Geoff Merrill Wines 2010 Mostyn's GM

Varieties: Grenache (75%), Shiraz (25%), Mouvedre (0%?)
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage:  2010
Colour: Red/purple
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Soaked wood, tar, thick mulberry jam
Flavour: Although a dry wine, sweet tasting fruit of mainly cherry, with some spice like cardarmon and a short finish with very mild tannin. A drink now wine; not too serious but fine.
Points: 82 (3+7+10+6+6+50)
Notes: After a cloudy, cooler day this is a good pick for a mid week quaffer. About $16 (~288 Kc), it's fine.

Victorian Alps Winery 2011 Nebulous Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, King Valley
Vintage:  2011
Colour: Pale yellow/lime
Alcohol: 11.90%
Bouquet: Freshly grated lemon rind
Flavour: Light bodied, lemon and lime flavours with pleasant acidity. A touch of minerality. Straightforward and enjoyable.
Points: 83 (3+6+11+6+7+50)
Notes: Bought recently in a Pinot Gris/Grigio case ready for summer. This hits the mark as solid patio wine not requiring food. Great for summer.

Saint Clair Family Estate 2012 Pinot Gris

Variety: Pinot Gris
Region: Marlborough, NZ
Vintage:  2012
Colour: Pale yellow
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Pear, the filling sauce of an apple strudel and baked sweet pastry
Flavour: Typical ripe pear flavours, particularly the skin of ripe pear. It has medium weight and nice length. Some mineral tones in the tail.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: Bought as a six bottle special from one of the wine clubs at $11.16 (almost half price), this will be a lovely wine for summer. I hope to keep a couple for next year to see how they develop.

Vasarelli 2009 Currency Creek 2009 Sangiovese

Variety: Sangiovese
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage:  2009
Colour: Copper red
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Nettles, wet earth and lifted aromas of a freshly opened package of jubes (soft, chewey sweets)
Flavour: The dark cherry flavours is followed by still quite strong tannins although the the length is moderate rather than long. Some strong black tea flavours in the mix as well. 
Points: 82 (3+7+10+6+6+50)
Notes: $12.57 (~225 kc). Tasted more than a year ago here.  Tasted now after bottle is open for an hour. A little simple and the tannins a tad rough. Willl try again in a couple of days. Nice for the rapidly cooling night tonight but likely the last red for a while...

Margan Family Winegrowers 2011 Merlot

Variety: Merlot
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter, Broke Fordwich
Vintage: 2011
Colour:  dark purple 

Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Juicy raspberry and mulberry aromas
Flavour: Lovely underlying, dense blackcurrant flavours with some gentle earthy flavours completed with moderate tannins. Gentle all round.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)

Notes:  A wine that while not being outstanding, is one that could be drunk very quickly thanks to its smoothness and generous flavours. 

About $15.80 ~ 320 Kc. A nice treat.

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc

https://www.ravinevineyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ravine-cabernet-franc-2011.jpg

Variety: Cabernet Franc
Region: Niagra Peninsula, sub appellation: St David's Bench
Vintage: 2010
Colour:  dark ruby 

Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Lifted aromas of anise and soaked, plummy wood
Flavour: more towards blackcurrant in flavour with more robust tannins than the CF tried earlier. Lighter in the mid palate but enduring length and evenness.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes:  Lovely wine with much potential to age. Would be great to try it aged after a couple of more years. Interestingly this is CAD36.80 versus the Palatine which was only CAD20.

Palatine Hills Winery Estate 2010 Cabernet Franc

Variety: Cabernet Franc
Region: Niagara Peninsula, sub appellation: Niagra Lakeshore
Vintage: 2010
Colour:  Dark Purple

Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Rich aromas of cherry, sweet soaked oak, and maybe even some dark chocolate
Flavour: Fruit is more toward plum with drying spices of rosemary and thyme. Lovely length and good, evident without being overpowering tannins.
Points: 87 (3+7+12+7+8+50)

Notes:  Cabernet Franc is done very well in the Niagara region and mark my words, will one day be its flagship varietal.

Pondview Estate Winery 2011 Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region: Niagra Peninsula, sub appellation: Four mile creek
Vintage: 2011
Colour:  yellow

Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: Lovely lime aromas
Flavour: Fleshy citrus flavours of lemon and lime, in part accentuated through some residual sugar. Although not much length it has some redeeming mineral flavours tucked in.
Points: 83 (3+6+11+7+6)

Notes:  Generally an easy drinking Riesling which lacks a little acidity (in my wine-snob view)

Strewn Inc 2010 Pinot Blanc

Region: Niagra Peninsula, sub-appellation Niagra Lakeshore (governed by Ontario VQA)

 

Vintage: 2010
Colour:  light yellow
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: a little closed but there are some notes of lemon soothers
Flavour: Lemon and lime with a medium body. The highlight is the wet stone/ mineral finish rounding out and elegant wine
Points: 85 (3+5+12+8+7)

Notes:  Controversial rating as my local host is not a fan of this wines minerality (which was the main reason I bought it). At CAD14, it is a bargain.

Fresh Tracks Farm 2011 La Crescent

Variety: La Crescent 

Region: Vermont, USA

Vintage: 2011
Colour: : pale yellow
 Alcohol: 11.5%
 Bouquet: Tropical with hints of pineapple and not quite ripe mango
 Flavour: Lemon and pineapple are the main flavours of this semi-sweet wine. Held together with sufficient acidity. Good pairing for our Thai dinner.
 Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7)
 Notes: From wine tasted in Vermont, La Crescent seemed to be the best grape in use