Dalwhinnie Moonamble Shiraz 1996

86 points

Moonambel, Victoria.  13.5%

Nice floral, perfumed fruit but this reeks of oak still at 14 years old.  Drink now.

Louis Bouillot Bourgogne Mousseux Rouge

80 points Burgundy, France. 12.5% Real sparkling
Burgundy. I knew of this wine style only by reading a few
(uncomplimentary) lines in Hugh Johnson’s “Wine” many years ago.
It’s a pleasant, if innocuous, drop. Dry light strawberry
flavours – that do not stand up to food. Like a sparkling
rose. Drink outdoors on a sunny day.

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Leasingham Magnus Sparkling Shiraz 2004

88 points

Clare Valley, South Australia. 14%

Bold dark flavoursome, somewhat syrupy. Good wine just building complexity so if you have some wait until 2012.

Leasingham vineyards have all been sold to Tim Adams so I suppose this label (started in 1893) may disappear or no longer be a Clare wine.

Chateau Cantemerle 1996

93 points

Haut-Medoc.  12.5%

This is one of the best 1996 wines I have tasted, and I have had this wine almost a dozen times – it never fails to please.  It’s gentle savoury, complex claret – perfect table wine.  Flavour without heat, no extraction.  A touch of green in a classic Margaux (Cantemerle is just on the border) style.  Today it is better than many more expensive classed growths from 1996.

Chateau Tour du Haut-Moulin 2001

87 points

Haut-Medoc. 13%

This 9 year old Cru Bourgeois is a bargain. It’s old fashioned claret. Savoury with enough acid that it has to be matched to food. A good bottle and the right food and it can be very good indeed for its price.

Stella Bella Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2007

91+ points

Margaret River, Western Australia. 14%

Very flash young wine. Lovely oak, dense savoury and sweet red fruits with a nice whack of tannin on the finish. Sweeter than Bordeaux, with slightly noticeable alcohol. Reminded me of Te Mata Coleraine.

James Halliday rates this highly and says it will last until 2027. I’m not quite so sure it will go this distance, it has some great components but the balance is slightly off because of the alcohol.

Howard’s Park Scotsdale Shiraz 2005

90 points

Great Southern, Western Australia. 14.5%

Slightly minty eucalyptus aromas, otherwise textbook ripe Shirazbut without any warm climate baked flavours. Very enjoyable.

Surprisingly developed despite being under screwcap. Bernard Faurie’s St Joseph 2005 looked crimson in comparison and tasted years younger. Drink now and before 2015.

Macforbes ‘Gruyere’ syrah 2007

85+ points

Yarra Valley, Victoria. 12.5%

New wave Aussie Shiraz. Single vineyard, low alcohol, cool climate. Fragrant, slightly stalky just as you’d expect from a young Northern Rhone.

Moderate concentration, soft tannin. Needs a few years to fill out. Drink 2012-2014.