Best's Great Western Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

I had got this wine for Deb for the wine tasting next weekend, but as she wanted to choose a wine for herself, we decided to open this for dinner. From the Grampians, this Cab Sav showed reasonably lifted aromas of blackcurrent, cassis, mint, spice, and some herbal notes. On the palate it was relatively green, but developing, with good stucture, mellow fruits and drying but controlled tannins. Overall this wine showed craft and poise, but lacked a little dimension and depth. May be a little young.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Condado De Haza Ribera Del Duero 2003

Continuing my exploration of Spanish reds, this wine made from 100% Tempranillo displayed big fruity aromas of black cherries, dried red berries, leather-strap, ripe red apple, candied apples, more berries and herbs. On the palate it was quite rich in fruits, with pervasive but smooth soft creamy tannnins. Length was long and rich leading to a minerally, almost sherry-like dry finish. Great texture and mouth feel, this wine was quite enticing, even with the amount of fruit it held. Overall a gutsy red with control and finesse. Nice Spaghetti-Western label.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

El Coto Crianza 2003

Deb, to my delight, picked this Rioja up for our chorizo and potato supper. Opened with a lovely generous bouquet of red berries, roasted meat, licorice, leather, herbs, spice dusty earth and a hint of mocha. On the palate it was juicy berries with more gamey notes, fine tannins and earthy tones. Acidity was a tad racy, but in control enough. Finished quite long and dry. I really liked this rioja, particulary its gaminess and generosity, and at $24 I think very good value. Great label too.
50+4+14+17+7 = 92/100

Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon 2004

For our friday night aperitif, a white Burgundy from the Vaillon vineyards on the left-bank of Chablis. Opened to a very soft bouquet of red apples, peach, lemon curd, candied citrus, honey and feint grilled nuts. The palate was clean and well structured, with a crystal acidity and a soft and flinty mineral core. Oak was evident but diminishing and the finish was tight and reasonably long. I think this still needs time in the cellar to develop further as it seemed a little locked up and inexpressive, but overall a well made 1er Cru Chablis.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Italo Cescon Pinot Grigio DOC Fruili Grave 2006

I have had this wine a number of times in the past, but have never written it up. From Grave de Friuli, Italy, the bouquet was quite fine with peach, nutmeg, vanilla, stones and a touch of pineapple. On the palate it was quite fruity, with a semi-grainy acidity and fine mineral backbone. Nice balance, length and finish although it did flare up a bit as it warmed. Overall a very competant and refined Grigio. A little fruitier than previous vintages but quite a nice wine.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Vasse Felix Cabernet Merlot 2004

And continuing the Margaret River theme on to a Cabernet Merlot. This wine, actually made from 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 7% Malbec opened to aromas of blackberries, plums, cassis, cedar, mint and a little chocolate. The palate was fairly well structured with rich fruits over fading oak. The tannins were a little robust, but were softening as the wine opened up. Length was reasonable and finish a little inky. Not a bad Bordeaux style of a wine, which I think would do with some more cellaring which may add a little more depth.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Devil's Lair Chardonnay 2005

After having enjoyed the 2004 vintage of this Chardonnay, it was time to try the new vintage. On the bouquet it was rather reserved with pear essence, grapefruit, roasted nuts and some spice. Again the palate was fairly reserved, with rich tight fruit over a very fine acidity, with a creamy nectar-like mouthfeel. Length was good and finish quite tight and dry. Overall this wine has changed markedly from the 2004, being much more Burgundinian in its style. Quite a fine and elegant chardonnay, but I did prefer the idiosyncrasies of the 2004.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Marques de Riscal Reserva 2002

Iv'e been wanting to try this wine for some time, almost getting a bottle last christmas, but finally managed to see it at Annandale.

After decanting for about an hour, the wine had a superb bouquet of black cherries, red currant, licorice, coffee beans, chocolate, vanilla, white and black pepper, cola, cedar and mineral. On the palate it had rich black fruits over wonderfully soft and powdery tannis, which kept refining down to a creamy velvety mouthfeel. The length was long and lasting, and the finish elegant. This was a superbly crafted rioja, and left me craving for more as it kept refining itself. Would work well with food, but really deserves to be drunk for itself, and potentially would cellar well. Certainly worth the $50 I paid, but can be had a little cheaper. Un vino magnífico.
50+4+14+18+9 = 95/100

Domaine Bernard Moreau Bourgogne-Passetoutgrain 2005

Stu from Annadale cellars gave his high recommendation for this Burgundy which was a blend of pinot and gamay, so decided to trust him and gave it a go. Opened to a fairly rich bouquet of black cherries, animal musk and some oak. The palate was quite robust, with chewey almost runaway acidity, with sour cherries and a slight gameyness. Finished rather sharp and tangy. Obviously the gamay was dominating this wine, with the pinot struggling to express itself underneath. I dont think this wine works that well, leaning towards a CDR rather than a Burgundy. I really must stop taking Stu's advice.
50+4+11+15+6 = 86/100

Sieur De Camandieu Viognier 2005

A new vintage of this Viognier of which I had last year. Opened to a fine bouquet of apricot, pineapple, spice and stones. On the palate it was light to mid-bodied, very balanced acidity, and a nice round and stoney minerality. Again a well made viognier from Languedoc, perhaps a little finer than the 2004. A lovely and soft aperatif wine. Bargain at $10.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Château Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2000

After our delicious dinner of Stufatu, we opened this Bordeaux from Lalande de Pomerol, just north of the Pomerol appelation. A blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon the bouquet slowly revealed rich pureed berries, chocolate, moccha, vanilla, earth and menthol. The palate initially was a soft and rich array of pureed fruit, but developed slowly to show ripe plums, blackcurrant, herbs and caramel. Fruit, tannins and oak were all integrated, yet played off each other a little to show what at first seemed a merlot fruit bomb. But with aeration this wine kept building and revealing greater structure and character. Admittedly we didn't decant this wine, and did open it a year or so before its drinking window of 2008-2028, but am determined to get another bottle after sniffing the empty bottle this morning which revealed a superb and still developing bouquet.
50+4+14+17+8 = 93/100 +

Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006

Continuing my trend of Margaret River whites, as they seem to be in fine form, this SSB made from 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon opened to a relatively austere bouquet of lemon, grass, soft florals, herbs and delicate musk. The palate again was austere, with fruit and acid superbly integrated and balanced, with a fine grainy minerality. Oak was evident but very distant, and added the slightest hint of toast. Alcohol was nowhere to be seen, and the finish was delicate and dry. Overall this wine was superbly crafted in a Bordeaux Blanc fashion, and in that way it lacked a little generosity and perhaps depth for me. But certainly it may develop with some cellaring.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Vasse Felix Semillon 2006

I don't remember ever having a Semillon from Vasse Felix, only Chardonnays and Cab Savs. This semillon opened to an amazing bouquet of lime, lemon, grass, toasted coconut, vanilla, herbs and soft smoke. The palate held racy acidity which was clean and balanced, with some fine oak at the back adding weight and structure. Finished fine and long with lemon and vanilla notes. This was a superb Margaret River white, with great character and distinctiveness. Well priced at around $25.
50+4+14+17+7 = 92/100

Busuiaca de Bohotin Reserve XX 1989 No 1430

This was a birthday wine from the region of Iasi. A romanian grape grown in only one place in Romania, this distinctive grape make light red or rose wines much sought after here and abroad.

Dark onion skin / brandy colour, rich floral bouquet musky with honeysuckle overtones. Syrupy texture, lindenblossom honey, floral taste very long length, well rounded with a sharp green apple edge and woody aftertaste.

One of the best sweet or dessert wines I have had (and yes that includes the Micheal Nivole). Best drunk unaccompanied and chilled.

These are limited release wines of roughly 3000 bottles a year hence the bottle number. Low alcohol 11.5%

Score: 96

Orlando Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling 2005

I was very impressed with the 2001 vintage of this riesling had at the riesling tasting a month or so ago, so wanted to try a recent vintage. On the bouquet was lime, musk, some florals and hints of nuts. The palate was quite juicy with limes, and acidity was robust but balanced. Nice minerality and mouthfeel, with the finish a little short. But like the 2001, this has cellaring potential to bring out it's complexities. Quite good value at $17 but am sure it can be had for less.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Bottle Tree Chardonnay 2006

This un-oaked chardonnay from Warren NSW was a cheap wine I picked up primarily for cooking purposes, but did have a glass or two whilst cooking. Big tropical fruit aromas with a touch of smoke and cream, the palate was quite fruity and flabby, with little structure to speak of. Body was thin, acidity in check and finish very non-descript. Whilst there was no volitility evident, overall this was a fairly uninspiring wine. A little better than their Semillon Chardonnay. Overpriced at $10.
50+4+11+15+6 = 86/100

Moss Wood Ribbonvale Vineyard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2006

From the Margaret River, this wine made from 66% Semillon and 34% Sauvignon Blanc had a superb bouquet of lemon, fig, cloves, grass, smoke and vanilla. The palate was clean and fresh, with very smooth and balanced acidity. Body was medium, length substantial and the finish was soft and elegant. Overall this has to be one of the best SSB blends from Australia I have had for quite a while, and at $28 absolutely worth it. I look forward to trying their Semillon.
50+4+14+17+8 = 93/100