Oakridge The Parish Pinot Noir 2010 - Yarra Valley, 2010

Light purple/ruby center. Aromas of dark cherry, cinnamon spice and Japanese mushroom. The palate is wonderfully seductive with wild red fruit and earth. Good acid to finish on this lovely young drinking style of Pinot Noir.A$33/bottle

90 points

Zette Malbec 2005 - Cahors, France

Ruby center with bright purple edges. The nose leads with pencil shavings, stewed plum and perfumed violets. The palate is medium bodied, gentle, slippery and spicy. Reasonable length and some juiciness of fruit. Nice value for an aged wine. A$14.99/bottle

86 points

Loom Long Yarn Blewitt Spings Shiraz 2008 - Mclaren Vale, Australia

The colour is surprisingly light for this region and this age, a light ruby red.  The nose leads with melted chocolate, cherry ripe and shaved wood. This Shiraz is medium bodied, with gentle spice and some tart red fruit flavours. Good acid and gentle tannin make for a more elegant style of Shiraz than I normally expect from this part of Mclaren. It is ready for drinking and at the peak now. A$20/bottle

87 points

Molly Dooker The Boxer Shiraz 2005 - Mclaren Vale/Padthaway/Langhorne Creek, Australia

Deep maroon with a black/purple center. Aromas lead with dried cocoa, pencil shavings and stewed fruit. The palate is incredibly full and thick with a syrupy texture. Flavours of dried prune, dark cherry and lashings of vanillin oak flow. I don't think there is much more to gain by further cellaring this wine. The time is now. A supercharged, super rich Shiraz from the deep South. A$35/bottle

93 points

Urlar Riesling 2010 - Gladstone, New Zealand

Super light pale green. The aromas are subtle in the fruit department and lean towards chalky, metallic notes. The wine is set in the Alsace mould with a mineral edge and a slight sweetness up front. There is enough acid to age this wine and that will certainly build extra weight and complexity. A nicely balanced wine. A$24.99/bottle

89 points  

Allandale Semillon 2004 - Hunter Valley, Australia

Golden yellow color. There is lychee, honeycomb and candied orange on the nose. The palate has developed wonderful richness and still has bright acidity giving a superb fresh citrus finish. The weight and complexity of this Semillon rises above most other aged examples on the market and has a very manageable price tag. A$30/bottle 


92 points 

Penny's Hill Red Dot Shiraz 2010 - Mclaren Vale, Australia

Dark as night with only slight purple edges. There are aromas of cigar smoke, grilled meat and dark chocolate which lead into a full blown palate of over ripe blueberry, peppery spice and some coffee/vanilla flavours, The tannin is mighty at this stage so I would hold for 3 years and then reap the rewards of the more than fair price you will pay now. A$18/bottle

88 Points

La Chablisienne Chablis 2009 - Chablis, France

Extremely pale with green tinges. The nose is utterly delicious, lemon peel, crushed stone and pretty floral aromas. The palate follows the great nose with mouth watering grape fruit and a superb mineral drive. This wine is a prime example of how great the 2009 vintage really was. Great ageing capacity but I don't see any reason to leave this is the cellar. Well worth seeking out for a Chablis bargain. A$29.99/bottle.

91 points 

Boireann Shiraz Viognier 2002 - Granite Belt, Australia

Deep, deep blood red. The nose shows aromas of pencil shavings, sugar plum,wet forest and dried cherry. The viognier is seamlessly integrated and the palate is still youthful with fine tannin and balanced acidity. Excellent complexity and weight with a commendable length. A triumph for Australian Shiraz Viognier blends and a triumph for Queensland wine. A$50/bottle


94 points 

Taylors Quinta da Vargellas 2005 - Oporto, Portugal

Deep bright purple. The nose shows brandied christmas cake, crushed almonds and cocoa. The palate is lovely and rich with spiked rasin and sweet chocolate. Wonderful acid and gentle tannin to finish. A$49.99/bottle (375ml)

90 points

Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey 2008 - Sauternes, France

Pale bright green/gold. Aromas of marmalade, peach liquor and lemon curd. The palate has some lovely flavours and full marks for richness but strikes out with lack of acidity from this warm vintage. A$60/bottle (375ml)

85 points 

Chateau Lanessan 2008 - Haut-Medoc, France

Dark red centre with slightly browning edges. Super ripe nose of cedar, dark cherry, dried coconut. The palate is fully developed with mint, five star spice and a very earthy finish. Nice value. A$50/bottle

89 points

Chateau Plince 2008 - Pomerol, France

Deep magneta with garnet edges. Kirsch and berry spice on the nose.  The palate is jammed pack with cured meats, truffle and rich red fruit. Brilliant texture and weight with super fine tannin. A great wine to drink over the next 15 years. A$69.99/bottle

92 points 

Chateau Barrail du Blanc 2008 - St Emilion, France

Faded brick red. The nose is heading to the red fruit spectrum with a touch of tar and vanilla. The palate is long and there is some Asian spice and gamey meat characters. Another 4-5 years in the bottle and this wine will be looking fabulous for the money. A$37/bottle

89 points

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez 2008 - St Estephe, France

Bright ruby colour. The nose is very rustic, habouring earth, smoke and raspberry. The palate is firm and will benefit from further ageing. A$65/bottle

86 points

Clos du Marquis 2008 - St Julien, France

Blood/inky red in the glass. The nose leads with ripe blueberry, blackberry liquor and exotic dried spice. A wonderful lucious, fleshy palate of mocha, mint and dusty oak. Super ripe tannin make this wine immediately enjoyable. A superb second wine of Leoville Las Cases that is at the peak of performance. A$110/bottle

92 points

Chateau Bellevue 2008 - Haut-Medoc, France

Reddish purple brightnes. The nose is fragrant with toasty vanillin oak, sweet raspberry and spearmint. Nice structure and weight with a soft approachable look now. A$40/bottle

90 points

Chateau Bernadotte 2008 - Medoc, France

Light ruby red in the glass. Cassis/sweet coffee fragrance. Soft and juicy almost sweet tannin. Nice balanced finish. A$40/bottle

88 points

Chateau De Francs "Les Cerisiers" 2008 - Medoc, France

Bright ruby/inky red in the glass. The nose is closed and oak dominant at this stage. Slight smokey/gamey aromas. The palate is still firm with tannin and sharp acidity. Some tart blueberry and coffee. A$30/bottle

83 points

Domaine les Ondines Vacqueyras 2007 - Rhone Valley, France

The colour is deep ruby red. The nose has aroma of damp soil, dried oregano and sour berry. The wine is medium bodied with nice richness and balanced tannin. A long finish on the palate of five spice, game meat and stewed red fruit. A nice rustic French wine that delivers on the price. A$29.99/bottle

91 points

Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Blue Top Brut NV - Champagne, France

Light golden yellow with good bead. The nose is absolutely classic, lemon rind, bakery aromas and some gentle chalkiness. The palate is very citrusy with mineral drive. Really tight and fresh. Great aperitif. A$69.99/bottle

89 points

Pommery Brut Royal NV - Champagne, France

Developed, golden colour in the glass. Lychee and floral aromas on the nose. Slightly yeasty. The palate has some sweet mandarin up front and finishes bone dry and chalky. Nice style. A$79.99/bottle

90 points

Cattier Brut Premium Cru NV - Champagne, France

The bubbles disappated quite quickly. The colour is gold shine. The nose shows lemon curd and bright citrus notes. The palate is soft and generous with chardonny shining through with melon and peach. Nice value to be had.

88 points 

L'Enclave des Papes Cotes du Rhone 2008 - Rhone Valley, France

Light brick, transparent slightly. The nose shows cloves, raspberry liquor and charred beef. Spice controls the palate with tart acidity to finish. Too much for me, balance is lost. A$14.99/bottle. 

78 points 

Rolf Binder Hales Shiraz 2009 - Barossa Valley

Bright vibrant purple in the glass. Melted chocolate, dark cherry and dried spice rise from the glass. The palate is full bodied with fleshy texture and a touch of spice. The highlight of this Shiraz is the structure bringing the wine together with balanced tannin and acidity. It goes away from the expected Jammy, syrupy style we see from Barossa. 

88 points 

Devil's Lair The Hidden Cave Chardonnay 2011 - Magaret River, Australia

Very pale in the glass with light green tinges. The nose is surprisingly smoky with white peach and cream. On the palate, it is fresh and citrusy as expected for a young Chardonnay but has reasonable weight to finish. Not amazing value but a decent wine that wont disappoint. A$24.99

89 points

Champy (Maison) Bourgogne Chardonnay 2009 - Burgundy, France

Shiny golden yellow in the glass. The nose shows almond, bread and melon. The palate is lean as the wine is still youthful but there are an array of flavors including rock melon, cashew and citrus. The wine would benefit from an extra few years in bottle for a better balance. A$24.99/bottle

87 points

RK Shiraz 2008 - Beechworth, Australia

Deep dark purple all the way to the edges. Aromas of cocoa, sweet mint and sugar plum. The palate has great weight with syrupy texture and white pepper spice. Balance is managed with some very fine tannin and tight acid. Super rich with amazing length makes this an incredibly enjoyable Shiraz.


Followers should note the "RK" stands for Rick Kinzbrunner, the founder and winemaker of the famed Giaconda. His Chardonnay is considered Australia's best on occasion and recent years have seen some particularly good Shiraz under the Warner Vineyard label.  His wines are supremely concentrated but carry a feel of elegance and class. If you have not tried any of the Giaconda or RK wines (RK is only available at Vintage Cellars Australia) seek them out and look the other way when your AMEX is swiped through. A$60/bottle

94 points 

Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2009 - Rhone Valley, France

Wonderful bright purple and violet ruby. The nose exhibits clove, vanilla bean, earthy fresh picked strawberry and smoked meat. The inviting palate opens with fleshy red fruit followed by savory spice and some firm grip of tannin. The wine needs another 3-4 years for a softer look and then will hold for another 5 years after that. More weight than your average Cotes Du Rhone. A$21.99/bottle

91 points 

Sieur de Camandieu Viognier 2010 - Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Pale gold with lime edges. The nose is very aromatic with icing sugar, honey dew and hints of citrus. The palate is fresh and vibrant looking like an early harvest style with no oak. A nice easy drinking, refreshing wine. A$15/bottle

85 points 

Champy (Maison) Savigny-Les-Beaune Aux Fourches 2003 - Burgundy, France

Dark murky violet with stained brown rim. The nose leads with blue/black overripe berry, damp mushroom and rose petal. Juicy Cherry, dried cocoa and gentle spice caress the palate with this mature burgundy. A very ripe, fruity style with soft acid. A$50/bottle

90 points

Earthworks Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - Barossa Valley, Australia

Ruby red with violet center. The nose portrays blackberry jam, cedar and mint. Full bodied, jammy and soft around the edges. Quite surprising for a Barossa Cabernet. A$16.99/bottle

89 points