Westend Estate 2012 Private Bin Pinot Bianco

The description from several months ago still applies. I especially like the honey dew melon flavours.

Lark Hill 2010 Auslese Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I.: Canberra District
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 9.5%
Colour: Golden yellow
Bouquet: Petroleum tones with underlying citrus
Flavour: A heavier style particularly in the mid-palate, with grapefruit flavours throughout and excellent sourness in the long finish

Points: 87 (4+7+12+7+7+50)

Notes: This was provided by the host, V.. I really liked this style but sadly finished my bottle down the coast earlier in the year. Will have to get to the winery again. I enjoyed the rose from this producer earlier in the year.

Centennial Vineyards 2008 Shiraz Vineyards

Varieties: Shiraz, Viognier (split not shown)
Region/G.I.: Likely to be Central Ranges, Orange although the winery is located in the region of South Coast, Southern Highlands
Vintage: 2008
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.6%
Colour: Purple with a browny/purple hue
Bouquet: Smokey meat fat; prunes
Flavour: Long, even, not overly complex but very nicely done with flavours of plum pie including some savour baked flavours in the mix (some charring of pastry, cinnamon)

Points: 86 (3+7+11+7+8+50)

Notes: This was the clear winner of our 3 bottle tasting. It was a lovely, brooding wine

Spinifex (Domain Jardin) 2009 La Maline Shiraz Viognier

Varieties: Shiraz, Viognier (split not shown)
Region/G.I.: Barossa Valley
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Colour: Purple with purple hue
Bouquet: A lot of wet animal (cow) hide
Flavour: Leafy (tobacco) with medium length and no real finish

Points: 83 (3+7+11+6+6+50)

Notes: The nose suggested greatness but it didn't really follow through. The group ranked this weakest.

 

Cassegrain 2010 Edition Noir Shiraz Vioginer

Varieties: Shiraz, Viognier (split not shown)
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter, Pokolbin
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Colour: Purple with a lighter purple hue
Bouquet: Rather simple with ripe plum with hints of tartness of plum skin
Flavour: Lighter style, with plum and a hint of black pepper. Relatively short.

Points: 82 (3+7+10+6+6+50)

Notes: I've really gone off Shiraz and my scoring was much less than the rest of the group. I thought this was the weakest of the three we tasted. The group ranked it second.

 

Mount Langi Ghiran 2010 Cliff Edge Pinot Gris

Variety: Pinot Gris
Region/G.I.: Western Victoria, Grampians
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.0%
Colour: Limey-grey
Bouquet: Restrained notes of lemon buds and wet slate
Flavour: Excellent texture with flavours of rough pear skin, ginger and lemon sours. Nice acidity and sourness to finish, although finish is not long.

Points: 85 (3+6+11+7.5+7.5+50)

Notes: Something nice for my lazy Saturday lunch today. From a lesser known region, although I have tried this producer previously so it comes with some expectation. $14.90~280Kc. Reasonably priced. 

Angullong 2010 Cabernet Merlot

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Region/G.I.: Central Ranges, Orange
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Colour: Deep purple
Bouquet: Plummy nose

Flavour: Fruit at front but quickly goes into a protected, gently drying tannin finish with flavour of tobacco leaf and tomato stalk. Very nice finish.

Points: 86 (3+7+11+8+7+50)

Notes: This is from the base level of a lovely producer in Orange. Their whites are pretty good as well. $17~310Kc