Innocent Bystander Victoria Moscato 2007
This wine is so pretty - it has the essence of Muscat’s perfume in a light-bodied format. It would be perfect with a light dessert of fresh berries in the summer. Produced in Healesville 5.5% $8.99 (375ml) at K&L Innocent Bystander

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d’Arenberg Mclaren Vale The Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Red Chambourcin
Loads of overt fruit mark this a fun quaffer. Grown, produced and bottled in McLaren Vale 14.5% $$17.99 at K&L d’Arenberg
Charles Melton Sparkling Red
This is amazingly delicious with complexity, length and the supple texture that one desires in Sparkling Shiraz. Produced in Tanunda and bottled n [...]

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Taltarni Victoria & Tasmania Brut Tache Rose
52% Chardonnay, 41% Pinot Noir and 7% Pinot Meunier. A bit of red wine is added at disgorging. P&B in Moonambel in Victoria 13% $13.99 at K&L Taltarni
Taltarni Tasmania Clover Hill Brut Sparkling Wine 2003
Clover Hill is a single vineyard selection from the vineyard of the same name in [...]

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No.1 Family Estate Marlborough Cuvee No.1 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine nv
Crisp and concentrated, like biting into a green apple. As with Blanc de Blancs from Champagne, this is 100% Chardonnay, aged two years en tirage. Owner & winemaker Daniel Le Brun. Produced in Blenheim 12.5% $27.29 at Bottle Barn No.1
Huia Marlborough Brut 2000
A [...]

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Elyse Napa Valley Syrah 2004
Else consistently goes for ripe flavors and richness in their red wines. They never fail to delight my clients and students. Cellared and bottled in Oakville 14.6% $33 at the Wine Emporium Elyse
Seven Hills Red Mountain Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine 2004
This wine has power with refined edges. It’s composed [...]

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Robert Stemmler Carneros Vin Gris Pinot Noir Rose 2006
As the winter comes on strong we might be inclined to skip the pink wine. Yet this wine can stand in well where you would normally think of serving a crisp white wine. P&B in Santa Rosa 14% $22 at the Wine Emporium Stemmler

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Yalumba Coonawarra The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
The 2002 smelled of cigar box, tobacco, light green pepper and a hint of pickle. In the mouth there was ample acidity which carriesd the juicy red flavors for a long time. Sourced from their Menzies Vineyard. Aged in French and US oak. Winemaker Peter Gambetta 13.5% $32.49 at [...]

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Mollydooker South Australia Merlot 2006
Sourced from Padthaway and McLaren Vale 15.5% $18.99 at Bottle Barn Mollydooker

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Pepper Tree Hunter Valley Semillon 2005
This baby is screaming with acidity - very green and right on target. Put it to bed for the long haul and enjoy it when it matures. 100% Semillon fermented in stainless. Winemaker Chris Cameron. Produced in Pokolbin 11.5% $15.99 at Traverso’s  Pepper Tree

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Margan Hunter Valley Botrytis Semillon 2005
This wines has tropical fruit and the volatility that accompanies many botrytis wines. The palate is very thick and the acidity seems shy though the stats say otherwise at 10 g/L. RS 12.7%, alcohol 10.5% $25 (375ml) at Traverso’s Margan
Peter Lehmann Barossa Botrytis Semillon 2001
There’s wet straw and caramel in [...]

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Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Mild green elements add a nice complexity to the cherry fruit. This is a light-bodied Cabernet with a complementary level of acidity. All Cabernet aged in new and used French and US oak. Winemaker Sue Hodder 13.5% $12.99 at K&L Wynns
Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot 2003
This wine is quite refined, showing [...]

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Cape Mentelle Margaret River Chardonnay 2005
Loads of toasty oak from the nose to the palate with enough acidity to maintain a refreshing character. Fermented in French oak and aged 9 months on the lees. P&B in Margaret River 14.5% $19.49 at Bottle Barn Cape Mentelle

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Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Intense green characters, like cutting grass in the summer on a windy day with plenty of acidity. There is full concentration on the palate. Machine harvested, fermented in stainless and aged on the lees for two months. P&B in Blenheim 13.5% $19.99 at Bottle Barn Cloudy Bay
Spinyback Nelson Sauvignon Blanc [...]

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Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Vibrant grapefruit and grassy aromas are flanked by ample acidity and citrus on the palate - mouth-tingling. Owned by the Ibbotson family; winemaker Matt Thomson. P&B in Blenheim 13% $13.49 at Bottle Barn      Saint Clair

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This flight follows-up on last week’s. We repeat the d’Arenberg Dead Arm (see previous notes) with two other heavy weights in the Shiraz kingdom.
Clarendon Hills Clarendon Liandra Vineyard Syrah 2002
This wine sports an outlandish amount of fruit, mixing the fresh with the raisins. Smells of coffee and smoky oak add complexity and the acid provides [...]

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Spinifex Barossa Valley Esprit 2004
There is sweet black fruit and tar in the nose. The mouth shows a soft structure that is lush. The in-mouth flavors are very fruity in a candied way. This GSM blend is 36% Grenache, 34% Shiraz, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault, sourced from six vineyards in the Barossa and Eden [...]

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Henschke Eden Valley Julius Riesling 2006
Full-on aromas of lime are enhanced by high acidity in the mouth and long-lasting flavor. Of course the fame for Henschke is with their red wines based on Shiraz. What delighted me most when I visited, however, was the care put into their white wines as well. This wine is [...]

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