawn timber and plummy tones in the nose. The flavour carried through with plummy tones and black pepper. My only problem with this wine was its short length. It was all over too quickly. A little one-dimensional in taste.

Points: 81

A quick search of wikipedia shows that this is a blending variety from Rioja. It has potential but I think it should be blended rather than left as a varietal. $21.00 (315 Kc)

7. T.S.G. 2008. Tempranillo, Shiraz and Graciano. 14% alcohol.

Again, I enjoyed some freshly sawn timber tones in the nose although this time they were accompanied by sour cherry more than plums. Good, gentle tannins add to the complexity. Medium bodied and possibly a little short in length, leaving Dinny's Block as my favourite for the day.

Points: 84

At $21 (315 Kc) very reasonable for an interesting blend.

I actually chose this vineyard to try as it has Tempranillo as a varietal. They were out of stock when I was there. I tasted alone so I definitely missed enjoying this with someone. Anyway, it was a good first tasting for the Canberra Region.

La Cantina. ? Dry Red

General: The description looked good, but . . .

Varieties: Not stated. Not guessed.

Region: King Valley, VIC

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Hints of overripe plum

Flavour: Medium length with harsh tannins. Something not right about the taste. Possibly some sour cherry in there but generally unpleasurable to drink

Points: 78

Notes: This was a gamble. I won't be getting this again. Even if it is at the cheap end of the market ($12/180 Kc), there is much better at this price point.

Rymills. 2004 MC2

General: Wow! I'm a fan of this style of wine and was suitably impressed at this wonder.

Varieties: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc

Region: Limestone Coast, SA

Subregion: Coonawarra

Alcohol: 13%

Bouquet: A non-aggressive blackcurrant nose with hints of spice

Flavour. Complex. Berry fruit and nettles/brush are complimented by gentle tannins and some vanilla. Smooth with a long, satisfying finish. Lovely.

Points: 88

Notes: The best red blend since I returned. Now madly trying to find where I can buy more.