Currently available wines tasted mostly last week - prices in Australian currency. Cheers! Martin
Angove's Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2004. Around $16. Screwcap. Very pale gold. Herbal and lychee aromatics on the nose. Light dry and crisp displaying just ripened passionfruit and maybe pineapple on the palate.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2004 around $30. Screwcap. Marlborough, New Zealand. The benchmark of Australasian sauvignon blanc. Moreish, beautifully balanced varietal fruit and acid with a whisper of lemon sherbet. Could convert a confirmed red drinker to ordering an occasional SB.
Rutherglen Estates Marsanne 2004 $18. Screwcap. Light straw. Voluminous nose of flowers and honey. Generous, mellow style. Tropical fruit flavours at the front lead to medium lime acidity. Ideal starter for a garden lunch.
Swings & Roundabouts Chardonnay 2003 around $19. Screwcap. Pemberton Western Australia. Light yellow. Melons, ripe apricots and plenty of toasty French oak on the nose. Zesty style, the apricots come through on the palate along with biscuity oak. Good value at this price.
Sir James Sparkling Pinot Noir Shiraz $11. Crimson. Plummy sweetish nose. Approachable quaffable style, off-dry. Nicely chilled will be well-suited for the palates of infrequent wine drinkers who pop around for a seasonal drink.
Clos Saint Pierre Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2004 $15. Screwcap. Yarra Valley. Made by Burgundian winemaker Pierre Naigeon at De Bortoli's Yarra Valley winery, sold only at Dan Murphy's. Bright ruby red. Juicy fruity nose with dusty oak undertones. Light to mid-weighted palate, dryer than the bouquet would suggest. Medium tannin structure supports maraschino cherry fruit. Finishes firm with crisp acid.
Cliff Booth Taminick Shiraz 2002 $14. This was one of seven masked reds at the regular Tuesday masked tasting, comments included: 'Wine of the day. Gorgeous, a keeper.' 'Chewable wine, big fruit.' 'Young drop, lovely, delightful, delicious.' 'Pencil shavings, drying tannins, good future.'
Moss Wood The Amy's Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 $30. Screwcap. Margaret River, Western Australia. Dark red, faint purple edge. Nose shows raspberries and blackcurrants. Mouthfilling chewy tannins lead to fine fruit intensity in an elegant dry red.
Zema Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 around $25. Deep dense red. Nose of blueberries, hint of leafiness and oaky vanilla. Powerful young red with fruit and tannins in abundance, needs a year or two to come together. Will drink well to 2012.