8th March 2010
Veronique Old Vines 2007, Barossa Valley blend, Australia
A blend of 52% grenache, 28% mataro and 28% shiraz sourced from the Barossan regions of Greenock, Nurioopta and Angaston. A clear mid ruby-garnet colour with an intense nose of smoked meats, black olive, black raspberry, violets and fresh cherry oak. The high level of vibrant acids with well-rounded youthful tannins couple marry well with the intense flavours of ripe cherry, dark currants and fine ground black pepper, then flow into a long, warm finish. 91-92/100. Drink over next 5-7 years.

Arboleda 2007 Carmenere, Chile
Clear, intense black ruby colour, this medium-bodied wine weighs in at 14.5% alc and exudes notes of plump ripe blackcurrants, fresh herbs, rosemary stalks and white pepper. High acidity with young, even tannins then the fruit kicks in with blackberry liquorice, young mint shoots, mojito-type flavours. Long, even finish. 91-92/100. Drink 5-7 years.

Dutschke 'The Muscat' (bottled May 2003), South Australia
Intense nose of reduced raisins, tiger lily and orange-rind cinnamon. This desert wine doesn't hide its high level of acidity and one can easily pick up on the higher level of alcohol but that is forgiven by the flavours of sweet, raspy raisin and prune sugars. A decently long aftertaste, this should drink well over the next 3-4 years. 88/100.

14th March 2010
Curly Flat Chardonnay 2007, Macedon Ranges, Australia
Pale straw colour with a tinge of green, soft aromatics of mainly white peach skin with grapefruit and a mix of citrus flavours that hang onto the backend of your palate. Decent level of acidity in this one, but somehow I thought that the oak was a little chunky down the middle and this impended further enjoyment of the fruit. 88/100. Tasted March 2010.

Mac Forbes Chardonnay 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia
A blend of fruit from Yarra Glen, Gruyere and Woori Yallock wineyards. 323 cases produced. Fermented for 10 months in 7% new French oak with occasional stirring of lees. Coming in at 12.5% alc, this fine wine is pale straw colour with a greenish hue and emits soft, sweet aromas of lemon curd and soft lime chalk stone. Fresh grapefruit citrus flavours with steely acids quite balanced with the weight from the oak influence. 89/100. Tasted March 2010.

Mac Forbes Woori Yallock Chardonnay 2008, Yarra Valley, Australia
196 cases of this single vineyard WY chardonnay was produced. 10 months ferment in 22% new French oak with occasional stirring of lees. Overall, this is softer and more delicate than the blend. Lean and focussed citrus flavours with vibrant acidity and a splash of minerality like crushed gravel. 90/100. Tasted March 2010.

Jacques Puffeney Arbois Chardonnay 2005, Jura, France
Clear medium lemon colour, a soft well-rounded nose of oak mingled with smoky, ripe summer lemon zest, chalk stone dust and lime talc. Youthful citrus (lemon) flavours propped with fresh ripe acids. Easy drink good from now till 2012. 88/100. Tasted March 2010.

15th March 2010

Bouchard Pere et Fils Bourgogne 'Chardonnay' 2007, Burgundy, France
Really? Do I read 'Chardonnay' on this label? Really now.. and how many more bottles do the French expect to sell now that they've started to varietal-ly label their wines.. anyway, I digressed.. this clear, pale gold coloured wine has a generous aroma profile of baby stone fruit, leaning towards sweeter nectarine spectrum. Hint of creamy sponge confectionary too. Easy drinking with ripe citrus acids mingled with peachy flavours towards the backend, but ooo.. a touch of pith right at the finish. 88/100. $35 from Randall's. Drink up now. Tasted March 2010.

19th March 2010
Any of you MollyDooker lovers out there might be interested in emailing them to put your orders in for some 2009 Enchanted Path and Carnival of Love in 3, 6 and 9-litre bottles.. a mere $750, $1800 or $3250 will snag you a baby. Or you could hold out till next month for the Velvet Gloves at $1600, $3700 or $6600.

Cheezus Yikes! Two Hands' foray into the ultra-premium market debuts with their My Hands 2005 release. At a whooping $500 per bottle, there are only 3 barrels worth of this 36-month new French oak-matured Marananga shiraz which Dr Jay Miller rated (97-100). The winery is releasing them after 2 years in bottle. (Two Hands' Autumn newsletter)

20th March 2010
2007 CdPs are bottles of pleasure waiting to be slurped up without holding back.

Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape 2007, Rhone Valley, France
~$80. Still very tight and restrained, deep black plum colour with aromas of earthy blackberry, sweet dark fruit and toasted herbs. A full-bodied wine, it's fleshy and powerful, fresh acids keep it focussed, but the tannins need time to settled down further. Drink in 2-3 years, but enjoy over the next 10+ years. 93/100. Tasted March 2010.

Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2007, Rhone Valley, Rance
~$90. This is an absolute beauty to enjoy! Dark purplish-ruby colour, aromas of plums, black currants, more sweet dark fruit, liquorice, and dry purple flower (lavender). There is restrained strength in this sleek wine, the acids are there no doubt and work really well to keep it clean and fresh. The tannins are come together very nicely, they are evenly distributed to give a solid mouthful. I'd be happy to drink this after a quick decant, but who's in a real hurry over the 15+ years? 95-96/100. Tasted March 2010.

31st March 2010

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2009, Clare Valley, Australia
$19. A clear, pale lemon colour, this 12% alc wine has a clean nose of lemon sugars and light lime rind with chalky overtones. Off-dry with the presence of slight residual sugars, medium acidity, it's nicely focussed with tart lemon/lime flavours on the front palate, but the acidity towards the back is lacking. Overall, this is a linear wine that lacks depth for me. Still a food wine to go with light spiced salad. 86-87/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

A Christmann Riesling 2008, Pflaz, Germany
$38. A clear, light lemon colour, this exudes aromas of white peach, nectar, ripening apricot and hints of soft talc and fresh baby herbs. Off-dry, its got zippy acidity with intense flavours of white, unripe stonefruit, peach skin guava. A fleshy, appetising finish. 91/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Dönnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Spatlese 2007, Mosel, Germany
$72. 8.5% alc. Rose-scented chalk stone, ripe cold peach with a hint of range citrus. Intense, ripe mandarin flavours in this viscous wine, with swift vibrant acidity. Weight of this wine is on the ++ end of the light spectrum. A long, lovely finish. 93/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Malborough, New Zealand
$25. Clear pale lemon colour, intense aromas typical of New World NZ SBs with notes of sweet grass, passionfruit and yellow capsicum. A linear wine with high acidity, intense sweet lemon-capsicum flavours and a touch of sweet citric acid at the end. Easy, long finish. 87/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Jean Reverdy Sancerre 2008, France
$45. Medium gold coloured wine with a nose of buttery stewed lemon slices, lime rind and dusty gravel. It's got chalky lemon flavours with good firm acids. Quite a focussed wine, certainly more robust than the Catalina Sounds. Flavours are generous and spread across the palate. 88-89/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Thomas Two of a Kind Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Hunter Valley, Australia
$20. A clear, very pale golden colour with a green tinge. Nose of broiled cabbage funk, a hint of quartz, well-rounded nose of soft lemon. Medium acidity with tight but even savoury lemon flavours concentrated down the mid palate. Acidity needed to be upped a notch, probably two. 88/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Christian Moreau Chablis 2007, France
$50. Clear, pale lemon colour with a slight green hue. Soft well-rounded nose of lime soda, sweet lemon juice and limestone characteristics. Dry, medium-bodied wine with ripe lemon-lime juice flavours, hint of citric acid with high acidity. A medium-length aftertaste with tingling lime citrus. 89/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Redbank Long Paddock Chardonnay 2008, Central Victoria Australia
$13. Fermented and matured for 3 months in 2-3 year old French oak barrels. Pale, golden straw colour with aromas of soft lemon citrus, sweet diced herbs and a hint of perfumed floral talc. A dry, medium-bodied wine with low acidity (6.1g/L) and 13.5% alc, flavours of ripe primary fruit, lemony, straight forward and linear. Might survive a meal of smoked trout. 88-89/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Morey Blanc Mersault Boucheres Grand Cru, France
$140. Clear, pale gold colour, with 13.5% alc, this wine has a prominent creamy, buttery nose to it reminiscent of stewed lemon slices to top off a savoury mushroom sauce. A dry, full-bodied wine, it's got rich, ripe sheering acids with flavours of green lemons and peach. A long and pleasing aftertaste that is robust and could go well with a fennel and rocket salad with anchovies and capers. 90-91/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.

Moorooduc Estate 'The Moorooduc' Chardonnay 2006, Mornington Peninsula, Australia
$50. 600 btls produced. 100% barrel fermented in 30% new French oak. 10 months in wood on less with 1 racking prior to bottling. A clear, pale gold colour with notes of grassy rocks,, touch of creaminess and perfume. Dry, medium-bodied wine with mid-high acidity. A bit of fat on the palate for me. Easy fruity flavours but off-putting steeliness. It's ok. 86-88/100. Tasted March 2010 as part of WSET level 2 course.