Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2007

I understand that 2007 was a mixed vintage in Tuscany.  This wine however is rather good, with an aroma of herbs, charry oak with a gamey note too.  The palate had nice fruit, with a certain sweetness that may be attributable to the 5% syrah in its blend.  Pleasant.  85 points.

Abv: 14%
Price: $45
Source: retail (Prince Wine Store)

White Box Shiraz 2007

I don't think I've seen a Heathcote sub $15 before.  An aroma of earthy plums was met with an easy drinking palate and white pepper notes.  Surprisingly pleasant.  83 to 84 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: $14.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.buddhaswine.com.au/ (I think this is right, but the website didn't seem to click through)

Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz Grenache 2009

An aroma of plum fruit.  The palate is interesting, with ripe sweet fruit evident from the grenache, length is there, and some acidity too.  Really pretty good for the price.  84 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: $18.80
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.glaetzer.com/

Brands Laira Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

An aroma of taught oak, good ripe fruit and dusty, somewhat curranty overtones.  Pleasant on the palate, with a little length.  Acidity very evident, perhaps overly so at this point for my palate.  84? points.

Abv: 15%
Price: $16.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/

Villa Antinori Toscana IGT 2006

This is another label that captivated me with an earlier vintage (specifically, the superb 2003).  The 2003 was so good that I still eagerly await the annual release of this wine, but while the wines are always solid, the earlier magic so far has not been repeated.  The 2006 had an aroma of cherries, and a dusty savoury note, while the palate showed racy acidity and a bit of length.  A good wine, if a bit safe.  83? points.

Abv: 13.5%
Price: about $30
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.antinori.it/

Poggerino Chianti Classico 2008

I like Poggerino's wines, though I am still waiting to capture the magic of a forgotten vintage of this producer that I drank some years ago now at the Melbourne Wine Room.  The 2008 vintage has good colour, with an aroma of good fruit and cherries.  The palate was a bit more mixed: acidity was there, some length, tannins and herbs.  Not amazing though, and perhaps a bit closed at this young age.  83 points for now.

Abv: 14%
Price: $38
Source: retail (Prince Wine Store)
Website: http://www.poggerino.com/

New Langtons Classification

Hot off the press from Langton's new Australian wine classification V:

1. Exceptional

Promoted:
Brokenwood Wines Graveyard Shiraz
Chris Ringland Shiraz
Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
Torbreck RunRig Shiraz

Demoted:
Nil

2. Outstanding

Promoted:
Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet
Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir
d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz
Dalwhinnie Eagle Shiraz
De Bortoli Noble One
Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Cabernet
Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz
Grosset Springvale Riesling
Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz
McWilliams Lovedale Semillon
Noon Reserve Shiraz
Penfolds 389
Penfolds St Henri
Tahbilk 1860 Vines Shiraz
Tyrells Vat 1 Semillon
Wynns John Riddoch

Demoted:
Parker Coonawarra First Growth Cabernet

3. Excellent

Promoted:
Bests Bin O Shiraz
Domaine A Cabernet
Giaconda Warner Shiraz
Houghton Jack Mann Cabernet
Katnook Prodigy Shiraz
Leo Buring Leonay Riesling
Main Ridge Half Acre Pinot Noir
Mount Mary Chardonnay
Noon Reserve Cabernet
Paringa Estate The Paringa Pinot Noir
Penfolds Magill Shiraz
Penfolds RWT Shiraz
Seppelt St Peters Shiraz
Torbreck Descendant Shiraz
Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet
Yeringberg Cabernet

Demoted:
Giaconda Pinot Noir
Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz
Veritas Rolf Binder Shiraz

4. Distinguished

Promotions:
Castagna Genesis Shiraz
Coldstream Hills Reserve Pinot Noir
d'Arrenberg Coppermine Road Cabernet
Freycinet Pinot Noir
Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz
McWilliams Maurice O'Shea Shiraz
Paringa Shiraz
Penfolds Bin 28
Penfolds Bin 128
Penfolds Bin 407
Pewsey Vale Contours Riesling
Savaterre Chardonnay
Turkey Flat Shiraz
Voyager Estate Cabernet
Wantirna Estate Amelia Cabernet Merlot
Wild Duck Creek Springflat Shiraz
Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz
Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz
Woodlands Cabernet
Wynns Michael Shiraz
Yalumba The Signature Cabernet

Demoted:
Bannockburn Chardonnay
Bannockburn Pinot Noir
Bass Phillip Estate Pinot Noir
Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz
Mitchelton Print Shiraz
Orlando Lawson's Shiraz
Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay
Plantaganet Mount Barker Shiraz
Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz
Yarra Yering Dry Red No 2

Please let me know if I've missed or misplaced any.

Thoughts
This seems largely to be a "good news" re-classification, with a series of new promotions and relatively few demotions. At the highest level, there were no surprises on my part in respect of the inclusion of Clonakilla's Shiraz Viognier, Grosset's Polish Hill Riesling and Torbreck's RunRig.  I have not tried the other newcomers.  The reputation of Mount Mary's Quintet perhaps sees it retain its place at the top, as their recent vintages to my palate, have not been particularly worthy of acclaim.

At the lower levels, I was surprised at seeing Bannockburn's pinot noir and chardonnay and Giaconda's pinot noir being downgraded, as I personally very much like these wines.  Equally, if given a choice between the dry grown Yarra Yering's Dry Red No. 2 shiraz, and the newly included Penfolds' Bin 28, I would almost always take the former.  Mount Langhi Ghiran's Shiraz also seems to have slightly fallen in favour, which is perhaps consistent with my own observations that this wine, whilst it can be very good, is not necessarily outstanding.  Turkey Flat's shiraz, on the other hand, is a wine that I've found punches above its price point and is now recognised.

Jean Durup L'Eglantiere Petit Chablis 2007

This muted wine had an aroma of lemon rind and stones, with citrus flavours on the palate.  A very restrained style.  83 points.

Abv: 12.5%

Pasqua Casterna Amarone 2000

I tasted this wine blind, and it had an earthy aroma of baked plums, tending towards a burnt smell.  The palate had pleasant sweet raisined grapes, and the alcohol was evident.  No surprises here given the winemaking method for Amarone.  81 points.

Abv: 15%

Wolf Blass Black Label Cabernet Shiraz 2000

I don't really know the label hierarchy of Wolf Blass: "black" seems to be ok.  Anyway, this wine, tasted blind, had an aroma of eucalyptus, and a pleasant palate of plums and eucalypt.  84 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: around $60-$75 (current market price)
Website: http://www.wolfblass.com.au/

Guerrieri Rizzardi Costeggiola 2007

I tasted this wine blind in a line up of chardonnays: it had a very soft aroma, with notes of minerals, soft citrus, a touch of dank and tinned apples.  The palate was similar, and to my palate, a bit dilute.  It was in solid company with a petit Chablis, but overawed in a line up including a high quality new world chardonnay.  80 points.

Abv: 12.5%

Koonara Ambriels Gift Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

This wine, tasted blind, drank exceptionally well, if perhaps a little non-varietal (though I do find the shiraz/cabernet sauvignon distinction can sometimes blur in older Coonawarra wines).  An aroma of licorice and plums was met with a balanced palate with length, pleasant Penfolds like oak and balance.  A blend of 90% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot and 5% cabernet franc.  89 points.

Abv: 13.5%
Price: about $30
Website: http://www.koonara.com/

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2007

Bannockburn is one of my favourite wineries, and this wine was outstanding tasted blind.  An aroma of citrus, pleasant oak and some minerality.  The palate had excellent length, with an acidity suggesting of European origins.  An excellent wine.  90 points.

Abv: 13.5%
Price: about $50
Website: http://www.bannockburnvineyards.com/

Moet Grand Vintage 2003

Moet's 2003 Grand Vintage is a very pleasant good quality champagne, with aromas of soft yeast and citrus, and a palate with a fine mousse and acidity.  Very good.  87 points.

Price: around $100
Website: http://www.moet.com/ (though the apparent French obsession with "flash" technology can be trying).

Glaetzer Heartland Shiraz 2006

Another well priced Glaetzer wine.  Aromas of licorice, dark plums and chocolate.  The palate had some length.  83 to 84 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: around $17
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.glaetzer.com/

Terra da Vino Barolo 2006

Gee Barolos can be impressive.  This bottle was purchased overseas, so I'm not sure whether it's available locally.  Anyway, it was great and probably well priced: an aroma of game and leather, with a similar palate and very good length.   89 points.

Abv: 13.5%
Website: http://www.terredavino.it/site/

Metala Shiraz Cabernet 2004

Metala seems to be a label that needs to be looked at on a vintage-by-vintage basis.  The 2004 is quite simply an excellent wine: pepper and plums on the nose, with pepper, and rich, full length on the palate.  Amazing value at this price. 87+ points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: <$20
Source: cellar
Website: http://www.fostersgroup.com/brands/metala.aspx

Vidal-Fleury Cote-Rotie 2000

This is a superb wine - a delicate aroma of stewed apricots, with a palate showing outstanding length and multi-layered notes of plums and spiced cake.  Highly recommended.  95 points.

Abv: 13%
Website: http://www.vidal-fleury.com/

Kay Brothers Amery Basket Pressed Shiraz 2006

A thought provoking wine that varied as I tried it over a few days.  It had an aroma of vanilla/coconut oak, leather, ripe grapes, pepper and a porty note.  The palate was hot at times (perhaps no surprise given the alcohol level), but still pleasant and with some length.  On day 2, I found it a bit much, but on day 3, it returned to a very pleasant balance, with alcohol in balance.  Overall, I think this is a good wine that's maybe a bit high in alcohol and just needs more time to settle down. 84 to 85? points.

Abv: 15.5%
Price: $22
Source: cellar door
Website: http://www.kaybrothersamerywines.com/

Brands Laira Cabernet Merlot 2009

This well priced wine had a typical Coonawarra earthy, dusty nose, with a palate that was well balanced, albeit with very racy acidity running through its core.  Quite good, particularly for its price.  83 to 84 points.

Abv: 14%
Price: $14.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/

Tenuta Sassoregale Toscana IGT 2008

This wine is $13.90, so it is hard to expect too much.  It had what I would describe as a "socky" aroma, but the palate was really quite good, almost surprisingly so, with a savoury cherry aspect.  Really quite good for the price.  84 points.

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $13.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.tenutasassoregale.com/en/

Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone Villages 2008

Chapoutier's 2008 Cotes du Rhone Village is quite a pleasant wine, with an aroma of soft red fruits, and a palate with a bit of length and some noticeable tannins.  Quite good.  85 points.

Abv: 14%
Price: around $20
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.chapoutier.com/

Glaetzer Bishop 2009

To me, it seems that Glaetzer are largely incapable of producing poor wines.  The 2009 Glaetzer "Bishop" is fresh on the shelves, with an aroma of pepper and plums, and a palate with outstanding length, fruit and pepper.  A remarkable wine punching well, well above its price point.  90 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: $26.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.glaetzer.com/

Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2008

This wine had a lovely aroma of soft plums and oak.  The palate was rich, with good length that held its alcohol level.  A well made, well priced wine, from a label I haven't really looked much at in the past.

Price: $19.90
Abv: 15%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.saltramwines.com.au/

Chapel Hill Shiraz 2008

This is a fairly typical McLaren Vale shiraz, with an aroma of plums and pepper, with plums, pepper and some background acidity on the palate.  Ok.  84 points.

Price: $24.90
Abv: 14.5%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/

Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Shiraz 2008

Yalumba's "The Scribbler" had an aroma of oak and chalk with a slight dusty element.  The palate showed rich, good quality, fruit, which I initially thought was completely non-varietal for a cabernet sauvignon, until I realised that 35% of the blend was shiraz.  That then made sense.  83 points.

Price: $14.90
Abv: 14%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.yalumba.com/

Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2007

I don't review too many sauvignon blancs, but this wine isn't bad.  It had a typical aroma of passionfruit, with some initial spritz on the palate that then settled down to some nice length with a certain roundness, though the acidity was still there.  Quite pleasant.  84 to 85 points.

Price: about $20
Abv: 13%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.wairauriverwines.com/

Dominique Portet Fontaine Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2007

This wine is blended from fruit sourced from the Yarra Valley and Heathcote.  The aroma basically was great: black fruits, plums, pepper, match stick oak - all evidence of that Australian infusion of cabernet and shiraz that can work so well.  The palate was less showy, but pleasant, with notes of pepper, acidity, some length and a touch of struck matches.  Good value at $20.  83 to 84 points.

Price: $20
Abv: 13%av
Source: cellar door
Website: http://www.dominiqueportet.com/
Note: bottle shot is of the 2008

Pierre Naigeon Chambolle-Musigny 2006

The 2006 vintage of this wine, like the 2005, is again a very good effort.  A rather classy aroma of clean fruit and herbs.  The palate had length, and notes of twigs and match sticks.  88 points.

Price: $78.99
Abv: 13%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: not found

Stefano Lubiana Pinot Noir 2008

The 2008 pinot noir from this well regarded producer had an aroma of graphite and cherries, with ok length on the palate which opened up and became more interesting with time.  84 to 85 points.

Price: $39.99
Abv: 14%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.slw.com.au/slw/index.html