Matahiwi Estate. 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

General: This week's wine at work is delicious!

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Masterton, NZ
(Not sure of specific region name)

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Rich gooseberry

Flavour: Nice and dry with very good length. The length is above the norm. Nice acidity. Very well done.

Points: 84

Notes: I guess this is about $20 (330Kc) for corporate clients. Impressive and enjoyed.

Vintage Cellars. 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: Although Vintage Cellars belongs to one of Australia's largest retail chains, it projects itself upmarket in competition with suburban wine stores. Their branded wines have been good value in the past and this was no exception.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/GI: Limestone Coast, SA

Subregion: Coonawarra

Alcohol: 15.0%

Bouquet: Blackcurrant with some hint of vanilla. Juicey.

Flavour: Medium length with gentle tannins. Lingering, smooth finish. Very nice drinking and a good example of the variety.

Points: 83

Notes: I am surprised the alcohol content was so high as it did not appear in the wine. This was one half of a two for $20 (330 Kc) buy i.e. 165Kc/bottle although its regular retail is $15 (248 Kc). Very nice stuff but I will continue working through the other offers as Cab Sav remains a prominent variety here. The actual producer of the wine credited on the bottle is Penley Estates from the Coonawarra.

Bridgewater Mill. 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

General: This is another of the wines from where I am currently contracting. Friday afternoon, it's warm and 16:00. This is a lovely way to finish the week.

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region/GI: Mount Lofty Ranges

Subregion: Adelaide Hills, SA

Alcohol: 13%

Bouquet: Rich, overripe gooseberry. Other tropical hints in existence.

Flavour: The flavour follows the nose. It's clean and crisp with good acidity and a lingering mineral finish.

Points: 84

Notes: This is one of the better Sav Blancs tasted this summer. I'm tempted to bump its scoring a little higher but this is the points scored as I was drinking it. Online, I can see it for $16.00 (265 Kc) per bottle when bought in case, so I guess it normally retails at $20-$22 per bottle. Looking forward to next Friday's drinks already...

Long Flat Destinations. 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

General: Another from the Long Flat Destinations series. This was a pleasant surprise.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/GI: Limestone Coast
Subregion: Coonawarra

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Generous blackcurrant and a hint of vanilla

Flavour: This is a straightforward, textbook Cab. Balanced, medium bodied and mild tannins that hold it together. Very good drinking now.

Points: 83

Notes: At $12.00 (circa 200 Kc) this is well priced and very tasty. First, though, I have to try the large choice of Cabs on the market.

Roundstone. 2005 Chardonnay

General: At work, 16:00 Friday bottles open. The selection is very good.

Variety: Chardonnay

Region/G.I.: Yarra Valley, Vic

Alcohol: 13.0%

Bouquet: Complex. Dense. Almost stewed fruit (apple?) and baked bread.

Flavour: Good length on the tongue and not as complex as I expected. Gentle oak. Perfect for drinking now.

Points: 84

Notes: I am not sure of price. I guess it was about $20 (330 Kc). The winery was burnt to the ground in bushfires last year so there is no way to try recent vintages.

The Wine Point. 2008 "Risoluto"

General: The Wine Point is a specialist "clean skin" merchant with a broad range of wines on offer. I loved their Nebbiolo. Their Sangiovese definitely grabbed my attention.

Variety: Sangiovese

Region/Geographical Indication (GI): Central Ranges, NSW

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Strong nose of sour cherry. The longer the bottle was open, the more that vanilla crept into view.

Flavour: Initially, sour cherry (not dark as per the label) and harsh tannin. There needs to be a rule introduced that for Sangiovese in Australia, the bottle must be opened one hour before tasting as yet again, the initial taste was of harsh tannin. However, after an hour the wine was quite balanced, with possibly a touch too much acidity throwing things a little. The fruit with gentle vanilla tones and less aggressive tannins provided simple yet enjoyable drinking.

Points: 83

Notes: It will be interesting to see how this ages, especially as it is so young now. The Wine Point's Nebbiolo was such a treat that this is weaker in comparison. A bargain at $12 (198 Kc).

Yalumba. 2008 The Y Series - Viognier

General: I am a big fan of Yalumba wines. They offer good wine at a reasonable price. This was a delight on a warm summer's night.

Variety: Viognier

Region: South Australia

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Tropical. Fleshy and white. Lychee was the main fruit I identified among the pungent, dense nose.

Flavour: Fresh, fruit driven and semi-sweet. I liked the lychee flavours.

Points: 83

Notes: An excellent wine, nicely chilled for this warm summer evening. At $9.00 (148 Kc) it's unpretensious, good quaffing stuff. I have checked the Yalumba website and the tasting notes describe the flavour as "honeysuckle" which I have never tasted before. Something for me to try. Also note that Marks and Spencer sometimes use Yalumba wines for their branded wines and they offer good value.