De Bortoli Estate Grown Shiraz Viognier 2008

Hmm two in a week... god I think I'm feeling like an alcoholic again. I'm generally more interested in less commercial, you can get us everywhere brands now days but in the case of this little number I can make an exception. Aside from that De Bortoli being a great family owned brand amongst the commercial group is one I'm happy to support on their quest for greatness.

Crazy dark cherry red with legs to die for! Amazingly perfumed, pepper and spice, almost an Ashy fireplace like aroma laced with beautiful ripe red berries, tart cherry and coffee grinds. The palate is like silk, Fruit intensity is amazing, nice medium to bold weight for Yarra Valley, intriguingly complex, dark berries, mocha, beautifully spiced with an extended finish that reminds you of each element again. Really friendly, elegant gravelly tannin structure and a richness that I've been yet to find from Yarra Valley.

For the punter, crazily complex yet elegantly simple, super rich fruit driven cool climate Shiraz. Probably could do with some time to open up for most people and perhaps some food.

Mr Halliday rated this an honorable 96 points from this outstanding 5 star producer, Tyson Stelzer a 95, 94 Campbell Mattinson via Winefront, does it get much better really? I'm of a very similar opinion. If I sat and analysed this wine properly I'm sure there are faults........ well again define faults..... I'm sure there are things that that can detract scores and well nothing can be perfect..... no seriously 95 pts in my book that I'm yet to and probably never will publish would represent this wine well.

Value for money, $38 RRP from the producer and floating around the internet in the space of $30-$35 which if I'd payed that for it I'd be pretty happy. Granted there is cheaper booze out there from various producers that would rock my world more but again happy with the money I've outlaid on this one.

Definitely not a wine to be ignored, on a wine list at a steak or Italian restaurant?? Yeah go for it definitely worth the $$. I'll go another bottle that's for sure. Good luck and happy drinking.

The Islander Estate Old Rowley Grenache Blend 2006

Wow it's been so long I've nearly forgotten how to even do this... bear with me! Here I go! So I've made it no secret I love Vinomofo.com and the Qwoff boys and this one lept off the page for me when It showed up on the site. It popped into my email, I clicked and I bought. It hurt my bank balance but for this vino I can suck it up.

Beautiful glistening cherry red at the base of my glass, like a beautiful Ruby It's drawing me in (not that I'd buy a girl a ruby mind you, they are for baby boomers and older if you ask me). Beautifully earthy dusty spice on the nose backed up with some nice under ripe plum. Definitely showing some age both on the nose and in the palate. Medium weight with rich soft fruit supported with some nice leathery tannin that must have been quite prominent in its youth, hit of pepper to make me lean toward a meal. Love it.

Easily put a really great Grenache blend that drinks wonderfully now at about the middle of its life. Make sure you grab some food as it's slightly to earthy to drink just buy itself.

Now according to our friends at the 'Fo (loving doing a blog from a wine I've grabbed from the site cause they've done all the research!) Lord Halliday gave this a 95 and Gary Walsh a 92. Now in an effort to branch out and expand my knowledge I've decided to adopt the 100 point system rather than a 10 point as I was sick of giving things 9.5, I'm penciling this one in as a 93 but could see how with a bit more upfront fruit in it's youth it may have been worthy of more.

Now the important thing the price. Now let me tell you if I'd paid $35 for this at cellar door or potentially somewhere in the realms of $29.99 at a retailer which is where I'd imagine this is pitched I'd have been more than happy with my purchase (obviously if I'd brought it at cellar door I would be as I'd have tasted it and also been encapsulated in the ambiance of being out on KI) but the fact that on the day I was lucky enough to snap it up at a crazy $17.50 a bottle is amazing. I don't know how they do it but I'll be shopping a lot more with the 'Fo than I already have been, I'll buy more once I run out of this and am actually(as a result of research) on the Islander's website now www.iev.com.au considering branching out and indulging in more of the range.

I don't have much more to tell you except go get some guys. It's wonderful and well worth anything you'll pay for it in a retailer, I'm sure the distributors on their website will be able to tell you where you can get it locally. Make sure you have it with dinner is my only further recommendation. Good luck and happy drinking.