Brothers in arms vineyards 2009 Formby & Adams Leading Horse Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

Vintage: 2009
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Ripe blackcurrant and whiffs of mint
Flavour: A good rush of fruit according to the nose, some tar and licorice which eases into nice drying tannins. 
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: This solid performer was discovered at a pub with a good friend and soon became a favourite. It's pleasant to have a Cab Sav which isn't green and the medium body and tannin of this wine makes it gluggable. $15.50~280 Kc 

Boyden Valley Winery 2009 Vermont Ice (Ice Wine)

Variety: Le Crescent
Region: Cambridge, Vermont
Vintage: 2009
Closure: Cork
Colour: Burnt/caramel yellow in colour
Alcohol: 15.0%
Bouquet: Toffee, rose petal, candied orange peel in the nose
Flavour: Candied orange peel, cinnamon, honey, rich and luscious with excellent length and excellent acidity
Points: 91 (4+8+13+8+8+50)
Notes: An extraordinary wine from the visit to New England last year. Depth and length fantastic. The balance beautiful. An excellent wine to finish the month.

Hope Estate 2010 Merlot

Variety: Merlot
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Dark purple
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Fruity, plummy nose
Flavour:  Rather fruity according to the nose with some brambly flavours in the mix as well. Almost no tannin and somewhat dull overall.
Points: 80 (3+6+9+6+6+50)

Notes:  $15.50~300Kc

David Hook 2008 Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley
Vintage: 2008
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Green-golden yellow
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Strong vanillan oak and hint of sour milk. Some fermenting tropical fruit, possibly guava
Flavour: Great length and plenty of mineral tones in the mid-palate and finish. Citrus and grapefruit peel evident. Big.
Points: 86 (4+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: F is a Chardonnay fan and brought this for a try. My experiences with these wines have been excellent. The Barbera tasted last month.

Sobels 2010 Petit Verdot

Variety: Petit Verdot
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter, Pokolbin
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Brown-purple
Alcohol: 13.8%
Bouquet: Brambly with some animal stall aromas
Flavour:  Full bodied, tar, earth and drying spice like rosemary in the mix with gentle tannins to finish. An unusual profile due to its savouriness. F detected some eucalypt in the tail as well and I would agree.
Points: 86 (3+7+12+7+7+50)

Notes:  It's rare to find this a varietal and I've been holding this a while to taste with F (as K does not seem to be doing a visit any time soon). Unusual and enjoyable. Bought it 3 years ago for about $15.50 ~ 280Kc

Koltz Wines 2011 The Etruscan

Varieties: Sangiovese 80%, Sagrantino 10% and Shiraz 10%
Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Deep purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Licorice and raspberry jam
Flavour:  Delightful, savoury flavours of rosemary and peppery, cherry fruit. Well integrated and nice length.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes:  A left over from a recent dinner party. An interesting and tasty wine.

Mockingbird Hill 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec (blend unknown)
Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Deep purple
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Earthy, clove nose and remnant plum fruit
Flavour:  The highlight is the tannin which adds an elegant finish to an otherwise straightforward, plummy flavoured wine. A little too ordinary in spite of the nice tannin.
Points: 80 (3+6+10+6+5+50)

Notes:  I tasted this two years ago and the tannin was a highlight then. One of the disappointing wines of the weekend, especially given that others were interesting and nuanced. $14.50 ~ 290 Kc

Vinifera Wines 2009 Graciano

Variety: Graciano
Region/G.I.: Central Ranges, Mudgee
Vintage: 2009
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Dense, dark purple
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Aromas of dusty, glazed cherries
Flavour:  Full, fruit heavy wine. Nice acidity and some white pepper amidst the juicy plum flavours. No tannins.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)

Notes:  F provided this over our weekend. It is from one of the Mudgee wineries we enjoyed earlier in the year. Great bbq wine.

Palatine Hills Winery Estate 2012 Iced Wine

Variety: Vidal
Region: Niagara Peninsula, sub appellation: Niagra Lakeshore
Vintage: 2012
Colour:  Rich, golden yellow
Alcohol: 11.5%

Bouquet: Honey, baked apple crumble

Flavour: Lush, honey, burnt sugar (like on the top of creme brulee)/ caramel with a long finish. Decadent throughout without being sickly sweet. Serious stuff.

Points: 90 (4+8+12+8+8+50)

Notes:  This was a present to F who shared it to finish Friday night. I was a big fan of their Cabernet Franc  and from memory, their Meritage was pretty good as well. This was a highlight to end a tough/busy week.

Shadowfax 2004 Sangiovese

Variety: Sangiovese
Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Vintage: 2004
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Brickish (almost faded purple)
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Dry earth and a surprising amount of plum fruit given its age
Flavour:  Fruitier (plum with a mix of brambly flavours thrown in) than expected without being flabby and some drying tannin. It tasted like a much younger wine. Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes:  My contribution to Friday night and although enjoyable, I expected a bit more nuance and sophistication for a ten year old wine. Bought earlier this year from an aged wine specialist for $24.30 ~ 440 Kc. Fine but I was aiming for something excellent.

Vasarelli 2010 Cabernet Franc

Variety: Cabernet Franc
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Dark purple
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Dense blackcurrant and cinnamon
Flavour:  Very dry, light to medium body with stunning tannin finish. Fruit according to the nose but not overdone.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes:  F found this and provided it for a Friday night finish to the week. The mouth feel on this was excellent and I would happily drink it every day, although I am aware that it could be considered a little rough and unsophisticated. I have had good results from this producer previously.

Penfolds 2010 Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet

Varieties: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
Region/G.I.: multiple
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Dark purple
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Big fruity nose of mulberry and plum and a touch of blackcurrant
Flavour:  Big, rich plummy flavours with hints of cedary tones as part of the flavour explosion. Surprisingly modest tannins gives the wine good length and finish.
Points: 84 (3+6+11+7+7+50)

Notes:  A quaffer to finish my weekend as I prepare for the week ahead. Drinking presents from last year.

Two Rivers 2010 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon (presumably 50/50)
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Purple with a darkish pink hue
Alcohol: 12.2%
Bouquet: Equal measure of cedar/cigar box aromas and blackcurrant/hint of tomato vine (The nose is more towards a Cab Sav)
Flavour:  Chewey, chunky tannin is the highlight in the flavour profile as this starts of a little subdued in the mouth with lighter, fruit, again to blackcurrant and slightly bitter red currants. The flavour profile develops as you taste. Satisfying, even if a little quirky.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+7+6+50)

Notes:  I bought this in a mixed case three years ago and have tried the producer before here, with similar results. A solid wine (and better than last night's effort which is now in the freezer to be used for cooking). $15.50~300Kc

Songlines Estate 2010 leylines Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour:  Purple with a pinkish hue
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Rich plum, cedar box with tomato stalk aromas
Flavour:  Rather basic wine with some plummy fruit at the front and dryness in the finish. Unspectacular and boring.
Points: 78 (3+6+9+5+5+50)

Notes:  This producer makes a great Shiraz but this Cab Sav is disastrous. This was cleared out through a wine club I no longer buy from. $10.74 ~ 180 Kc but even in this price range there is much better Cab Sav to find