Centennial Vineyards 2010 Bong Bong (Red)

Varieties: Shiraz and Tempranillo
Regions/G.I.s: South Coast, Southern Highlands and Southern New South Wales, Hilltops
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.0%
Colour: Dark purple with a purple-brown hue
Bouquet: pepper, plum, chocolate, mint
Flavour: plum and cherry fruit with some mint and menthol. A very gentle tannin. Medium bodied and even.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes:  For a wine that doesn't take itself seriously, this has a lot of character. Some of the fruit from Hilltops, a small region of which I am a big fan

Oyster Bay 2014 Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough
Vintage: 2013
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.0%
Colour: Lime yellow colour
Bouquet: Piercing gooseberry that is the hallmark of this style
Flavour: Freshly squeezed lemon with some mineral in the finish. Excellent acidity.
Points: 86 (3+7.5+11+7+7.5+50)
Notes:  In the range of $15-$18 in Australia now. This was once the most popular drink here and I think it is great. Forget the critics, if you want to enjoy this style of wine, this is a great example.

Cuttaway Hill Wines 2013 Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I.: South Coast, Southern Highlands (NSW)
Vintage: 2013
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.0%
Colour: Purple-orange/ orange hue
Bouquet: Dusty, bark, smoke and crushed cherries
Flavour: Smokey, ripe cherry and some tannin giving it good length. Star anise and a hint of tar. Complex. A lot there
Points: 87 (4+7+12+7+7+50)
Notes:  Bought this earlier this year when visiting the wine cellar. Oddly, their collection of other wines were average but the Pinot shines. $28~505Kc cellar door price 

Lake George Winery 2012 Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I.: Canberra District
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 11.5%
Colour: Yellow grey
Bouquet: Petroleum tones underlying fresh cut lemons
Flavour: Lemon water which gives way to some mineral tang. Easy transition if a little too quick
Points: 83 (3+6.5+10+6+6.5+50)
Notes:  A little simple. Bought at cellar door. The place was pretty.

Shaw + Smith 2015 Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Vintage: 2015
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 12.5%
Colour: Lime/pale yellow
Bouquet: Passionfruit prominent in this ripe tropical nose
Flavour: Lemon and lemon pith with a pleasant sourness to finish. Balanced and even. Good lingering finish aided by the sourness
Points: 86 (3+7.5+11+7+7.5+50)
Notes: A fresh, perfect summer wine for our dinner from the one region in Australia which does this nicely (along with Pinot Gris). At the pricier end of the market at $25 ~ 450Kc so they must be suffering given the glut of this style of Sauvignon on the market

Andean Vineyards 2013 The Waxed Bat

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 14.5%
Colour: Deep Purple-to-almost-brown
Closure: Cork
Bouquet: Some menthol, mulberry and dry bark aromas
Flavour: Plummy flavours with plenty of juicy tannin giving very nice length. Some peppery undertones in the mix as well as the smallest amount of alcohol burn. A lot to take in.
Points: 83 (3+6.5+10+7+6.5+50)
Notes: Big and bold for an early week Christmas tipple with a mate who enjoys Malbec. The menthol in the nose and slight burn tarnished it for me. ABout $15.60~280Kc bought earlier this year. I have a 2010 floating around somewhere and should find it

Spring Seed Wibe Co 2013 Aster Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 14.0%
Colour: Purple-red
Closure: Screwcap
Bouquet: Some musty, barnyard undertones that is balanced by raspberry aromas
Flavour: A little tarry with nice tannin in the mid-palate. In a heavy style with dense mulberry and raspberry flavours. Blind tasting I would not guess this to be Pinot. Nice length.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: I enjoyed this slightly chilled given the heat here. It was not recognisable as a Pinot but was enjoyable thanks to its tarry features and length. From a region known for big reds. $16.80~300Kc.
 

Wynns 2013 Coonawarra Estate Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 12.0%
Colour: Lime yellow
Closure: Screwcap
Bouquet: Lemon pith and hard lemon lollies (candies) 
Flavour: Lovely length with balanced, lingering sourness giving making this a refreshing drink for this hot summer night. The fruit flavour is more toward white grapefruit. Very nice tartness.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: Possibly the first Riesling I've tried from one of Australia's best Cab Sav regions. Surprisingly good and good value $15.50~280.