2007 Primo Estate Zamberlan

When I purchased my first wine fridge, the aim was to find great value wines with aging potential and watch them improve over time into something much better than the price would suggest. This is a classic example. Purchased from the Cellar Door for $17AUD 3 years ago when a bit rough around the edges, it has developed into something really good. Lovely aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and spice. Medium bodied, nice structure with firm tannins. The score 87/100 ( very good to excellent). A solid wine that at the price has proven to be a bargain.

2008 Martinborough Vineyard "Te Tera" Pinot Noir

The Martinborough journey continues. I am struggling to find an Australian pinot that is as consistant as this region. Recently, I have tasted 2006-current vintages from this region and the consistent quality and core, unmistakeable, Martinborough characteristics shine through.
Anyway, back to the wine. Purchased from Vintage Cellars Coorparoo for $38. Dark crimson colour. Plum and spice nose and a tiny bit of sweetness. The palate has subtle oak and ultra fine tannin. Beautiful red fruit, pepper and spice dominate and last forever. This is a great wine. 90/100 and i would buy this again in an instant.

2006 Murdoch James Martinborough Pinot Noir

2006, Talked up as one of the great years, lets see.

Dark Crimson colour which surprised me a little. Nose is exceptional, barnyard floor and a hint of spice and cinnamon. I sat smelling this wine for a long time before tasting. On the palate, definite aged characters coming through. Lovely mouth feel with plum and spice, some tanin but on the way out. Great finish, however the nose lead me to expect more. Still a lovely wine which i would buy as long as its available. 90/100, awesome nose but a touch thin on the palate.

2009 Mt Horrocks Watervale Shiraz

Purchased cellar door for $35. Was at Mt Horrocks specifically to taste the Cabernet, as well as make the first weekend of the Grosset cellar door for 2011 which is just down the road (they open for about 6 weeks only). Tasted this and bought a couple in the moment. The wine is being promoted as 'remarkable'. It's very good but 'remarkable' it aint! It's ripe and fruity, with plenty of plum on the nose. While it smells very good and the initial taste is very good, the finish is not quite there. It's soft and lacks any real kick. The tannins are barely discernable. To me, this is a drink now proposition and an overpriced one at that. I'll leave the other for a year and so and see what happens. Score 84/100. Buy again, no.

2008 Jacobs Creek Reserve Adelaide Hils Chardonnay

I have been reading all the hype over this wine, so I had to see for myself. I felt like wearing a disguise to buy this wine but opted not to, I can wear the snickers by the 18 year old checkout clerk, what would she know anyway :) So I ponied up the 11 bucks at Firstchoice, Maroochydore and ran. Well, here goes. Great nose, obvious toasty oak and peach, good start. First taste is surprising, beautiful restrained oak and buttery characteristics, rich fruit and so well balanced, this is really elegant, and has a finish that lasts forever! The bogan is not going to let me forget this, but I don't care, this is seriously good. I give this 89/100 and will bye bucket loads of this coming into summer.

2008 Palliser Estate Pinot Noir

As a consepuence of my beloved Victorian Pinots being in general disappointing, I have turned my attention to our kiwi bros, Martinborough in particular.
Spice dominates the nose, followed by lifted ripe red fruit, which the Bogan refers to it as alcohol burn and not enough fruit.
The palate has alot of tannin, which buries the fruit somewhat, but the wine is still enjoyable. Massive length, and one to lay down for a few years.
Definitley buy again. 85 points.

1999 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling

Purchased from First Choice, a 12 year old Riesling. Who knows where they would have sourced this. The label boasts as being one of the original stelvin caps. Upon opening, the frog sympathiser commented how fresh it seemed so the closure must have done its job.

Lovely golden colour. Subdued nose, some honey, a small amount of kero coming through. The palate seemed flat to me, in decline perhaps. For a 12 yo wine though, it has still held up quite well but for 30AUD, I wouldn't venture here again. I didn't get enough of those aged charcteristics I was hoping for. Perhaps it was not an exuberant wine to start with. My score 80 (good).