Pandora's Box 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region/G.I.: Tasmania

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Lovely. Cut grass and boysenberry. Textbook stuff.

Flavour: Refreshing with mild lime/lemon flavours and great acidity.

Points: 84

Notes: At $12.57 (~225Kc) through a wine club, this is just the stuff for a hot day (like today). Refreshing and done very well. A little surprising as I did not remember this variety as something special while in Tasmania.

J W Tulloch 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, Hunter, Pokolbin

Alcohol: 13.5%

Bouquet: Very juicy blackcurrant with something smokey as well

Flavour: Medium length with fruit heavy in the mid-palette. Good dry finish and gentle tannins. Quite good.

Points: 83

Notes: Cost of $16.00 (~288 Kc). Nice to dry Cab from a region other than the Limestone Coast. Plenty more to try on the market though . . . .

Bird in Hand 2009 Two in the Bush Merlot Cabernet

Varieties: Merl0t 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

Alcohol: 14.5%

Bouquet: Very restrained nose. If aired and aired, there are hints of ripe Satsuma plums

Flavour: What this wine lacks in bouquet it more than compensates with an excellent flavour. Fantastic length with soft tannins in the tail. Lovely dryiness accompanies the blackcurrant fruit on the tongue. A touch of dark spice as well. A well integrated wine.

Points: 84

Notes: From the wine club at $12.57 (~226 Kc). Will look to add a couple of bottles to the cellar

Dalfarass 2005 Shiraz Viognier

Varieties: Shiraz, Viognier

Region/G.I.: Goulburn Valley, Nagambie Lakes (Central Victoria)

Alcohol: 14.0%

Bouquet: Tar and sweet plums

Flavour: Taste is a little tarry with fruit there. Unfortunately it has a similar taste to Benedryl, the cough medicine of my youth. Nice tannins and length but I struggled with the flavour connotation. The longer it sat in the glass the better it tasted. The Benedryl taste almost vanished and was replaced with quite a nice peppery spice

Points: 82

Notes: I recently bought this as the liquor shop had the 2005 and 2006 together. I'll have to dig up the 2006 the next time it is cooler and raining

Nova Vita 2010 Mad Russian Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region/G.I.: Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

Alcohol: 13.0%

Bouquet: Ripe, juicy apple flesh and some lemon

Flavour: Not as light as expected with medium length. Good fruit carrying from the nose through to the flavour with a crispy finish.

Points: 82

Notes: Relatively simple and refreshing. A good summer drink at $12.60 (~225 Kc)

Zonte's Footstep 2009 Viognier

Variety: Viognier
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Tropical fruit like pineapple and peach.
Flavour: Very nice. Fruit as per nose with the added touch of flint. Medium bodied with good acidity to hold it all together.
Points: 83
Notes: If I'd tasted this blind I would have guessed it to be Chardonnay. A great summer wine. It was $12.57 (~230 Kc) and worth having a couple spare

Baccana 2010 Pinot Grigio

General: One from the Italian mixed case...

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Friuli Grave

Alcohol: 12.5%

Bouquet: Quite austere with freshly cut apple aromas

Flavour: Lovely acidity but it is the minerality which is the winner. The flavours are tidy, compact and refreshing.

Points: 84