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.