3rd January 2010

Bruno Giacosa Arneis 2005, Piedmont, Italy
I had no idea Bruno Giacosa did whites, and I wish I had tried this earlier because I got a sense that this has flat-lined. Still, the richness and freshness persists. Notes of white peach, pear and honeysuckle. If you still have this, you should have drunk this last year. 91/100. Tasted Jan 2010.

Torbreck Descendant 2004, Barossa Valley
If my mum can pick this one out, then I reckon we’ve drunk way too much Torbreck over the years. This Shiraz Viognier blend is unassumptious by nature and is straight-forward enough to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. Toying with perfection and never a let-down, this exudes notes of blackberries and acacia flower. Perfect example of a pure, simple wine that doesn’t try to overdo things. Full-bodied and intense in smell and taste, to be enjoyed for another 10 years. 97/100. Tasted Jan 2010.

24th January 2010

Domaine Matassa Cotes Catalanes Blanc 2004, Calce, Languedoc-Roussillon An easy pre-Australia Day drink pulled from my cardboard carton. I almost forgot about this in the fridge and I think the wine is showing its age. This wine was made by New Zealanders and you can read more about them in this Wineanorak article here. Made from old vine Grenache Gris (70%) and Maccabeu (the most cultivated white variety in this region). A light wine with an initial nose of cold-room budding white flowers and a hint of clarified butter which dissipate very quickly upon swirling to give way to more fruity and flint stone aromas. The wine has developed into a light golden colour, the palate is rich in citrus and fruit sucrose with a strong mineral edge to polish into the finish. However, I don't think the acids are in sync, being quite a fair bit more robust than the rest of the wine. Drink now. 91/100.

25th January 2010
Peter Lehmann Mentor Shiraz 2004, Barossa Valley
100% Barossa Cabernet, intense black-purple with blackcurrant fragrance, violets and sweet spiced oak. Generous flavour profile that isn't energy sapping to appreciate and chalk dusty tannins to finish. A good, honest wine. 91/100.

Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberg Juffer Kabinett 2007, Mosel This was somewhat of a let-down for a stellar 2007 vintage. The wine exuded scents of pineapple and nuttiness, let it seemed very fragile. Nothing overtly wrong, this is a balanced wine but linear. More value can be sought elsewhere. 87/100.