Hickinbotham Sav Blanc 2005 - Recommended

Attractive wine, balanced, not too ripe. Nice herbaceous notes running through the palate. Maybe a touch of sem in here?

Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Riesling 2002

Looks quite youthful for a 4yr old; light pale gold. Lemon fruits on the nose together with early kero notes, otherwise a touch subdued. Palate could be accused of being dilutive but did open up a fraction over time with more lemon, some citrus and a touch of acid burn. Perhaps this wine is in the riesling 'hole' right now but I suspect not. That said, worth leaving for another 2 years before reassessing but recent experience with 2004 and 2005 vintages suggests this label looks best b/w 1 and 2 years.

Craggy Range Sophia Merlot 2004

Similar to the 2003 in colour but has a more pronounced purple twinge. Bouquet is noticeably ripe, almost sugary when compared to the previous wines. Not strictly varietal. Palate is ripe as expected, almost to the extent that I can’t help but feel this is disjointed. Furry tannins are prominent. Needs 2 years cellaring to start showing its best but has potential.

Tasting Notes - Summerfield Merlot 2001

Dry red style that is ageing well. Quite a bold interpretation with some grip and heat. Well settled red berry nose and touches of licorice - almost shiraz like. Nice gamey notes kick in late to bolster complexity. Got a few years left but unlikely to aspire to greatness. QPR mixed at the original price tag of $38, leaves it just shy of a "Reco" tag.

Craggy Range Te Muna Road Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Pale lemon; young in appearance. Modest nose but not under-ripe, good balance. Balance again sums up the palate nicely, almost tending to a dry white style and one needs to search for the varietal characters. Fairly tight, clearly well made, and should drink will into 2007 with ease.

Morris Botrytise Semillon 1985 (Recommended)

I picked this wine up at cellar door about 5 years ago for ~$25 and must admit I wasn’t expecting too much when we opened for Christmas lunch. Quite dark in the glass, medium chocolate brown, not quite of tawny port appearance but close. Classic apricots on the nose and a touch of spice. Unmistakeably botrytis semillon. Palate is relatively light weight for the style but given the age I can’t be too harsh. More spice and a tight, tingly acid like streak runs right through the palate. Not sure what’s driving this note but it keeps the wine very focussed. Well worth a look but drink soon.

Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2002

Medium red with a little fade. Funky nose, red berries starting to mellow out, some herbal notes, shows its 4 years of age in a good way. Softer in the mouth but a slight letdown on what the nose suggests. Fruit is clearly moving into a secondary phase. I wonder if this was picked too ripe and the fruit now feels heavy and a little flabby. Drink ‘em if you got ‘em.

Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2003

Slightly darker red that the 2002. More linear nose with less priminant fruit. Herbal notes more obvious but the don’t dominate. Well structured with some noticeable tannin, outweighing the fruit at this stage. The fruit does persist through the palate but the strength is mild at best. Not sure if it will get any better. Plenty of better $42 / 3yr old merlots around the traps.

Craggy Range Sophia Merlot 2003 - Recommended

Colour as per the 2004 Gimblett Gravels. Soft fruits on the nose, no herbal or under-ripe traits. Elegant yet has presence. Fruit steps up in the mouth – I can almost taste (sense?) the extraction. Nice inter-woven oak. Looks very balanced and drinkable now but should push on into 2008 nicely.

Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2004

Red in colour with purple tinges – nice. Well balanced nose, subtle plum and berry that fills the aromas out nicely. Again the mouthful highlights a sturdy structure. Has the tannin of the 2003 but is better balanced with more fruit weight. Should get better over the next 18 months. Good wine for the appreciator of the style but I struggle a little at $40+.

Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Sem Sav Viognier 2006

Unusual blend, could be accused of a left over grapes job, but it appears to work quite well. Clearly sauvignon blanc based on the nose with a herbaceous, grassy edge, but more generic dry white to taste. Not a bad thing as it is quite competently made for a low to mid teens dollar wine? The Viognier is used well, not so much as a flavour additive but more in texture. The classic soft, viscous palate weight fills the wine out nicely. A touch spirity on the finish. Beats the Jacob’s Creek chardonnay hand down in the two horse race that is Qantas economy class.

Cumulus Wines Rolling Chardonnay 2005 (Reco)

The best white you’ll get on Qantas economy class for a while I’m tipping. Well made cool climate style that is a bit riper that expected, but notwithstanding shows a lot of balance and class for a chardonnay that surely trades for no more than $18. Oak plays a supporting roll. The depth of the stone fruits is impressive, as is the well structured and powder dry finish.

Tobacco Road Unwooded Chardonnay 2004

A frequent criticism of Australian no-oak chard is its (general) inability to produce notiable wine that sways the drinker away from Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc based wines. As inoffensive as this wine is it’s unlikely to sway the accepted opinion. Fruity nose of pineapples and a citric edge, safe but kinda boring. Similar to taste although the fruit gets a bit sweeter and perhaps a touch flabby, initially, before the tightness from the citrus kick in mid palate. Non-descript finish and gets a little dilutive on the finish.

Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 (Recommended)

Region: North Coast
Appelation: Napa Valley (Rutherford)

To be honest I've no idea what 1999 was like, vintage wise, in Napa and even less idea as to how well a Grgich would typically age. I had high expectations even if purely based on price alone (~USD $60). Medium blood red, quite transparent, and no noticable fading at the rim.

Impressive bouquet of classic cassis, feels dusty, quite powerful and liquored. A mild woody note as well.Steps down half a gear to taste - no bad thing - although the cassis continues to drive the fruit profile. Tannins are forceful but not abrasive and the fruit does tighen a touch through the palate. A little pongy on the finish but blows off in time.Over the next hour progressively opened up and some sweeter berry fruits began to shine. Really good stuff that should hold for another 3 - 4 years.

Mayer Big Betty Shiraz 2005 – Recommended

This is good stuff. I always find it interesting to read scribes that claim the Yarra Valley is famed for the quality of its shiraz yet we rarely cross paths with decent examples in the small producer space (Warranmate being a recent exception). Medium blood red with some lightening at the rim. Good lift on the nose; pepper (mild), cherry and quite ripe cherries. Fresh and lively. More pepper in the palate along with riper than expected red berries and cherry. To be honest perhaps a smidgeon too ripe (14.2% on the ABV meter) as the wine finishes a touch sweet and thick but in reality I’m being too critical. It’s a good cool – medium climate style that offers a bit more simple fruit stuffing than the classics of the genre (say Craiglee or Knight Granite Hills) and should work well for those looking for a much needed alternative to the SA ball-buster.

Brindabella Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Recommended)

In some ways this wine is quite the opposite of what one would expect from a Canberra cab – rich fruit, soft structure and sweet berries – and that is precisely why this wine is a good story. Simply it’s a decent, friendly drink now cabernet sauvignon for around $20. Ripe nose, generic berries, not overblown. More of the same to taste although some more typical cab / herbal notes kick in mildly on the back palate. Finishes a touch short. No matter, this drinks very well right now.

Rugged Ranges Shiraz 2005 (QPR Reco)

Sub $10 wine made by the well regarded Master Wine Makers crew. Goes nicely. Generic red berry nose with tangy, musk-like notes, tough to pick the exact character. Less happening to taste as the fruit falls away relatively quickly but still a very serviceable dry red wine. Well structured style although sunshine in a bottle it ain’t. Won’t disappoint as a cheapy mid-weeker (early midweek?).

Paracombe Cabernet Franc 2004 (Adelaide Hills)

I’m not sure if Adelaide Hills cab franc should ever hit 15% but I think these guys pull it off. Light blood red in the glass. Lots of lift in the bouquet with well defined berries, a smidgeon of herbs, and a fraction of alcohol sweetness. Soft palate early but the heat is more evident on the finish. Berry fruit is a bit more generic and sweet. Some alcohol sweetness evident but doesn’t really detract. Some spice on the finish, along with a slightly ragged edge. Nearly but not quite.

Cathcart Ridge Chasselas 2000 (Great Western)

Chalk one up for the stats – a rare tasting of an Australian grown Chasselas. This grape is a Swiss variety that Great Western / Seppelts had historically used as part of their sparkling base. Medium gold in colour, perhaps looking like a chardonnay at 3 – 4 years of age. Strange nose, tough to pick any dominant character.

In fact, reminds strongly of a gueze beer (spontaneous fermentation, wild yeast) from Belgium – slightly sour citrus and fruit, almost like you may experience in a winery cellar. Palate doesn’t really catch fire. More slightly pongy, sour gueze notes early but then fade fairly quickly as the wine loses its primary fruit and mellows out. I reckon this wine would have looked a lot better 2 years ago, and in this case 6 years is a stretch.

Minot Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

We tried the 2002 on a number of occasions and it consistently under whelmed, perhaps reflecting a less than stellar vintage for Margaret River. The 2003, however, it pretty much back in the grove. Minot are clearly aiming for a more traditional, slightly austere, longer living style and the pricing ~$27 puts it at the bottom, price wise, of a growing bracket of mid-priced premium cabernets.Dusty, earthy nose with some spice and oak. Good lift. Softer flavours than the nose suggests with berry fruits more apparent. Oak pops up, just faint enough to classify the role as ‘supporting, and some nice herbal notes round out a pretty decent palate. A fraction tight and obviously young, this wine is well worth some mid term cellaring.

Schloss Vollrads Riesling 2005 - Recommended

Region: Rheingau

Light golden in colour, perhaps looks a touch developed for the age. Rich nose of ripe lemon and citrus fruits. Smells like a ripe Crawford River. Riper and more intense again to taste. Less lemon, more dry generic in style. Very complete palate, quite serious and gets progressively drier and minerally on the finish. Very well made and structured but value is an issue at somewhere above $45 pb. The use of a re-usable glass stopper is a fantastic idea and I can vouch for the wine’s freshness 3 days after the initial opening. In fact I would go so far as to claim it blows a stelvin seal away.

Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Subdued nose compared the $16 Fermoy cab merlot from the same vintage. A hint of sweet blackberry is the most obvious fruit trait. The ‘reserve’ tag is much more evident to taste with plenty of furry tannins and length. Fruit is sinewy and tight, almost astringent with a citrus overtone (oak?). Not at all convincing at this stage but to be fair this wine is very young and really needs another 3 years before a proper assessment can be made.

Cathcart Ridge Mt Ararat Merlot 2004 (QPR Recommended)

Despite the obviously simpleness of this wine and arguably a lack of varietal definition there’s a lot to like about this $12 wine in a value sense. Medium blood red in colour, the nose shows plenty of ripe berry fruits with a slight talcum powder edge. Friendly flavour profile driven (again) with ripe berries and some tingly acid that never gets aggressive. Not sure that this wine screams ‘merlot’, in fact I’m sure it doesn’t, but the soft, forward fruits have a degree ofappeal.

Cathcart Ridge Estate 2000

The merlot is somewhat of a flag bearer for the winery and this 6 year old example should keep a good reputation intact. Colour is about bang-on for the variety – medium blood red – but the nose points to the age. Balanced plummy / leafy notes on the nose are very settled and mature. Some herbal secondary notes push through. Palate is also showing some mature character – more herbal plum – but the primary fruit is settling and fading. Structually appears sound and plenty of acid zing keeps the mouthfeel fresh. Not a show stopper given the subdued fruits but a good example of how Oz merlot looks at 6 years. Drink over 2006 and early 2007.

Tasting Notes - Trevor Jones Boots Gris Blanc 2006 (Value Reco)

Sweet fruity nose; perhaps a touch of residual sugar? Hints of cooler climate grassy notes. Fruity to taste but not the dumb "sunshine in a bottle" style. Nice generic dryish white style with a very level and balanced palate. Has the texture and feel of a Gris but doesn't really shout its variety. Good value @ $12.

Tasting Notes - Trevor Jones Boots Riesling 2006

Thankfully the grapes are sourced from Eden Valley fruit. Very pale lemon in colour. Ripe nose with a slightly liquered note of citrus fruits. Full bodied style, thick palate for the region, lacks fruit drive at the finish. Some sharp acidic notes arrive late. Lacks varietal character.

Chrismont Craig's Hut Sangiovese 2005

Grapey sweet nose, fresh, a touch sugary but it ain't Sangiovese. Leaner on the palate, thankfully, but perhaps due to lack of fruit ripeness rather than genuine savoury Italian fruit structure. Tannin structure is quite impressive for a $10 wine - drying coal tea notes - shades of Bordeaux? Believe it or not! In aggregate not enough bright fruit for the punter at this price level.

Delas Crozes-Hermitage Tour d'Albon 2001

Region: Norther Rhone
Appelation: Crozes-Hermitage

A little tight and acidic early but opened up gradually over time. Meaty and slightly savoury style. Cherry and bacon notes on the nose. Doesn't deliver a massive fruit hit but rather a tight, neat structure that would appear still young as a 5 year old, somewhat surprising given the wine's modest claims in the house line-up at ~e12.0.

Brothers in Arms Shiraz Cabernet No.6 2003

Lightish blood / plum in colour. Nose is a touch dull; some oak wafting up, a touch of spice. Fresher and brighter in the mouth, sweeter berry fruits are a better match for the oak and firming finish. Medium tannin strength. Ok at $22, not a world beater but probably not bad for a SA 2003 red.

Tasting Nots - Dal Zotto Arneis 2005 (Recommended)

Impressive drink that should wine a few fans that may be looking for the new full bodied sav blanc. Very clear in glass, water like, totally under-representing the flavour hit. Big nose, lifted, sweet fruits with a riesling like, mineral underlay. Has immediate appeal.Palate does the nose justice - big sweet fruits with a riesling context. Plenty of drive. Gets a touch flabbly and hot at the finish but a moot point. This is a fun drink.

Morning Star Pinot Gris 2004 - Recommended

At first glance this wine didn’t really appeal; lacked a bit of obvious fruit and seemingly a bit tired (not totally surprised at 2yrs of age) but this wine did charm over time. Mild nose of chalky floral notes. Palate was subdued early, quite mature, but did remind strongly of the lower end Alasatians we see in Australia that are a vintage or two off the pace, and thus had, to me at least, some appeal. Fruit opened up as the wine warmed up; sweeter musky notes with a liqueur lick in the back. No world beater but the European ‘hum’ of this wine did hook me in.

Sandy Farm Cabernet Merlot 2004 - Recommended

Dark blood red in colour, no fading at the rim. Soft nose, lifted cabernet notes of blackberry and a underlying herbal edge. Attractive and very text book for the style. Ripe fruits run through the palate, more blackberry, but also a sliver of acid keeps the wine a little tighter than the nose suggests. Drinks very well now given the mild tannin presence but should continue to look the goods over the next 2 – 3 years.

Ladbroke Grove Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Unfortunately this wine didn’t show as well as when tasted over Christmas at the cellar door. Garnet red, a little lighter in the glass than expected. Ok nose, a mix of herbs and sweet berry fruits. Nice but lacks conviction. Tightish palate, dark fruits, some oak, drying tannins. Quite serious but not really all together just yet. Drying finish. Ladbroke typically know what they are doing do I’d give this one a chance and rest for another 2 years.

Le Mins Pinot Noir 2004 (QPR Recommended)

This is the labelled version, not the ‘higher profile’ $9 cleanskin. Lightish cherry red in colour with a little fade at the rim. Friendly nose, light cherry, berry notes, some lift with what almost seems like alcohol heat but 13% abv unlikely. Light mouthfeel, some sour tinges around the edges of the palate but falls into the feather weight dry red class right now. Firms up at the finish, bearing a little teeth, and gives the impression it could do with 6 – 9 months in the cellar. At $12 this is well made, if a touch light, pinot.

Ladbroke Compadres Blend Cab Merlot 2002

I’ve had the past 3 vintages (2001 – 2003) and this is the weak link, but not by a huge margin. Lightish garnet red, somewhat underwhelming. Serious nose with inky berries, a touch of sweetness and a faint herbal edge, easy to pick the cab element. Palate doesn’t travel as expected; a touch chewy, sweetish berry fruits, some hardness from what seems to be a little acid sear. Medium strength finish. The vintages either side of the 2002 are a better bet.

Tasting Notes - Small Fry Riesling 2005

Small Fry is a new label from the Barossa that effectively operates as a local negociant for ultra small regional growers. All wines retail around $16 - $19.

Deliberately made in an off-dry style with 20 grams of residual. Sweet, grapey nose. Nice but simple. Palate definitely on the sweet side but comes across as short and simple. Starts out like a kiwi riesling but doesn’t have the balance or stuffing right across the palate to successfully pull it off. Will have appeal for those looking for the simple sweet style.

Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2004

Blood cherry red, kinda dark rose like. Massive herbal kick on the nose; nettles, freshly cut hay, a touch stalky perhaps. Striking. More herbal, slightly green notes on the palate and some noticeable oak. Doesn’t seem under-ripe but there’s not a whole lot of fruit powering the palate – yet. Oak drives the wine, a little too much to my liking, but it’s early days yet, and the house has a decent track record.

Hoffman Chardonnay 2001 – Recommended

Purchased at a cellar door visit in 2002. I must have been a bit wet behind the ears buying McLaren Vale chard but this wine has held up well (good storage conditions has evidently not hindered). Aged, nutty nose; some oak evident and good sweet fruit aromas. More mellow sweet fruit in the palate, mild maderised characters kick in late, more spicy / nutty oak. Finishes a touch short but to no detriment. One of those cellaring surprises that just doesn’t happen often enough.

Te-Aro Estate Shiraz 2002

Another grower come vintner. New label to us and holds a certain amount of interest given the vintage and the fact the wine has a component soucred from 95yr vines. Classic shiraz in the glass; dark garnet with a pink edge. Despite the Barossa origins I found the region hard to pick on the nose, rather mixed berries of medium weight with a tingly, almost talcum powder nose. Palate is well balanced but the fruit power struggles a touch to really get going. This is strictly an elegant style, but mostly in a good way. More generic red berries in the mouth, early, and then tightens up noticeably with some acid and powdery tannins. Good, but not great, and any comments on recommendation will be driven largely by the retail price.

Mac Forbes Barbera 2004

Dry red generic style. Quite tight with touch of noticeable acid and drying tannins. Some sweet berry fruits late in the palate but otherwise lacks excitement.

Elgee Park Family Reserve Chardonnay 2004

Rich, ripe style, probably over the top despite the 13.5%. Viognier like with some heat and full palate weight. Quite attractive but not befitting of the variety. No doubt will have its fans.

Elgee Park Riesling 2005

Rich, fresh, lively. A touch too ripe for my liking, perhaps built with a 1 - 2 year cellaring time frame in mind. Nice touches of ripe lime and musk - well matched with a sliver of acid. Some obvious heat takes the edge off what is otherwise quite a good drop.

Domaine Epis Cabernet Merlot 2004 - Recommended

Dark blood red in the glass, almost black. Elegant, leafy nose - classy. Some herbal notes and berries as well. Soft, milky palate with more cool climate berry fruit coming through. Class personified. Maybe a touch subdued right now but will nearly certainly get better.

Schoenberg le Gus De Rouge

Sparkling cabernet from Barossa made by Liebich connections. Very obvious cab with firm blackberry fruits. Dosage very noticable (liquered blackberry). Attractive ripe style but it struggles to mount a strong value arguement given the lack of track record and $42 price tag.

Trevor Jones Mink NV (Recommended)

Bizarre wine, more in the West Coast cooler mould. Sweet, fizzy, probably a fair whack of residual sugar, but harmless. Awesome label...think Barossa Pearl. No updates in 30 years me thinks.

Tasting Notes - Bass Phillip Rose 2005 (Recommended)

Drunk over 2 nights, a rare event for rose and me, but the wine showed well on both occasions. Pale raspberry, looks almost dilutive. Nose was relatively tight on day 1 but showed enough of the 'house' style sour fruits and bitterness. Both characters much more pronouced 24hrs later.Firm palate early, undeniably pinot with sour cherry, stiff acid; quite powerful and very dry for the style. Palate weight faded a little near the end of the bottle but still impressive.

Tasting Notes - Paradigm Hill Riesling 2005 (Recommended)

Dry white style that is a little tough to pick as a riesling. Ripe tropical fruit on the nose, maybe like a sav blanc? Full palate, a little oily, almost Germanic in this regard. Up front, drink now style with a certain amount of appeal.

Tasting Notes - Peel Estate Chenin Blanc 2001 (Recommended)

Stinky nose, aged with orange peel like notes. Old world, rustic mouthfeel with dirty, funky fruit, good depth. Quirky, pongy - I like it but not for everybody.

Tasting Notes - Hunter's Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (Recommended)

Return to form after a lacklustre 2004. Forceful nose of sweet cut grass and a hint of tropical fruit. Ripe palate, some heat at the finish but shows good balance and varietal fruit for the most part.

Tasting Notes - Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (Recommended)

Relatively tight style that shows some class. Big ripe nose, a fraction oily, perhaps a little over the top. More controlled in the palate but still ripe with generic tropical fruits. Needs a slight chill to show its best.

Tasting Notes - Annapurnna Estate Pinot Grigio 2005

Light gold , quite pale despite the young age. Medium weight nose, faint tropical fruits and a hint of chalk; varietal. Bigger mouthfeel than expected, some generic ripe tropical fruits early. Flavours dip away in the middle and the finish is relatively mild but a touch disjointed- seems dilute at first but a small wave of hot ripe fruits drives the finish.

Tasting Notes - Tuckers Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004 (Recommended)

Fruit is sourced from an East Gippsland vineyard but its not clear from the back label as to whether it’s the estate vineyard near Maffra? Regardless the fruit source seems quite solid. Garnet in colour with noticeable lightening at the rim….looks very unfiltered, a character I would rarely even notice. Nose shows lively character; funky sour cherry, gamey, but in a lifted perfumed way. The absolute opposite of dull aromatics. The intensity promised on the nose doesn’t fully translate to the palate but still quite impressive. Flavour is quite tight and linear with sharp sour berry notes, but the fruit does drift somewhat at the finish. Regardless a good wine and will show good value under $20.

Mont Redon Cotes du Rhone 2003 – Recommended

Region: Southern Rhone
Appelation: Cotes du Rhone
Producer: Chateau Mont-Redon (negociant)

Fruit is sourced from non-estate growers located in Roquemaure. Lightish blood red in the glass. Nose is fresh and quite lifted with cherry; quite fragrant. Palate continues the attractive lifted note. Darker berry fruits kick in, gets a little gamey, and the rich ripe notes of the Grenache come into play. Wine finishes quite broad and soft, save for a little heat on the back palate. This would compete well with any Aussie GSM in the high teens / low $20’s (paid $24).

Tasting Notes - Di Giorgio Cellar Door Visit

Brief thoughts from a visit at Xmas 2005........

Lucindale Chardonnay 2002
Fresh tropical fruit(y) style although flavours starting to get a little stale. Spicy finish.

Lucindale Merlot 2001 (Recommended)
Lively type with good fruit depth.

Emporio Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 (Recommended)
Good drop - fruit sweetness with matched with low oak build.

Lucindale Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Sweet fruit style, a touch simple, but well maded.

Coonawarra Shiraz 2002
Soft style with gamey, woody notes. Drying out a touch.

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Recommended)
Perfumed blackberry nose. Follows with similar profile in the palate. Powerful core of sweet fruit. Well made.

Francosco Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Gamey nose shows complexity. Full palate, fruit and oak driven, but some blackberry fruits lurk. Going well at near 7 years but not special enough to recommend at ~$40.

Tasting Notes - Ladbroke Grove Cellar Door Visit

Brief impressions from a cellar door visit at Xmas 2005...........

Riesling 2005 (Recommended)
Lime, citrus nose. Quite fresh. More of the same to taste but the structure doesn't have the bracing intensity of a Clare Valley (a good thing). Good drink now style.

Compadres Cabernet Merlot 2002
Rich, expressive, blackberry nose. More subdued in the mouth, quite tannic, finishes a touch hard. Tough to work out where this wine is going.

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Perfumed, plush milky nose, a touch gamey. Tight palate, a little grainy, subdued fruits, but very early days. Again tough to evaluate right now.

Flat Broke Lad Chardonnay 2004
Contains 3% semillon. Big tropical fruit and pineapples on the nose. Broadens out considerably on the palate and doesn't really get going.

Flat Broke Lad Chardonnay 2005
Contains 4% semillon. Similar in style to the 2004, just not my bag. Too broad and lacks intensity.

Township Shiraz 2002
Medium intensity on the nose, ok lift with savoury notes. Drying palate with tight fruits.

Reserve Shiraz 2002 (Recommended)
Lifted, assertive nose of generic berries. Oak aromas evident. Big and bold in the palate, liquered fruits, firming oak. Quite powerful.

Shiraz Viognier 2002
Gamey, funky aromas; good lift. Strong oak underpins but the fruit drives the structure. Drys out a touch on the finish.

Flat Broke Lad Shiraz Viognier 2003
Gamey, funky style done nicely. Some wood is apparent. Viognier component is quite obvious - drives a slippery palate structure. Pleasant drink but no world beater.

Flat Broke Lad Shiraz Viognier 2004 (Recommended)
Fruity nose, big, classic of the genre. Again soft, slippery palate. Very morish.

Tasting Notes - Balnaves Cellar Door

Brief notes from a visit to the cellar door just after Xmas in 2005........

Chardonnay 2003 (Recommended)
Classy style, as per usual, with plenty of fruit depth and all wine making tricks present.

Cheeky Red Rose 2005
Nice sweet style. Simple but very effective for the target market.

Cabernet Merlot 1997
Museum release only available at cellar door. Mature style, fruit is very settled, perhaps fading, but the palate is well structured.

Cabernet Merlot 2001 (Recommended)
Very good - spicy fruit and oak with powerful liquered fruits.