Yering Station Pinot Noir 2006

For dinner we opened this Yarra Valley Pinot, which we haven't had for a little while. On the bouquet was a nice array of sour cherry, raspberry, vanilla, sap and some soft spice. The palate was tight and controlled, with soft and delicate tannins under relative expressive fruits. Finished suave and confident. Again this is a great value and consistent Pinot at around $25.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 2007

Something a little different, this wine from vineyards near Santiago, Chile, is made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenere. On the bouquet it showed blackberries, cherries, vanilla, pepper and some spice. The palate was well balanced, perhaps a touch fruity with some greenish tannins supporting. Overall quite a decent wine, especially for around $10. Very nice labelling too.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Jacob's Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2001

For dinner we opened this Shiraz Cabernet from Jacob's Creek, one of their flagship reds (or is it the only one?). On the bouquet were aromas of raspberry, plum, licorice, oak and spices. On the palate it was mid-bodied, with Bordeaux-ish ripe fruits over some spicy tannins. There was something a touch green about mid-palate, but overall quite a sofisticated red blend. Not bad value at $50.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

Bass Phillip 21 Pinot Noir 2006

Was quite pleased to see this in the store, and grabbed a bottle as had not had a Bass Phillip proper, as the last one I had was spoilt. Opened to some very seductive aromas of sour cherry, forest floor, mushroom, game, caramel and some soft sweet musk. On the palate it was again very seductive, with acid and tannins working harmoniously. Supple finish and lingering flavours made this quite a unique and moreish wine. Overall an extremely sexy pinot which would seduce anybody.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Clonakilla Canberra District Viognier 2006

First experience of this famous and renowned Australian Viognier, it opened to a soft and fresh array of pear, apricot, pine nuts, flowers and a little spice. On the palate it was very balanced and controlled, with soft slightly sweet fruit over some powdery minerals. Not as powerful as I would expect but certainly very elegant in its style. Much more feminine and seductive than say the Yalumba Virgilius. A beautiful wine nonetheless.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Zerbina Ceregio Sangiovese Di Romagna 2005

For our pasta dinner, we opened this Sangiovese which showed aromas of berry fruits, dried herbs, savoury meat and a touch of tobacco. On the palate it was quite lean with firm acid and quite dry tannins. It did soften a little over time in the glass but really quite a simple and thin wine. Worked very well with our food. Simple and unpretentious.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Having had the 2004 around a year ago, was game to give the 2005 a try. Opened to quite a refined and evolving bouquet of red berries, plums, mint chocolate, oak, vanilla and spice. On the palate fruits, oak and tannins all in a lovely unison, with sound structure and taught finish. Again this was very well crafted Cab Sav in the Bordeaux style, and still very good value at around $35.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Château Lalande Borie Saint Julien 2005

Was pleased to find another Bordeaux in the store, this time from a Château just outside Beychevelle, St Julien. Opened to quite a friendly bouquet of plum, blackcurrant, raisins, chocolate, vanilla and some earthy notes. On the palate it was quite solid in body, with deep plummy fruits over some very svelt yet taught tannins. The wine did slowly refine itself over some hours, and even perhaps if it was a little green it made for very fine drinking, and would benefit further I think with some cellaring.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

My second try of this wine, the first being the 2000 a couple of weeks ago which was quite excellent. Opened to a big and slightly hot bouquet of macerated plum, cassis, licorice, seaweed, mocha, mineral and a waft of spice. On the palate again alcohol was showing a little, but fruits were deep and tannins quite soft and integrated. Overall quite a big and hot wine, which I feel probably needs more time in the bottle, or a long (5hrs?) decant. A little less user-friendly than the 2000.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Was quite excited to see the new vintage of this wine, of which the 2004 vintage I think was one of the best Australian Cab Savs I think I have tasted. After a bit of a decant, the bouquet showed familiar aromas of red berry fruits, blackcurrant, coffee, vanilla, cabernet leaf, cedar and a hint of mint. On the palate was a lovely mix of deep fruit, soft yet drying tannins, some mineral and savoury olives. There was a slight greeness to the wine, which I think would fade with some cellaring but again this is still in great form and perhaps just a touch behind the 2004. Excellent.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Moillard Côte de Nuits Villages 2003

Another Burgundy, this time from AOC Côte de Nuits Villages. Opened to a reasonable bouquet of cherries, strawberry, plum and some spice. On the palate it was well balanced, yet a little thin in body and length. Again nothing notable or commendable about this wine except it did show some finesse in its structure, making for pleasant drinking. A bit ho-hum.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Château Caronne Ste Gemme Haut Médoc 2005

Located in Saint-Laurent in the Central Médoc, this Cru Bourgeois opened to reveal not much of a bouquet at first, but after a couple of hours slowly showed dark macerated berry fruits, raisons, gravel, vanilla and some green stalk. On the palate it showed excellent structure, with some drying but softening tannins. Fruit was a little tight but would emerge with time I suspect. Overall this wine did seem a little young and underdeveloped, even still it made for lovely drinking. Would definitely improve with time. Very promising.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100
http://www.chateau-caronne-ste-gemme.com/

Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils Monthélie 2005

After dinner, we opened this Burgundy from Monthélie, a small village adjacent to Volnay and Mersault. On the bouquet were aromas of red and black berries, sap, flowers and a little spice. The palate displayed more berry fruits, underpinned by some lovely suave tannins. Length was decent and finish solid. Overall quite a well built pinot, but lacked a little character and interest for me. A little disappointing but still a nice and potentially promising wine.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

Gibbston Valley Pinot Gris 2006

I picked this up, not so much as a big fan of pinot gris, but more as a fan of the maker's pinot noir, which I had a year or so ago and found excellent. Opened to a delightful and slightly odd bouquet of candied pears, anise, sherbert and some savory floral notes. On the palate it was well balanced, with slippery pear fruit, minerals and a slight savoury and dry-ish finish. This was quite an elegant wine and one of the better non-French and even NZ examples of the variety I have tried to date. A great buy at $19.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Chateau Tour de Mirambeau Bordeaux 2005

A new vintage of this Bordeaux of which I had back in 2006. On the bouquet was a pleasant array of blackberries, plum, mint and some caramel. The palate was a little fruitier than the 2004, but still quite balanced, with a little streak of acidity and some nice softening tannins. Again a very easy non complicated Cab Merlot blend, which is still good value at around $19.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Peter Lehmann Barossa Tempranillo 2006

As Deb is fond of Rioja, we picked up this Tempranillo from the Barossa. Opened to quite a generous bouquet of forest fruits, vanilla, spice and some olive notes. On the palate again it was quite generous with fruit, and tannins were relatively soft and supportive. A touch of alcohol heat was present but not enough to spoil the palate. Quite a nice attempt at the variety, and makes for pleasant drinking.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100