Tasting Notes - Farnese 'Opis' Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Riserva 2000

Region: Abruzzo
Appelation: Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Tried this about about a year ago and thought it was looking quite good in a secondary flavour phase kind of way. This sample didn't show so well unfortunately. The robust tannin structure remains (grainy, savoury, good length) but the fruits are definately starting to 'brown' off and fade. Flavours are certaintly on the stinky, mushroom, savoury side. Drink soon. The 2001 is a better bet right now.

Tasting Notes - Dominique Laurent Gevrey Chambertin 'Les Cazetiers' 2003

Region: Burgundy
Appelation: Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru

From the excellent list at Vin Cellar in Prahran ($175). Decantered for 20 minutes but the wine still came across as very young. Well supported by oak (definately there but not over powering) the fruit was still tight and minerally, unyielding, and gave the impression that this wine needs at least 5 years. Some iron and blood as well. Notwithstanding the class is apparent. A good result for a less than stella vintage.

Tasting Notes - Egly Ouriet (Champagne)

Les Vignes de Vrigny NV $97
100% pinot meunier from 40+ year old vines in Vrigny. The base wine is 2003 (70%) and 20% from 2002 and 10% from 2001.
"Dry, some chalk and smoke. Good presence. No sure about value at near $100."

Grand Cru Tradition NV $121
75% pinot noir and 25% chardonnay. 50% 2003.
"Sleeping giant. Very understated and soft, almost to the extent it comes across as underpowered. Dry nutty finish."

Grand Cru Rose NV $161 (Recommended)
60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, mostly from 2004.
"Best of the flight; earthy, grilled nuts, long. Understated but classy. I'll make no comment on the value but a very nice drop."

Also had a quick peak at.......

Agrapart 2002 $138 (Recommended)
"Dry, understated. Faint core of spice and ginger. Subtle but the class and quality is obvious. Classic yeasty and biscuity finish."

Tasting Notes - Larmandier Bernier (Champagne)

Very brief notes and background details on some Larmandier wines recently tasted............all absolute crackers that can be strongly recommended and I was left wondering why people even bother with Moet and its ilk.

Brut Blanc Traditional Premier Cru NV $70 (Recommended)
A blend of 2000, 2001 and 1999. 85% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir.
"Sharp, acidic, but strangely fruity and floral. Flinty, minerally palate. Like a table wine with bubbles."

Grand Cru Crament 2003 $86 (Recommended)
100% chardonnay from old vines.
"Tangy citrus fruits and definite hints of Belgian Wit beer (citrus, spices). Broad palate with chalk and minerals."

Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru NV $70 (Recommended)
100% chardonnay from Vertus (premier cru) and Cramant, Avize and Oger (all grand cru).
"Sharp, dry, smokey. Very well balanced with a biscuit-like finish."

Rose de Saignee Brut Premier Cru $80 (Recommended)
100% pinot noir.
"Dusty, dirty fruits. Lots of obvious pinot on the nose and palate. Dry, old world style, lots in common with typical red Burgundy."

Terre de Vertus non dose Premier Cru NV $86 (Recommended)
100% old vine chardonnay from a single 50yr+ vineyard in Vertus.
"Bizarre! Big fruit cake nose but drys out in the palate. Retains a core of fruit but this is all about tangy chalk and minerals."

New Releases - Late December

Champagne
Larmandier Brut Traditional Vertus Premier Cru NV $70
Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru 2003 $86
Larmandier Brut Blanc de Blancs Vertus Premier Cru NV $70

Chardonnay
Caledonia Reserve 2003 $41 (Gippsland)

Gewurztraminer
Hunters 2007 $25 (Marlborough)

Pinot Grigio / Gris
Bulong Estate Pinot Gris 2007 $17 (Yarra Valley)
Stefano Lubiana Pinot Grigio 2007 $29 (Tasmania)

Pinot Noir
Paringa Estate 'PE' 2006 $25 (Mornington Peninsula)
PHI 2006 $43 (Yarra Valley)

Riesling
Gracebrook Vineyards Late Harvest 2006 $16 (King Valley)
Henty Estate 2007 $22 (Henty)
Winstead 2006 $21 (Tasmania)

Sauvignon Blanc
Highfield Estate 2007 $27 (Marlborough)
Skipjack 2007 $15 (Marlborough)

Semillon
Jasper Hill 2006 $37 (Heathcote)

Shiraz
Hently Farm 'The Beauty' Shiraz $43 (Barossa Valley)
Kaesler 'Old Bastard' Shiraz 2005 $175 (Barossa Valley)
Kaesler 'Old Vine' 2005 $62 (Barossa Valley)
Trevor Jones 'Wild Witch' 2005 $53 (Barossa Valley)

Verduzzo
Pizzini 2006 $23 (King Valley)

Imports - Angel Rodriguez Verdejo 2006

Region: Catalunya (Spain)
Sub-region / Appelation: Priorat DOC

Wine Background
The variety Verdejo is considered one of only a few genuine noble Spanish whites. It was essentially extinct 30 years ago but Angel Rodriguez clung onto a 1 acre 17th century planting called 'Martinsancho'. He has since grafted material from this vineyard onto a much recently planted 25 acre plot which is where this wine is sourced from.

Price
$27 per bottle

Tasting Notes - The Growers Geographe Chardonnay 2004 (Recommended)

Second installment from the Growers 2004 WA chardonnay series.

Basic build and flavours are not far removed from the Pemberton but the oak shows much better integration right through the palate. Crisp grapefruit on the nose as well as a hint of soft vanilla oak. Flavours are similar, some nice grapey tang creeps in, before the fruits broaden nicely in the back palate. The wine is more about structure than outright fruit flavours, and it really is quite smartly done in this respect. I like it.

Tasting Notes - Pin Pin Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Pin Pin is the second label of Ian Bell's Glenmore outfit. Funky, pongy nose, quite intense and well fruited. Palate is ok; tangy, quite lively, although obvious fruit is a bit hard to come by. Good tannin and oak structure but I can't help feel the fruit is muted (at best) and doesn't travel cleanly through the palate. So...structurally sound but lacking conviction on fruit power.

Tasting Notes - New Releases from Mac Forbes

Strathbogie Ranges Riesling 2007
Plenty of residual sugar (31g - deliberate). Good zingy lift from the acid. 6 barrels made.

Strathbogie Ranges Riesling 2005
Extra grams of the residual show (44g) but it swaps the acid just a fraction. A touch clumsy compared to the 2007. This style just ain't my bag.

Gruner Veltliner 2006 (Recommended)
Austrian sourced and made. Weird at first glance. Nice sweet hints in the nose, gris-like perhaps with a mineral character. Palate is an about face; tart, bitter, plenty of slatey bite. Forces to be noticed at $25. Well worth a look. 3 barrels made.

EB1 Chardonnay 2007
Sourced from Strathbogie fruit. Soft nose, approachable tropical fruits, some power. Palate is dry, zingy, lean and minerally. Surprising given the generosity of the nose. 3 barrels made.

Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006
Low, old oak style (7yrs old). Fruit comes from the same vineyard as the Woori Yallock. Dirty fruits on the nose, European-like, and a mild sulphur hint. Broad palate, quite anti-fruit, zingy with lemon and acid. Very different from a structural perspective but lacks obvious appeal. 2 barrels made.

Woori Yallock Chardonnay 2006
Very similar to the YV in most facets although the palate contains more obvious forward fruit. Oak is understated. Solid buy doesn't jump out. 6 barrels made.

Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2006
Sweetish nose with cherry and a 'sweet' sour overtone. Palate is light and fluffy before a raspy dry spice kicks in. Lacks intensity but not a bad drop. 10 barrels made.

Coldstream Pinot Noir 2006
Single vineyard wine from a warmer site. Mainstream / line & length flavours early with straightforward cherry fruit but the back end picks up with good sour and spice intensity. 12 barrels made.

Woori Yallock Pinot Noir 2006
Same vineyard as the WY chard. Longer hang time given the protected nature of the site. Good depth and again a drying spice note kicks in late. I can see the jump in quality but question the value at $47. 7 cases made.

'Hugh' Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Yarra Valley blend. Light (12.5%), classic with spice, tobacco, black berries. All quite elegant (bravo) but lacks intensity. 15 barrels made.

Blaufrankisch 2006 (Recommended)
My first look at this Austrian red. Dry early with rose-like fruits lurking, and a fraction spicy. Would work very well with food and worth a look at the price ($25). 3 barrels made.

Tasting Notes - The Growers Pemberton Chardonnay 2004

Great concept this: source 6 chardonnays from 6 regions in WA and make them all using near identical wine making inputs. A good way to assess regionality and terrior me thinks.

The Pemberton model is quite a decent wine although it doesn't quite hit the mark. Plenty of toasty oak on the nose and some richness from the fruit is apparent. Sweet and ripe tropical fruits drive the palate but the oak has a dulling, and almost, bittering impact on the flavours. It dominates, to be honest, and masks what could otherwise be quite a smart wine.

Tasting Notes - Kamberra Chardonnay 2004

A pretty ok example of cool climate chard. It was good of BRL to put some focus into the Canberra region via this label but I'm not sure if indeed it's still in existence.

Pale gold in colour; youthful for the age, and an attractive / elegant nose of low key stone fruits and a whisper of vanilla. More of the same to taste although the fruit doesn't really penetrate such that the flavour component doesn't really define itself with any certainty, the exception being some ok stone fruit action on the very back palate. Drink now.

Tasting Notes - Di Gorgio 'Frank' White Blend 2006 (Recommended)

New entry level level for Coonawarra player Di Gorgio. This wine is a blend of semillon, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, not particularly unusual in days gone by but relatively rare these days.

I think is will be priced under $12 and I have to say it has stacks of obvious crowd pleaser appeal that should work well at the price point. Lots of tropical fruit, ripe, some heat, and a somewhat dry finish, perhaps a little surprising given the nose and fruit flavours. No a good choice for the geeks but good simple summer drinking.

Tasting Notes - Penfolds Bin 28 1996

Tasted December 2007
Looking back at my notes from 2 years ago I'd say this wine is now an obvious 'drink now' candidate. Colour is still holding very well (dark crimson) and the nose shows red berries with a tinny note, almost acidic like. Palate is a fraction hard and one-dimensional with red fruits and a hot, hard extracted feel that appears to be loaded with an acid-like character. The underlying fruits are clearly strarting to fade. No great, and again the hardness evident in the palate is very consistent with other 1996 Bin series wines that I have tried over the past 3 years.

Tasted November 2004
Good colour for an 8yr old, very dark crimson with a thinning edge on the rim. Tar like nose, almost meaty yet seems quite fresh. A touch of sweet fruit provides good lift. Palate is tough to read. Upfront fruit seems very fresh but falls away in the middle and back palate. Fruit thins out and becomes disjointed, with a hard extracted streak running through. Plenty of tannic backbone keeps the wine relatively tight, and more tarry notes appear on the finish.

Tastings Notes - Lake Cairn Curran Current Releases

Blanc de Blanc 2006 (Recommended)
Not a bad effort. Simple style with a dash of approachable fruit sweetness, a good combination. Drinks easily and finishes with a firming and almost liqueur-like edge. Will be priced in the low $20s and looks well placed here.

Shiraz 2006
I wanted to like this wine. Unfortunately it’s made in a style that I struggle with, that is, seemingly a deliberate ploy to leave some residual sugar. This wine is quite well made but the grapey, sweet liqueured fruits prove to big a distraction for me. Sweet plum and pepper drive the flavours in the most simple of ways. Very grapey and fruit juice-like across the bouquet and palate. The finish is much dryer than expected with some tang from the acid coming through but the fruit flavours largely drop out.

Lake Cairn Curran ‘Sur Lie’ Chardonnay 2005
A reserve wine of sorts given it is sourced from the pick of the barrels from the 2005 vintage. Medium yellow gold in colour, very clean, but looks to be showing some development. Nose doesn’t give me too much; oldish subtle oak and vague stonefruits. Flavours are quite interesting. Fruits are quite firm and almost bitter very early in the palate, quite ripe, some oak, more harder grapefruit-like flavours. For a fleeting moment one gets the impression this is very serious chardonnay but the palate weight tails off considerably. Notwithstanding it’s not a bad attempt.

Tasting Notes - Diamond Valley Cabernet Cabernet Franc 2000 (Recommended)

This wine is a bit of an oddity to the retail trade as it is available as a 7 year old 'current release'. I tried this wine about 9 months ago and it was very impressive. This sample didn't disappoint, and further underlines just how good 2000 was in the Valley for cabernet.

This wine is a single vineyard job sourced from a 22yr old estate vineyard.

Amazing aromas of fresh blueberry and juicy blackcurrents. Text book stuff and massively appealing. Palate was muted early by some CO2 hanging around in the glass but this dissipated over 30 minutes. Leaner that the aromas suggest with faint berries, blackberry, and a tight structure that still is ever so slightly shackled with some buzzing acid. The primary fruit has certainly softened in recent times and it might be best to drink up over 2008.

Tasting Note - Konrad and Co Noble Two 2004 (recommended)

If you are looking for a stickie which is not too cloying and well franky too stickie you may well enjoy this. A 'noble' blend of Riesling and Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand it displays deep golden colour, rich citrus and honey aromas and a sweet marmalade, zesty palate which is lighter than many botrytis wines and as a result the wine maintains a pleasing freshness. A fabulous match with Roquefort but I found Roaring 40's blue a bit too big for it.

Tasting Notes - La Serre Sauvignon Blanc 2004

Region: Languedoc

Priced ok at $13 but I reckon 4yr el cheapo from France will be hard to flog!

Nice golden hue; dead clear and very clean looking. Nose shows obvious aged notes of soft fruits and faint honey. Has a certain appeal. Palate is interesting; structurally quite ok with a firming tinge of acid and citrus, but the fruit has faded, leaving the aforementioned honey character. To be honest I'd probably prefer to drink this than standard Marlborough savvy but it just won't work in the Australian market place (at least in my humble opinion.)

Tasting Notes - Arrivo Nebbiolo 2004 (Recommended)

One of a handful of high priced local nebs that has serious claims on being a legit Piedmont lookalike. Only 100 cases for this vintage.

Light blood red in colour; a good start. Just a touch of lightening at the rim. Dry herbal notes on the nose along with fruity raspberry. Flavours are also in the 'dry' spectrum with lots of old world tannin. Drives a very long finish. This wine is not at all fruity but rather all about firm structure.

New Releases - Mid December Pt.3

Barbera
Christmont 2004 $20 (King Valley)

Cabernet & Blends
Heartland 'Coast & Creek' Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $16 (Langhorne Creek)

Chardonnay
Scorpo 2005 $35 (Mornington Peninsula)
Serafino 'Goose Island' Chardonnay 2007 $14 (McLaren Vale)

Chenin Blanc
Marc Bredif Vouvray 1988!! $44 (Loire Valley, France)

Gewurztraminer
Trimbach 'Reserve' 2001 $45 (Alsace, France)

Pinot Noir
Frogmore Creek 'Reserve' 2005 $57 (Tasmania)
Paringa Estate 'Estate' 2006 $63 (Mornington Peninsula)

Riesling
Frogmore Creek 2005 $24 (Tasmania)
Trimbach 'Reserve' 2005 $39 (Alsace, France)

Sangiovese
Pizzini 2006 $26 (King Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Dunsborough Hills Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $16 (Margaret River)
Elgo Estate 'Allira' 2007 $14 (Strathbogie Ranges)
Skip Jack $15.00 (Marlborough)

Shiraz
Battle of Bosworth Shiraz 2006 $22 (McLaren Vale)
Langmeil 'Barossa Old Vine Company' 2003 $95 (Barossa Valley)
Paringa Estate 'Estate' 2005 $46 (Mornington Peninsula)

New Releases - Mid December Pt.2

Barbara
Chalk Hill 2006 $23 (McLaren Vale)

Chardonnay
Barringwood Park 2005 $26 (Tasmania)
Delamere Reserve 2005 $31 (Tasmania)

Dessert Wines & Fortifieds
Konrad Sigrun Noble 2 $32 (Marlborough)

Pinot Grigio / Gris
Tar & Roses 2007 $20 (Strathbogie Ranges)

Pinot Noir
Delamere 2005 $22 (Tasmania)
Eastern Peake 1997 $75 (Ballarat)
Eastern Peake 2000 $52 (Ballarat)
Grey Sands 2005 $37 (Tasmania)
Moondarra Conception 2005 $86 (Gippsland)
Moondarra Samba Side 2005 $117 (Gippsland)
Prince Albert 2004 $33 (Geelong)
Winstead 2005 $32 (Tasmania)

Rose
Eastern Peake Pinot Noir 2006 $27 (Ballarat)

Sangiovese
Tar and Roses $21 (Heathcote)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Jinks Creek 2006 $22 (Yarra Valley)
Voice of the Vine 2006 'Acappella' $27 (Mornington Peninsula)

Shiraz
Brown Magpie 2006 $24 (Geelong)
Dinny Goonan 2005 $17 (Geelong)
Jinks Creek 'Longford' Shiraz 2004 $32 (Gippsland)
Schubert Estate 'Gosling' Shiraz 2005 $24 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling White
Crittenden 'Geppetto' NV Brut $16 (King Valley)

Tempranillo
Tar and Roses $22 (Heathcote)

Tasting Notes - Crittenden 'Geppetto' Sparkling White NV

Gary Crittenden's cheapy white sparkler from entry level label 'Geppetto'. Although not stated I'm sure this would be mostly sourced from King Valley fruit (as is most of the range) although there is a South Australia component. 60% pinot noir. Fairly straight forward and simple style, particularly for the price point (u/ $16). Quite soft, approachable, with citrus and lemon fruits on both nose and palate. Nose is also quite ripe. Medium strength finish. Appears to do a good job of straddling the fine line between punter friendly fruity action and more classic dry notes.

As an asided the level of detail Gary provides at www.crittendenwines.com.au is excellent for all wines produced. Check it out if you get a chance.

New Releases - Mid December

Cabernet & Blends
Schild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $19 (Barossa Valley)
Virgin Block Cabernet Merlot 2004 $27 (Margaret River)

Chardonnay
Cobaw Ridge 1999 $32 (Racedon Ranges)

Pinot Noir
Bass Phillip 2006 21st Anniversary $78 (Gippsland)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Elgo Estate 'Allira' 2006 $14 (Strathbogie Ranges)
Geoff Weaver 2007 $23 (Adelaide Hills)
Virgin Block 2006 $22 (Margaret River)

Shiraz
Ben Schild Premium 2005 $34 (Barossa Valley)
Hennings View Vineyard 2002 $25 (Heathcote)
Scorpo 2005 $37 (Mornington Peninsula)
Torbreck Descendant 2005 $115 (Barossa Valley)
Torbreck The Factor 2004 $115 (Barossa Valley)

Other Reds
Cobaw Ridge Langrein 2005 $48 (Macedon Ranges)

Other Whites
Heartland Viognier Pinot Gris 2006 $19 (Langhorne Creek)
Pierre Sparr Reserve Gewurztraminer 2005 $33 (Alsace, France)

Tasting Notes - San Leonardo Cabernet 2000 (Recommended)

Region: Trentino (Italy)
Sub-Region: Avio

This wine is considered to be Trentino's leading cabernet based wine and not surprisingly has long been awarded '3 glass' status by Gambero Rosso. Based on this tasting I can absolutely see why. Shy very early; violets, green herbal hints, a touch of pepper. Opens up nicely over 45 minutes to reveal layers of classic cabernet fruits, berries, and truckloads of floral characters. Has a high proportion of cab franc, which in theory would add to the aromas and lift. Always strictly medium-bodied, and has at least 3 years ahead of it. Strongly recommended, even at $90.

New Releases - Early December Pt.3

Cabernet & Blends
Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 $63 (Tasmania)
Langanook Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $26 (Bendigo)
Whispering Hills Vineyard "Appassimento" (cabernet-based aramone style) $24 (Yarra Valley)

Chardonnay
Kings Creek 2005 $16 (Mornington Peninsula)

Merlot
Grey Sands 2003 $31 (Tasmania)

Pinot Gris & Grigio
Grey Sands Pinot Gris 2006 $31 (Tasmania)
Huia Pinot Gris 2007 $26 (Marlborough)
JL Wolf 2006 Pinot Gris $20 (Germany)

Riesling
Crawford River Young Vines 2006 $23 (Henty)
Wild Dog Winery 2007 $19 (Gippsland)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
McHenry Hohnen Semillon Sauvignon Blacn 2007 $21 (Margaret River)

Shiraz & Blends
Redhouse Shiraz Grenache 2004 $18 (McLaren Vale)
Trevor Jones Wild Witch 2002 Magnum 2002 $111 (Barossa Valley)

Other Whites
Huia Gewurztraminer 2007 $26 (Marlborough)

Tasting Notes - Amherst 'Daisy Creek' Chardonnay 2006

Another sub $16 wine made from 100% Pyrenees fruit. Medium strength golden hue, seemingly showing some development. Ripe fruits, mostly pineapple, on the nose. A slightly dirty / euro note underpins the aromas. Similar fruits to taste although somewhat dilutive when compared to the aromas. Fruits tighten through the palate and finish with citrus tang. Probably better options in the price range.

Tasting Notes - Amherst 'Daisy Creek' Shiraz Cabernet 2006

The 2005 was a very good wine at $15 but this vintage is probably not at the same standard. Simple nose of red berry fruits and a toasty oak note. Perhaps not quite seamless. Flavours and palate structure largely repeat the nose. The red fruits are very generic and unremarkable (yet satisfactory), and not at all heavy. Lightish finish with an earthy, iron-like character coming through. Ok wine, and maybe hard to be critical given the price point and region.

New Releases - Early December Pt.2

Cabernet & Blends
Tallis Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $19 (Central Victoria)
Ulithorne 'Paternus' Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $33 (McLaren Vale)
Woodlands Estate 'Rachel' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $92 (Margaret River)

Grenache & Blends
Torbreck 'Juveniles' GSm 2007 $26 (Barossa Valley)

Merlot
Irvine 'Grand' 2002 $90 (Eden Valley)

Pinot Gris / Grigio
Wairau Pinot Grigio 2007 $21 (Marlborough)

Pinot Noir

Van Ash 2001 $46 (Central Otago)

Riesling

Claymore 'Joshua Tree' 2007 $20 (Clare Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc

Herzog 'Hans' 2006 $26 (Marlborough)

Shiraz

Balnaves 2005 $26 (Coonawarra)

Claymore 'Dark Side of the Moon' 2005 $22 (Clare Valley)

Longview 'Yakka' 2006 $29 (Adelaide Hills)

Silesian 'Clancy Fuller' 3 Hogshead Shiraz 2002 $23 (Barossa Valley)

Tallis 2004 $19 (Central Victoria)

Sparkling White

LaCache 2002 $34 (margaret River)

Other Whites

Chestnut Grove Verdelho 2007 $20 (Manjimup)

Lindenton Verdelho 2005 $ (Heathcote)

Tallis Viognier 2005 $19 (Central Victoria)

Tasting Notes - La Serre Croix Chardonnay Vermentino 2004

Region: Languedoc

This Languedoc wine is an unlikely blend of what we might typically see in Australia. Pale in gold in colour; looking good for 3+ years of age. Ripe pineapple and tropical fruits on the nose. Ripe flavours pop up again in the palate, sweet fruits are very prounced in the simple, dumb tropical fruit style. Some hints of a more savoury component in the back palate, perhaps giving the wine its 'euro' feel. Drying finish.

Tasting Notes Harvey River Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Kiwi look-a-like from Geographe, south of Perth. Plenty of textbook flavours (grass and gooseberry) but I can't get comfortable with the level of sweetness in the wine. It's not approaching the level of off-dry but there may be a relatively high of residual left in this wine. No dount the style will have it's fans but I'm not one of them.

Specials and Case Discounts - December

Silesian Clancy Fuller 'Scribblers' GSM 2002 $23 (was $26)
As per our comments below...a rare opportunity to purchase 5 year grenache based wine from a stella vintage.

Trevor Jones Sixth Sense Grenache 2001 $20 (was $33)
We were selling this wine for $33 sixth months ago! A very solid example of nicely aged Barossa grenache from old vines in the Barossa.

New Releases - Early December

Cabernet & Blends
Cullen Cabernet Merlot 2005 $32 (Margaret River)
Mount Mary Quintet 2005 $129 (Yarra Valley)
Wantirna Estate 'Hannah' Cabernet Franc merlot 2005 $119 (Yarra Valley)

Champagne
Agrapart Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut Grand Cru 2002 $138

Chardonnay
Toolangi 'Estate' 2005 $37 (Yarra Valley)
Toolangi 'Reserve' 2005 $68 (Yarra Valley)

Grenache & Blends
Trevor Jones Sixth Sense 2001 $20 (Barossa Valley)

Italian Varietals
Arrivo Nebbiolo 2005 $56 (Adelaide Hills)
Arrivo Nebbiolo 'Rosato di Nebbiolo' 2007 $25 (Adelaide Hills)
Herzog Montepulciano 2004 $70 (Marlborough)

Pinot Noir
Herzog 2005 $60 (Marlborough)
Waratah Hills 2005 $24 (Gippsland)

Riesling
Trevor Jones 'Reserve' 2005 $24 (Eden Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Bress Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $19 (Margaret River)

Shiraz
Biscay Wines 'John Hongell' 2004 $21 (Barossa Valley)
Lazy Bellarina 2006 $23 (McLaren Vale)
Pizzini Sangiovese Shiraz 2006 $18 (King Valley)
Spinifex 'Indigene' Shiraz Mataro 2005 $45 (Barossa Valley)
Trevor Jones 'Boots' 2006 $16 (Barossa Valley)