Lowe Zinfandel 2005

So, two firsts for "Grape Observer" then: my first post on a zinfandel and my first post on a wine from Mudgee, which I confess I had to resort to Google Maps to locate. It is in central New South Wales.

This wine is pretty good. It is not the alcoholic monster that some zinfandels I have tried have constituted. Instead, aromas of anise and red stone fruit, were met on the palate with length, fruit cake and red currant flavours. I really couldn't fault this wine and it's quite enjoyable, yet I could summon no particular desire to return to it. Tasted blind, it seemed neither one thing, nor another. 85 points (7/10)

Abv: 14.3%
Website: http://www.lowewine.com

Paringa Estate Estate Pinot Noir 2004 and some thoughts on wine show medals

You will see from the picture that this wine is almost covered in wine show medals.  Now, having recently received comments on some wine reviews, to put it perhaps politely, to the effect that "this wine received medal X, why don't you like it?", my view is that a wine show medal is not necessarily determinative of quality, nor my own tasting opinion.  Why?  Well, I have two strands of reasoning.

The first is that largely I wish to, and encourage anyone reading this, to assert sovereignty over my or your own tastebuds (as the case may be), because I think that wine tasting is to a large extent a subjective exercise, with perhaps the exception of the identification of wine faults (eg cork taint, brettanomyces), which appear more objectively verifiable.  Therefore, I reserve the right to make up my own mind.

The second is that to understand the merit of a wine show award, it seems necessary to understand how the award came about.  And here there are some questions to ask.  Who organised and benefits from the wine show?  Who's actually in the room?  What is its purpose?  How are the wines tasted and ranked (eg across grape varieties, vintage, regions and/or price points)?  Does the show seek to act as a proxy for consumer tastes or is it more fairly able to be described as a producer driven benchmarking exercise?  What is the scale of medals awarded at the competition (eg. is a "gold medal" the highest medal)?  Did the entrants have to pay to enter?  How many entries were received?  What is the mix of entrants and their location?  Who were the judges?  How many wines did they try on the day?  Did they taste the wine with food?  How effective was "slurping and spitting" in keeping the judges sober and allowing them to properly taste the wines?    How were conclusions reached across the various judges' opinions?  What was the scoring system used?

I think many of these are reasonable questions for a consumer to ask.  Some of them are probably a bit over the top.   And I should mention that it seems accepted that wine shows in Australia have "improved the breed".  And of course it is clearly possible that the answers to these questions are all favourable, the wine show medals fully deserved and a perfect proxy for my own, or readers', tastebuds.  But then again, without this information, I don't really know.  There's no substitute in my opinion for making up your own mind.

I realise this view somewhat dilutes the purpose of me posting wine reviews in the first place, but then, I like doing it and some information is better than none.  My point perhaps is that the information I, or any wine show or anyone else for that matter provides, is not determinative.  So back to the make up your own mind bit.

Anyway, this is all rather abstract in this context, off point even, as I in fact tried this particular Paringa Estate Estate pinot noir blind.  And I liked it.  Although at 14.9% alcohol for a pinot noir, it was somewhat bruising.  Expect aromas of anise, graphite, herbs, twigs and mint.  On the palate, some cherries, length and sweet fruit.  Pleasant drinking.  85 points (7/10)

Abv: 14.9%
Price: $60 (current vintage)
Website: http://www.paringaestate.com.au

Penfolds St Henri 1998

1998 is generally regarded as having been a stand-out vintage in South Australia.  Which ostensibly would make it harder to explain why I didn't think more than I did about this wine.  There is an answer though: it was tasted blind between a 1992 Hill of Grace and an excellent Penfolds Bin 389 from 2002.  Blind tasting can be a tough game.  Crushed stones, fruit cake, herbs and a pong, not an unpleasant pong, but a pong nonetheless were each there by way of aroma.  On the palate, nice acidity and good balance.  A good man shadowed by his friends.  Here are tasting notes from the winery.  86 points (7.1/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: $150
Website: http://www.penfolds.com

Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 1992

It always to me seems a little risky to serve a wine of this calibre blind.  And so it was served.  And having tasted it, I didn't care if the wine turned out to be a $3 cleanskin, because I was prepared to tell anyone who would listen (mercifully, a small group) it was gold.  Spices, fruit cake, leather, tea leaves and a touch of the barnyard were there as aromas.  I wrote down "drink me".  Amazing, amazing length on the palate and a touch of tea leaves.  The only negative thing I will say is that the wine presented older than it was, with some oxidative characters.  Not enough to care though.  97-98 points.  (8.2-8.3/10)

Abv: 14.1%
Price: $500s
Website: http://www.henschke.com.au/

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2002

I've said it before, but there's something to these somewhat unfashionable cabernet shiraz blends, that I simply like.  When they work, they work.  And this wine works, really well actually.  A blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon and 46% shiraz, with fruit sourced from all over, namely McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Bordertown, Barossa Valley and Langhorne Creek.  Anise, leather, mint, oak, and an all round richness by way of aroma.  On the palate, somewhat sweet, but with good length and structure.  Very good length in fact.  Tasted blind.  Here are notes from the winery.  90 points (7.5/10)

Abv: 14.5%

Price: mid $60s

Website: http://www.penfolds.com/

Argyle Winery Nuthouse Reserve Series Pinot Noir 2005

This is only the second pinot noir that I've tried from Oregon in the United States.  The first was while studying for the WSET Advanced Certificate, and I remember it, because it had nigh on 15% alcohol, knocked your socks off, and resembled a cabernet or even a shiraz.  These are not however observations that apply to this wine.  Frankly, it was very good, though the wisdom of calling your wine "Nuthouse" escapes me for a wine over $5.  Anise, leaves, red cherries jostled in an open knit kind of way.  On the palate, some length and similar flavours.  A drink now, enjoyable wine.  Tasted blind.  87 points (7.2/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: $40s
Website: http://www.argylewinery.com/

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006

Bob Campbell MW rated this wine a 98, and claimed it as the best Ata Rangi he had tasted.  Unfortunately for the reader, I am not Bob Campbell, and I tasted this wine in a blind line-up, that tasting approach that is as cruel as it is fair.  Though, the accompanying duck was something of a giveaway of the grape variety, though not being a duck from Ata Rangi itself, it was harder to be more specific.  This wine had an absolutely superb aroma.  Everything you could ever want in a pinot noir.  Evident cherries, undergrowth, ripe fruit, a touch of oak.  I absolutely loved it - too pure and extravagant to be an "old world" wine.  But, sorry, there's a but.  The palate did not meet the extravagant promises made.  Now, it was very good, with similar flavours, some acidity and spice, but it was lacking in a bit of persistence and mouth filling depth for my palate.  The aroma was so good though, I'll give it a high score anyway.  Here are notes from the winery: 88 points (7.3/10).

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $80
Website: http://www.atarangi.co.nz/

Drappier Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV

For $40 or so, it's fairly hard to go past this honest effort of a Champagne, though their website and flash are closer friends than is perhaps desirable.  Fresh, citrus, toast and a touch of grass on the nose.  Nice mousse on the palate.  Really hard to go past it.  Did I say that already?  Tasted blind.  85 points (7/10)

Abv: 12%

Price: $40s

Website: http://www.champagne-drappier.com/english/anglais.html

Chateau Les Hauts-Conseillantes 2005

So, here's another Bordeaux wine review.  Fortunately, it will not be at all obvious which wines I like.  Somewhat frustratingly, I couldn't find many details about this wine on the internet.  Maybe a reader can help me out.  And that's a pity, because it's a cracker.  It has that combination of length and power, with a slight rusticity, that together, makes it just so drinkable for me.  Red plums and spices emerge from the glass, with significant length accompanied with structure and tannins on the palate.  A very drinkable wine, that just demands to be drunk now, but will keep too.  Yet another good wine from 2005 in Bordeaux.  91 points (7.6/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: $50s

Chateau Clerc Milon 2007

Chateau Clerc Milon from Pauillac is a favourite of mine.  The 2007 was always going to test our relationship, but it's better than many 07s.  Expect a retiscent cedar like aroma with some blackcurrants in the background.  On the palate, some length, but restrained.  This is solid and well-made, rather than opulent or displaying alluring depth and length combinations.  A distinguished man not quite hitting his straps.  Drink over the next couple of years, though it may keep for a bit longer than that.  85 points (7/10)

Abv: 13%
Price: around $90
Website: http://www.bpdr.com/

Bordeaux en primeur 2010: some prices in Australia

It's that time of the year when Bordeaux en primeur offers start rolling in.  This year I put together a table showing the ex negociant price converted at spot from Euros to Australian dollars of 10 wines and compared this to an average of the en primeur prices that I have seen offered retail in Australia to date for those same wines.

While it may not be possible for retail wine consumers to buy these wines at their ex negociant price and taxes and shipping play their part, to put it somewhat politely, for a product that is already increasingly expensive in Europe, Australia perhaps isn't the place to find bargain Bordeaux.

	Ex negoc	A$ at spot	Av Aus price
Chateau Beychevelle	54 €	$      73.00	$        148.33
Chateau Cantemerle	21 €	$      28.39	$         59.00
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste	57.60 €	$      77.87	$        155.33
Chateau Gruaud Larose	45 €	$      60.84	$        123.25
Chateau Haut Batailley	27.50 €	$      37.18	$         76.75
Chateau Leoville Barton	72 €	$      97.34	$        197.33
Chateau Pichon Baron	132 €	$   178.45	$        342.50
Chateau Pontet Canet	100 €	$   135.19	$        287.50
Chateau Sociando Mallet	22.50 €	$      30.42	$         61.66
Chateau Talbot	39.60 €	$      53.54	$        109.50
Basket price		$   772.20	$     1,561.16

Dalrymple Pinot Noir 2007

This wine was unexpectedly good.  Not because I thought it would be bad, it's just that I was at a lunch which had shown itself in all probability as likely to be a bad lunch, which then, it wasn't.  Nonetheless, the sort of lunch where jotting down wine notes on an iPhone looks odder than its already significant oddness.  Dalrymple Vineyards according to its website is:

"... [a] vineyard of ... 12.3 hectares [that] rises up an easterly facing slope from 100m to 160m above sea level. With latitude of 41°, the vineyard shares similar conditions to that found in Burgundy.  Tea trees, eucalypts and ferns protect its terroir on all sides, whilst sea breezes from nearby Bass Strait moderate day and night temperatures, thereby encouraging the grapes to ripen evenly ... The majority of vines exceed 20 years of age." 

Whilst the latitude of Burgundy is more around the 47° mark (though not taking into account the warming effect of the "Gulf Stream"), this Tasmanian wine doesn't need a ubiquitous Burgundy comparison because it was simply delicious.  Cherries and oak by way of aroma.   Suppleness, depth and lingering length on the palate.  More please.  Here are the wine's technical details from the winery.  90 points (7.5/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: around $30
Would I buy it having tasted it?  Yes
Website: http://www.dalrymplevineyards.com.au


90 points (7.5/10)

Chateau L'Escart Bordeaux 2005

I found the 2004 of this label struggled for consistency.  2005 is of course a great vintage in Bordeaux.  But at the $15 price point for imported Bordeaux in Australia (wine taxes included), I find it's safest largely to assume the wine will be crap - heralded vintage or not.  But crap this wine was not.  Cigar box, earth and blackcurrant on the nose.  The palate though it had quite assertive tannins, was in fact quite pleasant.  That said, there was no particular length.  So, in all, I probably wouldn't seek it out, but would have no problem drinking it.  82 points (6.7/10)

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $15
Website: http://www.chateaulescart.com/cuvees-us.htm

Woodlands Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2008

Remiss of me, I know, but I hadn't previously tried a Woodlands wine.  I vaguely recall Andrew Graham over at the Oz Wine Review commending them, and I'd have to say that he's on the money.  According to Woodlands' website:

"Woodlands is a ten hectare vineyard located in the Wilyabrup Valley of Margaret River. Established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson, Woodlands remains family owned and operated."

Their 2008 cabernet merlot malbec is a good, balanced wine.  Classic cedar and blackcurrant on the nose.  Medium length, with a balanced palate with reasonable persistence.  It was consumed quickly - rarely a bad sign.  In a word, "elegant".  86-87 points (7.1-7.2/10)

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $35
Website: http://www.woodlandswines.com.au/

Kay Brothers Amery Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

I think I must have liked the people, as I don't usually give the warm climate renditions of cabernet a go.  And what an unusual wine this was.  It opened to an aroma of cola, vanilla, spices and that liqueur you find inside chocolates.  And then the aroma changed: a visit to the barn, with a horsey, leathery fragrance emerging inter-woven with bay leaves and a touch of capsicum.  The palate started out spicy, spritzy and a bit hot and wearying, but then settled down into a slightly leathery, plainish rendition of cabernet.  I probably don't mind barny or bretty notes as much as some people with my like of Bordeaux, and the wine isn't bad, it's just certainly distinctive.  83 points (6.8/10)

Abv: 14%

Price: mid $20s

Website: http://www.kaybrothersamerywines.com/

Capel Vale Regional Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 and "cellar key"

This wine was sent to me as a sample, and had a "cellar key" with a barcode draped around the neck of the bottle.  The idea is that you download an app using your smart phone, scan the barcode, and hey presto, information is brought up about the wine, winemaker, vintage conditions and some reviews in a proprietary format.  Downloading the app took about 30 seconds on the iPhone, and the system worked pretty well and looks good.  It's got some nice novelty, I'll admit.  My only reservation wearing my wine consumer advocate hat is that it, I imagine, will only pick up the reviews of wines that the winery wants to you to see, whereas Google will pick the lot up including the views of yours truly.  But it's a nice idea to give more information to consumers.

The 2009 Capel Vale "regional series" cabernet sauvignon?  Typical Margaret River.  Cedar, dusty blackcurrants and a touch of capsicum emerged from the glass.  Spice, ok length and black cherries were there on the palate.  The wine could have been a bit longer or denser, but it's pleasant enough drinking at the price.  84 points (6.9/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: $24.95
Source: sample
Website: http://www.capelvale.com.au

Chateau d'Armailhac 2007

Fresh from deciding that every Bordeaux I've tried from the 2007 vintage has been disappointing for one reason or another, this wine of course comes along to prove me wrong.  I think they say in Bordeaux: "buy any producers in a good year, and buy good producers in bad years".  If my experiment with hearsay turns out to be something I am making up, quite a possibility really, then I propose to say the same thing.  Chateau d'Armailhac is from the Rothschild stable of wines, and so tick for good producer.  Good is perhaps an understatement.  The wine?  Oak, cigar box, black currants, black cherries and a touch of the barn by way of aroma.  Good length, depth and melting tannins on the palate.  The melting tannins were really the hook for me.  Ready to drink now, but drink over the next 5 years or so.  90 points (7.5/10)

Abv: 13%
Price: $80
Website: http://www.bpdr.com/

Wine bloggers in 2011 Decanter power list...

Decanter magazine publishes a biennial "power list", and their latest edition (July 2011) includes the 2011 version.  The use of such a list is not apparent, and a scientific basis expressly disclaimed, so it's pretty airy stuff: "a subjective list of the figures we feel hold the most influence over the direction of the wine world today and how that affects the wine in your glass".  Various CEO types, Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson round out the top 10.  No surprises there.  And then somewhat unexpectedly the "amateur wine blogger" features at no. 16.  Here's an extract of the commentary:

"as social media continues its relentless online spread, everyone is now a critic.  Or, at least, anyone with basic computer literacy.  The ease of both setting up blogs and joining online conversations about wine means that consumers are now able to share information and opinions with each other as never before - all the time diluting the importance of the professional critic.  As wine markets such as the US continue to mature, so consumers will come to better trust their own judgement - and that of their peers.  Online commentary has empowered consumers in a way that print media struggles to, and the upshot is a world of rapidly evolving views and insights which are increasingly becoming a key reference point - and forum - with which winemakers and producers can engage."

Now, I'm not sure wine blogs have achieved this level of influence in Australia to date, but at least from my point of view, they are more relevant and informative than ever.  And having previously defended the wine blogging genre against some barbs published last year in Winestate in Australia (and so there's not much point in re-hashing my arguments again here), it's nice to see some printed commentary, however airy, suggesting the opposite.  I'll go a little further and suggest that rejecting the value of wine blogs and wine related social media is becoming something of a quixotic pursuit.  Irrelevant even.

Cleveland Chardonnay 1996

Cleveland's 1996 chardonnay shows considerable regional provenance, hailing from the cold Macedon Ranges.  Back labels are usually a reliable source of marketing "blah blah", but this one's a little different :)

In case you can't read the words in my photo, a perfectly understandable indictment upon my skills as a photographer, there is a disclaimer that reads "this is not a commercial "Australian style" chardonnay and fortunately contains 7.4 standard drinks".  Now, this was written in 1996.  A man before his time perhaps.  So, what did I think of the wine?  Honey, eucalyptus, eucalyptus honey, dank herbs, and somewhat oxidised.   But length is still there on the palate.  I liked it, but in fairness it is probably past its best, so drink up.  85 points (7/10)

Abv: 12.5%

Matua Valley Merlot 2010

Matua Valley is a New Zealand producer that is part of the stable of "brands" (their words, not mine) owned by Treasury Wine Estates (formerly Fosters).  This wine was a little rough, but ok.  Soft sweet spices and a slight sharpness on the nose.  A soft finish and a bit spiky on the palate.  Pleasant enough for a cheapie.  77 points (6.2/10)

Abv: 13.5%
Price: NZ$14.90
Website: http://www.matua.co.nz

Pooles Rock Wines Firestick Shiraz 2009

Another wine from my "aeroplane series" of tasting notes.  It was therefore presented in a little plastic bottle and poured into a plastic glass in a cramped space, all the time jolting ever so slightly.  The wine has a plummy, oaky aroma with a slight acetic character.  On the palate, a bit tart, but drinkable.  Note to airline: can do better.  75 points (6/10 )

Abv: 12.5%
Website: http://www.poolesrock.com.au

Fraser Gallop Estate Cabernet Merlot 2009

Fraser Gallop is situated on 165 acres of undulating land in the Margaret River in the Wilyabrup region.  Their 2009 cabernet merlot seems to be their "cheapie", but it's not bad.  It opened to aromas of cola, raw fruit and wood, but settled down a bit.  On the palate, it was a little jumpy, but there was quite a bit of length, with fine grained tannins, though warm at times in the mouth.  The wine though improved and had settled down upon drinking the next day.  86 points (7.1/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: $20
Website: http://www.frasergallopestate.com.au/

Harcourt Valley Barbara's Shiraz 2009

This is another pleasant wine from Harcourt Valley Vineyards in Bendigo.  Spices, pepper, sweet fruit, and baked red currants are there by way of fragrance.  The palate is pleasant with evident sweet red currant fruit and a touch of length.  Seemingly low in acid and tannins, the wine expressed itself in a somewhat free form manner.  A very easygoing style of wine.  84 points (6.9/10)

Abv: 13.8%
Price: $25
Source: sample
Website: http://www.harcourtvalley.com.au/

Balgownie Cabernet Sauvignon 1976

Balgownie was established by Stuart Anderson in 1969, and was one of the first vineyards planted in the Bendigo region for more than 80 years.  It was therefore a pleasure to be given the opportunity to try one of Stuart Anderson's earlier vintages - the 1976 cabernet sauvignon.  This wine would seem to challenge the notion that young vines don't make good wine.  In fact, it would seem to carefully propel the concept into the sixth row.  Because, at 35 years of age, this wine has everything you could ask for in an aged cabernet - structure, graceful fruit, length and balance.  Herbs, menthol and spices were there by way of fragrance.  Ageless length and balanced acidity on the palate.  An absolute classic.  95 points (8/10)

Abv: not shown on bottle
Website: http://www.balgownieestate.com.au

Studley Park Vineyard Cabernet 2001

Studley Park Vineyard is located only 4 kilometres from the CBD of Melbourne.  And although only planted in 1994, Studley Park's vineyard is a reminder of the largely forgotten viticultural history and potential of some of Melbourne's suburbs. And as if to rub it in, their 2001 cabernet is in fact very good, achieving a very satisfactory elegance and balance.  Plums, graphite and stones by way of fragrance.  Length and elegance on the palate, and the sort of wine I like to drink.  86 points (7.1/10)

Abv: 13.2%
Price: $25 (current vintage)
Would I buy it having tasted it?  Yes
Website: http://www.studley.com.au/pages/home.asp

Yarra Yering cellar door releases 2011

Here some notes on some of a few of Yarra Yering's wines that I tasted at their cellar door a few weeks ago.  I only tasted small portions of the wines, so I've provided impressions rather than scores.

Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2009

Oily, tropical aroma.  Acidity very pronounced.  Some length.  Not my style.

Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 2004

Overt capsicum aroma, reminiscent of a Leeuwin Estate cabernet.  Similar on palate.  Acidity evident.  Too green smelling for me.  $92 a bottle.

Yarra Yering Agincourt Cabernet Merlot 2005

Herbal, dusty aroma.  Blackcurrant and a touch of capsicum on the palate.  Held itself together well.  $85.

Chateau La Bessane 2005

This wine proved an able advocate for not evaluating wines on a "slurp and spit" basis.  The bottle revealed itself as an unexpected blend of 60% petit verdot, 20% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot from Margaux.  The very high percentage of the late ripening petit verdot was presumably a nod to the excellent weather conditions in Bordeaux in 2005.  Personally, I think some of Australia's warmer regions do justice to the petit verdot, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  My initial thoughts were surprise.  Oak and white pepper aromas led to a thin palate that lacked a middle, with coconut and pepper flavours and acidity to the fore.

Then after about 20 minutes, perhaps the full moon was out, because something happened.  A ripe and perfectly pleasant wine, with a nice structure sat on the table.  I think this is a wine for decanting, food and maybe both.  Though, in the end, the start was so bad that I remain a little unconvinced.  84 points (6.8/10)

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $55
Would I buy it having tasted it?  No.
Website: http://www.chateaupaloumey.com/

Shaw and Smith Shiraz 2008

The difficult growing season of 2008 in South Australia seemed to show itself in this shiraz.  I have raved about this producer's shiraz before (for example, here are my thoughts on the 2006), but didn't feel that the 2008 was as good.  A fragrance of pepper and plums, but it had a more loose knit structure than I remember in previous vintages with an overt sweet fruity style.  Some length, but not pronounced, and easy drinking on the palate.  85 points (7/10)

Abv: 14%
Price: $38
Would I buy it having tasted it?  Pass this time
Website: http://www.shawandsmith.com

Yeringberg new releases 2011

A couple of weeks ago, I made the trek out to Yeringberg's historic vineyard in the Yarra Valley.  Yeringberg open their doors once a year for their new releases, and this was my first trip out there.  The weather was autumnal, the earth soggy.  So thanks then to the Gents who kindly helped push our car out of the bog that we could clearly have avoided parking in.  Fewer thanks to the vineyard dog who carefully pee'd on the car wheel during the process :)

There was a nice feel to the open day as several generations of the de Purys were in attendance greeting and pouring wines, even if the makeshift cellar door is somewhat rustic.  Think shed with roof and you'd be close.  I only got an opportunity to taste a small amount of each wine (though I did re-taste a few of them) in the ISO style glasses on offer (does anyone seriously like ISO glasses?), so I am only going to provide my impressions on the wines, without any scores.

Yeringberg Cabernet 2008, 14.3abv
Oak, blackcurrant aroma.  Powdery tannins, good length, spice and pepper on the palate.  Seemed pretty good.  But not cheap around the $70 mark.  Left thinking that, yes here is a good wine, but don't forget I would get probably 2 bottles of similar quality from the Margaret River or Coonawarra.

Yeringberg Cabernet 2009, 13.5abv
This wine was declassified by the de Purys due to smoke taint from the 2009 Victorian bushfires, and is selling for $15.  "Declassified" is in fact written in big fat words on the label.  You really have to admire the honesty of this producer.  I love producers who tell it like it is.  A twiggy aroma.  Grilled meats, and a touch of ashtray smoke on the palate.  The smoke taint is honestly not that strong (this is one of the wines I tried a couple of times), but the de Purys warn it will get worse with time.  Suitable for current drinking.  I guess this really is a barbeque wine, happily sold at a barbeque wine price.

Yeringberg Chardonnay 2010, 12.5abv
Apples, minerals, straw and talc.  Similar palate, but finished a bit short and in a soft style.

Yeringberg Chardonnay 2009, 12.5abv
Minerals, apples, steel.  Apple and floral on the palate.  Seemed more interesting than the 2010, but a bit steep at $50.

Yeringberg Chardonnay 2008, 13.5abv
The pick of the chardonnays tasted.  Minerals, good fruit.  A quality wine.  Worth the money.

Yeringberg Viognier 2010, 13.5abv
Apricot stew.  A bit jumpy on the palate.  Acidity, some spritz, a bit hot and cold.  But nice length.

Caronne Sainte Gemme 2000

This is a very smart Caronne Sainte Gemme, from a good year.  There's fresh jammy, pippy fruit with a touch of anise by way of fragrance.  On the palate, it's classic left bank Bordeaux.  Blackcurrants, tannins and good length.  This wine is built to last, and I really enjoyed it.  If I was to pick a fault, it was perhaps a touch "barny".  But it didn't detract from what is a very good wine.  89? points (7.4?/10).

Abv: 13%

Price: $51

Would I buy it having tasted it?  Yes

Website: http://www.chateau-caronne-ste-gemme.com/

Chateau La Croix St Vincent 2005

This wine has some pedigree.  Here's a description taken from the importer's website:

"Chateau La Croix Saint Vincent is the second wine of Chateau De Valois. The estate is part of the original Figeac property and was established in 1862 when the large Figeac property was dismembered."

And the pedigree is matched by its quality.  From the stellar 2005 vintage in Bordeaux, and a blend of 77% merlot, 19% cabernet franc, 3% cabernet sauvignon and 1% malbec, this Pomerol opens to a deliciously ripe aroma of berries.  Good length, tannins and plums are there on the palate.  An enjoyable wine that is well priced.  88 points (7.3/10)

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $51
Would I buy it having tasted it?  Yes
Website: Not found.  The importer's website is: http://www.bordeauxshippers.com.au