*Except Northern Territory

2008 CELESTIAL BAY MARGARET RIVER CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $17.95

"Evn beetter than the celebrated 2007 Celestial Bay Cabernet Sauvignon, the latest release 2008 is STUNNING VALUE - SIMPLY THE BEST VALUE CABERNET ON THE MARKET. You only have to smell this beauty to be seduced - powerful, ripe blackcurrant and cassis fruit pervade the senses, signalling its Margaret River origins clearly. The medium to full-bodied palate doesn't disappoint, simply bursting with sweet blackcurrant fruit and providing a lovely mix of cassis, cedar, earth and violets. The oak (as it should) plays a supporting role and the fruit is backed up by soft, fine, lingering tannins. An absolute steal for the price and can only get better with bottle age.

Review of 2007 Vintage:
"Crimson-purple; excellent varietal character on bouquet and palate alike, the fruit picked at perfect ripeness; has abundant blackcurrant and cassis fruit, with a touch of black olive on the finish; the tannins are ripe, the oak well integrated. Screwcap.14% alc. Drink Now - 2022." James Halliday - 94 points

2009 ECHO MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.50

A gorgeous sauvignon blanc from 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.

2008 GEORGES EXILE CLARE VALLEY SHIRAZ - $18.95

This beautifully packaged wine is one of the very best shiraz's to come out of the Clare Valley in 2008. Not surprising when you learn that the wine was made by David O'Leary (of O'Leary Walker fame), who has claimed 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 mouthfee to boot. Outstanding value.

2008 MATAHIWI PINOT NOIR - $19.95

Matahiwi is in NZ's Wairarapa region, just north of the renowned Pinot Noir producing district of Martinborough. Their 2008 pinot noir is absolutely delicious and is the best pinot that I've tried at around the $20 mark. Bright colour; fragrant plum, black cherry and spice aromas; pure sweet varietal fruit on a the medium-bodied, silky palate with good length and intensity; supple and smooth in the mouth. Outstanding value. To quote Jane Macquitty (The Times Online) on the 2004 Matahiwi pinot: "this gorgeous, leafy, game and spice-laden red that will give Burgundians nightmares."

"The 2008 vintage has strong drink-young appeal. Bright ruby, with a floral bouquet, it is vibrantly fruity, with good depth of fresh cherry and plum flavours, a subtle twist of oak, gentle tannins and a well-rounded finish." Michael Cooper, Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines 2010

2009 ERADUS MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - $19.95

Michael Cooper is without doubt New Zealand's most influential wine critic (the equivalent of our James Halliday), so when he named the 2009 Eradus Sauvignon Blanc the BEST WHITE WINE BUY OF THE YEAR in his 2010 Wine Guide, people sit up and take note. The past three vintages all waltzed away from the Air New Zealand Wine Awards with a gold medal, and the 2008 scooped several gold medals and five-star ratings on both sides of the Tasman, so the wine has pedigree and is certainly no flash in the pan.

The 2009 Eradus Sauvignon Blanc is classic Awatere Valley sauvignon blanc, with its pristine gooseberry and minerally fruit aromas. In the mouth the wine is rich, juicy, mouthfilling and fresh, and the precisely constructed palate has purity and length and a clean, vibrant finish. And like a lot of the newly released 2009 sauvignon blancs, I expect that it will simply blossom in the bottle over the next six months.

"This is a weighty, rich and rounded wine with sweet-fruit delights, deep gooseberry and lime flavours, a slightly minerally streak and the tomato stalk characters typical of the Awatere. Notably concentrated, its priced sharply." Winestate *****

2008 KALLESKE PIRATHON SHIRAZ - $19.95

The 2008 Pirathon shiraz is the fourth vintage of an "entry level" shiraz for Kalleske. To quote Taste Food & Wine (Best Wines of 2008) on the 2005: "Troy Kalleske has exerted himself beyond the realms of human capabilities to create a very senior wine that looks, feels and tastes like it's worth twice as much as its puny price tag."

The new vintage 2008 pirathon is once again a tour de force for the asking price - a luscious, mouth-filling, full-bodied wine flooded with sweet black fruits, chocolate and mocha; oak and tannins seamlessly woven together; finishing long and supple with hints of spice. Yet again a very impressive wine at its price point.

"Very interesting wine, seemingly sourced from top quality subdistricts in the northwest corner of the Barossa, and which carries its alcohol well, the red and black fruits of the finish persistent and quite elegant. Screwcap. 15% alc Drink Now - 2018." James Halliday - 94 points

"The flavours are lovely. It tastes of toast and blackberry, tar and caramel, with smoky, almost meaty nuaces drifting through the finish. It's quite warm with alcohol but it seems balanced too, and its creamy texture has a whole lot of appeal. Very nice wine. Made in the big, push-to-the-limits style, but made well. Drink : 2009 - 2013." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 90 points

2008 HODDLES CREEK ESTATE CHARDONNAY - $19.95

"The D'Anna family purchased their Upper Yarra property in 1960, established the vineyard in 1997, the split-level winery in 2003. A delicious chardonnay, exemplifying the Yarra Valley style with its length and finesse; white peach and nectarine fruit flow smoothly across the palate, oak and acidity in perfectly balanced support. From Yarra Valley, Vic. Drink to 2014 with fettuccini with clams." James Halliday, Halliday's Top 100 of 2009 - 95 points

"Hoddles Creek's pinot noir is so good that I often forget about the chardonnay - but this is another beauty. Value doesn't come much higher. It has a steely, dry, citrussy finish but there's a power of fruit flavour cruising through the centre of it. The nose is funky, sulphurous, the palate then riven with grapefruit and pineapple and lemon. Smoky oak is beautifully integrated and it's seriously long. It's fresh and penetrating, yet generous. Outstanding wine. Alcohol : 13.5%. Closure : Screwcap. Drink : 2010 - 2015." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 93 points

2007 WOOING TREE CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR - $49.95

"2007 Wooing Tree has everything going for it. It's complex, with ripe plums and beautifully married oak. The structure is excellent, with a rich middle and plenty of fine ripe tannins. 'Cherry stone, hints of mint and wet bitumen,' Caillard said. 'Sweet and smooth, with dark cherry and mocha flavours. Underlying oak and fine, lacy tannins.' Hooke chimed in with 'the flavour really builds'. The wine shows the lush flavours so admired in Central Otago pinots and adds structure and elegance. Good potential." Gourmet Traveller Wine - 95 points *****

"Deep in colour, crimson purple, almost opaque. Deep savoury aromas with an earthy tarry element and vivid fruit flavours of black cherry with chocolate and gorgeous anise-like spices with silky tannins and creamy oak adding to the all-round appeal. It has depth and structure, a lovely perfume and a very smooth finish. 14.5% alc." Sue Courtney, www.wineoftheweek.com (Sep 2009)

"Perfumed, rich and supple, this single-vineyard Cromwell red is densely coloured and crammed with beautifully ripe cherry and plum flavours. Fresh acidity keeps things lively, with a hint of liquorice. Hard to resist in its youth, it's best cellared to 2010." Michael Cooper *****

Awards:
Trophy, Best Pinot Noir - 2009 Hong Kong International Wines and Spirits Competition
Trophy, Best New World Pinot Noir - 2009 Hong Kong International Wines and Spirits Competition
Gold Medal - 2009 Air New Zealand Wine Awards
Gold Medal - 2009 Hong Kong International Wines and Spirits Competition
Gold Medal - 2009 International Wines and Spirits Competition (London)
Gold Medal - 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Gold Medal - 2009 New Zealand International Wine Show
Gold Medal - 2009 Hong Kong International Wine Challenge
Gold Medal - 2009 NZ Royal Easter Show
Gold Medal - 2009 Liquorland Top 100

2007 ASTROLABE MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS - $25.95

This was the first time I have tasted an Astrolabe pinot gris and I was simply blown away by the exceptional quality of the wine. It is a stunning pinot gris and truly world class. And certainly not a one-off, as my research discovered that it's predecessor, the 2006 Astrolabe Pinot Gris, won the Trophy for Champion Pinot Gris at the 2006 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

The wine has a beautiful nose, lightly floral and deliciously perfumed. Classic Pinot Gris on the palate - spicy and exotic, pristine pear and peach fruit abound, wonderful fresh acidity and a long, lingering finish. This is an elegant pinot gris with great finesse and subtlety; one for the purists.

"I was surprised to find that as many as nine of my 45 favourite New Zealand wines from recent tastings were Pinot Gris. Again I liked the… Brightwater Pinot Gris 2006 Nelson seemed to have the balance between pure, bumptious fruit and refreshing acidity just right, and Astrolabe Pinot Gris 2007 Marlborough seems similarly sophisticated." Jancis Robinson, MW

2006 CHALK HILL McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ - $17.95

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

2007 HELM CLASSIC DRY RIESLING - $27.95

Riesling has been Ken Helm's passion for 30 years and he fully deserves to be recognised as Canberra District's top riesling producer. His 2007 Classic Dry Riesling is an absolute stunner and has already won the Trophy for Best Riesling at the 2007 Cool Climate Wine Show and the Top gold medal in the riesling class at the 2007 Royal Melbourne Wine Show - against 45 of the best Rieslings in Australia!

"Made by respected winemaker Ken Helm from free run juice of Canberra district Riesling vines. Brilliant greeny straw in colour. Limes, lemons, more lemons and lime cordial abounds. Juicy and fresh fruit - aromatic, vibrant and impressive in stature and composition. Delicious pure polished fruit oozes down the throat effortlessly. Smooth and a tad creamy on the finish with lively balanced acidity. Seamless drinking indeed. Try this with bbq octupus. Drink to 2020." Paul Ippolito - 95 points [95-97: Superb - A memorable drinking experience]

"A ripper - winner of bronze, silver and gold medals in Winewise, Cowra, and Melbourne shows respectively. It has brilliant, green- tinted pale lemon colour and tremendous volume of ripe varietal aroma and flavour - more than you usually see in Riesling this young. But the flavour volume doesn't come at the expense of freshness. This is as crisp and youthful as they come." Chris Shanahan, Canberra Times

"Without question, his (Ken's) 2007 classic dry Riesling measures up with the finest Rieslings I have tasted. Its lively and crisp lemon-lime flavours triggers an incredible palate explosion. John Vickery and Geoffrey Grosset, Australia's foremost Riesling specialists, would be among the first to salute Helm's efforts." John Fordham, The Sunday Telegraph

"Citrus, herb and spice aromas; tightly focused, but has lovely lime juice flavours with perfectly balanced acidity; very good length. 11.8º alc. Drink Now - 2017." James Halliday - 92 points

Awards:
Trophy, Best Riesling - 2007 Cool Climate Show Murrumbateman
Top Gold Medal - 2007 Royal Melbourne Wine Show
Gold Medal - 2007 Cool Climate Show Murrumbateman

2007 SONS OF EDEN 'KENNEDY' GRENACHE SHIRAZ MOUVEDRE - $23.50

THREE BOTTLE LIMIT PER CUSTOMER

Winner of the TROPHY FOR BEST GSM BLEND (Vintage 2008 and older) at the 2009 Barossa Valley Wine Show.

A wonderful follow-up to the outstanding 2006 vintage and a Trophy at the Barossa Valley Wine Show to boot. Different in character to it's predecessor - more feminine; slightly less weight and grunt (a reflection of the 2007 vintage), but silkier and juicier. A complex 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.

"Good hue; it is far from usual for a Barossa Valley blend of Grenache/Shiraz/ Mourvedre to yield a wine with as much stature as this, nor for the flavours to veer as much into black fruits as red; a case of having one's cake and eating it, for it has the glossy, supple texture expected of the blend. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. Drink Now - 2017." James Halliday - 96 points

"Beautifully crafted dark, cherry-like fruits with classic garden herbs and woody spices are the highlights here in a grenache (47 per cent), shiraz (37 per cent) and mourvedre (16 per cent) blend that makes for a very slippery, juicy wine that's great with an Italian braise over risotto." Tony Love, The Advertiser - 94 points

2007 VOYAGER ESTATE SHIRAZ - $34.95

THREE BOTTLE LIMIT PER CUSTOMER

"The Penguin 2010 Good Australian Wine Guide has given Voyager Estate 2007 Shiraz 96 points, one point more than Penfolds 2004 Grange. The guide, written by Nick Stock, also rated other wines higher than the Grange, but it was the Voyager Estate that stood out for its exceptional value.

In the guide's tasting note, Nick Stock described the Shiraz as having, 'Superb elegance and poise here, the hallmarks of Voyager Estate across their entire range... Beautifully crafted and balanced.' Voyager Estate's general manager, Alex Wright, said, 'We are both excited and humbled by this outstanding result. It's not just great news for us, but also for Margaret River and other cooler climate styles of Shiraz.' At $32 a bottle, the Voyager Estate 2007 Shiraz represented the best value of the wines that beat the Grange in the guide." Voyager Estate

"Superb elegance and poise here, the hallmarks of Voyager Estate across their entire range. The nose smells of red summer berries, some lighter perfumed nuances and musky frangrance - a really pretty, vivacious and alluring shiraz. The palate has intricate detail and fine sheets of tannin that build in impressive shape, carrying red berry, berry blueberry, plum and pastry flavours in bright up-beat style from start to finish, adding some anise and licorice as it fades. Beautiful and balanced. Alc/Vol. 14% Drink 2012 Closure: Screwcap." Nick Stock, The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010 - 96 points, Quality *****

"I'm currently tasting a whole raft of wines from Western Australia for the next edition of The Big Red Wine Book, and while this has only just been released, it was in last year's book. Mattinson went one point higher than me, although I'd not quibble with his score.

Blackberry and boysenberry with a little pepper and meatiness and liquorice lurking in the background. It's only medium bodied, not a thumper, but lithe and charming with fresh berry, spice and nuts flavours and fine dry tannin. Length is excellent, as is the overall drinkablity factor. Drink : 2009 - 2017." Gary Walsh, The Wine Front - 94 points

"Bright hue; elegant, but complex, with distinct cool region overtones of spice and licorice to the black fruits; the tannins and oak are well-balanced and integrated. Screwcap. 14% alc. Drink Now - 2020 $32 Date Tasted Feb 09." James Halliday - 93 points