d’Arenberg McLaren Vale The Dead Arm Shiraz 2005
In the nose there is vibrant fruit enhanced by earth and complementary oak. There’s a mouthful of dense fruit as well to keep up with a big structure in this youthful Shiraz - deliciously chewy. Aged in new and one use French and US oak for 22 months. [...]

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Clarendon Hills Clarendon Kangarilla Grenache 2004
Vibrant black fruit, actually liquer-like in the nose. The palate is spiritous, ripe, framed with acidity around a vast expanse of fruitiness. Sourced from old Grenache vines in the Kangarilla Vineyard. P&B in Blewitt Springs 14.5% $55.99 at Bottle Barn Clarendon Hills
Turkey Flat Barossa Valley Butchers Block 2005
A complex medley [...]

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Yangarra McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Roussanne 2007
Pretty floral notes with bits of herbs. The mouth is full of citrus with a light body and some refreshing acidity. V&B in McLaren Vale 13% import sample
Yangarra McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Viognier 2007
A stunning example of the exotic peaches that Viognier can convey with an oily and rich [...]

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Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2005
Quite complex with apparent alcohol. 100% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains. Mis par Cave Castaud in Beaumes-de-Venise 15% $12.99 (375ml) at Bottle Barn

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Perrin & Fils Cotes du Rhone Villages 2004
Gamey with earthy notes and a fair amount of tannin. This wine is 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache. Mis in Orange 13% $9.69 at Bottle Barn

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Chateau La Canorgue Cotes du Luberon 2006
Unfortunately this wine is showing its alcohol quite overtly. The grapes for this wine are Clairette, Roussanne, Marsanne and Bourboulenc. La Canorgue farms its 30 hectares biodynamically. Mis au chateau par Jean-Pierre et N. Margan, prop. et recolt. a Bonnieux 14.5% $13.69 at Bottle Barn
Domaine de Grangeneuve Coteaux-du-Tricastin Les [...]

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Craggy Range Martinborough Te Muna Road Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Te Muna means ’secret place’ and it is where this vineyard is located, adjacent to the Huangarua River. P&B in Havelock North 13.5% $19.99 at K&L Craggy Range

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Domaine de la Mordoree Tavel La Dame Rousse 2006
Smells of strawberry and bisquits.  There’s a broad mouthfeel with fruit to taste and added weight compared to other roses - very nice. The grapes behind this pink wine are 60% Grenache, 10-20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 5-10% Clairette and 5% Bourboulenc. The domaine has 40 hectares [...]

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Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvee Brut nv
This wine is typically quite complex with earthy notes that are not always embraced by those who favor more fruit-forward styles of sparkling. While I’m a fan of fruit too, I love the multitude of flavors in this wine. On average the grapes for the cuvee are 60% Pinot Noir, [...]

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Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2004
The previous bottle of 2004 tasted earlier in the year was full of toasty oak with brett complexity. The brett was a nice touch but too much for some. Also the mouth was laced with velvety tannins. Though obviously different vintages, the styling followed a similar taste profile for the 2003, [...]

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Blandy’s Madeira 10 Years Old Rich Malmsey nv
Last tasting notes show great complexity though the 5 year is a pretty good value. Again the wine is complex, nutty and shaped by the acidity that we expect from Madeira. A little spiritous to smell but the alcohol is integrated on the palate. Bring me some Rocquefort [...]

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Though we often associate Verdelho with the volcanic island of Madeira, there is also a following for this grape in Australia. It makes up less than 5% of the total white grape harvest but still out paces ever fashionable Viognier.

Mollydooker South Australia Verdelho The Violinist 2007
Owners and winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis. P&B [...]

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Penfolds South Australia Club Tawny Port nv
The last bottle tasted was maple syrup personified with completely integrated alcohol. Made from Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre and matured in small oak in Kalimna 18% $10.99 at Traverso’s Penfolds
Grant Burge Barossa 10 year old Port nv
The grapes that made this port-style of wine are Grenache, Mourvedre and [...]

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On a later date we tasted the substantial Pinot from Amisfield alongside this gem from Australia.
Kooyong Mornington Peninsula Haven Pinot Noir 2004
This is one of the single vineyard bottlings from Kooyong. P&B in Tuerong in Victoria 13% $54.99 at K&L Kooyong
This flight features 3 wines from Central Otago on New Zealand’s South Island and one [...]

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De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Grown Shiraz Viognier 2005
Smells of sweet cherry pie, oak and a hint of eucalyptus. This dense Shiraz shows how good it can be when there’s a good heft of acidity to balance the taste profile. Grown at the winery’s Dixons Creek Vineyard. The wine was aged for 10 months in [...]

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Wild Rock Central Otago Rose 2006
Fresh strawberries and perfume to smell and a clean, dry, fruity palate with some creamy texture. Vin Gris from Pinot Noir, P&B in Hastings, Hawkes Bay 14% $9.99 at Bottle Barn Wild Rock

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In this latest taste-off, we look at a Kiwi Chardonnay alongside the Giaconda.
Babich Hawke’s Bay Unoaked Chardonnay 2006
This wine is all stainless steel. P&B in Henderson 13.5% $10.99 at K&L Babich
Two delicious wines, two very different interpretations of one grape.
Yangarra McLaren Vale Un-Oaked Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007
Full of a bevy of fruits with built up [...]

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