Jacob's Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - Coonawarra, Australia

Light ruby purple colour. Aromas lead with vegetal/herbal edges underpinned with wood and smoke. The palate is gutsy, dry and dusty. Still young at this stage. A$18/bottle

85 Points

Jacob's Creek St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Coonawarra, Australia

Dark, ruby red in the glass. The nose shows pencil shavings, spearmint and earthy berries. There are still all the primary fruit characters on display with maraschino cherry, dried meats and some chalky fine tannins to finish. Still a number of years of evolution ahead. A$48/bottle

90 Points

Beresford Shiraz 2008 - Mclaren Vale, Australia

Dark inky red in the glass. The nose leads with dried cocoa, toasted vanilla oak and savoury meats. A rich, syrupy palate tipping the scales at 15% filled with coffee/chocolate flavours but comes back to savoury finish with smart acidity. Excellent value. A$24/bottle

90 Points

Yarra Burn Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier 2007 - Yarra Valley, Australia

Light fragrance of lemon sorbet and crushed flowers. The palate is tangy and light with some bakery edges to the finish. Easy style. A$30/bottle

85 Points

Dom Perignon 2002 - Champagne, France

Complex nose of fresh pastry, white peach and some light nutty-almond aromas. This Champagne is finely balanced with all flavours and components in check leading to a wonderfully long finish. Not as tightly wound as the 1996 and not is big and yeasty as the 2000 but certainly like most vintages of Dom carries a singular and spectacular identity. Cellar or drink now with many years of pleasure ahead. A$220/bottle

96 Points

Abel's Tempest Pinot Noir 2010 - Tasmania, Australia

A pretty nose of overripe cherry, Asian spice and rose petals. There is quite allot going on with this Pinot (more than expected) in a weighty and fruit driven "new world" style. Flavours span across mixed berry, damp mushroom/earthiness and gentle spice. Soft tannin and acid to finish. A$35/bottle

91 Points

Brookland Valley Verse 1 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - Margaret River, Australia

Aromas of straw, nettle and lime peel. The palate currently is ultra fresh with lemon juice and fresh cut herbs. I think a year in bottle will really settle this wine down to a more palatable balance. A$18/bottle

84 Points

Brookland Valley Verse 1 Shiraz 2008 - Margaret River, Australia

Light Maroon with browning edges. The nose leads with blueberry and dried oregano. The palate has somewhat dried out and a touch of prune and smoked meat remains. A$18/bottle

82 Points

Brookland Valley Verse 1 Chardonnay 2011 - Margaret River, Australia

A nose of grapefruit, creamy vanilla and a touch of smokiness. The palate is surprisingly buttery for the age of this wine. There is some character here that will certainly develop further with bottle age. This was the standout wine in the Verse 1 line up. A$18/bottle

88 Points

Brookland Valley Verse 1 Cabernet Merlot 2010 - Margaret River, Australia

Bright red/purple. The nose is earthy/dusty with mint and charred oak. Flavours of blue fruit and dried herbs lead to a soft finish. Very much an early drinking Cabernet. A$18/bottle

84 Points

Chateau Broustet Grand Cru 2005 - Barsac-Sauternes, France

Bronzed center with light caramel edges. The nose is somewhat restrained and you need to dig around for nougat and candied pineapple. The palate is incredibly rich with lemon custard, sweet mandarin and a tangy acid that drives the finish to great length. A very nice 2005 that is drinking well now. $A40/bottle

91 Points

Zonte's Footstep Cabernet Malbec 2005 - Langhorne Creek, Australia

Dark red inky colour. The nose leads with cassis, french vanilla, Spanish cedar and smoked meats. The palate is fleshy and weighty with a slight lack of structure. No need to wait, drink up. Stay away if you are a Bordeaux purist. Big and bold from the deep south. A$25/bottle

87 points

Standish The Relic Shiraz Viognier 2006 - Barossa Valley, Australia

Inky impenetrable darkness in the glass. Layers of aromas pour out including liqueur chocolates, red earth, spiked berries and Moroccan spice. The palate is supremely rich, concentrated and thick with incredible length. While still very young the wine has no rough edges making this enjoyable now. A$100/bottle

95 Points

Alterum Chardonnay 2010 - Adelaide Hills, Australia

Bright shiny gold in the glass. Nectarine and cinnamon oak dominate the nose. The palate is medium bodied, rich with nutty with grapefruit and a lemony finish. 

87 points

$24.99

Wine Men of Gotham Shiraz 2008 - South Australian Various, Australia

Blood red and bright purple edges. Aromas of melted chocolate, cinnamon and cherry cola. The palate is thick, sweet fleshed and full bodied with notable American Oak. Plenty of flavor and a slightly edgy (sharp) finish. I honestly don't know how a producer can make money having this on shelf at under A$7- per bottle. This is a marker of how good we have it with wine prices in Australia currently. A$7/bottle.

88 points 

Scarborough Yellow Label Chardonnay 2009 - Hunter Valley, Australia

Pale gold with a green tinge. The nose is peaches and cream with a touch of butterscotch. On the palate, there is some buttery weight and a grippy finish. Fairly straight forward. A$30/bottle

84 points

Teusner Albert Shiraz 2006 - Barossa Valley, Australia

There is no colour development from primary deep dark inky black. Aromas come in layers, including blueberry, french vanilla and earth. This Shiraz has great intensity and concentration but remains elegant and composed. Such purity and a wonderful example of the regions best up and comers. Drinking very well now but at least another 10 years of great drinking. A$60/bottle

96 Points

Chateau Beychevelle 1982 - Saint-Julien, France

Faded brick murky burgundy in the glass. The wonderfully fragrant nose leads with pencil shavings, cassis liqueur and woody herbs. Fully developed and incredibly well balanced, the tannin is wonderfully soft now and silky on the finish. A great vintage and a great wine.

95 Points

Smith & Hooper Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008 - Wrattonbully, Australia

Striking colour, inky black with bright red edges. The nose is leafy with cigar smoke and mulberry. While still youthful the palate is already complex and interesting. A mix of black fruit and bitter chocolate backed by fine tannin. This will drink well for another decade. Superb value for a gutsy South Australian Cabernet blend. A$25/bottle

91 points 

Chris Ringland CR Shiraz 2008 - Barossa Valley, Australia

Total darkness in the glass. The nose (after 24 hours breathing) shows a sweet mint, cocoa, coconut and burnt oak. The palate is full steam ahead, no brakes with syrupy overripe black fruits, creamy acidity and earthy/dusty tannin. The texture, not surprisingly bordering on fortified wine thickness. Certainly a tipple for the lads and I don't think one could find such intensity of flavour for the price. A$25/bottle


94 Points