Balthazar 2007 Ishtar

General: Part of a case I agreed to buy over the phone, this wine has a terrible tacky label but proved quite a surprise....

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 53%, Merlot 47%

Alcohol: 14.5%

Region/G.I.: Barossa, Barossa Valley

Bouquet: It actually smelt a bit meaty when first opened but with airing, it was more in terms of Christmas cake flavours - plums, raisons and spices (cinammon, cloves)

Flavour: Layers of flavour in this bottle. Rich fruity flavours matching those on the nose, with some oak in the mix and the spices also balanced nicely. A joy to taste as there was much to discover. At one point I thought I detected chocolate as well.

Points: 86

Notes: This one proves the old saying "Never judge a book by its cover". The best wine all weekend. The undiscounted price was $23 (415 Kc) and with discounts $15 (270 Kc). Absolutely worth the full price and more.

Koonara. 2006 Angel's Peak

General: As the region's speciality and a favourite variety of mine, I thought I'd give this one a go.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

Alcohol: 13.7%

Bouquet: Not overly powerful and typical, with blackcurrant being the main aroma

Flavour: Again, very typical. This has aged well and was medium in length and nice and smooth. Blackcurrant fruit with a good dry finish. Enjoyable.

Points: 83

Notes: At $15 (270 Kc) a decent buy but I have enjoyed others much more in this range

Wood Park Wines. 2006 Wild's Gully

General: I have enjoyed wine from the King Valley region so bought this for a try

Varieties: Shiraz 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%

Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, King Valley

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Plum on the nose with some nice dusty (nutmeg) aromas and a little oak

Flavour: Very nice and smooth. Not young and brutish which is what I expected for the price. Deep plum fruit moves ever so gently to a long, dry finish. Nice tannins linger on the tongue. Quite a good drop.

Points: 82

Notes: This is a cheapie. I will have to try more from the range. Undiscounted $12 (215 Kc)

Taylors. 2007 Shiraz Malbec

General: A random buy as I wondered about the combination

Varieties: Shiraz, Malbec

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Plummy, mulberry, some oak and something I couldn't place. (The label claims licorice which could be right, but I am not 100% sure)

Flavour: Lighter bodied than I expected and moves quickly to a dry, tannic finish. Relatively simple. OK but not great.

Points: 80

Notes: Undiscounted $14 (c 245 Kc). Will skip in future.

Bodegas Martin Codax. 2008 Burgans Albarino

General: Given the controversy of Albarino in Australia (- apparently the Spanish exported us the wrong grape which turned out to be Carigne), I was keen to try the variety and this is one I picked up at the end of summer

Variety: Albarino

Region: Galicia, Rias Baixas

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Ripe, fleshy fruit - I detected pineapple but there was some peach there as well

Flavour: Wow factor. This is semi-sweet providing a rewarding mouthful of fruit, as detected by the nose with excellent acidity and some minerality as well. If tasting blind, I would have guessed this was a full-style Pinot Gris. A lovely drink that went well with our Sunday baked chicken lunch

Points: 85

Notes: Full price, this is around $20 (360 Kc) here but waiting for a six-bottle buy and 30% discount makes the $13 (233 Kc) I paid a bargain . More now!

Henry's Drive Vignerons. 2006 Red Pillar Box

General: Yes, I bought this as the label caught my attention.

Varieties: Shiraz 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42%, Merlot 8%

Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Padthaway

Alcohol: 15.0%

Bouquet: Very juicy fruit - round, dark plums and some cedary tones. Animal (wet cow) undertones. Nice complexity

Flavour: Medium bodied. Flavour is more toward red-current than plums but the cedar is still there. Good dry finish and the tannins balance well. A very pleasant drink. It seems to get better and better

Points: 84

Notes: Undiscounted, this is $13.00 (234 Kc). A good buy and preferable to the Red tasted last week.

Rutherglen Estates. 2007 Red

General: I enjoyed this earlier in the year and bought a bottle to enjoy with family last weekend when we celebrated Fathers' Day

Varieties: Shiraz c.85%, Durif c.15%

Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, Rutherglen

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Plum with black pepper

Flavour: Medium bodied with the flavour reflective of the nose. Nice and dry with decent tannins. A good drink.

Points: 83

Notes: A good wine for casual drinking with some grilled, red meats. Undiscounted at $14 (c.250 Kc) it's worth a go. I see they make Nebbiolo so I'm now looking for it in the shops.