Heathcote Velvet, Sangiovese, Heathcote ($15)

This is on the heavier end of sangiovese's. Very well balanced with good flavour in all parts of the mouth. This can be drunk by itself or with food. Deep cherry I think with a bit of raspberry on the finish. At $15 this is very good value.

D'Angelo 2001, Aglianico del Vulture, Italy ($33)

Well I'd seen a whole load of hype about Aglianico del Vulture. Though not lifechanging this was a really, really nice drop of vino. It had all those things in a wine that make are so identifiably Italian without all the sour unbalanced bits. This was nicely balanced stuff with nice woody and finely tannined qualities. Drank well by itself and with barbecued food. The aroma nicely concentrated and made the wine seem more alcohoic tan its 13%. And it was refreshingly nice to get back to 13%. To this day I can't see the point of going higher. Buy (from Enoteca on Lygon Street) and enjoy.

Saint Cosme 2007, Cotes-du-Rhone, France ($15)

Best Rhone if had while in Australia with good balance and medium to high weight. I got a crushed juniper thing going on in the bouquet. Not sure I'd buy again. It knocked Pat out and had a good go at doing the same to me as well. Not distinct enough to make me buy it as an unpatriotic non-Aussie wine.

Macchiarossa 2003, probably montepulciano, Molise Rosso DOC, Italy ($19.99)

Picked this up from Enoteca on Lygon Street. I was waiting for this to be almost undrinkably robust, and was quite surprised by how this was really fairly smooth. The dominant aroma is that of cigar box. I found the mouthfeel inoffensive but slightly weak across the palate so it didn't fully deliver in all departments. The flavour set made it a nice departure from the Aussie wines.

Liquorland Cleanskin Western Australian white ($9.95)

I really liked this. I'd hazard a guess that it was a sauvignon blanc/semillon blend as it had a floral aspect and a wash of refreshing acidity. The acidity and minerality is something that I like a lot, though we got some peach coming through on the nose. I'd happily buy this again. Very nice.

De Bortoli 'Sero', Merlot Sangiovese 2006, King Valley ($11)

Reminiscent of what a chianti ought to be but seldom actually is. Here the merlot providing a density and evenness to this wine but making ti pay the price of removing a lot of that refreshing lightness that a straight sangiovese would have had. I got black cherry coming from this wine gave it some darkness. Drank well straight from the bottle. At $11 was good value and just a little bit different from the usual stuff at this price point.

The Story, Shiraz 2005, Grampians ($19.99)

Wow! After all the hullaballoo about this from Halliday and other worthies I was happy to get hold of this (from Boccaccio Cellars on Burke Road, Balwyn North). Lovely. Very concentrated blackberry ripping right through the palate delivering in every department. A bit of pepper (maybe?) on the nose but not at all to the extent that Mount Cole Wineworks Shiraz (another fave of mine this year) delivers. Can't belive Halliday only gave this 90/100. He reckons of '06 was '96/100. Boccaccio also has that. Got to get it. Buy this wine.