New Releases - August Pt.5

Cabernet & Blends
Blackjack Cabernet Merlot 2006 $27 (Bendigo)
Serafino "Goose Island" Cabernet Merlot 2005 $14 (McLaren Vale)
Wild Duck Creek "Alan's" Cabernet 1999 $60 (Heathcote)
Wild Duck Creek "The Blend" 2005 $30 (Yarra Valley / Heathcote)

Chardonnay
Nicholson River "Montview" 2003 $21 (Gippsland)
Nicholson River 2006 $38 (Gippsland)

Grenache & Blends
Eperosa "Synthesis" GSM 2005 $28 (Barossa Valley)

Semillon
Meerea Park "Hell Hole" 2008 $25 (Hunter Valley)

Shiraz
Blackjack "Block 6" 2006 $37 (Bendigo)
Eperosa "Elevation" 2005 $28 (Eden Valley)
Wild Duck Creek "Springflat" Shiraz 2005 $48 (Heathcote)

Sparkling Red
Pondalowie Sparkling Shiraz 2002 $39 (Bendigo)

Tasting Notes - Guy Bossard (Loire)

On the whole these were very impressive and a number of the current vintage can be picked up for under $30!!

Guy Bossard Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Expression de Granite Domaine De L'ECU 2005 (Recommended)
Striking. Sweet mineral and talcum powder on the nose and palate. Really quite excellent. Fruit profile has a dirty hint but certainly adds to the wine. Firmer stonefruit-like characters are awesome. Good presence and length.

Guy Bossard Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Cuvée Classique Domaine De L'Ecu 2005
Subtle dry white with musky overlay. A touch thick but works well, but essentially plain. Well made.

Guy Bossard Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Expression de Gneiss 2005
Musty nose, almost corked? Some lemon and citrus as well. Drives a good length. Spice to finish. Has character.

Guy Bossard Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Expression d'Orthogneiss 2005
Musk, some musty daggy characters. Dry and mostly clean with faint minerals and spice. Good balance but lacks a memorable character.

Guy Bossard Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Domaine De L'Ecu 1997 (Recommended)
Aging very very gracefullt. Honey and funk, good weight, some musk. Travelling very well.

Tasting Notes - Voice of the Vine Pinot Noir 2005 (Recommended)

Funked up style that is not miles away from the left-of-centre Bass Phillip mould. Sour percing fruits across the nose palate. Never heavy and does lighten somewhat in the back palate. Drink now given the light palate structure.

New Releases - August Pt.4

Cabernet & Blends
Balnaves Cabernet Merlot 2006 $26 (Coonawarra)
Pierro "Reserve" Cabernet Merlot 2004 $48 (Margaret River)
Yalland & Papps Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $30 (Barossa Valley)

Champagne
Gremillet "Brut Selection" $53 (Champagne)
Gremillet "Grand Reserve" $57 (Champagne)

Chardonnay
Darling Park "Reserve" Chardonnay 2005 $26 (Mornington Peninsula)
Heartland "Stickleback" Chardonnay Blend 2007 $13 (Langhorne Creek)
Scorpo 2006 $36 (Mornington Peninsula)

Gamay
Bass Phillip 2006 $28 (Gippsland)

Grenache
Yelland & Papps 2006 $30 (Barossa Valley)

Italian Varietals
Heartland Dolcetto Langrein 2007 $21 (Langhorne Creek)
Vinea Marson Nebbiolo 2006 $42 (Heathcote)

Pinot Gris
Darling Park 2007 $23 (Mornington Peninsula)

Pinot Noir
Gravitas 2006 $35 (Marlborough)
Muddy Water $40 (Waipara)

Riesling
Dal Zotto 2006 $16 (King Valley)

Semillon
Kalleske "Clarry's" Semillon Chenin Blanc 2006 $16 (Barossa Valley)
Kalleske "Lorraine" Late Harvest Semillon 2006 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Shiraz
Blanche Barkly "Mary Eileen" 2004 $25 (Bendigo)
Charles Sturt 2006 $13 (Central Ranges)
Paradise IV "Dardel" 2006 $35 (Geelong)
Paramoor "The Fraser" Shiraz Cabernet Merlot 2006 $23 (Macedon Ranges)
Teusner "Albert" 2006 $43 (Barossa Valley)
Yelland & Papps 2006 $30 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling Wines
Darling Park Rose 2007 $25 (Mornington Peninsula)

Viognier
Elgee Park "Reserve" 2005 $36 (Mornington Peninsula)

Vintage Port
Kalleske "JMK" Shiraz 2006 $24 (Barossa Valley)

Tasting Notes - Tomboy Hill "Nittingbool" Pinot Noir 2003 (Recommended)

Sappy fruits on the nose. Some sour and stewed fruits as well but in the elegant mould. Tastes are similar and the structure is really quite impressive; fruits dances across the tongue with a dose of acid - works well. Spice and faint minerals to finish. Tails off a fraction so perhaps best drunk as a 5 - 6 year old.

New Releases - August Pt.3

Chardonnay
Herve Azo "Petit Chablis" 2006 $32 (France)
Picardy 2007 $38 (Pemberton)

Grenache & Blends
Domaine de Villeneuve "Chateauneuf du Pape" 2005 $81 (Rhone Valley, France)
Koltz "MSG" 2005 $28 (McLaren Vale)
Torbreck "Steading" 2006 $38 (Barossa Valley)

Merlot
Stefano Lubiana 2005 $30 (Tasmania)

Pinot Noir
Bass Phillip "Premium" 2005 $116 (Gippsland)
Bress "Yarra Valley" 2007 $20 (Yarra Valley)
Clos Henri 2006 $53 (Marlborough)
Mandala 2006 $21 (Yarra Valley)
Red Claw 2006 $29 (Mornington Peninsula)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Geoff Weaver "Ferus" 2005 $39 (Adelaide Hills)

Shiraz & Blends
Bress "Heathcote / Bendigo" Shiraz 2007 $20 (Bendigo)
Dalfarras Shiraz Viognier 2005 $15 (Nagambie Lakes)
Izway Wines "Contra" 2006 $23 (Barossa Valley)
Koltz "Dog Day" Shiraz 2007 $17 (McLaren Vale)
Taminick Cellars "Premium" Shiraz 2005 $19 (Glenrowan)
Torbreck "Struie" 2006 $46 (Barossa Valley)

Tempranillo
Pondalowie "Heathcote" 2007 $24 (Heathcote)

Zinfandel
Smidge "Tardy" 2005 $34 (Langhorne Creek)

Tasting Notes - Woodlands Cabernet Merlot 2006

Brief notes from dinner. Relatively simple style with fresh and straightforward berry fruits. A bit too straightforward for my tastes perhaps but works for the style and pricepoint. Back palate shows class with mild supportive tannins and herbal casis fruits. Certainly not as good as the 2004.

Tasting Notes - McHenry Hohen 3 Amigos Chardonnay Viognier 2005

I reckon this was quite good albeit in an old-fashioned ripe dry white style. Texture from the marsanne is very evident, driving a nice lick of thick dry tropical fruit. Good length and consistent, suggesting this wine will look quite ok as a 5yr old.

New Releases - August Pt.2

Chardonnay
Dawson's Patch 2005 $25 (Yarra Valley)

Dessert & Fortifieds
Pirramimma "Digby" Port $36 (McLaren Vale)

Grenache & Blends
Kalleske "Old Vine" Grenache 2006 $48 (Barossa Valley)

Pinot Gris / Grigio
Paracombe Pinot Gris 2008 $19 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Noir
Gembrook 2006 $44 (Yarra Valley)
Mount Difficulty "Roaring Meg' $38 (Central Otago)
Prince Albert 2006 $38 (Geelong)
Principia 2006 $33 (Mornington Peninsula)

Sauvignon Blanc
Martinborough Vineyard 2007 $25 (Martinborough)
Mike Press 2008 $13 (Adelaide Hills)

Shiraz
Glenwillow Vineyard "Reserve" 2006 $30 (Bendigo)
Henty Estate Shiraz 2006 $22 (Henty)
Jamsheed "Great Western" 2006 $35 (Great Western)
Kalleske "Pirathon" Shiraz 2006 $24 (Barossa Valley)
Maverick "Trial Hill" Shiraz 2005 $53 (Eden Valley)
Pindarie Shiraz 2006 $21 (Barossa Valley)
Poverty Hill 2005 $25 (Eden Valley)

New Releases - August

Cabernet & Blends
Wine by Brad Cabernet Merlot 2005 $17 (Margaret River)

Chardonnay
Even Keel 2006 $27 (Tumbarumba)
Woodlands "Estate" Chardonnay 2007 $20 (Margaret River)
Woodlands "Choloe" Chardonnay 2007 $55 (Margaret River)

Merlot
Bird in Hand "2 in the Bush" 2007 $19

Pinot Noir
Caledonia Australis "Mount Macleod" 2006 $17
Caledonia Australis "Estate" 2006 $25
Dalla Mei Finestra 2003 $25 (Yarra Valley)
Herzog 2006 $63 (Marlborough)

Riesling
Hutton Vale Riesling 2007 $26 (Eden Valley)
Torzi Matthews "Schist" Riesling $15 (Eden Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Bird in Hand "2 in the Bush" 2007 $19 (Adelaide Hills)
Herzog 2007 $48 (Marlborough)
Mantra 2007 $19 (Margaret River)

Shiraz
Bellbrae "Longboard" 2006 $22 (Geelong)
Bird in Hand "2 in the Bush" 2006 $19 (Adelaide Hills)
Even Keel Shiraz Viognier 2006 $28 (Canberra)
Farmer's Daughter 2006 $19 (Mudgee)
Fireblock 2005 $19 (Clare Valley)
Hutton Vale Shiraz 2002 $56 (Eden Valley)
Torzi Matthews "Frost Dodger" 2006 $30 (Eden Valley)

Viognier
Herzog 2007 $57 (Marlborough)

Other Reds
Pindarie Tempranillo Sangiovese Shiraz 2007 $21 (Barossa Valley)
Santa Ines "Reserve" Carmenere 2004 (Chile)