La Spinetta Biancospino 2009 Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Lovely lychee aromas with sweet floral notes and uplifting spices. Med-bodied fizzy wine with robust body and rich fruity flavours. Undoubtedly a crowd pleaser. 91+/100.Share

Sine Qua Non Whisperin' E 2002, Central Coast, CA, USA
A blend of Roussanne (50%), Viognier (31%) and Chardonnay (19%). Only 524 cases made. Lovely gold, lemon colour with intense dill-preserved lemon and honeysuckle, beeswax, lanolin seed and gasoline aromas. An oily texture for this rich, powerful wine with intense lemon rind flavours, almond husks and hazelnuts. Long, long finish. Fully developed, drink now. Perfect with lobster bisque. 95/100.Share

	Miura Vineyards Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard 2007, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, CA, USA Only 100 cases made. Youthful aromas of black cherry, blueberry, freshly baked rosemary focaccia and thyme. Dry, full-bodied pinot with silky texture, med acidity, 14.5% alc. Rich, dark berry fruit flavours with hints of roasted herbs and glazed pan bottoms. Long finish. Drink now - 2020. 95/100.Share
	Domaine Roger Perrin Chateauneuf du Pape 2008, Rhone, France Definitely a wine to be had with food. Med+ dark ruby colour. Blackcurrants, hint of roasted herbs and white pepper. Dry, full-bodied wine with sappy tannins, rich black berry fruit with Kalamata black olive. 14.5% alc. Good with roast prime rib. 88/100.Share
	La Vieille Ferme Cote du Ventoux 2008, Rhone, France This is an entry level wine from the Beaucastel stable that has expanded to offer regional wines. Grown on the high slopes of Mont Ventoux. Another wine made for food, this is a medium bodied wine with ripe berry fruit flavours and hints of herb and pepper. 13.5% alc. Good with roast turkey. Drink now. 87/100.Share

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16th Jan 2011

	Spinifex Lola 2008, Barossa Valley, SA Pale golden colour with tinge of green lemon. Uplifting wafts of ripe lemon syrup, crushed grass, hints of cooked flour, dry bay leaf and minerality Rich flavours, ripe lemon juice, hint of pepper and crushed granite rock. A waxy texture on the mid-palate. Long finish. A good companion for salt-baked sea bass. Drink now. 90/100.
	Houghton Wisdom Riesling 2008, Great Western, WA Pale lemon colour, a developing nose with aromas of squashed ripe kumquat, lime spritz and waxy lemon skin. Ripe lemon lime flavours with steely minerality, bitterness of lemon pith at the end. Rather short finish. Drink now. 87/100.
	Gotham Shiraz 2009, McLaren Vale, SA Intense black ruby colour. Deep brooding aromas of black cherry, fennel, hint of eucalypt and damp toasted oak. Smooth velvet texture, full-bodied with loads of spice, joocey ripe tannins, 14.9% alc, flavours of black cherry and black plums. The fruit fades out softly on the finish, this is a well-made wine. Drink now - 2018. 87/100.

Cims de Porrera 'Especial Carinyena' 1998, Priorat, Spain
80-year old Carignan vines cropped at 0.5tons per acre. My penultimate bottle, opened 24hrs prior to drinking. Deep black colour with a slight watery ruby rim and fine legs. A seamless nose unveils a developed wine with notes of fresh blackberry and blueberry, hints of minerality and leather strapping. Dry, full-bodied wine, rich concentration of black berry fruits with spicy plum, soothing tannins and a long, black peppery finish. This is basking in its full glory currently, drink now but could go for 3-5 more years. 92/100.

Cims de Porrera Classic 1999, Priorat, Spain
The last of my bottles and I've not been disappointed at how this has developed, always an enjoyment to drink. Intense dark ruby colour with a lighter rim. Clean, developed nose of blackberry fruit and a hint of menthol. Dry, full-bodied wine with high acidity. Plush texture with rich, ripe blackberry fruit and berry stew flavours. Long sappy finish with the fruit lingering for ages. Drink over the next 3-5 years. 92/100.

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22nd Jan 2011

	Chateau de Fesles Chenin Sec 2006, Anjou, Loire Valley, France $25 from Randall's. Pale lemon colour, this lovely number exudes smoky ripe lemon and soft apple florals along with medium-bodied fruit flavours. Great for miso-baked snowfish or lobster salad with foiegras foam dressing. Drink now. 88/100.
	Saint Clair Block #4 Sawcut Sauvignon Blanc 2007, NZ $30 from Cloudwine. Clear lemon colour with green tinge. Trails of fine legs on the glass, with a clean, developing nose of grassy passionfruit. A crisp weighty wine in the mouth, there's loads of passionfruit and ripe grapefruit flavours with a hint of yellow capsicum. Drink now. 90/100.
	Saint Clair Block #8 Friar's Sauvignon Blanc 2007, NZ  $30 from Cloudwine. Pale lemon colour, lighter than the Block 4. A more subdued nose as well, the passionfruit is not as intense as in the Block 4. More shy and fragile, with a hint of crushed lime powder. Light-weight in feel but with ripe passionfruit and lime flavours. Long finish. Drink now. 91/100.
	Jean-Claude Lapalu Brouilly Cuvee Vielles Vignes 2009, Rhone, France $42 from Prince Wine Store. Brouilly is in the 69th department - Rhone. Clear black ruby core with a purplish rim. Clean, youthful wafts of strawberry oil and cherry stalks with a hint of herb bouquet. Dry, med+-bodied wine with bright fresh fruit flavours. Young and crisp, perfect with lamb rosemary sausages. Drink now - 2020. 92/100.
	Coolangatta Estate Tannat 2009, Shoalhaven Coast, NSW A present from Kryss Barkus, RRP $35. Intense opaque black/purple colour. A sullen, brooding perfume of savoury blackberry with hints of anise and sweet peppercorns. dry, med+-full-bodied wine, 14% alc, soft chalky tannins envelope the mouth in a gentle manner. Nice blackberry flavours with a hint of sweet cocoa in the corners. Not overly ripe, I would be interested to know if new oak treatment could enhance this. Drink now. 90/100.
	Gotham Reserve Shiraz 2008, McLaren Vale, SA Purchased from getwinesdirect Dense jet-black purple that stains the glass, deep blackberry stew and plum aromas with a hint of sweet oak. Dry, full-bodied wine, loads of fresh young acid and weighing in at 15% alc. Rich ripe black berry fruit flavours with plum skins to even off the end. Very nice effort, though a simple wine. Drink now - 2017. 91/100.
	Schloss-Lieser Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese 2008, Mosel, Germany Purchased from Eurocentric. Clear, pale lemon gold colour. Smells of an arctic freezer uni, reminds me of the pineapple bits picked out from a sweet-sour pork dish. There is a hint of apricot kernels, concentrated fruity florals. A youthful, rich palate that is surprisingly uplifting with the acidity striking up a harmonious partnership with the sweetness. 7% alc. Akin to a baby Sauternes due to the apricoty sugary texture, it's surprising that noble rot paid no contribution to the crafting of this wine. This is one to put your bets on lasting for the next 20 years, but I love my Rieslings young. 94/100.

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27th Jan 2011

	Crawford River Young Vines Riesling 2010, VIC $26. Pale yellow-gold colour with clean young floral aromas of concentrated lime juice, crushed lime leaf and a smattering of minerality. High acidity, 13.5% alc, rich lively lemon and lime flavours dart about the mouth with a hint of lemon pith on the end. Long fruity finish. Drink now. 88-89/100.
	Monsters Attack by Some Young Punks Riesling 2010, Clare Valley $24. Pale colour with clean fresh aromas of lemon fruit. Lovely ripe fruity flavours with a hint of pineapple juice even. A somewhat short but clean finish. Great accompaniment for a picnic of cucumber, egg and tuna sandwiches. Drink now. 87-88/100.
	Pettavel Evening Star Late Harvest Riesling 2008, VIC A simple, easy to drink luscious sweet wine that exudes flavours of peach, pink guava and pineapple flavours with a hint of extremely ripe mango. 88/100.