Also has “The Astral Series” on the label. I think it was expensive; the bottle certainly weighs a ton, and there is a small colony of marmots living in the punt. An odd nose: ribena and a touch of salty fish sauce, almost like that fertiliser Charlie Carp. The palate is a conundrum wrapped in a riddle: old leathery characters and comforting spices, with bright dark cherry and plummy fruits. A bit of everything – everyone will find something they like. Chocolate tannins, very good length. Should go a while longer too; odd nose though. 92 points.

This is a note that I started a couple of weeks ago. Rich red fruits and an undercurrent of mulch. A lot more vegetative on the palate, cherry liqueur, cassia bark, some acid with a bit of harshness. Tough work. Lacks the texture on the palate with the acid and greenness sticking out. Perhaps too young but unsure how it would mature. Points? Mid to low 80s I think. Screwcap. $42 from the cellar door.

I think I have mentioned this before, but I am not a big Cabernet drinker. So when I opened this bottle I did not expect to be compelled to write a note. Lovely balance on the nose, with currants, soft tobacco and mocha characters, leading to medium weight palate; ripe fruits balanced by understated Cabernet characters. Excellent tannins and really quite charming. Everything in its right place. Looked great on the second night too, fwiw. Winery sample. RRP $25 $40. 92 points. 14.0% abv. Drink 2012-2017+

The first of four tasters from the winery, all from the Vineyard collection of wines. And all red. If you’re interested to know, the Miamba vineyard is located at the southern end of the Barossa Valley near the town of Lyndoch. That’s the one on the right hand side when the kids have said “are we there yet?” for the twentieth time. Blackberries and nutmeg, plums and black peppercorns. The palate is intense, brash black fruits galore with dry spices. Definitely needs time or serve now with something hearty. 14.5% abv. RRP is $19.95 or $23.95…. I have lost the info sheet that accompanied the wines :blush: As a postscript, I must add that I like the oak treatment: nothing creamy or coconutty or confected. It must be praised for that. 91 points.

Well the summer holidays are over and it’s time to get off the wagon. I haven’t written a note for a while, so I think it might take me some time to get back into the swing of things. This one was a winery sample. Red cherries and some earthy spices on the nose. The palate is fruity and rounded, soft tannins, quite nice but perhaps a bit on the simple side. Solid entry level wine. 86 points. Better with food. Sealed under screwcap. 13.5% abv.

An entry level wine for Meerea Park, and a blend of 80% Hilltops fruit and 20% Hunter Valley fruit. Good strong red in colour. Bright red cherries, plums, raspberries, clean earth and a touch of spice. Medium weight, just, red fruits and a soft peppery spice. Unobtrusive tannins and solid value. Sealed under screwcap. 14.0% abv. 87 points. Drink 2012-2015

A short note on this one. A pleasant nose, cherried fruits and spice, but the palate, despite having dark cherry fruits with plums and some lovely spices, is too hot, with the alcohol slicing through the palate and wrecking the balance. Think Darth Vader, a light sabre and Luke Skywalker. A tough wine to drink. $20ish. 15.0% abv, but tastes like more. Drink now. 82-84 points.

Ployez Jacquemart Selection Rose: Lovely – just right, and its pinkness was Christmas-appropriate.  And it won over a non champagne crowd with its delicate strawberry and lemon notes.
Ployez Jacquemart Brut 2000: Served too warm – tasty nonetheless for being Christmas day.  Another bottle will get consumed very shortly.
Auburn Lowburn Riesling 2010: Improving out if sight with a year’s age (personal interest disclaimer on this label).
Joseph Sparkling Red 2010 disg: My favourite disgorgement of this wine so far. Sweeter and fruit-fresher than earlier versions, although the alcohol seems to stick out a little more these days. Like it a lot.
Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese 1993: A cellar release from 2010.  Best bottle so far out of a sixpack. Shows its pradikat through weight rather than sweetness, with juicy acidity balance perfectly by racy green pineapple and lemon fruit which is nly now showing signs of its 18 years of age.

Had a glass of this last night with some brie, and it was then into the fridge. Today it is out on the stage again, and I cannot believe I’m saying this, but this one is a real glass stainer. An inky purple red in colour. A youthful nose; yeasty red fruits, vanilla, red cherries and black cherries, interlaced with warm summery spices and a bit of earth and minerals. Good length. Quite acid dominant really. Dusty dry tannins and dried mushrooms on the finish. Very similar flavour profile to the GSZ I tasted recently. Sealed under screwcap. $32 from the cellar door. 14.7% abv. 91 points.