Dorio 2012 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Variety: Montepulciano
Region/DOC: Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: Mainly animal/ wet barn aromas
Flavour: Short almost tasteless plummy juice with a sour finish
Points: 75 (3+7+7+4+4+50)

Notes: This was bought as a spare for our Montepulciano tasting in January 2014 and at $9 (~170 Kc) was not expected to be any more than a quaffer. It's only nice feature was its bouquet. There are plenty more quaffers out there. 

d'Arenberg 2001 The Noble

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2001
Closure: Cork
Colour: Deep copper/brown
Alcohol: 11.0%
Bouquet: Honey, honeycomb, hints of molasses and hints of very ripe pineapple
Flavour: Burnt caramel, pineapple core and orange marmalade. Great length and balance. Richness without being sickly sweet.
Points: 89 (4+8+12+7+8+50)

Notes: The current vintage is 2010 and $20 from the producer. Marius provided this as he bought and didn't like it. I think he expected something sweeter. 

Wine by Brad 2009 Brad Cabernet Merlot

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (split not available. Assumed to be roughly equal)
Region/G.I.: South West Australia, South West Australia
Vintage: 2009
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Eucalypt, tobacco leaf
Flavour: Not much in the body; actually quite weak. Some decent plummy fruit in the mid palate but not much of an ending. A small tingle of tannin.
Points: 82 (3+7+10+6+6+50)

Notes: An OK wine. Having enjoyed some lovely Cab Savs recently, this was ordinary in comparison. I tried the 2008 vintage a year and a half ago and liked it more. $18 (~350 Kc). I'd probably look elsewhere.

Langmeil Winery 2002 "The Freedom" Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Barossa, Barossa Valley
Vintage: 2002
Closure: Cork
Colour: Dark purple with a brown hue
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Chocolate aromas and lifted raspberry with the smallest hint of mint
Flavour: Rather dull and past its peak. It's short but you get straightforward plummy flavours and the smallest amount of pepper
Points: 83 (4+8+9+6+6+50)

Notes: This started so well with colour and nose impressing. However, it really fell away. According to the maker's website, this should not yet be peaking. It is possible that we did not air this sufficiently. The current vintage 2009 retails for about $92.

Fowles Wine 2011 Plunkett Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I.: Central Victoria, Strathbogie Ranges
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Cherry with a salmon hue
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Brambly aromas of fresh forest floor
Flavour: Very light bodied with nice raspberry flavour with a touch of wet bark. Straightforward without spice or tannin.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)

Notes: A lovely wine enjoyed over the Easter weekend. $18.33 (~330 Kc). I tasted a Shiraz from this producer back in 2011.

d'Arenberg 1993 The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 1993
Closure: Cork
Colour: Copper
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Blackcurrant preserve (povidla) with liquorice aromas and hints of sweet spices
Flavour: Incredible, smooth and even, with cinnamon and maybe Turkish Delight, gently melded with tongue coating, but delicate fruit according to the nose. Way underneath, a hint of vanilla as well. An amazing, gentle wine.
Points: 90 (4+8+12+8+8+50)

Notes: For our regular tasters this was clearly the winner. The current vintage retails for $19 and I bought this online on an eBay auction for $25 thanks to a recommendation from F. who'd previously bought one. The cork crumbled on opening although it was not soaked all the way through. A quick filter managed to prevent floating pieces in our sample. 

Salitage Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 53%, Merlot 35% and Cabernet Franc 12%
Region/G.I.: South West Australia, Pemberton
Vintage: 2005
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Wet cow, red currant, blackcurrant and a hint of mint
Flavour: The fruit flavours of blackcurrants and red currants, are well integrated with hints of smokey wood and grainy tannins, providing a complex and well balanced wine.
Points: 88 (3+8+12+7+8+50)

Notes: For our tasting, this came 2nd overall and was well received, even if there was the hint of wet cow in the nose which some of the group typically run from. F. and I rated it 3rd as we preferred the Huntington wine more. This was an excellent find from my recent online purchase for $20.