Boschendal Blanc de Noir 2004

From the coastal region of South Africa, this wine had a very unique salmon-copper colour, and is a combination of Pinot Noir and Merlot. The nose had an odd combination of blackberries, stawberries, melon, hay and a touch of vanilla. The palate was quite dry, reminiscent of a Mediterranean Rose, or a dry pink Champagne. The palate was slighty split, but otherwise a good dry food wine. One to pull out to impress/intrigue your friends.
50+5+12+16+7 = 90/100

E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2003

In the bargain bin, this CDR, a blend of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc, had a soft nose with honey, peach, apricot and nougat. A little sulphur was somewhere, but no detracting. On the palate thick, unctous and oily mouthfeel. Fat textured, it had good body and was long and lingering. I suspect a lot of people may find this wine a little overbearing, but I didn't mind it.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

Château Sainte Marie Entre-Deux Mers 2005

This white with 60% Sauvignon, 30% Sémillon and 10% Muscadelle from the Bordeaux region, showed a soft, clean nose of white fruits (pears), passionfruit flowers and a touch of spice. On the palate it was quite clean, crisp and had good minerality. Decent length and soft dry finish made for an elegant white wine, well balanced in all respects, however nothing really piqued my intrest with it. Elegant and well made, but a bit boring.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Ruffino Lumina Del Borgo Pinot Grigio 2005

Was reasonably excited about the new vintage of this Pinot Grigio, as the 2004 was one of my favourites of the style. On the bouquet it was definitely amiss. Sharp, volitile, split aromas, not unlike gastric acid. On the palate it was no better, with a very grainy and volitile acidity, with lots of residule sugar. Grabbing and sickly. Undrinkable, and even apprehensive about cooking with this. A big let-down as the previous vintage was so good.
50+4+2+4+2 62/100

Temple Bruer Chenin Blanc 2005

The new vintage of this Chenin had a tight, steely, mineral bouquet, very much like a classic Vouvray, with musk, apples and flowers. On the palate it was quite crunchy, yet well balanced and rounded. Good length and crisp finish. The acid structure is there for some cellaring. Good to see consistency with this wine, which has to be the best made chenin from this country I have tasted.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Wirra Wirra Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2005

Drank this with Phil and Deb over our lovely Thai dinner. The bouquet was pitched perfectly, with creamy melon, nectarine, cashew and soft oak. On the palate it was lovely, with a smooth creamy texture with the fruit dominating somewhat. The oak was delightfully soft and integrated. Good body, length and finish. A very nice example of the current style, and although it lacked a little distinction, a beautiful wine which would please almost every drinker. Good value at around $27.
90+4+14+17+7 = 92/100

Château Villerambert-Julien Rosé 2004

Have had this rose from Minervois several times before, and is quite a good one. Strawberry, cherries, spice and nuts on the bouquet, with quite a well balanced, light-bodied palate. Very nice with a good tamarind satay sauce. Not bad price either at around $20. Made from 40% Syrah - 30% Grenache - 20% Carignan and 10% Mourvèdre.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Peter Lehmann Barossa Semillon 2005

A nice and cheap $10 semillon, the bouquet had aromas of lemon curd, toast, some florals and musk. On the palate it was quite fresh and crisp citrus, with decent viscousity and a clean finish. Decent length as well. As it warmed it softend and eased up, releasing lovely florals, musk and a touch of smoke. Very enjoyable and a good price. Felt like having some baked ricotta cheesecake with it.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Orlando Jacob's Creek Shiraz Rose 2006

This fairly cheap Rose had quite a nice bouquet of berries, which were slightly candied. On the palate it was quite dry, a little short and thin, but not too bad. The acid was just in check and there was some residual sugar, but not bad at $8. Wouldn't pay over $10 for it though.
50+4+11+14+7 = 86/100

Xanadu Secession Semillon Savignon Blanc 2005

From the Margaret River WA, this SSB had soft aromas of passionfruit, lemon, snow peas and a touch of honey. On the palate it was quite smooth and soft, with a minerally long, crisp and clean finish. Could have been a little softer but otherwise very nicely made, and at around $14 good value, and better so if you get it cheaper at around $10. A good white for summer and one of the better Australian SSB's I have had for a while.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2005

This riesling from Henty, had aromas of lime, mineral, peach, lemon, custard and spice. On the palate it was quite rich and oily, with good minerality and crisp balanced acidity. An old fashioned Australian powerful riesling, with good structure and control. While not my favourite style of riesling, it is still worth $27.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Stonier Chardonnay 2004

This wine from the Mornington Peninsula had a lovely intense bouquet of rockmelon, honey, stonefruits, spice and oak. On the palate it was quietly robust, with good structure, creaminess and a tight dry finish. This is lovely chardonnay and a good price at around $25.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Charles Melton Rose of Virginia 2005

This rose from the Barossa was quite deep in colour, and had a bouquet of cherries, raspberries, flowers and a hint of mint. On the palate it was quite dense for a rose, similar to a pinot. It was quite chewy, with rich berries, and finished quite dry. Not really my kind of rose, for it tried to be something other. Overpowering, overpriced, and overrated. (OOO)
50+4+11+14+7 = 86/100

Beelgara Estate Gun Shearer Chardonnay 2004

Deborah picked this Chardonnay up for around $12, which is cheaper than its usual price around $20. Pale gold, it had aromas of peach, melon and tropical fruits. On the palate it was relatively soft and balanced, but the fruit dominated, and became a bit sickly sweet towards the end. Not much depth to this wine, and could have been better crafted.
50+4+12+13+6 = 85/100

Wolf Blass Gold Label Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2003

A mid priced $25 pinot, the bouquet was quite lucious and lovely, with rich berries, strawberry, mulch, spice (cinnamon?) and caramel. On the palate again quite rich in fruit, soft and balanced and decent length. This is sort of a crowd pleaser pinot, lacking a little distinctiveness, however you could certainly impress perhaps someone you intend to covet. Overall good value and well made.
50+4+13+16+7 = 89/100

Orlando Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2005

I have had Jacob's Creek probably once in my life, and from that point on have avoided it, but decided to give this a try due to the recent Halliday review.

On the bouquet was melon, fig, cashews, oak and a hint of stonefruit. On the palate it was tight and focused, with balanced acidity. The mouthfeel was tight and dry, with a small amount of oak guiding it. It finish quite crisp and dry, and had good length. I was pretty impressed by this chardonnay, again textbook stuff but there is a quality and care here which makes this a bargain at around $10. Very enjoyable drinking.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Orlando Jacob's Creek Shiraz 2004

A cheap red for dinner, this shiraz had a bouquet of pureed fruit, pepper, licorice and a touch of violet. On the palate it was well balanced, quite light in body with not much depth or length. Textbook stuff really but not inspiring in anyway. An easy drink and quite cheap.
50+4+11+13+7 = 85/100

Maison Champy Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2004

This 4th class Burgundy from around Beaune had a soft bouquet of strawberry, cherries and a touch of forest floor. On the palate it was quite soft and light, with sour cherry and a touch of gravel. It finished quite dry, and did not have great length. Overall a light, elegant lunch wine with not a lot of depth.
50+4+11+15+7 = 87/100

las Campanas Garnacha Rosado 2004

Having had this rose several times now, decided to write it up. Wonderful colour, burnt crimson pink, the bouquet comprises of soft red berries, flowers and nuts. On the palate it is very well balanced, soft and reasonably dry with a great balance between sweet and savoury. A superlative eating wine or apertif. Very nice.
50+5+13+16+7 = 91/100

Adelaide Hills Viognier 2004 (cleanskin)

This cleanskin from McLaren Vale Custom Crush (possibly produced by James Haselgrove Vignerons ???), had a decent bouquet of musk, lychee, apricot and traces of egg (fining?). Palate wise it was fairly well balanced, with apricots and musk, white pear and finished quite dry. The alcohol was well in check, and really no volotility at all, making this cheap viognier easy drinking and good value.
50+4+12+15+7 = 88/100

Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Côtes du Rhône 2004

Needing a red to discourage my head-cold and send me to sleep, I picked this up gingerly at my local bottle shop. 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah, this wine from Tavel was a dark dirty ruby red, and had a bouquet awash with robust dark cherries and berries, turning to dry pepper and cumin. On the palate it was chewy, sinewy berry fruits, and finished spicy and dry. Tannins were big, but soft enough, reminding me a little of a Cahors red. This was one of the more robust CDR's I have had, and while not overly refined, it had an enjoyable rustic forwardness about it. Perfect in a carafe with a steak I think.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Tahbilk Marsanne 2005

Finally committed to try this, as have heard good reports. Golden and rich in appearance, the bouquet initially held rich honey, lemon curd, herbs (grass, marjoram?), toast and a touch of smoke, not dissimilar to an bottled aged semillon. As the wine breathed, a secondary bouquet appeared of passionfruit flower, lending a SB character. On the palate it was rich, with a good fat, almost oily mouthfeel, probably due to the 13.5% alcohol. Honey, lemon, and slighty tropical, with good clean acid, finishing dry and lingering. This is fairly complex, yet clean and simple in a way. Old world semillon meets New World SB (vice-versa)? Definitely could lay this one down for 10 years. Bargain at $15.
50+4+13+17+7= 91/100

Wolf Blass Eaglehawk Rose 2005

Resonably cheap, this rose had a big fun bouquet of berries and a hint of bubblegum. On the palate quite juicy and lots of berry fruit. Finished reasonably dry, yet quite sweet due to evident residual sugar. Not that refined, yet would be popular with un-decerning rose drinkers. Fruity fun at a bbq.
50+4+12+14+6= 86/100

Peter Lehmann Barossa Riesling 2005

I vaguely remember having a previous vintage (2004?) of this riesling, and not being impressed too much by it, but decided to give the 2005 a try, after the recent Halliday recommendation.

Lovely and soft bouquet of citrus, apple, flowers and musk. On the palate it was juicy, with lime and apple, with a very nice powdery-minerality. The acid was perfectly balanced, unlike the previous vintage, and finished focused and clean and relatively long. This is riesling with classic Australian character , but excellently balanced and crafted. A bargain too at around $12.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Clairault Cape Pink Rose 2005

An interesting blend of 35% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Riesling and 11% Merlot, this rose from the Margaret River, of which I only had a glass, had a big fruity bouquet of berries. On the palate it was juicy, almost stewish, but strangely pleasant and childish in a way. It finished reasonably dry and was well balanced. Sort of a big summer pudding which works well as a rose, and makes for fun drinking. Curious to try a full bottle.
50+4+11+14+7 = 86/100 (tentatively)

Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2003

Textbook Alsatian Gewurztraminer, with soft aromas of grapefruit, stones, musk and spice. On the palate it had a soft focused minerality, with a powdery mouthfeel. A little leaner than previous vintages but still consistent.
Lovely with apple and swiss cheese.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Chateau Tour de Mirambeau Bordeaux Superieur Rouge 2004

Another of the cheap French wines at vintage, this Cabernet Merlot blend had aromas of plums, cassis, redcurrants with hints of mint and caramel. On the palate it was soft and well balanced, with currants and a dry, soft spicy finish. A confident medium bodied red, neither extraordinary nor dissapointing.
50+4+12+15+7 = 88/100

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2004

This second label chardonnay from WA was pale gold in colour, with a soft bouquet of melon, pear, stonefruits, spice, vanilla and cream. On the palate it was quite focused, with pears and grapefruit integrated deftly with oak. A nice buttery mouthfeel and clean soft finish. Would have liked it a little leaner on the fruit, but still this is a very well made chardonnay, and good value at around $30.
50+4+14+16+7 = 91/100