New Releases - November

Cabernet & Blends

Logan Wines Cabernet Merlot 2006 $24 (Orange)

Maxwell "Little Deamon" Cabernet Merlot 2006 $16 (McLaren Vale)

Chardonnay

Harewood Estate 2006 $26 (Great Southern)

Logan Wines 2007 $22 (Orange)

Peppermint Grove "Unwooded" 2007 $14 (Western Australia)

Pinot Noir

Elgee Park 2006 $34 (Mornington Peninsula)

Josef Chromy 2006 $27 (Tasmania)

Pisa Range 2006 $55 (Central Otago)

Riesling

Frank Kunstler "Dry" 2006 $30 (Germany)

Frogmore Creek "FGR" 2006 $22 (Tasmania)

Sauvignon Blanc

PHI 2007 $40 (Yarra Valley)

Shiraz

Laughing Jack 2005 $34 (Barossa Valley)

Logan Wines Shiraz Viognier 2006 $18 (Orange)

Logan Wines 2006 $24 (Orange)

Nicholson River 2005 $39 (Gippsland)

Passing Clouds "Graeme's Blend" Shiraz Cabernet 2004 $26 (Bendigo)

Sparkling Red

Pondalowie Shiraz 2002 $39 (Bendigo)

Sparkling White

Logan Wines "M Cuvee" 2005 $29 (Orange)

Viognier

Massena "The Surely Muse" 2007 $19 (Barossa Valley)

New Releases October Pt.5

Barbera
Chalk Hill 2007 $23 (McLaren Vale)

Cabernet & Blends
Te Mata "Coleraine" Cabernet Merlot 2006 $84 (Hawkes Bay)

Champagne
Egly Ouriet "Grand Cru Millesime" 2000 $205 (Champagne)
Egly Ouriet "Extra Brut VP" NV $151 (Champagne)
Egly Ouriet "Grand Cru Brut Rose" NV $151 (Champagne)

Chardonnay
Domaine A Bernard Defaix "Cote De Lechet 1er" 2005 $50 (France - Chablis)
Domaine A Bernard Defaix "Chablis AOC" 2006 $35 (France - Chablis)

Dessert & Fortifieds
Castello Di Ama Vin Santo 2001 $62 (Italy)

Merlot
Chateau Coufran 2000 $50 (France - Bordeaux)
Nicholson River 2004 $23 (Gippsland)

Pinot Gris & Grigio
Grey Sands Pinot Gris 2007 $38 (Tasmania)
Spring Vale Pinot Gris 2008 $29 (Tasmania)

Pinot Noir
Scorpo 2006 $42 (Mornington Peninsula)

Prosecco
Dal Zotto 2006 $29 (King Valley)

Red Blends
Casa Fresche "La Signora" 2004 $36 (Langhorne Creek)

Sangiovese
Some Young Punks "Squid's Fist" Sangiovese Shiraz 2007 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Shiraz
Battle of Bosworth "White Boar" 2006 $43 (McLaren Vale)
Nicholson River 2005 $39 (Gippsland)

New Releases - October Pt.4

Cabernet & Blends
Highbank Cabernet Merlot 2002 $52 (Coonawarra)
Smiths Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2005 $32 (Beechworth)
Willunga Creek "Black Duck" Cabernet Merlot 2005 $19 (McLaren Vale)
Willunga Creek "Black Duck" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $25 (McLaren Vale)

Chardonnay
Martinborough Vineyard 2006 $43 (Martinborough, NZ)
Smiths Vineyard 2006 $35 (Beechworth)

Merlot
Eagle Vale 2005 $28 (Margaret River)
Willunga Creek "Black Duck" Merlot 2005 $25 (McLaren Vale)

Pinot Noir
Dalle Mia Finestra 2005 $20 (Yarra Valley)
Helen's Hill "Ingham Road" 2007 $15 (Yarra Valley)

Prosecco
Col Vetoraz Valdobbiadene "Brut" Nv $31 (Veneto, Italy)
Col Vetoraz Valdobbiadene "Extra Dry" Nv $30 (Veneto, Italy)

Riesling
Heyman Lowenstein "Schieferterrassen" 2007 $43 (Germany)
Mount Majura 2008 $19 (Canberra)

Rose
Massena 2007 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Cullen Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $31 (Margaret River)
Eagle Vale 2007 $28 (Margaret River)
Helen's Hill "Ingham Road" 2008 $13 (Yarra Valley)

Shiraz
Eagle Vale 2005 $29 (Margaret River)
Lunar Wines 2006 $35 (Barossa Valley)
SC Pannell 2006 $53 (McLaren Vale)
Smiths Vineyard "310m" 2006 $35 (Beechworth)
Willunga Creek "Black Duck" 2005 $25 (McLaren Vale)
Willunga Creek "Out for a Duck" 2006 $18 (McLaren Vale)

Sparkling White
Stefano Lubiana Vintage 2003 $50 (Tasmania)

New Releases - October Pt.3

Cabernet & Blends
Chapman Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $22 (Margaret River)
Sandy Farm "Preservative Free" Cabernet Merlot 2007 (Ballarat)

Chardonnay
Chapman Grove 2005 $22 (Margaret River)
Cobaw Ridge Chardonnay 2006 $32 (Macedon Ranges)
Kouark Winery 2005 $19 (Gippsland)

Pinot Gris & Grigio
Totino Estate Pinot Grigio 2008 $16 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Noir
Kings Creek "Reserve" 2005 $26 (Mornington Peninsula)
Paringa "PE" 2007 $28 (Mornington Peninsula)
Pegasus Bay 2006 $57 (Waipara NZ)
Olssens "Jackson Barry" 2006 $57 (Central Otago)
Riposte 2007 $27 (Adelaide Hills)

Ports etc
David Franz "Old Redemption" Tawny $42 (Barossa Valley)

Riesling
David Franz 2007 $25 (Eden Valley)
Flaxmand Wines 2007 $26 (Eden Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Saint Clair "Marlborough" 2008 $22 (Marlborough)

Shiraz
Brothers in Arms 2002 $39 (Langhorne Creek)
David Franz "Benjamin's Promise" 2001 $35 (Barossa Valley)
Flaxman Wines Shiraz Cabernet 2006 $38 (Eden Valley)
Newbridge Wines 2003 $23 (Bendigo)
Newbridge Wines 2005 $19 (Bendigo)
The Standish Wine Co. "The Relic" Shiraz Viognier 2006 $94 (Barossa Valley)
The Standish Wine Co. "The Standish" Shiraz 2005 $94 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling Red
David Franz NV 2007 Disgorge "Nicola" $50 (Barossa Valley)

Tasting Notes - Mount Langi Ghiran "Cliff Edge" Shiraz 2005

This has always been an ultra reliable wine in the sub $25 market and perhaps a leading candidate for the best 'cheapie' Grampians red. Having said this I'm not sure why the 2005 is the current release. Brooding nose of dark dry berry fruits; subtle yet has presence and very good power. Nice hints of violets, and really quite impressive. Palate and fruit profile is serious; dry red fruits with a dose of spicy oak. Quite bitter to finish, a little out of kilter, but it does drive depth. Detracts from what is otherwise a smart wine.

New Releases - October Pt.2

Cabernet & Blends
Howling Wolves Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $16 (Margaret River)
Howling Wolves "Small Batch" Cabernet Merlot Cab Franc 2006 $16 (Margaret River)
Roy Kidman "Wombat Dig" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $19 (Coonawarra)

Chardonnay
Stefani Estate 2005 $40 (Yarra Valley)
Trevor Jones 2007 $15 (Barossa Valley)

Dessert Wines
Paul Jaboulet Muscat "Beaumes de Venise" 2006 $29 (France)

Grenache & Blends
Trevor Jones "Boots" Grenache Merlot Cabernet 2006 $16 (Barossa Valley)

Italian White Varietals
Pieropan "La Rocca" Soave 2006 $70 (Italy)

Pinot Grigio & Gris
Elk Cove Pinot Gris 2007 $38 (Oregon, USA)
Henley Hill Pinot Grigio 2008 $15 (Yarra Valley)

Pinot Noir
Couta 2007 $16 (Mornington Peninsula)
Elk Cove 2006 $56 (Oregon, USA)
Paramoor Wines "Joan Picton" 2006 $21 (Macedon Ranges)
Winbirra 2006 $31 (Mornington Peninsula)

Riesling
Bloodwood 2007 $23 (Orange)
Frogmore Creek 2007 $26 (Tasmania)
Karra Yerta "Eden Valley" 2007 $26 (Eden Valley)

Rose
Bloodwood "Big Men in Tights" 2007 $18 (Orange)
Small Fry Wines Grenache Rose 2007 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Dusky Sounds Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $16 (Marlborough)
Howling Wolves Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $15 (Margaret River)

Semillon
Mount Horrocks 2007 $27 (Clare Valley)

Shiraz
Arakoon Wines "Sellicks Beach" 2006 $20 (McLaren Vale)
Clayfield "Massif" 2006 $24 (Grampians)
Milvine Estate 2005 $20 (Heathcote)
Paramoor Wines "Kathleen" Shiraz 2005 $21 (Macedon Ranges)
Paul Osicka 2006 $32 (Heathcote)
Schulz "Marcus Old Vine" 2005 $67 (Barossa Valley)
Trevor Jones "Devil You Know" 2006 $12 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling Red
Howling Wolves Sparkling Shiraz 2007 $20 (Margaret River)

Verdelho
Baddaginnie Run 2007 $16 (Strathbogie)