Hanging Rock 2011 Heathcote Shiraz Durif

Varieties: Shiraz Durif (also known as Petit Syrah)
Region/G.I.: Central Victoria, Heathcote
Colour: Copper red
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Plum and cherry with a whiff of black pepper

Flavour: Flavour profile close to nose although the wine was slightly lighter than I expected. It does, however, have very nice length.

Points: 86 (3+7+12+7+7+50)

Notes: For me a close second in our tasting. It appears to retail from a wine club at around $18 ~360 Kc

Kalleske 2012 Clarry's GSM

Varieties: Grenache, Shiraz and Mouvedre
Region/G.I.: Barossa, Barossa Valley
Colour: Deep red
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: A mellow nose with some feint animal tones, some cherry and plum fruit and some spices (although not peppery)
Flavour: Again, harmony is key with generous fruit (slowly drying plum - rich, over-ripe) with some dry grass, a tad of animal funk and some savoury, herby flavours. Big but balanced. I guessed it was older to have mellowed.

Points: 87 (3+7+12+7+8+50)

Notes: This was the winner of our Shiraz-blend tasting which was controversial and a little underwhelming. None of us are Shiraz fans and we had trouble agreeing the merits of what we tasted. We do Italian wines next time. This wine is about $19 ~380Kc here

Yarra Valley 2010 Yarra Hill Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I.: Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Colour: Copper red
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Strong sour cherry with the smallest hint of wet straw

Flavour: Very light and the sour cherry fruit flavours are laced with an almost pine needles bitterness which detracts from the overall taste. Finish is ok.

Points: 81 (4+7+9+6+5+50)

Notes: A spontaneous purchase of supermarket produced wine. Entry level Yalumba or De Bortoli wine, which is not far off the price of $10 ~200Kc is much better

Charles Strong 2009 Classic Red

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, presumably in equal measure
Region/G.I.: Central Ranges (in NSW)
Colour: Ruby red
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Liquorice and plum and a hint of cigar box

Flavour: Light on the tongue with gentle, restrained flavours according to the nose with pleasant, lingering tannins. Very nice integration. Balanced.

Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes: A very nice, unassuming wine. Central Ranges tends to produce wines that have less oopmh but are gentle and kind. $13 (~260 Kc) proves that good quality doesn't have to come at a ridiculous price

Hugh Hamilton 2011 "The Scoundrel" Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo
Region/G.I.: South Australia
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: More like cocktail cherry (preserved sour cherry) with some smokey/ gun-shot aromas. A stronger bouquet than the Spanish version tasted earlier

Flavour: More fruit than the Spanish version tasted earlier with luscious raspberry soft lollies (candies) flavours and to a lesser extent some licorice as well. Nice tannins but with medium length only.

Points: 86 (3+8+11+7+7+50)

Notes: My dinner guest had brought this on an earlier occasion having obtained it through a wine club. (Online price is $25 ~ 500 Kc). As expected, this has more fruit and less tannic structure that the Spanish version. While enjoyable in its own right, it shows the challenge to local producers of Spanish reds when Spanish wines now flood the market at much cheaper prices.

Tandem 2007 Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Navarra, Spain
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Sour cherry, tobacco leaf

Flavour: Almost peppery with dominant, chewy licorice. It has wonderful gentle but extended tannins which linger and linger.

Points: 87 (3+7+12+8+7+50)

Notes: Needing something to accompany Maltese rabbit stew I decided on a Tempranillo and tried this along with an Australian version of the grape (as I couldn't decide which I should have so I had both). Similar to Tesco's Finest, the Liquor chain "Vintage Cellars" sometimes bottles supplier wines under the "Chalkboard" label but with details of the producer on the label. For $15 (~300 Kc) this is a lovely example but there is a wave of Spanish reds hitting the markets and pushing prices lower ( bringing them closer to European prices which are a bargain!) 

Tolley Hope Valley Cellars 2010 Shiraz

Varieties: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: South Australia
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Straightforward satsuma plum and red currant juice

Flavour: Straightforward plummy juice. Light and rather short. Almost no tannin. Quaffing wine.

Points: 78 (3+6+10+4+5+50)
Notes: A quaffer from the wine club I've stopped buying from. $11.87 ~215 Kc. There is much better Shiraz at the same price.