Jacob's Creek Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuvee NV

In need of a cheap sparkling wine, tried this new release from JC. Opened to quite fresh aromas of citrus, peach, flowers and a touch of yeast. On the palate it was quite clean with citrus flavours dominant, with a touch of cream and bread. The beading was decent and finished quite fresh and clean. There was a touch of sweetness, maybe a little too much but really this was quite a decent sparkling wine and better than most around its price.
50+4+13+16+7 = 90/100

Italo Cescon Pinot Grigio DOC Fruili Grave 2008

Another vintage of this Pinot Grigio of which I have had a few times over the last serveral years. On the bouquet were fresh aromas of white peach, white pepper, citrus, stones, mineral and vanilla. The palate demonstrated similar flavours, with refreshing acidity and minerality. Finished crisp but soft. Again still an excellent Pinot Grigio, and delightful aperitif.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache 2006

I don't know why I chose this particular wine, maybe from indecision. On opening aromas of red berry fruits, rose petals, violets, spice and some meat characters. On the palate it was quite big, with lots of fruits over some furry-ish tannins. Oak was subdued and alcohol was just evident. Finish was again quite big and long. Overall, while quite generous the wine lacked discipline and was more an exercise in quantity than quality, particularly in terms of its craft. No doubt a lot of less disciplined pallets will enjoy this wine.
50+4+13+16+6 = 89/100

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Feeling like a good Australian Cab Sav, I went for a Penfolds. On the bouquet were aromas of blackcurrants, cassis, olives, bay leaf, oak and a hint of meat juices. On the palate it was quite deep with fruits dominated by savoury flavours, dusty and earthy tannins and some nice use of oak. Overall quite a robust and well made wine, but somehow it didn't inspire me. I do enjoy this style of cab sav a lot, but somehow this just was too straightforward, and not intelligent enough somehow.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Domaine de Cassan Cotes du Ventoux 2007

A new import at the local bottle shop, this wine made from a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Cinsault showed aromas of raspberry, black olives, black pepper, chocolate and spices. On the palate it was mid bodied, well balanced with flavours leaning towards herbaceous and savoury. Overall quite a decent wine, and better than other Ventoux's I have tried. Good value.
50+4 +13+17+7 = 91/100

Zenato Valpolicella Doc Classico Superiore 2007

A new vintage of this Italian wine, of which I am quite a fan. This time around it showed aromas of red berries, rose petals, bitumen, amaretto and savoury herbs. On the palate fruits seemed a little more pronounced than previous vintages, with interesting bitumen flavours apparent . Still held a very soft and savoury finish, and overall very well structured and balanced. Very pleased to see consistency in this great value Valpolicella.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Bouchard Aîné & Fils Nuits Saint Georges 2005

Reduced in the store I gave this Burgundy a try. The bouquet showed a nice array of morello cherry, cinnamon, rose, tobacco and a touch of licorice. On the palate it was quite straightforward, with robust tannins, integrated oak and generous fruit. Finish was quite silky and dry, yet nothing really spoke to me in this wine, and was expecting a little more from it. Well made but a touch banal.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Torres Vina Esmeralda 2007

Our friend Greg was kind enough to bring this wine along to dinner, and it was fairly unusual being a blend of 85% Moscato and 15% Gewurztraminer from Catalunya. On the bouquet it was quite perfumed with rose water, white flowers, pink musk, orange flowers and a hint of white pepper. On the palate it was reasonably sweet, but not sickly so. It was well balanced and integrated, and made for some very pleasant drinking.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera 2004

For our Spanish inspired dinner, we opened this wine from Ribera Del Duero. On the nose were ripe red cherries, raspberries, black cherry, coffee, menthol, toffee and pepper. The palate was quite rich and fairly developed, with rich fruit over drying tannins. Structurally it did seem a little flabby, but did hold together somehow. Quite a rich and generous wine, but not sure if the structure would hold over time.
50+4+13+17+8 = 92/200

Pazo Pondal ‘Leira’ Albariño 2007

Before dinner I opened this Albarion from Rias Biaxas. The bouquet was awash with very attractive aromas of white flowers, peach, musk, herbs and a touch of almonds. On the palate it was mid to light in body, with very clean pear and peach fruit, balanced acid and soft minerals finishing dry but soft. While it lacked a little depth, this was quite a delightful aperitif.
50+4+14+17+7 = 92/100

Château Teyssier Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005

More Bordeaux, this time from Saint-Emilion. Made from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the nose showed a generous array of berry fruit, spice, violets, licorice, vanilla and a touch of oak. On the palate the generosity continues, with more soft rich fruit over very well controlled tannins and use of oak. Good length and soft finish make this very easy and seductive drinking. Very good value.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Olivier Leflaive Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 2005

A white Burgundy, this one from the En Remilly vineyard, just west of Chevalier Montrachet. Opened to a refined and fairly shy bouquet of pear, cinnamon, almond, wax and minerals. The palate was quite lean and clean, with subdued fruits over stone and minerals. Finished reasonably long and tight. Overall a relatively locked up wine, which may develop somewhat, but not greatly. Still quite a refined effort.
50+4+12+17+7 = 90/100

Château Lafon-Rochet St-Estèphe 2005

Another Friday evening and another Bordeaux. This time a 4th growth Grand Cru Classe, from vineyards adjacent to Laffite-Rothschild. After a quick decant the nose showed deep cassis, black fruits, tobacco, Cabernet leaf, milk, bitter chocolate, toffee and some licorice. On the palate were prominent tannins, which did drop in and out, to show quite a refined structure of creamy deep pureed fruits, with interesting secondary and tertiary flavours just pushing through. Did finish quite long and grippy, but alternatively superfine and milky. Overall an interesting wine, which does have depth and character, but does need some time to settle and develop.
50+4+14+17+8 = 93/100

Ruffino Chianti DOCG 2007

We picked this wine primarily for a chicken dish that we were cooking (Chicken in Chianti), but only needing half the bottle we drank the rest with our meal. On the bouquet were soft aromas of cherries, raspberry, rose petals, amaretto and some spice. The palate was medium to light in body, but well integrated and balanced with more light cherry flavours over savoury smooth tannins. Suited our chicken dinner perfectly. Overall this is a well polished and moreish wine, which can be had for between $10-$15, and is apparently very popular in Italy.
50+4+13+17+7 = 91/100

Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

A new vintage of probably one of my favourite Australian Cab Savs. Opened to an enticing bouquet of cassis, blackcurrant, blackberries, leaf, menthol, chocolate and some creaminess. On the palate it was dense, and quite fruit driven, with some very fine dry tannins very elegantly woven into its structure. Overall another great wine, this time slighty fruitier than previous examples. Wonderful drinking and very good value at around $30.
50+4+13+18+8 = 93/100

Chateau Du Tertre Margaux 2005

After a very long working week, I was keen to try out this 5th growth Grand Cru Classe from Margaux, in fact I think my first ever wine from Margaux. After a 2 hour decant, the nose showed lovely pure and dense fruit, with plum, raspberry, cherry, tar, cola, toffee and cream. On the palate it was beautifully structured and highly integrated, with fruit dominant but underpinned by very fine tannins and soft subtle oak. The mouth feel was powerful but restrained and finish long and elegant. Truly an excellent wine that will improve with cellaring.
50+4+14+18+8 = 94/100