de iuliis 2012 Verdelho

Variety: Verdelho
Region: Hunter Valley
Vintage:  2012
Colour: Pale yellow/green
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Strong tropical, primarily pineapple aromas with some hints of lemon and lime boiled sweets.
Flavour: Even, smooth, medium bodied citrus flavoured wine with a sherbet tingle on the tongue. Crisp and refreshing.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: This has been my favourite white wine of the summer after we picked it up at the winery on a visit to the Hunter. Finishing the last bottle now as we move to autumn. Special clearance price of $11.70 ~210 Kc. 

Saint Cosme 2011 Cotes du Rhone

Variety: Syrah
Region: A bit tricky as it does not appear to be from an AOC but rather from the EU standard for showing regional origin ( Appellation d'Origine Protégée)
Vintage:  2011
Colour: Purple 
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Some cedary notes with redcurrant  and potentially blackcurrant aromas
Flavour: Tar, plum and black pepper. The tar heavily lines the tongue. Relatively short and simple.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6.5+6.5+50)
Notes: Quite ok but there is a huge selection of this style of Syrah on the local market

Domaine Durieu 2005 Lucile Avril

Varieties: Grenache (85%), Mourvedre (10%) and Syrah (5%)
Region: Châteauneuf- du-Pape
Vintage:  2005
Colour: Purple with a brownish hue
Alcohol: 15.0%
Bouquet: Dark chocolate dust and some cedar. Later it also had some a weak stable/animal stall smell. Complex and brooding.
Flavour: Complex and graceful. The flavours were wonderfully combined with the hint of dark chocolate, something like dehydrated plum and hints of black pepper. It doesn't sound like it would combine but every sip seemed to bring a different nuance in the flavour. A long smooth finish.
Points: 89 (3+8+12+8+8+50)
Notes: This was my favourite from our recent tasting. V. had it from her time living in London.

Chateau du Trignon 2004 Le Bossu

Varieties: Grenache (at least 50%) and Syrah
Region: Cotes du Rhone Villages Sablet
Vintage:  2004
Colour: Purple but moving to copper
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Concentrated redcurrant in the main for a surprisingly robust nose
Flavour: Lush, dense flavours of tar, hints of cedar and possibly black-currant paste. Smooth and very well balanced with a long finish.
Points: 87 (3+7+12+8+7+50)
Notes: The winner of our tasting and my second favourite. I was pleasantly surprised with the fruit still evident in the wine. Ironically, this was V's and she had an allergic reaction to it. I may have to trade wine with her.

Domaine de Font-Sane – Vielles Vignes 2011

Varieties: Grenache and Syrah (blend % unspecified)
Region: Ventoux AOC (Southern Rhone)
Vintage:  2011
Colour: dark purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Some cedar and redcurrant in the rather pungent nose
Flavour: A fruit forward, peppery, plummy wine that is not overly complex. The highlight for me was the plucky, balanced tannins. Fresh and flavourful.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: Not commonly available here. Unsure who sourced it for our tasting.

E.Guigal 2010 Cotes du Rhone

Varieties: Syrah (~50%) and the rest mainly Grenache

Region: Côtes du Rhône
Colour: Purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Not overly expressive. Hints of black pepper, tar and plum

Vintage:  2010

Flavour: Flavour according to the noes with slightly harsh tannins providing a kick to the relatively short finish.

Points: 83 (3+6+11+6+7+50)
Notes: Somewhat basic, especially in comparison to the other wines tasted from Côtes du Rhône. Here it is about $20 ~360 Kc although I suspect it's much cheaper in Europe

Tokar Estate 2007 Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo
Region/G.I.: Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Vintage:  20047
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 16.3%
Bouquet: Molasses with maybe a hint of vanilla
Flavour:  Thick, almost syrupy texture with flavours of molasses and dried plums. Not too sweet although the density of flavour comes in part from the residual sugar, Some acidity to keep this in check. Very well balanced and lovely length.
Points: 88 (4+7+12+7+8+50)
Notes: We had this at a restaurant for a delayed birthday dinner. It was thoroughly enjoyable although it is the type of wine where a few glasses is enough. It is incredibly rich and although the alcohol level is not obvious in the nose and flavour, it really packs a punch after you have a couple of glasses.

Houghton 2011 The Bandit

Varieties: Shiraz and Tempranillo (90% and 10% respectively - unconfirmed)
Region/G.I.: Western Australia
Vintage:  2011
Colour: dark purple
Alcohol: 14.%
Bouquet: Ripe dark plum juice with some dusty aromas. The smallest amount of alcohol in the nose.
Flavour:  Juicey new world style of Shiraz with interesting woody and cinnamon spice in the mouth. Some mild tannin to finish and it is medium bodied. Fruit forward and Sunday lunch friendly.
Points: 83 (3+6+11+7+6+50)
Notes: Finally some rain and an excuse to break the whites of summer with a red recently purchased. At $11.90 ~ 200Kc, this is a nice drop with the only detraction being the hint of alcohol in the nose.

Dan Murphy's 2013 Taster's Choice (Cleanskin)

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Vintage:  2013
Colour: Pale yellow to almost lime
Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: Very expressive lemon and lime aromas
Flavour: Straightforward, refreshing wine with crisp acidity and lemon flavours. Nice and dry. 
Points: 83 (3+7+10+6+7+50)
Notes: Well, I will be drinking rather than cooking with this one. Refreshing and perfect for a warm summer's evening. For $8.00 (~150 Kc), it's surprising it's this nice.