Cooks Lot Pinot Gris 2012

The use of partial barrel fermentation by winemaker Duncan Cook has again provided a wine with good weight and texture.

A slight apricot nectar type appearance, there are also some gentle apricot aromas, subtle vanillin oak and cinnamon spice.

The palate possesses some stewed apple type flavours and distinct nougat nuances. There is some minerality which adds to the interest, all capped off with a quite impressive length.


All this for $20. A bargain! Have with prosciutto or roast pork.

Who: Cooks Lot Wines www.CooksLot.com.au
What: Pinot Gris (13.2% alc)
Where: Orange
When: 2012
How: $20

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Bimbadgen Signature Mistletoe Lane Vineyard Shiraz 2011


The fruit for this wine comes from forty year old vines in an established Orlando Wyndham vineyard on Mistletoe Lane in Pokolbin. Hand picked with 20% whole bunch fermentation.

Well balanced, aromas of raspberry, cloves, black olives, some earthy characters and a little touch of dark chocolate.

All flowed neatly onto a generous palate. Medium bodied, some prune type flavours amongst the soft fruits. Subtle spices clung to the finish. Well integrated oak sits in the background. Fine grainy tannins.

Winemaker Sarah Crowe has done a great job.

A little more bottle age will help this sing. Have with beef fillet.

Who: Bimbadgen http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/
What: Shiraz (13% alc)
Where: Hunter
When: 2011
How: $50

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Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc 2012

The majority of the fruit for this Savvy comes from the Barossa (84%).

For me, there were a number of similarities to a Riesling and Semillon, more so than that of a Sauvignon Blanc.

Lemons and some pineapple aromas roll into the palate that has good weight and is well coated. I wouldn't suggest the flavours fall in the category of fresh, as there was a little texture for interest.

Getting away from analytics, this is a very easy drinking wine. Forget varietal traits of what you'd usually expect from a Sauvignon Blanc.
I had this with some barbecued chicken and it went down nicely.

Who: Yalumba www.yalumba.com
What: Sauvignon Blanc (12%abv)
Where: Barossa Valley
When: 2012
How: $14.95

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Bimbadgen MCA Series Sangiovese 2011

Affectionately known as "The Goat Wine" due to its trendy label, I enjoyed the approachability, easy drinking style it delivered.

Made with fruit from the Mudgee region, New South Wales.

Plenty of cherry flavours, soft with a jab of spice, some savory appeal rounded it off with firm yet tasty tannins.

Wash down a lovely tomato based dish with this. A perfect match.


Who: Bimbadgen http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/
What: Sangiovese (13% alc)
Where: Mudgee
When: 2011
How: $26

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Yalumba The Scribbler 2010


Another beauty from the Yalumba stable. How they continually churn out wines which are packed with flavour and so reasonable on the hip pocket is anyones guess. But hey, stop thinkin', start drinkin'.

Barossa fruit with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) and Shiraz (43%).

Loads of blackberry, blackcurrant and plummy aromas with some nuttiness, black olive and a few chips of chocolate. Although I did have to wait for a little heat to blow off, when it did the jewel was revealed.

Well balanced, I loved the fruit weight and structure. Plenty offered with a clear line up the middle of the palate washing up some savory characters. Some cheeky spice elements were in the mix too thanks to the generous dollop of Shiraz.

Seen as The Signature's little brother, The Scribbler holds it own very well. More than drinkable now, you could cellar it for the medium term. Often on sale below $20, this is well worth seeking out.

Perfect for a BBQ or a roast.

Who: Yalumba http://www.yalumba.com/
What: Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz (13.5%abv)
Where: Barossa Valley
When: 2010
How: $22.95

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Cooks Lot Shiraz 2011

A classic cool climate Shiraz at a ripping price.

Crazy value for $20! Definitely worth a, "Who ha!" in your best Al Pacino voice from the movie "Scent of a Woman".

Loaded with bright fruits, there is an abundance of raspberry aromas, white pepper, and clove.

Medium bodied, this is a juicy and elegant style. Soft fruits dominate. Yum! Oak sits in the background beautifully allowing the raspberry and blackberry flavours to dance.

Impressive structure and length. The spice and white pepper linger for a substantial time. Damn, this is an excellent drop!

Find it. Get it. Who ha!

Who: Cooks Lot Wines www.CooksLot.com.au
What: Shiraz (13% alc)
Where: Orange
When: 2011
How: $20

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Bimbadgen Regions Pinot Noir 2011

Bimbadgen recently showcased their wines which come from regions outside their Hunter Valley home. Run as #nottheusualBimbadgen on Twitter, the night was very successful.

This wine was a hit with participants. An attractive nose of earthy, dirtiness along with forest floor and moist mulch. Some would argue this is not attractive. I agree. It's sexy!

What seems like a basket full of soft berries, they slide through, smooth as silk. Those mulchy foresty flavours kick on. There is a little acid zip and the flavours linger long on the front palate.

Worth a look. The price is up there however. No doubt the transport costs to get the fruit from Tasmania to the Hunter Valley would contribute. I'd shout bargain had it been around the $30 mark - which it is for members as they receive a 20% discount.

Who: Bimbadgen http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/
What: Pinot Noir (13.5% alc)
Where: Tasmania
When: 2011
How: $39

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Cooks Lot Cabernet Sauvignon Lot#9999 2011

A handy drop of Cabernet Sauvignon from Orange, New South Wales.

Bright in appearance, the nose is fragrant with buckets of blackberries and cassis.

Blackberries flavours were abundant with a nice touch of oak complementing it. These flavours were soft, but not as full and punchy as I hoped. If anything, for my palate, they dissolved a little sooner than expected.

I do prefer a bigger Cabernet, but if soft elegance is what you seek, seek no more.

Another success story from this small operator. Winestate gives it 4 stars. Easy to see how.

Who: Cooks Lot Wines www.CooksLot.com.au
What: Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% alc)
Where: Orange
When: 2011
How: $20

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Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rosé 2012

The Yalumba Y Series oozes value right across the range. Every wine is very approachable and non-confrontational, and so, so drinkable.

This Y Series Sangiovese Rosé is no different. I did my bit with it and indulged in the #RoseRev on Twitter, Wednesday 14 November. Once again, a very easy drinking wine. I had to keep checking the alcohol content as this slid down the hatch without trouble.

Cherries and dried strawberry type aromas. A Rosé on the drier side, the palate isn't laced with flavour, though the cherries perch themselves nicely. The action is at the front to mid palate. An ever so subtle spice on the finish, but the approachability makes this a bargain.

RRP of $14.95, the Y Series is often discounted to around the $10 mark which makes this excellent buying. And if you did pay the full tilt, you are still winning.

Drink chilled soaking up the sun, picnicking with friends or sitting on the beach.

A drop like this doesn't need analysis though, just drink it and smile!

Who: Yalumba http://www.yalumba.com/
What: Rosé - Sangiovese (12%abv)
Where: Barossa Valley
When: 2012
How: $14.95

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Luke Lambert Syrah 2010


This is some funky gear coming from winemaker Luke Lambert. He's a thinker and not afraid to veer from the norm. A driven individual who leaves no stone unturned. It is no surprise he is making plenty of people take note of his work.

Luke is noted particularly for his Nebbiolo, and both the current release of his Heathcote 2010 and Reserve 2008 have already sold out.

The fruit for this Syrah comes from the Yarra Valley. Matured in 27 year old oak, 60% whole bunches, it was wild yeast fermented and bottled without fining or filtration.

Plenty of smoke and char aromas interwoven with a rustic edge. There's an earthiness evident yet a softer side with a slight violet fragrance too. Distinct cardamom wafts around as well. Lots going on for sure, and I like it!

The palate is well structured and the density of the black fruit is excellent. A wine which certainly gives you plenty to think about. I loved the complexity it offers. Very tasty indeed and so easy to sip away.  Best of all, you get a distinct sense of a 'bare hands' winemaking approach.

Available at good independent retailers and online. A wine definitely worth getting hold of.

Who: Luke Lambert www.lukelambertwines.com.au
What: Syrah (13.5% alc)
Where: Yarra Valley
When: 2010
How: $38

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McWilliams Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2006

This wine is the Cellar Aged release and I like the way McWilliams and many wineries go about the deliberate aged release of Semillon. If anything, it highlights how versatile this grape is. A recent look at the Mount Pleasant Elizabeth 2011 was timely, seeing what a few years does to the wine.

The back label states, "...admired when allowed to age gracefully." I'd agree with this for sure.

Bright golden in appearance, there are plenty of powerful aromas of kerosene and even what appeared to be wet rope. A lemon citrus element was evident in there too.

The wine is mouthfilling and coats the palate well. There was a good deal of complexity and the flavours have developed well. Good palate weight added to the picture nicely, as did the texture and density of the fruit. Preserved lemon and lemon cheesecake type flavours kicked around as did some green apple as the wine flowed through to the back.

The acid was soft but there was still some there for future development.

I did enjoy the wine and putting away a few bottles of the new release to savour in a few years is a no brainer. But why wait when the aging has already been done for you. Good value for $24.

Who: McWilliams http://www.mountpleasantwines.com.au/
What: Semillon (10.5% alc)
Where: Hunter Valley
When: 2006
How: $24

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Bimbadgen Regions Pinot Gris 2012

This fruit for this addition to the Bimbadgen Regions range comes from the Adelaide Hills.

Made in the Alsace style, this Pinot Gris offers a fair whiff of canned pear, soft citrus and lychee. A flowery perfume hovers as well.

An ever so slight sweetness on the palate first up but this dries out quick and the finish is dry.  There's plenty of fruit here which drives the bus. Lots of citrus activity on a well weighted palate. The length was very good. Moreish.

It's not hard to keep topping up the glass with this gear, that's for sure. Drink now with chicken and mushroom risotto. I did and it was a winner.
Good buying for $23.
Who: Bimbadgen http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/
What: Pinot Gris (13% alc)
Where: Adelaide Hills
When: 2012
How: $23

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Cooks Lot Sauvignon Blanc Lot #689 2012

From a small producer in Orange, NSW, who is making plenty of noise with this Sauvignon Blanc.

Winemaker Duncan Cook has applied some left field tactics here with excellent effect. Whilst the vast majority of Sauvignon Blanc have a distinct sameness and they are jammed down the consumer's throat from regions across the Tasman, this wine gives you something to think about.

Fresh passionfruit sets the aromas alight. Some time in the glass released a touch of pineapple sage. Enticing tropical aromas with the added bonus of an ever so subtle vanillin oak character.

Possessing a lovely zip to it, the acid and fruit balance is spot on. What seals the deal for me is the added texture on the palate. This was achieved through some oak treatment and lees stirring. Oak treatment came in the form of starves with a little wine barrel fermented in two year puncheons. The wine was left on lees for two months and stirred twice weekly. Oak contact was minimal (1-2g/L), and along with the time on lees, the goal of adding some texture and palate weight was a achieved. Yum! Vanillin characters are barely noticeable and the wine retains its freshness. An impressive length caps off a well made wine.

For $20, this sits very comfortable in bargain territory. Drink in the short term with friends sharing big smiles. You'll love it! Those who swear by the big gun Halliday, he reckons 94 points and has put it as one of his Top 50 buys.

Who: Cooks Lot Wines www.CooksLot.com.au
What: Sauvignon Blanc (12.9% alc)
Where: Orange
When: 2012
How: $20

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Bimbadgen MCA Series Riesling 2012

For those punters who have been neglecting the goodness of Orange, man, you're missing out!

Bimbadgen, from the Hunter Valley, sourced this fruit and have weaved some magic.

Plenty of citrus, field flowers, chalkiness and a smidge of honey set the scene.

Clean and fresh sums up the palate. The acid and flavours are well balanced. What you get though is  different to South Australian Rieslings.
Plenty of fruit here (not that I'm suggesting there is not enough fruit in SA Riesling), less minerality kick and the acid is softer. Gentle apple flavours with subtle honey, there is also some textural interest. A little zesty zip to cap it off and it's happy days.

You could cellar this for the medium term, but why? It's great how it is, and value for $26.

I like it. Lots! ....And the label is pretty cool too.

Who: Bimbadgen http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/
What: Riesling (13% alc)
Where: Orange
When: 2012
How: $26

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Pepper Tree Coquun Shiraz 2010

Just as I think I have a favourite from the new release Pepper Tree wines, along comes the flagship. And in your best US preacher voice rip out, "Oh, have mercy!"

Impeccable doesn't describe half of it!

A single vineyard wine which is wickedly silky and smooth. Medium bodied, it is spectacular now and will only get better.

Earthy and meaty aromas with a slight hint of beef stock. Plenty of dark and red fruits in there too. A touch of smoke and sweet oak char. A fair old whiff that is.

Plenty of seductive soft flavours which flow from the nose perfectly. There is a gorgeous spice which lingers beautifully. Lovely oak which is balanced well too. Once you tip it in the flavours roll through the mouth like a landslide, covering every speck. The length is excellent and hovers for what seems an eternity.

A bloody good bottle of wine, and once again as I've found with the new release Pepper Tree range, very well made.

Would I buy it? Hell yeah!

Who: Pepper Tree www.peppertreewines.com.au/
What: Shiraz (14.5% alc)
Where: Hunter Valley
When: 2010
How: $55

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McWilliams Mt Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2011

When working in retail, this wine was my go-to on shelf bargain. Why? Quite simply, Semillon was going through tough times and no one was buying it which was great for the consumer in the know...there was plenty of it sitting on shelves aging nicely.

Although this was not great for the winery at the time (slow sales), those in the know could sniff out a Semillon with plenty of bottle age. So once the shelf stocks were cleaned out at my work place when I got onto it, I headed to small bottleshops in far away places, and bingo, aged Elizabeth Semillon awaited me with a few years bottle age it.

This "loop hole" of mine has now been thwarted sadly - Semillon is back and people are appreciating its beauty. And rightfully so. But if you're out somewhere, take a sneak peak at the vintage of this wine on the shelf. You may land a surprise bargain too.

Vintage 2011 Mt Pleasant Elizabeth is a cracker. Spring flowers, green apple and leafy aromas set the floor alight. Clean and crisp flavours dominate. There is crunchy acid and the level of acid oozes aging capacity. The palate is coated beautifully with big fat flavours which wrap up with a ridiculously long length.

A great drink now and it will only get better.

For the price, do yourself a favour. Get some, and drink them periodically. There's easily 10 years sitting in this one. I've seen this discounted close to $11 and $12. Time for you to indulge in a bargain I suggest.

Who: McWilliams http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/
What: Semillon (11% alc)
Where: Hunter Valley
When: 2011
How: $15

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Bimbadgen Regions Gewurztraminer 2012

The Fruit for the Regions label comes from outside the Hunter Valley where the winery is based.  Orange in NSW is where this Gewurztraminer is grown.

Rose water and Turkish delight feature here as they do with Gewurztraminer. There is a florally kick, a pinch of cinnamon and a slap of pear skin too. A great start!

Plenty of texture adds interest on the palate. There is some warmth and the pear flavours strut their stuff. Length is good but the flavours aren't centre stage as I thought they might be.

A good food wine which will match any Asian cuisine well.

Who: Bimbadgen http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/
What: Gewurztraminer (13.5% alc)
Where: Orange
When: 2012
How: $23

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McWilliams Morning Light Botrytis Semillon 2009


A gorgeous golden colour greets you, and fans of Botrytis, it's time to get excited.

This wine is presents very well. All elements are in check with silky texture, super long length, and although sweet as you'd expect, it's not a sickly sweetness which turns some punters away from this style of wine.

Dried fruits of apricots and mango with some floral aromas get the party started. Intense and seductive. The thick syrupy consistency and texture on the palate were a highlight for me. That mango and apricot deliciousness followed through beautifully with some mandarin and orange peel. And talk about length. Whoa! 

Every sip brought even more joy, and for fans of Botrytis, I can certainly highly recommend this wine.

Sublime!

Who: McWilliams http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/
What: Botrytis Semillon (11% alc)
Where: Riverina
When: 2009
How: $30

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Pepper Tree Limited Release Tallavera Shiraz 2011

Some of Pepper Tree's Hunter Valley vineyards are located at Tallavera Grove, Mt View, which is nestled in the foothills of the Brokenback Range in the Lower Hunter.

Coming from a single vineyard, there is plenty going on here to appease the masses, and once again, this wine is very well made by Jim Chatto.

Mulberry, earthen and leather characters bounce around.

A medium bodied Shiraz, the wine delivers good structure and super oak integration. I felt the acid is a tad high at the moment, but give this time, it will definitely settle. This wasn't made for immediate drinking.

Generous fruit coats the palate beautifully. Mulberry flavours kick in on the palate with some plum flavours too. There is a nudge of smoked hock which I liked. Soft tannins with a delicious spice to cap it off.

Lay this baby down for a rest and give it a cuddle when it wakes. You'll both be smiling!

Who: Pepper Tree www.peppertreewines.com.au/
What: Shiraz (13.5% alc)
Where: Hunter Valley
When: 2011
How: $45

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