Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne 2004

Yes guys you did read that title right! It has been a while but I'm coming back with a bang! I knew I've been lazy so I thought I'd make sure I treat you all! (Perhaps in treating myself I also felt guilty, don't worry though I actually was given this wine as a thank you gift! I can't afford to lash out on this stuff! Until someone pays me to review this stuff don't expect to see anything this good again any time soon!)

Just looking at it makes me smile, amazing pale lemon colour with an amazingly persistant fine bead that just screams quality. Subtlety is not this Champagne's strong point, beautifully lifted stone fruit, lemon and marzipan laced with subtle creamy yeasty notes that draw you in. The palate is like heaven, most amazing juicy yet creamy mouth feel, nice citrus and white peach. Great focussed acids leaving my mouth watering after a long lingering finish with lovely honeysuckle. The structure and the richness of this wine is just wonderful.

Wow what a fizz! So beautifully delicate but wonderfully powerful. Juicy and creamy at the same time with great fruit holding its own. Great mouthfeel and the most delicious way to start a meal or celebrate! It's like a party in my mouth!

Now the release of this is very fresh so I'm yet to find a rating out there to reference but I'll be more than surprised if this gets anything under 95 points from any reputable critic. I'm sticking it right there at 95+ points.

Now value for money..... RRP at $120 ouch! Available at most 'Chain' stores around $95 when your bulk purchasing and look seriously I'm not one for paying that kind of money for a bottle to qwoff... I'm thinking for a celebration of sorts then why not throw a bit more in the kitty and upgrade from NV to vintage cause it's a hell of a lot better! Value for money by comparison to buying a Dom Perignon or Krug it is a much more drink now style so if your drinking it then there is value in being able to grab two of these!!

So I will leave you now to top up my glass, sit back and enjoy this! I wish I had some caviar or oysters!! Good luck and Happy Drinking!! (cause I'm quite happy now!)

Oakdene Peta's Pinot Noir 2010

Ok so I zipped around the bay on recommendation from a friend in 'experiencing #FilthyGoodVino on a regular basis' places in search of this absolute Star producer. On that mission I found this wine!

Varietal this Pinot is! Fruit intensity by the truck load! Dark cherry, forest berries, raspberry, liquorice, bursts of beautiful spice and subtle forrest floor aromas. The palate is lively due to it's youth, again with the raspberry and forest berry and the outstanding fruit intensity. The acid structure gives this wine is life and keeps it going on and on and on.

Wow what a Pinot. Lots of fruit but still retaining the spice and earthy tones that good Pinot should have. Pinot lovers will cream over this and Shiraz drinkers will definitely tolerate it.

The big man Lord Halliday rates this 94pts, Gary Walsh gave it a 95 and my humble pinotphile opinion is with Gary at 95 POINTS sports fans!

Value for money.... I only have cellar door price to go on and I paid $35 and am well and truly happy with my investment! Apparently there are both restaurants and a few independent bottle shops around Melbourne and Geelong that stock this product but that will be up to you guys to find them.

Long story short.... Just buy it!!! I love Mornington Pinot so don't get be wrong but I seriously will drive to the other side of the bay for this wine and then pay $35 for it! Go get some! It's seriously a game changer! Good luck and happy drinking!

Ninth Island Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Ok so Sav Blanc, let's not go into a discussion about it, not a wine I go searching for but when an absolute cracker lands in my lap I really do have to share it.

We've all been absolutely overwhelmed by the influx of Savvy from our brothers and sisters across the Tasman that we are all sick of it to the bone, unfortunately it still makes up an absolutely mind blowing fraction of the market so why fight it. Now this little Tassie number was forced upon me by a Tasmanian mate of mine preaching that I would be converted and I have to say converted I nearly was.

Pure and clear with lime green and lemon rind hues this little number glistens up out of the glass and carries aromas of passionfruit, honeydew melon and other various tropical fruits that excite you. Hints of grassy herbaceousness creep through if you search for them but definitely a big pretty fruit salad nose. The palate is remarkably well structured for Sav Blanc with an obvious focus of fruit and acid balance as well as a great level of residual sugar rounding the palate out. Tropical fruit with a passion fruit dominance balanced out by subtle savouriness, a welcome minerality in the palate that intrigues me. This is a seriously good Sav Blanc that has really taken me by surprise.

Wine people, this actually has some depth and complexity about it to interest most people enough. Sav Blanc drinkers this will blow your mind! Punter looking for something new and different, don't be discouraged by the fact this is a Savvy cause it's phenomenal.

Ok so I haven't really done in depth research on this wine to be totally honest but I'm sure it rates relatively well. Cracker wines (who's website confuses the crap out of me by the way) rate this 3.5 out of 5 which must only be because their discount is is only low or something. This gets a very solid 92pts from me and only because I think the acids could offend some punters who aren't expecting it but GO TASSIE SAVVY B!!!

Value for money, ok here is the contentious point on this wine. $23RRP... Cracker $17.95, Dan's $16.99 in a mixed 6 and varying prices around the market in between there. Me I'm well and truly happy to pay in that space for this wine. Unfortunately for this wine there is so many ok Sav Blanc's around for sub $15 that might muscle in on it's territory but seriously guys spend the extra $5 and get this and you will thank me!

Ok so I don't normally drink Sauvignon Blanc and I am seriously going to buy a 6 pack of this! Like I'm working it into my next fortnight's budget! What a great summer wine, It's starting to heat up and we'll (yes I'm including both you and I in this reference) be supporting a fantastic Australian winery. I know they are owned by a Belgian company but the fruit is grown in Tassie so we'll call it Australian. Go buy a bottle guys, you won't be disappointed. Happy quaffing!

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.

2011 Wulura Chardonnay

Ok so another from Wulura and such a young Chardy from Margaret River. 100% Barrel ferment, no barrel aging.

Nice little glow in the glass on this wine. Impeccable clarity, very very light with slight green tinge. Initially quite flat on the nose but with a little warmth and some aeration this little number opens up. Lightly toasty on the nose, cashew and stone fruits. Quite light on the palate, evident that this hasn't seen any time in oak, some fruit up front, slight minerality through the mid palate and a clean dry brioche lick to the finish. Medium length at best.

Approachable for a Margaret River Chardonnay. If you don't like oaked Chard and enjoy unoaked then this might just be a little number to ease you in to oaked wines.

Again no ratings to speak of based on structure and density of fruit I would have thought late 80's perhaps. 8/10 for me.

Value for money however this is amazing $15 a bottle from their website!! how can you go wrong? a Qwaffable chardy sub $20.... Winner

Not much else to say but happy drinking!

2011 Wulura Semillon Sauvginon Blanc

Now this is an interesting little parcel of vino I've stumbled across. They have amazing olive oil for such a good price and then wine as a spin off from their commercial growing vineyard.

Nice clarity, pale straw with a light green hue, melon and citrus on the nose with that northern Margaret River fresh cut grass shining through. Light on the palate with a nice little acid structure. Honeydew melon and ripe citrus with a medium dry snow pea finish that stops a little short.

Simply a nice fruit driven easy drinking SSB, not to dry and a really nice honeydew melon palate.

Good value for money at $15 and not much better around at that price.

No formal ratings to speak of but would presumably fit into the low 90's at best. 8/10 for me.

Summary, looking for a good $15 SSB that is a good regional reflection... well here it is. Don't shy away but make sure you grab a couple liters of olive oil whilst your there to make it worth your while. Happy drinking!

Peter Lehmann 2006 Tempranillo

Dans Cellar release so why not, sat on the racks for 2 years... Hmm probably should drink!! So here it is.

Flat savory nose, leathery all spice, big rounded palate holding some over ripe cherry fruits and a long finish with nicely drying tannin. Much better with a meal I'd have thought rather than my thursday quaffer.

Long and short of it is that although it's nice and round it's kind of non descript in all of its characters.

Halliday 88 in its day. 7.5 from me. $25 that could have been better spent.

I'd drink another bottle if I had one bit wouldn't go shopping for one. I'd be interested to see a current vintage though.

The Maîtresse Pinot Noir 2010

Mmm interesting. Not sure about the bubbles, is it supposed to fizz?

Interesting savory nose, very subtle dark cherry, almost chocolate. Palate driven by dark cherry and spice quite a drying finish with little to no tannin.

Simply drink now at $15.99. DO NOT KEEP!

7/10 is all I can say.

Really drink, enjoy just buy a Paedrus estate Mornington Peninsular Pinot if you want a nice bottle.

2011 Redbank Sunday Morning Pinot Gris

What an interesting wine. Brilliant clarity with a pale straw tinge. Lightly floral nose with pear and stone fruit undertones. Zippy little palate again with the pear an a distinct minerality that really carries this wine. Easy drinking is the biggest highlight and hardly a serious Pinot Gris that the tasting notes suggest.

Simply put you can definitely drink this lil baby it's smooth and easy going with nothing abrupt, nice fruit and minerality.

Critic wise this lays probably in the mid to high 80's and for me I'm there abouts too 8.5 is the best I can manage.

Summary... Drinkable yes, $22 umm probably can find better but don't shy away cause it is worth it.

My fav wine site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qGrluGUtvc

These guys have come a long way and by god they provide good product!!

I've never been disappointed with eve a mixed box of surprises.

Keep it up guys!!!

2008 Wills Domain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Now I promised some cracking wine for the next couple so I just couldn't resist diving into that Wills Domain Mixed 6 and snagging this bottle out to have with the steak I had planned for dinner.

Beautiful dark crimson with a slight purple hue this wine is nothing short of beautiful in the base of the glass, beautiful blackcurrent and christmas cake on the nose backed up by some beautiful ripe black fruits  on the palate with beautiful savoury herby undertone. Slightly over medium in body there is a generous hint of well integrated French oak, well refined tannins and great length.

Basically nicely dry without being to abrupt and really lovely lifted fruit. With our without food or even to cellar you can't go wrong.

Now what to the critics say?? Halliday 94 points... A fair score but slightly under I would have thought! At risk of comparing this to other Cabernets I've tasted rather than on it's own merits I'm going to have to say it is better... no far better than any of the others I've reviewed and as such it deserves more than a 9.5 but is not quite a 10 out of 10.... close just not quite.

When it comes to value for money as soon as you slap 'Reserve' in the label you expect to see a post $60 price tag attached so if you look at it in that light then $45 is not bad especially when you buy a dozen, straight or mixed, and get a 20% discount. However if you look at it as in a 94 point Halliday Cabernet it's slightly on the expensive side. However I can promise you that if you do throw your $45 at this bottle you will not be disappointed. I will be ordering a case of this for my cellar and will forget it even cost me that. I've paid a lot more for a hell of a lot worse wine just because it had a reputation so I'm sure I can afford this for a semi decent occasion or even just a nice dinner. As with my previous post of the Rose this little beauty could be slightly hard to get your hands on unless you are a Western Australian but do the right thing and support this great boutique producer and buy from them directly.

Well again I believe enough has been said, just go buy a bottle ok!!! It most definitely won't disappoint and if you are patient enough to celler this for a few years then it will really knock your socks off. Good luck and happy drinking!

2010 Wills Domain Rosé

Well it's been a quite a while between drinks and for that I apologise but have I got some great wines lined up for the next couple!! I've had a very good recommendation from a close friend for a great batch of vino from which I've had a sample both at cellar door and from a care package before but never really looked much further into. I've grabbed a mixed 6 and intend to share my findings.

Electric Pink must be in for 2010 Rose because as per my previous samplings of 2010 Rose this is a deep attractive Electric Pink with wonderful clarity and a beautiful shimmer in the glass. A beautiful sweet nose of crushed red berries blends well with a wonderful fruit driven palate. Nicely balanced acidity with low residual sugar and a crisp dry finish the fruit sweetness carries this wine beautifully and makes it a great food wine or a lunch on a hot summers day quaffer.

More simply YUM! Beautifully fruity Rose, on the drier side but not too much so as to put most people off. If you have a late harvest style sweet tooth then steer clear but if you don't mind some mild dryness this is for you.

The big man himself (the honorable Mr Halliday) has given this 94 points and I believe it got a great rap from Ray Jordan (the WA wine critic) and I tell you that I'm very impressed by this little number. I'd say a 9.5 for a Rose which surprised me actually. Yes this is a wine that I would drink every day of the week.... Weird huh!!

Now value for money... the all important thing! $19.50 per bottle or right down to $15.50 if you buy a case from cellar door or online at their website. Did I hear the question of where else can I get this?? Well let me answer that for you... are you Western Australian??? Yes... Well jump on the their website <---Click there.. and the handy little tracker will point you in the right direction... No.... then you'll need to order it directly from their website <--- Click back there. Either way it's definitely worth the $$ you pay for it.

Ahh the all important summary... I actually think I've said it all so guess what... Happy Drinking!!

2009 Teusner The Riebke Shiraz

I first drank a Riebke Shiraz from Teusner after reading about it in 'The Big Red Wine Book 2009/2010' and dropping into my local Dan's store to grab it at a smashing $18.99 a bottle. It was the 2006 vintage and I couldn't believe the value for money I was getting. Today whilst in the bottle shop round the corner I thought hey why not grab a safe bet and throw the results up on the blog.

Deep dark crimson red with very purple hues this wine has big long legs and a wonderfully fruit dominated nose. Dark ripe cherry, plums and blackberry jam on the nose with a floral undertone. The palate is silky smooth with soft subtle tannins, well balanced acid and beautiful summer berry flavours in a juicy juicy mouth feel and great length that leaves your mouth watering. Gentle sweetness there that is attractive but still not too much as to actually call this sweet. There is a distinct lack of the big savoriness that is often desirable with a big shiraz but there is a little earthiness there if you look through the fruit, past the fruit and then think less about the ummmm fruit.

Hmmm how do I say this to make it easy... YUM!! very very fruity so if thats not your bag then let it be but if you don't mind a slap in the face with fruit and a big juicy shiraz then this is beautiful. Fruit, fruit and more fruit with subtle tannins and acids that balance this out to be a beautiful easy drinking shiraz.

I believe this wine regularly grabs mid 90's from the big writers and rightly so. 9.5 from me your humble wine drinker and oenophile (wine lover in fancy talk) and a big thumbs up.

This will be available from most anywhere in the range of $17.99 by the case right through to $22-24 and at any of those price points it's a real steal. Almost every good wine buying website will have this available and based on my last and recent tastings of both the 06 and 08 from my cellar any of them are worth the money you'll pay from wherever you can get them from.

Again this is not necessarily the epitome or the stereotype  of a cracking Barossa shiraz but let me tell you slap this in front of any wine drinker worth his salt and you will almost guaranteed get two thumbs up on pure consumablility. I can't fault anything about it though in real honesty and if you find anyone who can I'd love to know why. So don't wait... no really get up now... yes now!! Go buy a bottle crack the stelvin and throw it down ya neck cause you really won't regret it! Good luck and happy drinking.

2010 La Boheme Act Three Pinot Gris & Friends

I decided it was time to try something from my own back yard and this caught my eye in the fridge at the local. Pinot Gris and Friends being Riesling and Guwurztraminer, what an interesting little bottle of vino, how can one go past it? Being a lover of Pinot Gris/Grigio at the best of times I certainly couldn't.

Pale straw in colour and impeccably clear this has a wonderfully floral nose with hints of minerality. The palate has a wonderful texture with apple and pear that you would expect from this style. Clean crisp acidity and good length this is a refreshing and attractive wine. With only 6.0 g/L of residual sugar this still has a little fruit sweetness that is pleasant and doesn't highlight such a low residual sugar content.

Basically yum! Apples and Pears and good mouth feel with light acidity. If you like clean refreshing wine this is nice easy drinking but still complex enough not to be boring.

There is a mix of reviews across the De Bortoli website as well as a few that are selling this wine ranging from 88 through to 94 and from me a 9 out of 10.

Value for money wise this ranges online from $17 to the bottle shop at about $21 and at any price in there its worth what you are paying.  Its available directly from De Bortoli online as well as a few other online cellars but also readily in bottle shops around.

If you like Pinot Gris styles you'll like this one even though it's been messed with by adding in the other two aromatic varietals. Pleasant easy drinking that most people will love. Haven't tried a Pinot Gris? This one is a good place to start. Don't walk past that attractive bottle alsatian style bottle on the shelf, turn around, go back, pick it up and buy it. You won't regret it. Good luck and happy drinking!

Vinaceous 2009 Divine Light Verdelho

Ahhh Verdelho, normally my arch nemesis as too many wine makers persist to make a horribly sweet style that just loses any sort of goodness in the sweetness, but as in my previous post I will work through Vinaceous' range eventually as I do really like the whole concept. Now with this unfortunately my local retailer only has the 2009 Verdelho but until the 2010 becomes available this will do for me.

Wonderfully clear with pale lemon tinges this wine almost looks like water in the glass. Lovely lime and tropical nose with a distinct minerality that I'm not used to from a Verdelho. Clean and fresh palate that has slightly unbalance acid, zesty citrus and that minerality again. The finish is clean and short which is slightly disappointing but that acid leaves a sourness on the palate that does linger, best of all there isn't even a hint of sweetness to ruin the fruity goodness of this wine.

Basically it's not a sweet Verdelho, it is a really interesting clean crisp Verdelho with some interesting tropical fruit that you wouldn't necessarily expect.

A post on another site I have found says this vintage got 86 Parker points and I'd have to agree at a 8.5 losing points for balance and lack of fruit, saying that its still a very interesting wine and most reviews have been fairly positive, perhaps because most of the sites are trying to sell the wine who knows.

At $20 this is a good little experience, you can probably find it a little cheaper but you definitely not being ripped off, again I can't really find it online unless it's in the states which appears to be a big market for Vinaceous.

I'd have to say that this Verdelho has broadened my horizons and opened my eyes, I'll definitely be more open to trying this varietal in the future, well done and thank you Michael (Kegs) Kerrigan - Winemaker. Do you normally hate Verdelho? Yes? Go grab a bottle of Divine Light and give it a shot, I found it well worth it. Good luck and happy drinking

Vinaceous 2010 Sirenya Pinot Grigio

Ok for something different, this label just jumped out at me when I was at the bottle shop looking for a Pinot Gris or Grigio for as previously stated something different. Didn't end up as I'd hoped but I thought I'd share anyway.

Relatively closed nose to what I expected from what I'd read, spice and pear are in the background but nothing to write home about. The palate is dominated by racy acidity with chemical undertones, the finish is canned pear and bitter stone fruit which some may find enticing.

Basically all I get from this wine of notability is acidity and not quite what I expected from a Pinot Grigio. If you like highly acidic vino with a light fruit finish then maybe this is for you.

I can't really see any proper reviews or ratings but for me 6 is a push I'm tempted to say 5 but the concept, labelling and website get this wine points.

It's available at most good merchants and at $20 is not to much wasted if you enjoy it as little as I am. www.vinaceous.com.au is worth a visit and if you hit up the facebook page it looks as if they will give you an idea of where to purchase it.

In summary I expected more from this Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio and was a little let down. I'm seriously looking forward to trying the rest of this producer's range however as the concept I like, the winemaker I like and overall just cause 1 of the wines hasn't grabbed me doesn't mean the others are all bad too. Good luck with this one and happy drinking.

Comments and reviews

I write my reviews and comments in hope that they will reach readers out there and give them some sort of value and guidance in making their Wine selections. I'm discovering that it is very hard to actually make my own correct selections when I wander to the bottle shop. Generally I buy wine I know I like, when I'm drinking a wine it tends to be one that I've already reviewed or blogged recently. As a result my posts have slowed down significantly.

What I need is some prompting, some suggestions on what you out there would like to know about, what bottles have you had that have stood out to you and you'd love to see shared with others? What bottles have you seen on your liquor store shelves and thought 'hey I wonder if that is any good'? What review have you read from a respectable wine critic and thought ' I wonder what this crazy nuances and cassis and forrest floor aromas and cigar box are all about, does this mean the wine tastes good or in the wine world is a good wine'? Are you a member of a winery and seen a post, liked it and would like me to give honest feedback on your wine? Questions, queries comments they are all valuable in the expansion of this blog.

Above all I'd love some feedback, did you like my review? Have you tried a bottle based on it and liked it or disliked it? Did you find a gap in my spelling, grammer or otherwise? Would you like me to further describe the wine in easy to understand terms or would you like to see more professional wine descriptors? Remember this isn't all about me in the end it's all about you out there reading it.

As always good luck and happy drinking.

2009 Brown Hill Estate Hannans Cabernet Sauvignon

What a great value for money and good honest wine establishment Brown Hill Estate is! 2 years running Small Producer of the Year in Ray Jordan's WA Wine guide and 5 star rated by James Halliday, not much more to say really. The experience is a little different simply wandering into a big old tin shed full of barrels and then tasting wines that will no doubt knock your socks off!

Now this wine, great colour in the glass a beautiful Cherry red, quite fragrant with spice and dark berry fruits, very heavy on the French Oak which leaps out of the glass. The palate has definite currant and black cherry fruit as stated on the label but also has some wonderful fully integrated French oak characteristics. Good acid balance, Medium body, good fruit, good length and soft rounded tannins this is nothing short of fantastic Cabernet.

3 words sum this wine up "VALUE FOR MONEY" True Margaret River Cabernet at the price point we all dream of. Love Cabernet? Don't be fooled by the price point.

James Halliday "Good colour; the fragrant bouquet has spice, cedar and dark fruit aromas, the palate changing pace with significant, although relatively soft, oak and fruit tannins; plenty of flavour here." and 90 pts, me a solid 8 out of 10 with the only thing losing points here is it misses something on the front, a little heavy French oak which will soften and I like a little more body.

As previously stated value for money is second to none on this wine for a Margaret River Cabernet. $18 bucks from the cellar door you can't really go wrong. Plus this is just their entry level wine.

Seriously this producer has simply too much to offer. Their vintages sell out and their wine stands out. Don't take it from me just get yourself a bottle. I haven't seen it stocked anywhere but even if you just order a mixed case for most people and for any real wine lovers you will be hard pressed to find a bottle out of a mixed case that you won't enjoy. Happy Drinking!

2008 Wise Wine Sea Urchin Shiraz

Ahh it feels so long since I've sat down to a nice glass of wine. This multi regional shiraz blend stood out when I tasted it at cellar door and being that the last bottle I blogged was also Wise I thought this would be fitting. Beautiful deep purple wine this Frankland River and Margaret River blend is just so approachable. Fairly closed on the nose I'd wager this would benefit from aeration, dark black fruits dominates on the nose with hints of red berry and pepper not that tasting notes I've read highlight that. The palate is full of plum and very soft with great french oak and lovely drying tannins to finish.  One thing I noticed with Margaret River Shiraz is that I found the acidity to be out of whack but with this wine it is just well if not perfectly balanced. Well balanced all round in fact with medium length you can't really go wrong.

Put simply this wine is very easy drinking and not really typical of Margaret River Shiraz as I have experienced it. Good fruit and nice mouthfeel it benefits from breathing and is definitely lends it self to be consumed with food.

James Halliday 93 points which is great!! he had this to say "Deep purple-crimson; a vibrant black fruit and spice bouquet is replayed on the medium-bodied palate; excellent French oak and tannin handling. Exceptional value."  and for me 8 out of 10 purely based on it being such an easy drinking wine but not jumping out of the glass at me.

As with the SBS value for money is outstanding at $18 from the cellar door. www.crackawines.com.au has it at a great price as well but even paying $25 or more would be good value for money for this wine. I'm sure you'll find it at around $15 to $18 and if I had to pick it next to other Margaret River Shiraz's it would be in my top 2 based on value for money.

Don't take my 8 out of 10 to heart with this wine I would definitely still recommend you try it. Good Luck and happy drinking.

2009 Wise Wine Sea Urchin Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Wise wines impressed me from my first step in the door and their range is fantastic. Exceptionally palatable range, not necessarily all trophy wines but definitely very easy drinking. This in particular is very pale straw in colour and shimmers beautifully in the glass, there is a light tinge of green that is barely noticeable. Quite fragrant with a tropical fruit salad and lime dominating. The palate is soft and full with multiple layers, not as acidic as you would expect but has great length. Again tropical fruit dominate the flavours with hints of pineapple and passionfruit lingering. Overall a well rounded wine that is very fresh and very easy drinking.

What more is there to say, tropical fruit, great mouth feel, not to acidic and way, way, way to easy drinking.

James Halliday 90 points "A very pretty wine, with a mix of passionfruit and citrus on the long palate leaving the mouth as fresh as a daisy.", Ray Jordan 91 points "The beautiful texture is the thing that lifts this wine above your standard SSB. It's a terrific mouth feel with flavours exploding with tropical melon fruit overlays with a light snow pea herbaceous dusting. Crisp fine acid supports a very long finish. Excellent wine." and for me just purely for not having the depth I'd hope for 8.5 out of 10 without question.

The all important value for money. $18 at cellar door and $14.99 when I saw it at a bottle shop, you can't really go wrong. www.crackawines.com.au has the 2010 for $13.50 a bottle I'm sure you'll find this somewhere and it's worth looking for in fact if you just want an easy drinking bottle.

Although I haven't really given it a great score I still rate this wine quite highly and think at the price point its awesome. For that easy drinking bottle with friends you really can't go wrong, it will really please most palates. Go grab one if you can find one. Good luck and happy drinking

3drops 2010 Mt Barker Riesling

This wine was recommended to me by the bottle shop where I shipped some of my wine home from to fill the case. Exceptionally pale in the glass you struggle to get any colour at all, there is a very slight green hue to the straw colour in this wine. The vibrant lifted lime and mixed citrus aromas overpower the nose with light floral aromas in the background that make it a very pretty wine to smell, in fact it almost smells sweet which is quite deceiving. The palate is highly acidic which you would expect from a Riesling but is well balanced with lovely juicy lime and a great structure that just goes on and on and on. Clean and crisp this will be great both now and in a couple of years with or without food.

A great riesling, light, juicy and crisp. What more could you ask for really? If you don't like that high acidity then steer away but if you don't mind that cheek puckering affect then definitely grab a bottle.

This appears to be just one of those little boutique wines that really isn't well known and as such no formal reviews, of course the winery themselves give this a big write up. Their 09 vintage got a bronze at the international riesling challenge according to http://www.ozwinereview.com/2010/01/international-riesling-challenge-2009.html and this vintage a gold at Perth Royal Wine Show but that's about all I can find about them online. 9 out of 10 straight up on this one for me and I'd happily buy another bottle if I can find one.

If I remember rightly I paid $25 for this bottle at the bottle shop and www.mrwines.com has it at $23.99 per bottle and I believe its absolutely worth it. The Evans and Tate was slightly cheaper but this is definitely a little softer and has far less minerality.

As previously stated I'd buy this again but I kind of get the feeling I'd probably only find it at restaurants for a decent price tag I'd wager knowing the markup on alcohol in hospitality. Give it a go though if you ever see it as you'll be pleasantly surprised. Good recommendation and as such I'm happy to share it and pass on the recommendation to you. Happy drinking!

Howard Park MadFish 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Ok so this wine is another Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend which although wasn't my favourite I thought would be worth a look at. Pale straw and absolutely clear this wine is actually quite closed on the nose despite the other reviews I have read. Tropical fruit dominates the nose but there seems to be something missing in the aromas. There is something dirty about the palate with a deep rich flavours that make the wine seem as if it would be Semillon dominated, there is good length with tropical fruit again dominating but still it seems as if there is something missing. I'd have expected a crispness in the finish which doesn't seem to be there with lower than expected acidity.

In short not quite as fruity or punchy as you'd expect from a Sav Blanc dominated blend. Easy enough drinking but in honesty a little bland.

James Halliday gave this an 88 saying "Straw, tropical fruit and elements of pungent asparagus are all on show; the palate is quite deep and rich on entry, with guava and straw to conclude." which is slightly over inflated in my opinion and I end up only giving this a 7 out of 10.

Value for money this is about $18-20 and in bulk slightly less but even at that price point there probably is a better bottle out there for you with much more complexity and flavours.

Well what more is there to say?? It's a shame because I really like the Howard Park and Mad Fish selection but this one didn't float my boat. Honest enough blend but I think if you see this on the shelf you could probably look along and at the same price point find something with more zing and flavour. Not too bad if you find it at $15 or less and are only drinking it with someone who doesn't like wine but again even at that price there would be something you probably would enjoy more. Not a bad wine but just not great. Good luck and with a different bottle happy drinking.

Laurance of Margaret River 2010 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Semillon is definitely not my favourite by any stretch of the imagination but this wine really impressed me. Exceptionally pale and clear there is a grassy green tinge to this wine that you really have to look for. Wonderfully fresh and fragrant this has aromas of fresh cut grass, lemon zest and light hints of melon. Juicy fresh pear and lemony/grapefruit flavours are highlighted by high acidity and a slight minerality. This wine is well balanced with good length and is great crisp fresh summer drinking.

Simply put this is light, crisp easy drinking. High acidity and fresh citrus flavours most people will love this, especially if you like SSB in the first place.

This is another wine that featured on the Qwoff boy's TV review and got a great wrap, also well regarded by Ray Jordan and recently received a Gold Medal at the Sydney Royal show. I give this a 9 out of 10 and it borders on a 9.5. It's definitely one of the top 3 SSB's I tasted whilst in the region. 

Again this wine is at the upper end of the scale price wise retailing at $26 a bottle but you better believe it is worth every cent. The same as the Rosé its not widely available but if you can get your hands on it you'll be happy I'm sure.

I would buy and drink this wine any day of the week and will probably order some once I get through the rest of the wine I've had shipped over here. Personally I don't think the bottle is as attractive as the others but it may just be the colour of the roses on it. The only thing I think Laurance could do better is make their wine more easily purchasable for the every day consumer, I like the philosophy of not being in every bottle shop around the country and lowering the price point of the wine as a consequence but something as simple as an online store verses having to call up or fax in an order form would just make it easier and more likely that lazy people like me who loved the wine but live on the other side of the country buy volumes of their vino. Get a bottle of this one as its a cracka, good luck and happy drinking.

Laurance of Margaret River 2010 Rosé

Ok this next few are just from notes I took at the vineyard the other weekend, I had a spare hour so I thought I'd get a few more up here.


At first glance this Rosé looks like some sort of cocktail as it is a deep electric pink with a purplish tinge, it shimmers in the bottom of the glass and is crystal clear. The nose is lifted red fruit aromas, strawberries and raspberries with a hint of rose petal in the background. Rich sweet ripe cherry, rose petal and raspberry dominate the palate which is clean with a dry finish, raspberry lingers leaving your mouth watering for more.


For a dry Rosé this wine has some great fruit sweetness that will change the mind of most people who don't like dry Rosé. Great, infact better with food this is a great bottle for most occasions and will not disappoint.


Good wrap from Ray Jordan, Blue Gold at Sydney International Wine Show 2011 and a 9 out of 10 from me.


At $25 this is at the upper end of the Rosé price bracket but is totally worth it. According to the cellar door staff this wine is only available cellar door and David Jones, there are distributors around the country that have placed the wine in restaurants and the Melbourne distributor Put a Cork In It sells case loads to the public. (www.putacorkinit.com.au)


I love this Rosé and would buy it any day of the week. As with the Laurance Icon the packaging is outstanding and really makes a statement. I really hope you all enjoy this wine, I did! Happy drinking.

2007 Wills Domain Cabernet Merlot

This one I've just discovered in my care package but I also made notes at the weekend so I'm going to taste and share.

Deep in colour the purple hue is quite attractive and invites you in. Lifted herb and spice aromas that blend easily with blackcurrant and almost black forrest to fill the complex nose of this wine. The palate is quite soft, medium in body with cassis and good black current fruit there is a gentle tannin structure and good length. Easy drinking I think this wine will get slightly better with a bit of age and will be fantastic with food.

Basically if you like a good approachable red that is a little too easy drinking this could well be it for you. It is quite light for a Cab Merlot and would be better with a bit of steak or perhaps something a bit gamey like a rich venison steak with a red wine jus. I find there is good black fruits in this wine with a finish that is almost like a few minutes after you've finished a Ribena drink that you mixed a little strong. ( In a good way of course)

Halliday 94, local critic Ray Jordan 93 and Me 8.5 - 9 out of 10 and a big thumbs up.

The current vintage sells over the cellar door for $27.50 and I don't really see much online. Wineroom.com.au seems to have it for around $25 but honestly visit the cellar door and support a great little producer. I think at $27.50 I wouldn't be disappointed.

Expect a few more Wills Domain wines on here as I did like the range as a whole. Cellar door was also very impressive and in hindsight I probably should have had my lunch there as the menu looked very appealing. Good luck guys and happy drinking

2010 Stella Bella SKUTTLEBUTT Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Having recently received a care package of a few premium Margaret River wines and loving them I decided to visit the region on the weekend just gone to check out their Vintage Festival. There were a great list of exhibitors there and I tasted as I expected a bundle of fantastic wines. Whilst I was in the region I decided to get around and see the sights both before and after the festival day on the Saturday so expect quite a few Margaret River wines to feature shortly as I shipped home 12 cases from various cellar doors. I have to say freight can be expensive from the region back to sunny Melbourne but some of the wines will be available from larger liquor outlets so I'll do some research as to where they are available over here.

I found Stella Bella at the festival and then dropped by the cellar door on Sunday as I do like Stella Bella's wines and range. This one stood out so here is my little run down on white for something different. A gorgeous light straw green the clarity in this wine makes you see the marks you have left on the other side of the glass where you haven't polished it properly. The fresh citrus and light passionfruit aromas jump out of the glass at you inviting you in. Zesty and fresh on the palate this is well balanced with citrus and stonefruit dancing across your tongue. Good fruit weight brought by the Semillon most likely the wine is medium in length with a very clean but crisp finish, this is a fantastic wine as a refreshment on a hot summers day. The final blend let slip by James Halliday to be 50% Sav Blanc, 43% Semillon and 7% Chardonnay.

Basically put this is light, crisp and yummy! Quite acidic and not as tropical fruity as a Marlborough Sav Blanc but probably easier drinking and much better with food. If Sav Blanc is your thing then definitely give this a crack for something different.

James Halliday and the Margaret River wine show judges have given this a good wrap with a 94 and a gold medal respectively. My personal opinion here is not much short of a 9 out of 10 and that is considering I don't normally drink blends like this.

Value for money? At $18 absolutely, I think anything shy of $20 that is good honest drinking is fantastic value for money. Dan Murphys has the previous vintage at $17.09 in any mixed 6 pack so any price under $20 you are getting a great deal. In fact www.thevinepress.com.au has this little beauty at $14.99 if you are looking for a bargain.

As previously stated expect a bunch of Margaret River wine to appear up here in the coming months as I've shipped a ridiculous amount home, received a care package from a regular reader and also scribbled a million notes on my little travels over the weekend just gone. I'll try to mix it up with other things from my cellar and other purchases but most definitely Margaret River wine just cemented itself on my Radar as a great choice when at a bottle shop or restaurant. Good luck and happy drinking.

2008 Turkey Flat Rosé

I stumbled across this bottle in my cellar and simply thought "this has to be drank". Turkey Flat rosé was the wine that really turned me into a rosé drinker so here it goes.

Very rich red berries on the nose this particular wine also displays aged characteristics with a slight kerosene aroma. It is still very pleasant on the palate with fresh raspberry and red currant flavours. There is a distinct lack of acidity which was present with this wine in its youth but there is still excellant balance to it. The attractive salmon pink of this wine has started to be lightly tarnished by a brown hue at the rim but that's what happens when you leave a rosé down that really wasn't meant to be.

In short, great wine but buy the current vintage. Nice red fruit, good balance with nice fruit sweetness and a dry finish. You'll love it with or without food.

James Halliday gave this a 94 and the next vintage a 96, personally I give this vintage knowing its age an 8 out of 10 where as if I drank it when I should have it would have been a 9-9.5.

Affordability wise this should fall under $20 in most cellars and if you find it in that bracket then seriously you are getting a steal. This wine is nothing short of great.

If you like dryer styles of rosé then this is for you. If you like sweetish rosé then you probably will still like this. Make sure you buy the current vintage and drink it almost straight away. Don't spoil a beautiful wine like I have by letting go for too long. Good luck and happy drinking.

2009 Evans and Tate Frankland River Riesling

I grabbed a bottle of this the other night from a bottle shop whilst visiting my favourite Thai restaurant just for something different and was pleasantly surprised, I'd have to say that I would normally lump Evans and Tate in with the commercial brands that I don't often drink as I prefer to support the smaller producers but on this occasion I just wanted a cheap bottle for the night, as such I thought I'd grab another bottle and share my thoughts with you all.

A pale lemon yellow this wine is clear as crystal and glistens bright in the glass. There is intense floral aromas about this wine that are quite complex, apple blossom and violet perhaps and are backed up by subtle lime and a distinct minerality which I believe is common of all Frankland River riesling. Crisp and highly acidic on the palate this wine makes your mouth water for minutes after it enters your mouth. Green apple and slate stand out in the palate with a cool citrus undertone that will intrigue you. Light in body and medium in length overall and enjoyable drop that will only get better with age.

Basically a cracking riesling. I know not everyone likes a crisp riesling so if you don't enjoy that mouth puckering acidity then this won't be for you. But if you appreciate riesling at all this will jump out of the glass at you and you will not be disappointed.

I've struggled to find any other reviews on this particular wine as have I found it quite hard to buy anywhere else than this one little cellar in South Yarra. The only place I can seem to find it online is a Margaret River Regional Wine Centre website, even Mc Williams wines website doesn't seem to have an online store. Price wise at $19.95 a bottle you really can't go wrong, like really! This wine in my books is nothing short of a 9 out of 10, really it should be a 9.5 and in 1 to 2 years probably will be.

Well I'm certainly going to put a 6 pack of this down to cellar as its just too good to pass up and I would recommend it to anyone. Frankland River Estate Isolation Ridge Riesling is the only other I've tasted that stands up to this one but even Dan Murphy's sells that at a higher price tag. Do you like Riesling? Yes? Go Buy One NOW! Enjoy!

2003 Peter Lehmann Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

I was strolling through my local Dan Murphy's just the other day and spotted this one on the shelf. It was a modest $34.99 but after reading the label I couldn't resist. Peter Lehmann's wines being one of my more favourite commercial producers out of the Barossa I trusted that this would simply just be good, even though the tasting note said 4-5 years peak drinking.

The cherry red of this wine has stretched almost right to the rim which is distinctly bricked showing off its age. Lifted savoury forest floor aromas have started to over run the black forest fruits which are still lingering lightly. This wine definitely needs air as prior to decanting lightly I found it surprisingly closed and dull. The complex aromas are almost confusing but needless to say there is a very pleasant nose on this wine. The palate has become dry and earthy with very heavy dark chocolate undertones, most of the fruit has dropped off but with food this wine is still wonderful. There is a slightly obnoxious acetone taste which I can't seem to get past however which means I have to wonder if this would have been better with a little more youth.

Simply a good aged Cabernet that is probably past its best, there is a definite quality to this wine which we have all come to expect from Peter Lehmann's range but if you don't enjoy dark chocolate characteristics or heavy earthiness in wines then don't get too excited.

As with my previous post I have to mention the labelling on this range. I love the cards reference in the labelling for all the entry level wines and the fact that it refers to the gamble that Peter Lehmann made when setting up his massively successful wine business. If only we could all make that gamble.

I think that in its youth this wine would have been a solid 8-9 out of 10 but unfortunately my tasting and experience tonight has not warranted that sort of rating, if I was using a 100 point scoring system then it might have squeezed early 80's but as I'm only giving scores out of 10 the best I can give this wine as it is now is a very generous 7.

As previously stated I purchased this wine from the Dan Murphy cellar release range but have since found whilst searching the web for it that previously you would have been able to purchase it at Wine House for about $18. Personally I can't say that its now worth the price I paid but if you enjoy very earthy complex wines that are now lacking in fruit then by all means go out and grab a bottle as the complexity is definitely still there and enjoyable.

Well till the next time good luck with your purchases, be adventurous, try something new, good luck and happy drinking!! (note I couldn't find a 03 photo so I'm using the current vintage which looks exactly the same except that its under stelvin)

2007 Laurance of Margaret River Icon Cabernet

It's been a while since my last post and for that I apologise, there has been a lot going on with Christmas and summer and I simply haven't been tasting and enjoying wine but merely drinking it. Criminal I know but it is that time of year.

This is a bottle that I was given as a present from a friend and I thought it stood out so much why not add it to my reviews. If you scroll down and look at the picture you will see exactly why.

Lets start with how beautiful this wine looks in the glass, beautiful deep crimson to purple red with legs to die for. The nose is exceptionally pleasant with a distinct savory almost forrest floor aroma, sweet dark plums, cassis and a light hint of violets. The palate is very approachable for what I'd call a young reserve Cabernet that is truly intended for cellaring. Blackcurrant again with chewy but approachable tannins and cigar box this wine is wonderfully juicy, lightly acidic and has great length, it just keeps going and going and going. This wine will be awesome in 5-7 years and could even go 15 to reach its peak.

Simply put, looks great, smells awesome and tastes even better. Juicy fruitiness that will make untrained palates water and trained palates rejoice. This is a cracking Margaret River Cabernet that I will definitely be investing in a case for cellaring. Great for drinking now and will only get better so a great present or bottle to lay down. This will not disappoint.

For a second we should discuss the packaging as it stands out like a sore thumb. It is definitely not a traditional bottle or labelling for their entire range and will stand out in any wine store or wine rack its put in. I can see how the purists out there would be upset by it but I think its absolutely fantastic. It would definitely grab my attention if I saw it on a shelf amongst others and would intrigue me enough to buy a bottle and try it.

James Halliday gave this a 94 which I think is a little short of the mark but its also had a really great rap from the boys a Quoff which can be viewed at http://www.qwoff.com/go/qwofftv/qwoff-tv-ep-20-featured-winery-laurance-wines, worth watching as well as the rest of the stuff from the boys down there. Personally I'd rate this in at a 9 - 9.5 out of 10 and as previously stated it will only get better with a bit of age.

Now value for money, I think second to none really, boutique Margaret River Cabernet under a reserve label.... most of us would think $70.. $85.. well no this little beauty is available from the cellar door for just $40 a bottle. You will struggle to get it much elsewhere other than in some fancy gift boxing in David Jones. I will be keeping a keen eye out for the next vintage.

I don't have much more to say really. Go get hold of a bottle and give it a try. I'll be ordering a mixed case to sample some more of the range, if they are anywhere near as good as the cellar door looks via their website or this wine its self then I may need to move them into my favourites list. Oh but be careful the website is www.laurancewines.com there is no 'au' on the end. Enjoy this wine, I am!

2008 La Linea Adelaide Hills Tempranillo

As with my previous post I love Tempranillo so as I was walking around my local Celebrations looking for a bottle to share with you all I couldn't walk past this one. A classic clear cherry red in the glass the look of this wine will not disappoint. No legs to speak of I was surprised to see 13.5% even on the bottle. On the nose you get the varietal strawberry and light dry herbs and spice. Lovely and light on the palate this wine shows again the traditional characteristics you'd expect from a Tempranillo, juicy red berry fruits, fine tannin structure and slightly dry there is a herbaciousness on the medium length finish that is intriguing but not necessarily desirable.

In short this is a dry but fruity red that should definitely be enjoyed with food and could probably do with some bottle age. More of a traditional style than the Mr Riggs i've reviewed earlier and much less approchable but overall enjoyable.

It received a 91 from James Halliday which i think is a little over stated and has definitely been dragged up by this wine being very true to the traditional spanish style. Unfortunately I can only bear to give this a 7 out of 10 at best and would steer most people toward the Mr Riggs Yacca Paddock unless they already know that they like the more traditional spanish style.

I purchased this wine for $26.70 from the Celebrations and have struggled to find this wine online. To be absolutely honest you can get a better Tempranillo and much more approachable for a lot less. Still good value for money really but only if you are looking for a dry wine.

Personally I'll be buying a Mr Riggs next time I'm looking for a Tempranillo but hey don't let me hold you back from trying something new. Although if you want to try something new there are plenty of other wines for the same price point that will treat your palate better.

Lenton Brae

I visited Lenton Brae vineyard the other day and was excited by the wines as well as impressed by the cellar door and it's story. As such I thought I should share my experience with you all.

Lenton Brae cellar is set back from Caves Road in the heart of Wilyabrup, 15-20 mins north of Margaret River. You can almost drive straight past the entrance unless you are looking for it but if you do happen to drive past please do turn around as the wine list shouldn't be missed. It is one of the only cellar's i've visited where I've enjoyed or appreciated all the wines on the tasting list.

As you drive down the narrow entrance road you are welcomed by well groomed vines and a heritage listed building with architecture that will impress most. As you walk up the steps the the cellar entry you get an excellent view out over the valley and the vineyards which produce the majority of the fruit used in the wines you are about to sample. If you are lucky enough to be touring through the week you will be cheerfully greeted by Lenton Brae's exceptional Cellar Sales attendant Chris who is more than keen to impart his wealth of knowledge on all who visit and will listen. As you taste your wine you can wander onto a viewing platform which looks down into the working winery which is most interesting.

The wine list will look very similar to every other winery in the Margaret river region with the typical SSB's, Chardonnay's and of course Cabernet and blends of but don't be tempted to skip any as all the range is worth a try. Even though you will double up on a couple of varieties each wine has its own style and are all stand out drops that although don't all appeal to my palate were all very approachable and very very drinkable. Nothing under a 8 out of 10 in my opinion on the entire tasting list, unfortunately I didn't take notes on any of the wines I tasted to share with you but keep an eye out as I will definitely will be purchasing some of the range and doing write ups on them. Only a couple from the range are distributed so if you do see anything from this stand out winery do not hesitate to grab it and give it a shot, if it's a variety you like to drink its very unlikely you'll be disappointed. Good luck and happy drinking. 

2008 Wallace by Ben Glaetzer Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache

Deep dark crimson purple from a short distance this wine looks black in the glass but on closer look is absolutely beautiful, long thick legs the colour clings to the glass as you swirl it. From a standard glass I found this wine to be quite closed on the nose but in my Riedel glass with a good swirl it opens up and is quite pronounced with rich dark cherries and a jammy sweetness that is very attractive. On the palate this is a very large wine with an absolute richness that to some palates will be simply overwhelming, big dark berry fruit flavours engulf your mouth with a touch of vanilla and a medium length this wine begs you to take another sip. The pleasantly lightly spiced finish leads you into that next sip in search of that fruity goodness.

In short the only way I can describe this wine is that it is moreish for anyone who can handle a big fruity wine. Half way to syrupy it won't please a lot of palates but I think it is simply delightful in small doses. Enjoy this beauty with or without food as it is very easy, scratch that, way too easy drinking.

There is a great write up in 'The Big Red Wine Book 2010/2011' which has become almost a bible for me in the past couple of years and volumes and I recommend any red wine lover take a browse through one of these. 91 from the guys from The Big Red Wine Book and a 94 from James Halliday it's been appreciated across the industry, for me solid 9 - 9.5 out of 10 again in small doses.

The all important test, is this wine good value for money? I paid $21.80 at my local Celebrations and it seems to be around $23 across everywhere else I see it which I think is great value for money, you should be able to pick it up in a discount liquor store like Dan Murphy's for around $19. It also looks as if we have moved into the next vintage of this recently which I will not be shy about trying.

I've liked Ben Glaetzer's wine for a long time now and will be making a point of tasting and adding each of his range to my collection over time. Good luck with this cracka wine and happy drinking.

Crittenden Estate 2007 Pinocchio Sangiovese

It's been a while since I've had time to sit down and do a review and I apologise to followers of this blog for that, but now here I am and with a commitment to try to get 2 done a week dependant on my work loads and drinking patterns. I'm also here with a interesting little wine which to be honest I'm still making my mind up about.

I first saw this wine in a restaurant at pub and purchased a bottle without blinking and also every time we went back to eat, then today as I strolled through my local Celebrations store it caught my eye again and I couldn't resist grabbing a bottle as my fiance really loves it, although upon sampling I fear this is a different vintage to the one we are used to at that restaurant and perhaps from a different region, this one is a Heathcote and the 08 is King Valley.

This wine is fairly attractive in the glass, a light cherry to ruby red with flashes of rust toward the rims it appears quite clear but on further inspection is actually quite opaque, not the only little surprise this wine holds. Almost non existant legs confirming the 13.5% alcohol as per the label. A pronounced earthy nose with dark berries and tobacco as quiet secondary notes lead you to a dry yet overal attractive aroma. Dry grainy tannins engulf your palate, young sour cherry flavours come through with earthy spice on the finish of this light bodied wine with unexpected excellent fruity length. A great representation of this interesting little varietal.

In short a more traditional sangiovese than I had expected when I picked the bottle up. Very dry grainy wine that really won't please a lot of people's palates although if dry is your bag then you'll love this little baby. There is a fruitiness that is very pleasant and great cherry flavours that linger for quite some time.

I've not been able to find any reviews by major critics but the 2008 got an 89/100 in the Gourmet Traveller. I'd really only be able to give this a very generous 7/10 and whole heartedly believe it would have been a lot better a year or so ago and 100 times better with food. Saying that if I can get hold of a 2008 I definitely will give it a shot as I am sure I had a much better opinion of this wine at that restaurant.

At $20 a bottle it wouldn't be that much of an expensive mistake if you wanted to try this out but definitely don't pay any more than that for it and definitely don't rush out and grab a bottle as there is plenty of better ways to spend $20 like perhaps on the 08 vintage. You should be able to get it from the winery directly in its current vintage or www.mywinestore.com.au also keeps stock in minimum quantities of 3 at a time. Expect to pay $35 + in a restaurant.

As always good luck with your purchase decisions, don't let me turn you off this wine completely but perhaps try the 08, happy drinking and good health.

Torbreck Descendant 2004 Shiraz Viognier

Wow is my first impression of this beauty, as in wow what a big full bodied wine! Beautiful dark purple in your glass, so dark you'd swear its opaque but on further observation its really fine and clear. On the nose there definite purple berries and plum with hints of ink and slight floral notes. Massive legs on the glass highlight the 14.5% alcohol which I would say is much higher. Silky feel across your whole palate with soft subtle grainy tannins and juicy fruit this wine will blow you away. If you don't like big palate weight steer well clear of this wine.

To simplify if you answer yes to the following questions try this wine if there is a single no then simply don't waste your cash. Do you like massive wines? Are big fruit flavours high on your priority list? Would you try a wine if someone told you it had Ink in its description? Can you handle paying the same for a bottle of wine as for a good meal for two? Can you handle laying a wine down for 12-18 years before you touch it?
This is a big complex and fruity wine that anyone who likes Viognier blends will at least like but most will love. Highly recommend letting this wine stay down until at least 2015-2020 as it will simply only get better.

Halliday gave it a solid 96 and Campbell Mattinson 95 with the following comments;

"It’s made off relatively young vines but this release is the breakthrough vintage for this label – the mammoth, concentrated, overwhelming power of this wine says anything but immaturity. It’s a monster. But an exceptionally pure monster. Full of warm, floral, plummy, porty fruit with a nutty aftertaste and a carve of finely tailored tannins. It makes you sit straighter in your chair. It is over the top, but it is as fine as such a style can be."

 My rating on this wine is defiantly 9 out of 10 and would increase with age definitely, I am very impressed by David Powell's range and am more than happy to have a selection sitting in my cellar.

$125 is a normal price for this bottle and paying much more would be a waste of cash. You can acquire a bottle from good boutique wine cellars but if you want to get some fish around the auctions and you should pick them up a little cheaper but whatever you pay for it this wine is worth it. Saying that you could actually get half a case of something just as drinkable to drink now for the same price not to say that is the better option it really just depends on your priorities. I certainly wouldn't rush to drink another bottle of this right now, I would undoubtedly buy and lay it down to add some prestige to my personal cellar.

If you manage to get a bottle and lay it down or drink it please let me know what you think and as alway enjoy and happy drinking!

Mr Riggs 2008 Yacca Paddock Tempranillo

This Tempranillo looks fantastic, a deep opaque cherry red it displays flashes of purple as you swirl it round your glass, it also leaves fantastic legs that stain the glass displaying its high 14.5% alcohol content. Fragrant the slightly fruity slightly earthy nose draws you in, the complex dark fruit stands out and is very pleasant. Velvety and smooth on the front of the palate with savoury fruit and dark cherry flavours which linger after a pleasant hit of good tannin structure. With great length this wine is very impressive and gets 10 fold better with a bit of food which brings out the smooth velvety fruit characteristics and softens the tannins.

To be blunt and uncomplicated..... I loved the approachability of this wine for most palates. Good fruit, not to dry, not too sweet, just good easy drinking with a pleasant complexity that will have more sophisticated palates still asking for more.

Halliday had this to say and gave it 94;

Brightly coloured; has impressive focus, length and intensity to its display of spicy black cherry fruit, and convincing tannins on the finish.

All accounts of this wine I have seen are good Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh had this to say in their 'Big Red Wine Book 2010/11;

There's something cool and dusty about this wine. In a good way. It tastes like a mix of juicy cherries and dusty earth, and when you swallow you'd almost swear that you'd just finished licking a granite rock. Seriously! It has that mineral kind of flavour. We're fans.

I give this a 9.5 out of 10 and seriously will be buying some more tomorrow as I really enjoyed it.

www.nicks.com.au has the 2007 vintage of this wine at $24.99 a bottle as to various other online stores but I managed to purchase is from First Choice liquor for about $22. Either way its not exactly a cheap bottle but definitely worth the price you pay. Don't pay more than $27 because you'd be getting ripped but definitely buy a bottle and try it.

I love Tempranillo and even more now I've learned how to pronounce it correctly and this just slipped into one of my all time favourites. This tasting has prompted me to try more of Ben Riggs' wines including some other labels I've seen advertised. Wish me luck! You'll be sure to hear how I go. Happy drinking.