Water Wheel Vineyards 2008 Memsie Homestead red

Varieties: Shiraz 87%, Malbec 7%, Cabernet Sauvignon 6%
Region/G.I.: Central Victoria, Bendigo
Vintage: 2008
Closure: Screwtop
Colour: Dark purple with beginning of a copper brown hue
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Raspberry soft lollies/sweets/"jubes", mulberries and blackberries with milk chocolate aromas as well
Flavour: Gentle with a rush of soft berry flavours according to the nose, with black pepper in the mid palate. It fades away relatively quickly with a velvety, delicate tannin lining the front of the tongue/back of the front teeth. 
Points: 85 (4+7+11+6+7+50)

Notes: The 2007 was one of the first wines I tasted on my return and I've held this 2008 for a few years. Its gentleness is memorable now although it suffers from being relatively short. Still, a very pleasant way to kick off the week. Bought for $14 (~250 Kc), the current vintage appears to be slightly cheaper thanks to discounting over the last couple of years.

Example of jubes:

Quinta do Espirito Santo 2011

Varieties: Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Castelao (blend unknown)
Region: Lisboa DOC 
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Cork
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 15.0%
Bouquet: Lovely, dried grapevine and dusty aromas with some tobacco leaf as well
Flavour: BIG. Equal measure of oregano and rosemary herbs flavours with some Vegemite/Marmite flavours of yeast extract. Secondary flavours of wood, think hints of oak with grainy, gripping tannins. An amount of acidity holds this together as well. Full bodied with nice length. So many descriptors.
Points: 88 (3+8+12+7+8+50)

Notes: The second of a few Portuguese wines bought in a mixed case. Lovely drinking. About $14 here. Excellent etiquette as well. Definitely big. Not sure if to everyone's taste.

Quinta do Porto Franco 2012 Brigando

Varieties: Shiraz 40%, Tinta Roriz 40%, Touriga Nacional 20%
Region: Lisboa DOC 
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 12.5%
Bouquet: A little dusty with aromas of dried bunches of rosemary, juice of overripe regular cherry and macerated dark plums
Flavour: Not as complex as the nose but the gentle drying tannins are a hit. A rush of plummy fruit and pepper, a short mid palate and nice finish. An enjoyable quaffer.
Points: 83 (3+6+10+7+7+50)

Notes: The second of a few Portuguese wines bought in a mixed case. Lovely drinking. About $14 here.

Quinta do Casal Branco 2010

Varieties: Castelao, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional
Region: Ribatejo DOC 
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Cork
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 13.5.0%
Bouquet: Dusty, dehyrdated plum and dry leather
Flavour: Chewy, textural in the mouth with a balanced, more toward nectarine fruit with pleasant acidity and tannin. Nice length. 
Points: 84 (3+6+11+7+7+50)

Notes: The first of a few Portuguese wines bought in a mixed case. Lovely drinking. About $14 here.

Partisan Wines 2011 Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Screw cap
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Rich, blood plum with the smallest hint of cinnamon
Flavour: Plum and black pepper. Medium weight. Short. Simple.
Points: 82 (3+7+10+6+6+50)

Notes: An every day quaffer to start my week. $16 ~ 300Kc although it is probably discounted. 

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.