Tasting Notes - Crittenden Pinot Grigio 2007

Didn't really get going. Aromas were quite pleasant showing soft musky fruit but the flavours didn't really develop. More broad oily musk early but these characters faded away to leave a one dimensional 'dry white' palate that wasn't particularly varietal. Bad bottle perhaps? The PG's from this house are normally very reliable.

Tasting Notes - Crittenden Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007

Striking aromas leap out of the glass; it's all about fresh green herbs, tangy fruits, perhaps even a touch smokey and flinty. Shares a lot with Margaret River semillon (which I love). Softens and broadens in the mouth as the flavours head towards, at least initially, a brighter tropical fruit style but never gets flabby. Plenty of acid keeps things racy and tight. Almost unyielding upon reflection, and could probably do with a few months more bottle age. Not convinced just now but I reckon it will look good with time.

New Releases - Early November

Cabernet & Blends

Golden Ball Cab Merlot Malbec 2005 $43 (Beechworth)

Chardonnay
Tomboy Hill 'The Tomboy' 2004 $41 (Ballarat)

Pinot Gris & Grigio
Mount Majura Pinot Gris 2007 $19 (Canberra)

Pinot Noir
Hurley Vineyard 'Homage' 2005 $43 (Mornington Peninsula)

Tomboy Hill 'The Tomboy' 2006 $68 (Ballarat)

Tomboy Hill 'Rebellion' 2005 $32 (Ballarat)

Riesling
Dr Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett 2006 $32 (Germany)
Clonakilla 2007 $27 (Canberra)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Clonakilla 2007 $21 (Canberra)
Green Point 2007 $18 (Marlborough)

Icely Road 2007 $15 (Orange)
Te Whare Ra 2007 $26 (Marlborough)

Shiraz
Barfold Estate 'Senator' 2005 $19 (Heathcote)
Batterly Syrah 2005 $62 (Beechworth)
Golden Ball 2005 $43 (Beechworth)
Izway 'Bruce' 2005 $40 (Barossa Valley)
Meerea Park 'Hell Hole' 2005 $51 (Hunter Valley)

Radford Dale Eden Valley Shiraz 2005 $29 (Eden Valley)

Rusden 'Black Guts' 2005 $88 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling Wines
Sheer Drop Shiraz 2004 $22 (Bendigo)

Spanish Varietals
Tscharke Albarino 'Girl Talk' 2007 $ (Barossa Valley)

Other Reds
Rusden 'Full Circle' Mourvedre 2005 $44 (Barossa Valley)

Sam Miranda 'Symphonia' Saperavi 2006 $22 (King Valley)

Other Whites
Te Whare Ra Gewurztraminer 2006 $27 (Marlborough)

New Releases - Late October Pt.2

Cabernet & Blends
Arlewood Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $36 (Margaret River)
Fermoy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $27 (Margaret River)
Serafino 2005 $25 (McLaren Vale)

Chardonnay
Fermoy Estate 2005 $27 (Margaret River)
Ngeringa 2006 $28 (Adelaided Hills)
Stumpy Gully 2006 $22 (Mornington Peninsula)
Train Trak 2005 $24 (Yarra Valley)

Italian Varietals
Fermoy Estate Nebbiolo $26 (Margaret River)

Merlot
Fermoy Estate 2004 $31 (Margaret River)

Pinot Gris / Grigio
Nazaaray Estate Pinot Gris 2007 $22 (Mornington Peninsula)

Pinot Noir
Stoney Rise 2006 $25 (Tasmania)

Rhone Valley Varietals
Hewitson Baby Bush Mourvedre 2006 $29 (Barossa Valley)
Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2005 $47 (Barossa Valley)

Shiraz
Heartland Director's Cut 2006 $26 (Langhorne Creek)

Mayer Vineyard 'Big Betty' 2006 $28 (Yarra Valley)

Ngeringa Shiraz 2005 $44 (Adelaide Hills)

Spanish Varietals
Hewitson Private Cellar Tempranillo $66 (Fleurieu)

Sparkling Wines
Devaux Grand Reserve NV $59 (Champagne)

New Releases - Late October

Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends
Minot Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $25 (Margaret River)
Odd Fellows Cabernet 2004 $24 (Langhorne Creek)
Witchmount Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $26 (Sunbury)

Chardonnay
Seresin 2006 $30 (Marlborough)

Dessert Wines
Flaxman Cane Cut Semillon 2007 375ml $21 (Eden Valley)

Italian Varietals
Luke Lambert Nebbiolo 2006 $30 (Heathcote)

Merlot
Mike Press 2005 $13 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Gris / Grigio
Holly's Garden Pinot Gris 2007 $24 (King Valley)
Paracombe Pinot Gris 2007 $19 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Noir
Craggy Range Te Muna Road 2006 $64 (Martinborough)

Riesling
Karra Yerta 2006 $20 (Eden Valley)
Huia 2004 $25 (Marlborough)

Sauvignon Blanc
Astrolabe 2007 $22 (Marlborough)
Dog Point 2007 $25 (Marlborough)
Seifried Old Coach Road 2007 $15 (Nelson)

Shiraz
Laughing Jack 2004 $34 (Barossa Valley)
Luke Lambert Syrah 2006 $30 (Yarra Valley)

Sparkling White
Thompson Estate Pinot Chardonnay 2003 $35 (Margaret River)

Tasting Notes - Woodside Valley Estate 'Le Bas' Chardonnay 2006 (Recommended)

Looks pretty good but again value is under a cloud given the cellar door price of $42. Looks a touch older than a 2006 given the medium gold hue. Nose is quite classy with a well moulded combination of obvious citrus fruits, oak and faint burnt match. Actually, a bit more than 'quite' classy. Citrus fruits hit the palate early in a tangy, almost acidic fashion, and keep the flavours quite tight right through the palate. Quite unyielding, perhaps unusual for Australian chardonnay. I reckon this is very young and would like to see how it will progress over the next 5 years.

Tasting Notes - Lost Valley Cortese 2006

I'm thinking this is the only planting of this Italian variety in Australia. This is the grape that the famous 'Gavi' is made from. It certainly is quite unique and definitely worth a look at. A hay bail, nutty aroma with a touch of sweet tropical fruit leads on to a light to medium bodied palate, low acidity levels but still clean, fresh flavours of pear, kiwi fruit and vanilla. The makers think the wine has cellaring potential for up to ten years - would be interesting to try.

Tasting Notes - Holly's Garden Pinot Gris 2007 (Recommended)

No wonder we sell so much of this wine. This Pinot Gris really grows on you. The aroma is of sweet honey and pear with a slightly vegetative undertone to it. The palate is weighty and oily, lower acidity level with a syrupy baked pear flavour and a kick of ginger at the back of the mouth. At first I thought the wine was a little 'hot' but as it warmed up a little the honey and spices really came out to produce a very flavoursome wine with just the right touch of sweetness.

Tasting Notes - Serafino Shiraz 2005 (Recommended)

This producer seems to consistently supply us with McLaren Vale classics. This a rich Shiraz and for once the wine is how it is described on the bottle; vanilla and bitter chocolate mix with berries to give a pronounced aroma made to make your mouth water. On the palate it is a powerful Shiraz with ripe red berry fruit, bitter chocolate and sweet spices. It has a smooth, velvety mouth feel and finishes with a flood of vanilla and fruit flavour. Delicious!

Tasting Notes - Voice of the Vine Riesling 2006

If you are not a fan of the weightier, tangy Claire Valley Rieslings this cool climate Riesling should appeal to you. It has a mineral and floral aroma, it is light and fresh with lively, racy acidity plenty of flavour from the slate / mineral spectrum through to a long lemony finish (without any bitterness) Would be fantastic with Oysters.

New Releases - Early October Pt.3

Chardonnay
Elgee Park 2005 $29 (Mornington Peninsula)
Morgan Simpson 2004 $15 (McLaren Vale)
Narkoojee Lily Grace 2005 $21 (Gippsland)

Dessert & Fortified
Bullers Botrytis Semillon 2006 $16 (Rutherglen)

Italian Varietals
Boggy Creek Sangiovese 2006 $18 (King Valley)

Pinot Noir
38 South 2005 $20 (Mornington Peninsula)
Baillieu Vineyard 2005 $16 (Mornington Peninsula)
Bress 2006 $19 (Yarra Valley)
Montalto Pinot Noir 2006 $36 (Mornington Peninsula)
Mount Difficulty 2006 $52 (Central Otago)

Riesling
Castle Rock Riesling 2003 $23 (Great Southern)
Crawford River 2006 $33 (Henty)
Georg Breuer GB Sauvage 2005 $29 (Germany)
George Breuer Rudesheim Estate 2005 $33 (Germany)
Gunderloch Jean Baptiste 2005 $28 (Germany)

Rhone Valley Varietals
Maxime Graillot GSM 2006 'Equinoxe' $33 (Rhone Valley)
Scorpiiion GSM 2006 $22 (Barossa Valley)

Rose
Charles Melton 2007 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Bird in Hand 2006 $21 (Adelaide Hills)
Huia 2007 $24 (Marlborough)
Te Mania 2006 $20 (Nelson)

Semillon
Ashbrook Estate Semillon 2006 $21 (Margaret River)
Grove Estate 2007 $17 (Hilltops)
Kaesler Old Vine 2005 $18 (Barossa Valley)

Shiraz
38 South 2005 $25 (Heathcote)
Bullers Calliope 2004 $36 (Rutherglen)
Flynns MC Shiraz 2005 $30 (Heathcote)
Kaesler Stonehorse 2005 $31 (Barossa Valley)
Kay Brothers Hillside 2005 $41 (McLaren Vale)
Morgan Simpson 2005 $23 (McLaren Vale)
Scorpiiion 2005 $28 (Barossa Valley)
Winter Creek 2004 $29 (Barossa Valley)

Tasting Notes - Galli Estate Shiraz 2004 (Value Recommendation)

I love finding cheap and very decent booze. Although not stated on the label this wine is in fact sourced from estate vines planted in Heathcote in 1998. Remarkable pricing at first glance.

Medium blood red in colour with the faintest of lightening at the rim. Simple nose of sweetish red berries, nice zingy lift, violets, perhaps a touch of development. Sweet and simple to taste, reflects the nose. Ok plummy fruits and a bitter streak (rustic?) to finish. Ends a bit short but hard to complain at the price.

Tasting Notes - Soul Growers GSM 2005 (Recommended)

Full bodied style with excellent balance. Ripe, a touch spirity, but well within the bounds of acceptability. Genuine fruit balance between the grenache, shiraz and mourvedre (tought 1.3rd each). Clean fruits, excellent mouthfeel, very complete.

Tasting Notes - Ad Hoc Riesling 2006

This riesling, sourced from Mt Barker fruit, is probably the pick of the current Ad Hoc releases. Nose is very pretty with lifted and perfumed sweet talcum powder. Very upfront, perhaps indicating some bottle development over and above a typical 2yr old riesling (particularly from this region). A pink tinge in the faint gold colour also indicates some development (at least to me). Flavours don't really kick on as expected; subdued dry fruits and the fainest of kero hints. Smells great but the flavours are confused; certainly not primary in nature and instead look aged, but this is a one year old?

Tasting Notes - Ad Hoc Chardonnay 2005

Sourced from Pemberton fruit. Simple ripe style with nice sweet malo notes that are lightly worked. A powerful core of sweet fruit drives the flavours early but the wine falls away in 'the second half' as the fruit gets flabby and falls away. A shame - it promised much early.

Tasting Notes - Ad Hoc Shiraz 2005

Dead simple nose with plenty of sweet red berries and oak. Kinda dumb but has obvious (& immediate) appeal. Drys out in the palate. No sweet fruity character, as expected, instead faint pepper and drying oak. Palate is actually very disappointing given the lack of any typical fruit character. Perhaps early days for the wine but if this appears to be pitched at every day drinking and thus does miss the mark.

Tasting Notes - Ad Hoc Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Our first look at Ex-Houghton's maker Larry Cherubino's new venture. Sourced from Margaret River fruit.

Very, very pale gold in colour; very youthful. Settled nose; some obvious tropical fruits but well matched to a zingy citrus note. Citrus pops up early in the palate but gives way to more mellow liquered fruits. Certainly undertstated but has some class.

Tasting Notes - Scorpiiian Shiraz 2005

Attractive nose of plummy fruits and sweet toasty oak. Good presence. Very similar flavours in the mouth - oak is quite noticeable but I can't really fault and the palate has good length. Perhaps a touch one-dimensional but I suspect the fruit will come good in time.

Tasting Notes - Underground Chardonnay 2006

Dead simple style. Sweet, cheapish fruits; simple pineapple and not much else. Little to zero oak impact. Pretty hard to get interested here.

Tasting Notes - Underground Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay 2006

Unusual blend in the current market that doesn't really serve a strong commercial purpose. Harmless dry white style with decent melon and citrus flavours. Quite interesting for the style. Will trade at around $12 some probably worth a look as a mid-week quaffer.

Tasting Notes - Minot Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Recommended)

Classical style that will live a long time. Plenty of text book blackberry and pencil shavings on the nose, not quite fruity but certainly has good lift. Palate is seriously and firmly structured with bright fruits early before a wall of furry tannin and darker and bitter fruits. Old fashion style that holds quite a bit of appeal because the wine has not been tarted up at all, instead classic varietal flavours and structure are on display. Hard to love right now but I'd love to see it in a decade.

Tasting Notes - Karra Yerta Riesling 2006

The 2005 was an excellent wine so I was looking forward to the follow-up. Youthful pale gold, perhaps just the fainest touch of a richer yellow coming through. Nose certainly a bit more advanced that expected; well defined lemon, very settled, but also a mild honey hint. The latter character gives the development hint. The aromas are almost old-fashioned in some respects. Palate is ripe with more lemon and honey. Flavours are quite assertive and the palate depth is much greater that the aromas implied. Finish tightens with harder mineral notes, chalky almost, and a vein of acid kicks in late. Won't disappoint at the price ($20).