Secret Stone. 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

General: This wine tasted in the midst of a dinner party so I did not get time (as host) to savour the nose. I'll be re-tasting.

.

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

.

Region: Marlborough, NZ

.

Alcohol: 13.0%

.

Bouquet: Fruity and matching in taste....

.

Flavour: A very good example of the typical New Zealand approach and results for this variety. Very crisp, gooseberry flavours. Dry.

.

Points: 84

.

Notes: Purchased at $15 (225 Kc). Well worth it but there is so many too choose from it may take some time to get back to this one for the retasting.

Tempus Two. Spring Rock Verdelho. 2008

General: Summer is here and it's time to try Verdelho. This was the first and it was an excellent start.

Variety: Verdelho

Region: Hunter Valley, NSW

Alcohol: 12%

Bouquet: Pungent tropical fruits, particularly pineapple

Flavour: Tangy tropical fruit as in the nose with a lovely citrus finish. A little complexity without being heavy.

Points: 84

Notes: At $11.00 (165 Kc) it's a great summer drinking wine.

Stuart Wines. Buddha's Wine. 2006 Tempranillo

General: This was the second of the "End of Bin" wines that I picked up and thankfully much better than the first.

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Heathcote, Victoria

Alcohol: 13.3%

Bouquet: A very pleasant, spicey nose with cinnamon and wood at the fore.

Flavour: A long, gentle finish with smooth tannins. Almost no fruit at all.

Points: 82

Notes: At $8.00 (CZK 120) it is good wine for the autumn. I'll be grabbing a couple of bottles.

Hopwood. Charlotte's Farm 2007 Sangiovese

General: This was an "End of Bin" purchase. It's cheap and there is a lottery as to how good it will be. I hope for more luck with my other "End of Bin" purchase...

Variety: Sangiovese

Alcohol: 13.3%

Bouquet: Spices, mainly black pepper and a little earthiness. Nice.

Flavour: Watery. I couldn't get much at all even after waiting a couple of hours. I am guessing it is flawed and in a bad way.

Points: 78

Notes: Yes, it was cheap. Yes, it was not good.

Bremerton Wines. Tamblyn 2007 CabernetShiraz Malbec Merlot

General: Tasted a couple of weeks ago before we were hit with the heatwave.

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 52%, Shiraz 30%, Malbec 12%, Merlot 6%

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Not surprisingly, the Cab wins through. Blackcurrant predominant but spices, particularlyblack pepper also present for a compex nose.

Flavour: Stewed plums in the main. Also blackcurrant. Medium tannins. The alcohol level appears in the mouth.

Points: 84

Notes: This was very enjoyable. It will be interesting to see if the alcohol still appears after another couple of years of ageing.

Trentham Estate. La Famiglia 2005 Nebbiolo

Variety: Nebbiolo

Alcohol: 13.5%

Colour: Rusty red

Bouquet: Overripe mulberry and earthy spices

Flavour: Light bodied but surprisingly long in the mouth. Raspberry is the strongest flavour with a very good spicey, smooth finish.

Points: 83

Notes: This is a lighter style of red to which I normally go for but it is well worth it as it packs quite a punch in flavour.

Wirra Wirra. Scrubby Rise 2007 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot

General: A very good wine which our family enjoyed with a leg of lamb.

Variety: Shiraz 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40% and Petit Verdot 15%

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Fresh berries dominant

Flavour: Some spice but more plum at first with solid dryness and gentle tannins that follow. Medium to long on the palate.

Points: 84

Notes: A great buy at $14 (CZK 210) at 1st Choice and even better with a 6 bottle buy. It will be interesting (and enjoyable) to see how this develops further.