New Releases - January Pt.4

Cabernet & Blends
Hochkirch Cabernet Merlot 2005 $26 (Henty)

Chardonnay
The Growers Chardonnay 2007 $18 (Margaret River)
Tomboy Hill 'Garabaldi Farm' 2006 $36 (Ballarat)

Dessert Wines
Flaxman Wines 'Cane Cut' Semillon 2008 $22 (Eden Valley)

Muscadet
Domaine De Ecu Guy Bossard 'Serve & Maine Classique' 2005 $32 (Loire, France)

Montepulciano
Herzog 2006 $70 (Marlborough)

Riesling
Frogmore Creek 'FGR' 2008 $23 (Tasmania)
Gunderloch 'Jean Baptiste' 2006 $30 (Germany)

Pinot Gris
Leabrook Estate 2008 $26 (Adelaide Hills)
Stefani Estate 'The View' 2006 $29 (Yarra Valley)

Pinot Noir
Holyman 2007 $47 (Tasmania)
Two Paddocks 'Picnic" 2007 $32 (Central Otago)

Sauvignon Blanc
Whitehaven 2008 $23 (Marlborough)

Shiraz
Howling Wolves 2007 $16 (Margaret River)

Sparkling Wines
Kuranaba "Shed" Sparkling White NV $15 (Geelong)

New Releases - January Pt.3

Cabernet & Blends
Balnaves 'The Tally' Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $87 (Coonawarra)
Battle of Bosworth Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $23 (McLaren Vale)
Murrindindi "Family Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $22 (Central Victorian Highlands)
Serafino "Goose Island" Cabernet Merlot 2006 $14 (McLaren Vale)

Chardonnay
Darling Park 2006 $26 (Mornington Peninsula)
Whispering Hills 2007 $20 (Yarra Valley)

Chenin Blanc
Millton 2007 $31 (Gisborne, New Zealand)

Dessert Wines
Bress 'The Kindest Cut' Gewurztraminer 2008 $20 (Bendigo)
Chateau Filhot 'Sauternes' 2003 $45 (France)

Gamay
Pfeiffer 2008 $19 (Rutherglen)

Merlot
Woodpark 2005 $22 (King Valley)

Pinot Gris
Paracombe 2008 $19 (Adelaide Hills)
Woodpark 2008 $21 (King Valley)

Pinot Noir
Train Trak "Wild Dog" 2006 $25 (Yarra Valley)

Riesling
Crabtree 2008 $23 (Clare Valley)

Rose
Yelland & Papps 2006 $20 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Santa Ines 2008 $15 (Chile)
Te Whare Ra 2008 $25 (Marlborough)

Shiraz
Amherst 'Daisy Creek' Shiraz Cabernet 2007 $15 (Pyrenees)
Serafino "Goose Island" 2006 $14 (McLaren Vale)

Tempranillo
Bodegas El Coto "Coto de Imaz" 2001 $30 (Rioja, Spain)

New Releases - January Pt.2

Albarino
Tscharke "Girl Talk" 2008 $22 (Barossa Valley)

Cabernet & Blends
Boat O'Craigo "Braveheart" Cabernet Merlot 2006 $28 (Yarra Valley)
Bream Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $27 (Tasmania)
Domaine A "Stoney Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon 3002 $31 (Tasmania)

Chardonnay
Caledonia Australis "Mount Macleod" 2006 $18 (Gippsland)
Dalzotto 2004 $23 (King Valley)

Chenin Blanc
Voyager Estate 2008 $20 (Margaret River)

Gewurztraminer
Bream Creek 2005 $26 (Tasmania)

Merlot
Mike Press 2006 $13 (Adelaide Hills)

Other Whites
Gapsted Petit Maseng 2006 $24 (King Valley)

Pinot Grigio
Livon 2007 $28 (Italy)

Pinot Noir
Alana Estate 2006 $60 (Martinborough)
Kuranaba "Shed" 2007 $15 (Geelong)
Tussock 2006 $24 (Nelson, New Zealand)

Rose
Epsilom 2008 $23 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Alana Estate 2008 $30 (Martinborough)
Tussock 2007 $19 (Nelson, New Zealand)

Shiraz
Charles Sturt 2007 $15 (Central NSW)
Epsilom 2007 $24 (Barossa Valley)
Trevor Jones "Dry Grown" 2006 $34 (Barossa Valley)
Winburndale Shiraz Cabernet 2005 $16 (Orange)

Sparkling White
Huia 2002 $46 (Marlborough)

Tempranillo
Epsilom Tempranillo Graciano 2007 $27 (Barossa Valley)

Viognier
Georges Vernay "Chailees De L'Enfer" 2006 $157 (France)

Tasting Notes - A Couple of Frenchies

Grand Puy Lacoste 1993 (Bordeaux 5th growth, Cabernet)
Relatively poor year? Great aromatics, classic cabernet; cassic, blackberry, some mint, a touch of herbs. Stocks of class. All of this threatens early on the palate but the power and penetration never really delivers. It's almost like the fruit is being held back (which of course it isn't). Notwithstanding, structure and class is impeccable and in reality it looks fine as a 15yr old.

Josmeyer "Les Folastries" Gewurtztraminer 2005 (Alsace)
I had suspected this was best drunk as a youngster and this tasting confirms. Aromatics are strong and very lifted with musk and cut stone but the fruit weight doesn't really kick in. Quite mild almost too dry for the style although still a very competent wine. I don't think it will get much better, and this in itself is a little surprising given the propensity of the Trimbachs to age magnificantly.

New Releases - January Pt.1

Cabernet & Blends
Schild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Chardonnay
Rockfield Estate "Reserve" 2005 $33 (Margaret River)

Dessert Wines
Seifried Riesling "Ice Wine" 2007 $35 (Nelson, NZ)

Italian Whites
Taminick "1919 Series" Trebbiano 2007 $12 (Glenrowan)
Tasca D'Almerita "Regaleali Bianco" 2007 $30 (Italy)

Merlot
Santa Rita 2006 $22 (Chile)

Pinot Gris
Pierre Sparr "Selection" 2006 $34 (Alsace, France)
Point Leo Road 2008 $20 (Mornington Peninsula)
Scorpo Pinot Gris 2008 $33 (Mornington Peninsula)

Pinot Noir
Seresin "Leah" 2007 $42 (Marlborough)
Spring Vale "Melrose" 2008 $23 (Tasmania)

Riesling
Oranje Tractor "Albany" 2003 $29
Oranje Tractor "Albany" 2005 $21
Oranje Tractor "Reverse" 2008 $18
Skillogalee 2008 $23 (Clare Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc & Blends
Riposte 2008 $22 (Adelaide Hills)
Shadowfax 2008 $21 (Adelaide Hills)
Stefani Lubiana 2008 $28 (Tasmania)

Shiraz
Pyren "Block E" 2005 $26 (Pyrenees)
Rusden "Black Guts" 2006 $88 (Barossa Valley)
Scarpantoni "Block 3" 2006 $33 (McLaren Vale)