*Except Northern Territory

2010 MOUNT TERRIBLE PINOT NOIR - $39.95

Very occassionally one comes across a wine from a hitherto unknown winery that blows one off one's feet. Such a wine is the 2010 Mount Terrible pinot noir from 20-year-old vines on a miniscule 5 acre plot at a thousand feet above sea level in the stunningly beautiful Jamieson Valley. John Eason, the winemaker, strives to produce a pinot noir in the style of the great French Burgundies, and has gone a long way to achieving his goal with the release of the exquisite 2010 pinot.

Fresh, tangy, savoury cherry and plum fruit, spice and briar aromas are mirrored in a vibrant and intense palate that is beautifully structured, long and lingering. The oak handling is impeccable. Oozes class, but with the best years in front of it. Only 280 dozen produced.

"Clear garnet, complex red fruit bouquet, intense juicy fruit on the palate seamlessly integrated with lingering fine grain tannins. The best wine so far from Mount Terrible." Winery Notes

2009 GALLI ESTATE ARTIGIANO CHARDONNAY - $29.95

A beautifully constructed and super value chardonnay from this seriously under-rated winery which produces high quality value-for-money wines across their entire range. A tightly focused, elegant and seamless example of the modern Australian chardonnay, it has so far amassed 4 TROPHIES, including THE HIGHLY PRESTIGIOUS TROPHIES FOR BEST WHITE WINE AND BEST CHARDONNAY AT THE 2011 ROYAL PERTH WINE SHOW - NEEDLESS TO SAY KNOCKING OFF THE BEST THAT MARGARET RIVER HAD TO OFFER!

"I've been a fan of the highly under-rated, but very refined, Craiglee Chardonnay from the Sunbury district for years. The Galli Artigiano is from the warmer Rockbank part of Sunbury, but it hints at the same refinement while offering a bit more winemaking complexity. Nectarine and grapefruit are wound together with subtle but enhancing oak spice and nuttiness, long and pure flavours with balancing acid freshness. Anybody who's wandered from chardonnay, and fresh explorers, should be seduced back by wines like this. Lovely!" Eat & Drink *****

"Pale, bright colour, takes all the elements of the La Famiglia, but hones and fines them on its very long and perfectly balanced palate, grapefruit and white flesh stone fruit in a near-invisible web of oak. Drink 2017." James Halliday - 94 points

Awards:
Trophy, Best White Wine - 2011 Royal Perth Wine Show
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2011 Royal Perth Wine Show
Trophy, Best White Wine - 2011 Ballarat Wine Show
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2011 Ballarat Wine Show
Top Gold Medal - 2011 Royal Perth Wine Show
Top Gold Medal - 2011 Ballarat Wine Show

2011 ECHO MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.50

A gorgeous sauvignon blancfrom one of Marlborough's elite wineries. Unfortunately I can't name the winery, but suffice to say that such exalted New Zealand critics as Bob Campbell MW and Sue Courtney regard the winery as the country's top sauvignon blanc producer. The grapes for this wine are sourced from high quality vineyards in the Rapaura, Awatere, Waihopai and Omaka Valleys of Marlborough.

A spotlessly clean and fresh bouquet of tropical fruits, fresh gooseberry and passionfruit. Beautifully balanced, elegant, harmonious palate with fresh, vibrant and concentrated passionfruit, gooseberry, guava and lime flavours. Finishes long, lingering crisp and clean thanks to the fresh acidity that lingers on the tongue. Outstanding value.

"Juicy and lively, this is an instantly appealing Sauvignon showing lifted aromas of stone fruit, lime zest and subtle capsicum. The palate is well fruited and rounded with lovely fruit weight and bright acidity leading to a succulent finish. Great value for money, offering plenty of youthful fruit flavours." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Awards:
Gold Medal - 2012 New Zealand Royal Easter Show

2010 ASTROLABE DISCOVERY AWATERE SAUVIGNON BLANC - $29.95

A limited release by this label that has acquired cult status. From the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, this is a much more complex wine than its cheaper sibling (the standard Malborough Voyage sauvignon blanc), with stunning purity and fruit expression and a different level of structure and class; and a very, very long finish. This is simply Marlborough at its absolute zenith.

Bob Campbell's HIGEST POINTED NZ SAUVIGNON BLANC FROM THE 2010 VINTAGE: "Astrolabe earns my vote for being New Zealand's leading Sauvignon Blanc maker. This is the best of four Sauvignon Blanc labels that include two wines from Kekerengu… This is an intensely flavoured wine with the classic Awatere characters of tomato leaf, green capsicum, nettle, mineral and gooseberry. It has reasonably solid acidity but that is balanced by a tiny amount of residual sugar and the net effect is pleasantly dry." Bob Campbell MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine - 95 points

"The Astrolabe wines have found their way to the stars under the navigation of Simon Waghorn, one of this country's most able winemakers. With winemaking experience stretching over three decades with large and boutique producers, Simon has made Astrolabe one of the most respected labels from Marlborough.

Very pale, youthful straw-yellow colour, this has a beautifully pure nose of minerals, English gooseberries, nettles and steel that is classical Awatere Valley in expression. The aromas are fresh and tight, and promise to release more interest. Dry on palate,the fruit depth and richness provide lusciousness, but the crisp acidity provides perfect cut and tension. Bright, fine, concentrated minerally-earthy, steel and gooseberry flavours are the feature and form a very long finish. This archetype Awatere Sauvignon Blanc will keep and drink well, especially with shellfish, over the next 2+ years. Fruit from the Burtergill and Trelawne vineyards in the Awatere Valley, cool-fermented to 13.5% alc. and 3.5 g/L rs." Raymond Chan - 19.5 points out of 20

"Powerful aromatics are like a tropical fruit medley infused with tangy citrus and the flavours are bracingly fresh and deliciously juicy, crammed with passionfruit and peach with a zesty citrus undercurrent that adds vibrancy and tang to the lasting finish. Tomato stalk notes balance the fruity sweetness. 13.5% alc." Sue Courtney, www.wineoftheweek.com

2010 KIRITEA PINOT NOIR - $24.95

The second label of Te Hera Estate and an absolute stunner for the price. Situated on the alluvial gravels of Martinborough where Te Hera Estate practice minimal intervention wine making (low environmental impact and biodynamic practices). Stands up tall against much more expensive pinot noirs from Martinborough (my favourite pinot noir region in New Zealand). Very approachable, very morish; brimming with sweet, juicy fruit on a well-structured savoury spine. Delicious, a veritable bargain.

"From Te Hera Estate, this bargain-priced red shot straight to a five-star rating on all score-sheets. Poised and youthful, it is weighty, finely textured and deeply coloured, with vibrant, concentrated flavours of cherries, herbs and spices, showing good complexity. 'Lovely density', wrote one panellist.'" Winestate *****

2010 SONS OF EDEN 'KENNEDY' GRENACHE SHIRAZ MOUVEDRE - $22.95

Previous vintages of this classic Barossa Valley blend have won big accolades from critics and customers alike - the 2007 winning the Trophy for best GSM blend at the Borossa Wine Show and receiving 96 points from James Halliday. I think the 2010 release is every bit as good, if not better, than its predecessors. A blend of 48% Grenache, 37% Shiraz and 15% Mourvedre; the Grenache fruit is the 'soul' of this blend and is from an exceptionally low yielding 50+ year-old Vineyard that was originally planted by the Kennedy Family, the shiraz is from 15 year-old vines in the Seppeltsfield sub-region and the Mourvedre from 50+ year-old vines in the Tanunda sub-region.

A superb wine with a rich, gently ripe bouquet, with sweet, deep berry fruit; a silky smooth palate with lovely line and flow, exuding a rich array of black cherry and dark blackberry fruit; beautifully handled oak and soft tannins; absolutely seamless with a long, lingering finish. Outstanding value, everything one could possibly want in this classic Barossa Valley blend.

Awards:
Trophy, Best Red Blend - 2012 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards
Top Gold Medal - 2012 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards
Gold Medal - 2012 Barossa Wine Show
Gold Medal - 2012 AdelaideWine Show

2010 CAVE DE BEBLENHEIM PINOT GRIS RÉSERVE PARTICULIÈRE - $24.95

Ideally situated in the village of Beblenheim, the co-operative was formed in 1952 and has its own production area of 250 ha with growers in and around the villages of Beblenheim, Mittelwihr, Riquewihr and Zellenberg. There are many co-operatives throughout Alsace producing correct day to day wines, however Caves du Beblenheim stands out amongst them with it's very modern winery with the latest technology - pneumatic presses, temperature controlled fermentation vats and undoubtedly much higher aims of quality. The key issue to quality Alsace wine is yields, with all the growers of Caves du Beblenheim dedicated to lower yields, with the resulting wines exhibiting pure varietal character and the Alsace terroir.

The 2010 Cave de Beblenheim Pinot Gris is a wonderfully seductive example of the genre. The nose is lifted, with fragrant floral notes; the palate is pure and focussed, with long and spicy pear nuances. While not as rich as many from Alsace (a positive in my mind), the wine is impeccably made, feminine and beguiling, has great line and length with a lovely backbone of refreshing acidity. Outstanding value.

2009 GEORGES BLOCK 1 CLARE VALLEY SHIRAZ - $18.95

This sensational single vineyard shiraz from their five acre Block 1 planting is a wine of immense power that showcases the exemplary winemaking skills of David O'Leary. David has snared a Jimmy Watson Trophy and twice been named International Red Wine Maker of the Year.

The multi-layered and elegant bouquet shows abundant blackberry fruit, spice and high quality oak. The full flavoured palate is an exercise in controlled generosity; long, intense, lingering black fruit flavours, with all of the flavours promised by the bouquet, the French oak perfectly judged. Finishing with fine, long grain tannins and fresh acidity, the wine has lovely texture and silky mouthfeel to boot.

ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING VALUE

2006 CHALK HILL McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ - $19.95

Chalk Hill are producing immaculate wines across the board under French winemaker Emmanuelle Requin-Bekkers. Having studied in Marseilles and Montpellier, and having worked in many of France's regions including Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Langue-doc Roussillon and the smaller appellations of Bandol and Sancerre, it is no wonder she has taken this producer's wines to a different level.

Wow, what a wonderful wine for under $20! A group of us had this wine over dinner recently - in a masked line-up of pretty handy wines - and it was unanimously voted the wine of the night. An archetypal generous McLaren Vale Shiraz from a great vintage with masses of dense, sweet, potent fruit beautifully interwoven with spice and quality oak on an intense and long palate. Lovely balance, structure and mouthfeel. Succulent, cuddly and soft, a must for lovers of big shiraz. Back-up the truck.

"'Dense; chock-full of brambly dark juicy fruits and layers of spice and vanilla' won this wine an enthusiastic score from Loiuse, while Tom liked its chocolate notes and 'juicy, uncomplicated' style. Andrew praised its 'coffee and prune' scents and 'earthy, balanced, tangy palate with complexity and depth.'" The Adelaide Review Hot 100

2008 PENFOLDS BIN 95 GRANGE - $675.00

"Deep purple-black in color, the 2008 Grange puts forward a very complex nose packed with aromas of mulberries, layers of baking spices, cloves and cinnamon with nuances of minced meat, anise, potpourri and whiffs of dried mint and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, taut and very spicy in the mouth, it shows touches of sandalwood and Chinese five spice complementing the layers of dark fruit flavors. It is framed by firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing acid line before finishing very long with aniseed and lingering blackberry preserves notes. This is clearly a wonderfully opulent and a magic vintage for this label. Drink it from 2018 to 2035+." Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Advocate - 100 points

"2008 Grange took me by surprise. I was expecting a hulking, looming thing that harked back to the blockbusters of years passed. What I did not expect was a tasting note featuring 'purity' three times (even 'aching purity'), 'refinement,' even 'detail'. There is not an iota of heatwave effect here, but that's not the point. The point is, season aside, 2008 epitomises the modern face of Grange. Yes, this is still Grange as we know it, with its backdrop of high cocoa dark chocolate, its hints of coal steam and its definitive, monumental intensity. But there's a newfound overlay of brilliantly precise black fruit definition here, with perfectly ripe black plums, black cherries, blackberries and black pastilles all perfectly laid out in their gloriously intricate detail. Grange tannins are here to behold, charged with great endurance, yet super fine and somehow more lacy than ever. Persistence transcends time, lingering, undeviated, for minutes. Grange 2008 has an appeal and enticement already, and while it won't be the longest-lived Grange ever, it will confidently improve for decades and afford great joy along every bit of the way. For the record, 98% shiraz and 2% cabernet sauvignon from 89% Barossa Valley, 9% Clare Valley and 2% Magill Estate. Drink: 2028-2043." Tyson Stelzer, Wine Taste - 99 points

"The wine contains 2% cabernet sauvignon and 98% shiraz, 81% Barossa, the remaining shiraz from elsewhere in South Australia, and spent 19 months in new Am oak hogsheads in which it finished its fermentation. Forget any idea that it was influenced by the heatwave: the best Barossa Valley shiraz was picked before the end of February, almost a week before the heatwave arrived. Densely coloured, it has an ultra-complex bouquet, with black fruits/anise/licorice, easily dealing with the oak; a remarkable wine in every way. The balance, texture and structure are faultless, so much so that the wine achieves elegance now, many years before you would expect that quality to be commented on. Likewise, the palate has absorbed the oak in the same way as the bouquet. 14.3% alc; cork; Drink: to 2060." James Halliday - 98 points