Wildwood Shiraz 2005

75 points

Sunbury, Victoria, Australia. 13.8%

Handcrafted wine. But dilute and rather uninteresting. Savoury style at least.

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Chateau Peyrabon 2005

85 points

Cru Bourgeois. Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France. 13.5%

Iron blood like mineral claret on the nose. But a bit richer than expected on the palate showing the class of 2005 lifting minor wines up a notch.

Cave de Tain Hermitage les nobles rives 1997

91 points

Rhone, France. 13%

Practically every bottle of this wine has been fine. Yet it was bought from retail shelves where it has been standing for several years. Sometimes you just get lucky.

Lightish, with moderate concentration yet solid flavour and weight all the way through the palate. Perfect table wine that seduces rather than bowling over.

Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2005

88 points

Grampians, Victoria. 14.5%

I had very high expectations for this wine after reading many glowing reviews. And because of the great progress in Australia with cool climate elegant Shiraz.

It’s a good wine that shows plenty of regional character. But it didn’t bowl me over, it could have been more exciting. I have plenty more bottles and will udate this review later with 2nd opinions.

Roggio Del Filare 2004

84 points

Rosso Piceni, Marche, Italy. 13.5%

I hope to lift my score for this wine. But it’s a bit of a modern somewhat extracted style.

Chateau Belle-Vue 2004

88+ points

Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France. 13%

Dark young berry oriented wine. Not entirely dissimilar to a Coonawarra such is the berry intensity, though I expect it would look different if matched directly against a Coonawarra cabernet. Best left for another six months at least.

Brezza Barolo 2001

89 points

Piedmont, Italy. 13.5%

Very developed for its eight years, although it was bought off retail shelves, or maybe Nebbiolo browns quickly and picks up oxygen. Anyway it was still enjoyable, quite fascinating. Soft yet with very interesting summer fruit-like acid finish. Quite complex. I have had very little Barolo in my life – I’m now motivated to buy more.

Dominique Laurent Marsannay Clos Du Roy 2005

87+ points

Young a bit rugged and complex but on a lightish frame. Interesting. One to watch over the next 3 years.

Freycinet Radenti 1999

91 points

Tasmania, Australia. 12%

Fine wine. Distinctive white nectarine peel character. Lovely balance. Lacks the minerality of Champagne.

Tyrrell’s Stevens Shiraz 2004

88 points

Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia. 13.5%

Compared to the Four Acres this is a more simple open knit sweeter more alcoholic Hunter Shiraz.

Dr Loosen Berkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett 2007

86+ points

Mosel Saar Ruwer. 8.5%

Bright light but a bit simple at present. Better after a day or so breathing.

Tyrrell’s 4 Acres Shiraz 2004

90 points

Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. 12.6%

It’s marvelous that wines like this are being made in Australia. Fantastic that they are still being made. What would the Wine Spectator or Parker make of such a wine which is the total antithesis of the syrupy blockbusters they love.

Gorgeous aromas which are sort of Rhone like but also distinctly Hunter leather. This is a gentle fragrant wine with considerable acid.

This is really going to benefit from age. Drink 2011-2024.

Matured in a single large 2600 litre French oak cask. From vines planted in 1879.

Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay 2007

87+ points

Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 13%

The unfinished bottle perhaps says it all – no I don’t mean the wine was that bad. It’s rather good, but unexciting at least at this stage. Fat white peach flavours, restrained oak, and restrained alcohol 13% but it’s still too noticeable on the palate. Reminds me of Leeuwin Estate Art Series which is one of the very top Australian chardonnay though I also find it unexciting. Too precise. It’s just a personal thing.