Domaine Borie de Maurel Cuvée Maxime Minervois 2003

For dinner I opened this red made from 100% Mourvèdre from Minervois. Opened to a fairly ripe and fruity bouquet with blackberry, plum, cherry, herb, cola, florals and a touch of olive. On the palate again quite ripe and rich fruit over ripening tannins. Slightly flabby finish with hints of cumin emerging. Overall quite a generous red, but does lack structure.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Kanta Riesling Egon Muller 2006

Curious to try this Australian riesling made under German influence. Opened to a floral bouquet of lime, talc, green apple and some petrol. On the palate depth was lacking somewhat, but well balanced with clean acid and talcy minerals. A touch of residual sugar was evident but all up quite a well made wine. Needs more depth though.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Cims de Porrera Solanes Priorat 2003

Needing a red for dinner, I raided our recently purchased christmas case and chose this wine, made from a blend of 50% old-vine Cariñena, 30% Garnacha, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 5% Syrah. A bit locked on opening, the bouquet did open to show raspberry, minerals, coffee, milk chocolate, herbs, olive and leather. On the palate initially a bit chewey, but settled to show some soft and ripening tannins, dried fruits and a savoury finish. Overall quite a nice blend.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir 2006

On to dinner and I opened this Pinot from Central Otago. The bouquet was quite big and generous, with a melange of sweet and sour cherries, raspberry, tea, leather, mulch, sap, earth and spice. The largeness continued on the palate with big broody fruits, cola and spices over some very attractive and furry tannins. Finish was quite long and lingering. In the end I found this pinot a little too big, a touch hot and a bit overwhelming. Certainly ready to drink now with everything up front, and not sure how much further it could develop. Lacked the elegance and restraint of the 2003.
50+4+14+17+7 = 92/100

Denis Barraud Domaine des Nembrets Vieilles Vignes Les Folles Pouilly Fuissé 2005

Friday night and our aperitif was this white Burgundy from the commune of Vergisson, just north of Pouilly Fuissé. The bouquet was austere and showed aromas of acacia, citrus, white flowers, grass, macadamia, mint and a touch of butter. The palate was quite linear and focused, with taught acidity, some nice minerals, a little glycerol and spice. Finish was perfectly dry and lean. Very nice as an aperitif and made for focused drinking. Very good.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Brands Laira Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Was interested to try the 2nd wine as their flagship Cab Sav was quite a cracker. Opened to some classic Coonawarra aromas of licorice, plum, blackberry, vanilla, spice and oak. The medium weighted palate did refine and settle to show an array of black fruit, chocolate, cherries, and minerals over some furry but controlled tannins. Finished reasonably fresh and lively. Quite sofisticated and charming for a Coonawarra, and excellent value at $22.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Houghton Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007

The other Houghton I picked up was this SSB from WA. Opened to quite a lifted and generous bouquet of fruit salad, citrus, hay, kiwi and a little passionfruit. On the palate it was well balanced with fresh fruit over some nice slightly powdery mineral. Good and tight dry finish. Much better than the White classic and quite a bargain at $10. Would be an ideal seafood bbq wine.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz 2006

Having had what I think was the same vintage last Sunday at Simon and Heikes, I got a bottle to try again at home with Deb. Opened to show aromas of plum, cherries, spearmint, pepper, violets and some very nice balsamic notes. On the palate lots of rich red fruit over soft slightly furry tannins. Finished with some interesting minerals and a considered savoury edge. All up this is a very well made shiraz, with a very nice sweet/savoury character. Good depth too. A bargain at around $20.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Houghton White Classic 2007

Needing some cheap white, I picked up a Houghton White Classic and a SSB at $10 each. With nice new labeling and bottle, this wine is a blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Verdelho and had a pretty simple boquet of fruit salad, citrus and sweet musk. The palate was too relatively simple but balanced, with a little residual sugar evident. Finished dry and clean. Not a bad effort but was a tad flabby.
50+4+12+15+7 = 88/100

Brezza Santa Rosalia Nebbiolo 2005

Continuing our lovely Thai dinner with friends, opened this Italian wine from Alba, made from Nebbiolo. The bouquet was awash with sweet plum fruit, berries, peach, herbs and a touch of almond. The palate was quite light in body, with soft fruits over some softening tannins. Finished quite dry and savoury. Great sweet/savoury interplay and all up quite a charming red, excellent for dining.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Avril Clos des Papes Châteauneuf du Pape 2004

Was keen to share a Châteauneuf with my friends after having a fantastic 2002 not long ago. Made from a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% unknown, it initially showed nothing on the bouquet, but did slowly reveal raspberries, black berry, kirsch, coffee bean, licorice, earth and spices. The palate was quite light, but big in structure, and a slowly kept growing in size and somehow gained in weight. Alas it was decanted and drunk a little too quickly to show its full expression but truly a pleasure to drink. Must get more of this soon.
50+4+13+19+8 = 94/100

Louis Sipp Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé Grand Cru Riesling 2001

On to a riesling, this one from Ribeauvillé Alsace. Intense gold, the bouquet showed honey, pineapple, soft citrus, red apple, some boytritus notes and a hint of petrol. The palate was medium bodied, with rich maturing fruits over clean acids and mineral. Finish was quite long, dry and round. An excellent example of old world French riesling, and did seem popular with everybody.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Domaine Alain Cailbourdin Les Cris Pouilly Fume 2006

As I couldn't get a particular bottle of Sancerre, the assistant recommended this Pouilly Fume. Opened to a lean boquet of tropical fruits, apple, florals and some very nice minerals. On the palate the minerals were the main attraction, being quite chalky, flinty but delecate under clean fruits and acid. Wonderfully tight and chalky finish. Very well made and very delicious Sauvignon Blanc.

50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100

Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé NV

At Simon and Heike's lovely afternoon soiree, Simon graciously opened 3 bottles of pink champagne from a rack full of the stuff, this being one. Wonderful aromas of strawberry, citrus, florals and a hint of brioche. On the palate steady yet relatively fine beading, with more red fruits, citrus oils and wonderful dry finish. Quite a dry Brut but really a pleasure to drink and quite morish. Excellent.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

La Vuelta Brut Cava NV

Found this wine at one of our locals, which now have 2 Cavas on their shelves. Opened well to some fresh aromas of citrus, nuts, bread and some musk. On the palate beading was consistent although a little large with citrus and nuts dominating. Finish was dry although a little residual sugar was evident. Overall quite a simple sparkling wine, but quite enjoyable nonetheless.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

Happy Valley Sauterne 1983

At dinner on Saturday night, Cort graciously produced this sweet "Sauterne" wine from Happy Valley Wines, which I suspect no longer exists. Golden brown in colour it opened to a quite a fresh bouquet of lime, marmalade, citrus, honey and some florals. On the palate again it was still quite fresh, with a bit of acidity suggesting further development. Overall quite a straight forward wine, which was a pleasure to drink.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Zenato Valpolicella Doc Classico Superiore 2006

A new vintage of this Valpolicella, the bouquet held aromas of berries, amaretto, musk, violets and herbs. On the palate was a confident balance of sweet nuts and berries over savoury tannins and some nice herbal flavours on the finish. Again a good vintage for this very morish Italian red.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige DOC 2007

I took this to dinner at a friends house, who hosted a lovely Italian dinner. Opened to a soft but expressive bouquet of pear, citrus, apple, honey and vanilla. On the palate it was on form with lovely balance, some nice acidity and mineral. Finished tight, smooth and dry. It did lack a little depth compared to previous vintages but really another good vintage for a wonderful Pinot Grigio.
50+4+14+17+7 = 92/100

Louis Latour Grand Ardeche Chardonnay 2000

At lunch I picked up a bottle of this French Chardonnay, having liked another vintage we had recently in Tokyo. Quite golden in colour, the bouquet held melon, lychee, pineapple, oak, cream, mint and spice. On the palate it was still quite tight, with some nice oak and minerals running beneath fresh but controlled fruits. Finish was tight and dry, and had good length. All up quite a lovely and well made chardonnay.
50+4+13+18+7 = 92/100