Preece. 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: Bought this a while ago and was interested in tasting a Cab from one of the regions in Victoria

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Central Victoria, Goulburn Valley, Nagambie Lakes

Alcohol: 13.7%

Bouquet: Had some complexity with spice (cinammon?) and some dark fruits. Plummy as well.

Flavour: Plum driven with good tannic finish. Some dark chocolate as well. However, I was distracted by something odd in the flavour. It seemed to throw the flavours out of balance. The description of this wine was "minty' and this is the second wine of that description I have taken a dislike to. Out of balance.

Points: 80

Notes: $11.39 (215 kc). I'll have to try another producer in Victoria.

Narrator. 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

General: From the last mixed case of wine I bought from Cellarmasters. Not sure if it is marketing, but I read that NZ Sav Blanc should be generally drunk young and 2010 should be had now.

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Alcohol: 13.0%

Bouquet: Tropical with pungent lychee being the most obvious aroma

Flavour: Follows the bouquet. Felt a little gluggy and not super crisp. A quaffer.

Points: 81

Notes: $11.87 (214 Kc). I prefer my Sav Blanc crisper.

Watershed. 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

General: Based on good experience, I am continuing with the Sauvignin Blanc Semillon blended wines from the Margaret River region

Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

Region/G.I.: South West Australia, Margaret River (WA)

Alcohol: 12.0%

Bouquet: Tropical, typical gooseberry. Nice and pungent.

Flavour: Citrus flavours but more juicy fruit, almost to Pineapple. Reasonable length and nice acidity. Not spectacular but a nice drop

Points: 82

Notes: $15 (270 Kc). Plenty on the market so I'll keep trying others. These guys do Zinfandel and Sangiovese so I will try some of those.

St Hallet 2002 Gamekeeper's Reserve

General: A southerly broke the one week heatwave this afternoon and temperatures cooled this evening. This was from my brother's collection and we celebrated his birthday with it

Varieties: Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre, Touriga Nacional

Region/G.I.: Barossa [SA]

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Clearly aged, the bouquet had a consistent, long aroma of regular plum, with some tarry notes

Flavour: Very nice! Smooth and good length. Along with the fruit came black pepper notes. The Shiraz is evident.

Points: 84

Notes: When purchased, this was probably $10 (180 Kc). Although apparently not designed for ageing, I really enjoyed it. It seems that the Touriga Nacional and Mourvedre amounts are in such a small proportion that they no longer appear on more recent labels

Three Sisters 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

General: I bought a couple of these after tasting this at a wine exhibition last year

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough, NZ

Alcohol: 13.0%

Bouquet: Pungent. Aromas of gooseberry and a hint of grass as well

Flavour: Off-dry giving it some weight on the tongue. Good fruit with a sour (kysely)finish

Points: 82

Notes: Discounted, I think I got it for about $15 (270 Kc). I enjoyed this slightly heavier style of Sav Blanc.