Znovin Znojmo 2006 Chardonnay

This was the second wine of the inaugural Wednesday Wine Night. I have just realised that it was tasted recently by K here.

I agree with the tasting notes. Our group preferred the first wine tasted but this Chardonnay was a very enjoyable, restrained style of Chardonnay which was a novelty for our palates. 

Vino Mikulov 2007 Sommelier Club Welschriesling

General: This was our first wine at the inaugural "Wednesday Wine Night" that I hosted at my flat this week. They will be held every few weeks so if in the neighbourhood, you're always welcome

Variety: Welschriesling (aka Ryzlink Vlassky in Czech)
Region: Morava wine region of Czech Republic, Mikulov sub-region, from the Valticka vineyard
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 11.0%
Bouquet: Lots of aged-bottle tones in the bouquet without being over-oxidated and hints of white flowers
Flavour: Classy and elegant. Feint citrus tones are carried by solid mineral flavours giving a balanced, slightly sour finish. Soft on the palate but delivering flavour in spades
Points: 86
Notes: Brought to Australia by my good friend K. and we didn't manage to try this in his visit. As I was not sure of his return to Oz, I decided to share this with a couple of friends who appreciate wine. This was the favourite of the night. Thanks K!

Visionario by Alessandro Gallici 2010

Varieties: Obtained from here,  Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% each of Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Malvasia
Region/G.I./IGT: Venezie
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Complex aromas where I detected lime, lemon and a hints of drying grass
Flavour: Similarly complex. Medium bodied with great length. There is a cleansing pear and candied lemon in the mix with wonderful minerality. Very well balanced.
Points: 85
Notes: At $13.82 (~250 Kc), this is a keeper. Luckily I have another one and foreign wines are popular with the various wine clubs

First Creek 2010 Winemaker's Reserve Pinot Noir

Note: I tasted this before seeing the comments from the last post!

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I.: Tasmania
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Restrained. Raspberry and brambley aromas
Flavour: Underwhelming. Sure, the flavour profile followed  that of the nose and there was reasonable acidity as well. Overall, though, it was rather dull and the reason I tend to steer away from Pinots....
Points: 81
Notes: This was a present and I'm shocked to see that its cellar door price is $45.00 (>810 kc). If I compare to the Yarra View I had earlier in the year, it is hard to believe that this one sells for $45.

Shingleback 2007 Cellar Door Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Soft chewey licorice, raspberry paste
Flavour: Full bodied with great length. Licorice and olive and dried herbs (rosemary, thyme). Held together very nicely.
Points: 86
Notes: About $16.00 (~285 kc) from a wine club. Very enjoyable

Wine by Brad 2008 Cabernet Merlot

Varieties: (split found on another blog - Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (45%), Petit Verdot (5%)
Region/G.I.: South West Australia, Margaret River
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13.8%
Bouquet: Tobacco leaf, mulberries, clove
Flavour: Medium to heavy bodied. The flavours move seamlessly from from the gentle, complex flavours according to the nose, now with a touch of mint through to the extended tannins. Everything in balance and a very nice drink
Points: 85
Notes: At a cost of $15.00 (~270 Kc), this is very good value. I have an 09 floating around somewhere I need to now find

Temple Bruer 2006 Shiraz Malbec

Varieties: Shiraz (64%), Malbec (36%)
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Equal measure of wet animal and plum/sour cherries
Flavour: More towards liquorice and tar with good acidity and gentle tannins. Well balanced complexity
Points: 84
Notes: An organic and vegan friendly wine that I bought a couple of years ago for about $16.00 (~288 Kc). Very enjoyable and happy to drink again