De Bortoli. Windy Peak, 2006 Sangiovese

General: A big learning from this tasting => this one needs time to breathe. I initially tasted immediately after opening the bottle and felt all the excitement one gets from a Frankovka. An hour later, I persisted and was rewarded.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Region: King Valley (Victoria)

Bouquet: Jammy, sultanas

Flavour: Medium bodied with good, gentle tannins giving complexity to the initial mouthful of spice

Points: 81

Notes: Purchased from BWS with a regular price of $15.55 (233 Kc) and with a 10% discount due to a six bottle purchase. I actually prefer the De Bortoli Sero Merlot-Sangiovese to this wine.

Piana Del Sole. 2006 Primitivo

General: From the cheap and cheerful range. It contains a fault which does not ruin the flavour but does not add much either.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Region: Salento

Bouquet: Light animal tones and nettles.

Flavour: Medium body. Dry with a technical fault, which was similar to green tones. Elsewhere on the internet, described as chlorine-tasting. In spite of this, balanced.

Points: 78

Notes: From Vintage Cellars at a regular price of $13.00 (195 Kc) and bought at a 20% discount for a six bottle buy.

Long Flat Destinations. 2008 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir

General: I struggle to like Pinot Noir. This didn't help.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Almost nothing there.

Flavour: Insipid. Weak and watery.

Points: <75

Notes: -

Dalfarras. 2006 Cabernet Sangiovese

General: After enjoying a Dalfarras 2007 Pinot Gris Viognier last week (not written up as it was a quick sharing of the wine with friends), I tried this bottle. I prefer the white but will try the other red in their range.

Alcohol: 14%

Colour: Deep red

Bouquet: Initially I struggled to obtain a nose. After 20 minutes, it opened up to gentle animal and earthy tones.

Flavour: Short in length and a little weak. A quick, full mouth of spice and fruit (cherries) that it so quick there is hardly any time to identify and enjoy the flavours.

Points: 81

Notes: Purchased from Vintage Cellars. It has a regular retail price of $13 (195 kc) and was purchased with a six-bottle 20% discount.

Water Wheel. Memsie 2007

General: My first wine from the Bendigo wine region of Victoria. Its composition is Shiraz 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 16%, Malbec 8% and Petite Verdot 6%.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Colour: Deep purple

Bouquet: Pepper, liquorice, stewed stone fruit

Flavour: Medium body with a long finish. Lovely. Complex. Black-currant with mild tannins and a touch of vanilla.

Points: 84

Notes: Regular cost of $14 (210 Kc). Purchased at Vintage Cellars in a mix six pack for a 20% discount,

De Bortoli. Deen De Bortoli VAT1 Durif 2007

General: This was fantastic. K will remember Georgian wines so nice and dry that we almost fell off our chairs. This is lovely stuff done in a similar way.

Colour: Deep purple

Bouquet: Plum conserve. Vanilla.

Flavour: Wonderfully dry. Some coffee.

Points: 84

Price was less than $10 (150 Kc) bought at a large retail chain like Liquorland. Will be checking it soon for more.

Geoff Merrill Wines. Mount Hurtle 2007 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre

General: This is in the cheap and cheerful range but offered quite a surprise.

Colour: Purple

Bouquet: Vanilla and coffee

Flavour: Coffee and chocolate. Although well balanced, the tannin was slightly raw.

Points: A very merry 81

Notes: $7.99 (120 Kc) from 1st Choice