Château Haut-Lagrange Pessac-Léognan 2003

Entering into a Bordeaux phase I picked up this mid-priced Rouge Bordeax from Pessac-Léognan. Made from 55% Cab Sav and 45% Merlot, the bouquet displayed a rather rustic array of plums, tobbacco, raspberry, earth and some black pepper. On the palate the rustic theme continued, primarly via the slightly astringent tannins and rawish woody oak. Body was medim and length decent. Overall a decent wine being a little rough in character.
50+4+12+15+7 = 88/100

Schloss Saarstein Serriger Rielsing Auslese 2003

For our aperitif, went for a Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, this one being a mid-sweet Auslese. On the bouquet were some lovely aromas of honey, peach, pear, slate and mineral. On the palate it was quite intense and pure, but lean and very in control. Wonderful intense Noble sweet fruits, over cool slate and soft mineral. Lovely balance and long finish. All up quite a wine, probably better as a light dessert wine. Excellent.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

James Busby Select Parcel Shiraz 2007

Out of curiosity I picked up this wine, being very cheap at $8 in the hope of landing a bargain. Made from fruit sourced from somewhere in Western Australia, the bouquet showed a generous array of spicy plums, raspberry, coffee, oak and some vanilla. On the palate were generous red and black fruits, respectable tannins, oak and more spice. Depth was lacking a little, but really this was quite a well crafted Shiraz, with no noticeable problems. Indeed a bit of a bargain.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

La Chablisienne Le Finage Chablis 2006

This mid-priced Chablis, being an un-oaked cuvee from the La Chablisienne co-op, opened to aromas of grapefruit, lemon, some tropical fruits, minerals, flowers, nuts and some cream. On the palate it was quite juicy, with taught acidity and some nice mineral underneath. Finish was fairly taught and dry, with persistant length. All up a good solid Chablis at a fair price.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Picardy Chardonnay 2005

The last time I had this wine I was quite impressed, which was the 2004 vintage. From Pemberton Western Australia, the bouquet showed an array of melons, figs, peach, nuts, oatmeal, cream and oak. On the palate it showed considerable intensity, with intense fruit wound tight with oak. Finish was long and lingering and acidity robust which would give some cellaring potential for this wine. A well crafted and impressive Chardonnay.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/100

Vigne Nuove Di Musella Valpolicella Superiore 2006

Was glad to see a newer vintage of this wine, and was keen to try after having enjoyed the 2004 quite a bit. Under screwcap this time and made from a blend of Corvina e Corvinone 70%, Rondinella 20% and Barbera 10%, the boquet was very bright with red cherries, raspberry, vanilla and spice. On the palate it was fairly light, bright and young, with acidity a little high, lots of cherry fruits and subdued tannis. Was reasonably balanced and finished fairly well. I think this is quite young, and certainly doesn't have the depth and smoothness of the 2004. May soften with down with time. A tad dissapointing.
50+4+12+15+6 = 87/100

Maison Champy Savigny-Les-Beaune Aux Fourches

A newer vintage of this Burgundy, of which I had a 2003 a couple of years ago. On the bouquet were aromas of soft cherries, mulch, mineral, caramel and hits of spice. On the palate it was quite refined and elegant, with clean fruit over soft tannins. Finish was elegant and dry. Again this was quite a soft and feminine pinot, very easy to drink and reasonably priced at around $35. Lovely.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Torresella Pinot Grigio del Veneto IGT

In my search for bargains, I picked up this Pinot Grigio from Veneto for under $10. It opened to fresh aromas of white fruits, vanila, white pepper and flowers. On the palate it was quite light, dry but rather thin and a touch insipid. Finish was reasonably dry and a little flabby, and length was really not much to speak of. Cheap it was, but value was lacking.
50+4+12+14+6 = 86/100

Casa Santos Lima Quinta de Bons-Ventos Tinto 2007

Something cheap from Portugal. Made from a blend of Castelão (Periquita), Camarate, Tinta Miúda and Touriga Nacional, the bouquet showed a lively and generous array of red berries, plums, ripe figs, smoke, liquorice and vanilla. On the palate it was very soft and rounded, with rich fruits over easy tannins and smokey oak. It was relatively complex for a simple table wine, and made for quite easy drinking. Not bad at all for $10.
50+4+12+16+7 = 89/100

Orlando Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2008

A new vintage of this Chardonnay, which I have enjoyed over the years on and off. Opened to a bouquet of melon, grapefruit, fig, nuts, oak and a touch of cream. The palate was tight, integrated and balanced, with a good lengthy finish. Again, this is straight down the line old style Australian Chardonnay, with all the boxes ticked. And still great value at around $10.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Taylors Jaraman Shiraz 2006

I picked this up just on the label, which really is a nice piece of design. Anyway to the wine, and it opened to reveal a big and intense bouquet of jammy fruits, stewed plums, black berry, chocolate, coffee and toasty oak. On the palate the theme continued, with more heavy fruits, oak and a bit of alcohol heat. Unfortunately this was an example of "more is more", at the expense of structure, restraint and intelligence. Basically a generous but dumb wine. But nice label.
50+4+12+14+6 = 86/100