Sorrenberg, Gamay 2004, Beechworth ($38)

Being gamay it was only to be expected that the jiuce seemed thin in colour on decanting. But is settled into a deep cherry colour which expressed the taste experience. The bouquet packed a delightful punch. This wine was clearly going to be a contender. The taste did not disappoint. Long finish. Smooth over the entire palate. Balanced vanilla and that cheery thing. $38 is not cheap. This wine was worth it. Lovely stuff.

Marguet Pere & Fils, Brut Champagne, France ($49)

From Nick's wine merchants. A grand cru champagne. Very nicely balanced wine making me think of the better champagnes I've ever had. The best champagne style sparkling I've ever had was the Symphonia sparkling from King Valley (and only $17). This was similar. Symphonia probably pips it to the post on taste and value. Relative to other French champagnes this is exception value in price for the taste.

Yalumba, The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra ($25)

Again, a Rathdowne Cellars purchase. Apparently some wine writer or other thought this the wine of the year. Timely that I seem to be turning on to cab savs at the moment, after downing some great Sonoma County stuff at the Saint and Rogue. Anyhow, on pouring this showed a very dark colour. Clearly a concentrated wine. After airing for a couple of hours this wine this made for a very nice experience. Dark cab franc like flavours werer there, though surprisingly for a Coonawarra cab sav an absence of cigar box aromas, all the more ironic given the name of the wine. Still, excellent value at $25.

Leabrook Estate, Cabernet Franc 2006, Adelaide Hills ($30)

Another purchase from Rathdowne Cellars, and a very nice wine. Very dark colour. I wine of good depth and those pleasing dark undertones that you'd want from a cab franc. A little bit of a dough type flavour on the mid palate. Priced about right and worth a return.

Domaine la Lorentine 2007, Lirac (Rhone), France ($40)

Sourced from Rathdowne Cellars in Carlton Village. A good wine in the Lirac style. The minerality was certainely there, though not as in your face of the Domaine de la Mordoree, which made the wine have a sense of place. Enjoyable and worth a return.

Rathdowne Cellars Old Press Shiraz 2008, Langhorne Creek, ($13)

A bit a beast this wine. I was so looking to this wine, as the equivalent I bought in January was possibly my fave wine of teh year to date. I should have checked the label. January's was an '07, and this a 2008. This wine is over the top, too intense, not quite balanced. There's a jarring smell of treacle which simpy makes me think the grapes were overripe. And to think I bought three bottles of this unaware it was not the same as my January purchase Not enjoyable at all.

Purple Hen, Clonal Selection Pinot Noir 2008, South Gippsland ($30)

Strawberry colours on pouring, and indeed initially on the nose. The bouquest evolved a lot over time with the simple strawberry giving way to funkier forest aromas. This was reflected in the taste which after a couple of hours had an almost sparkling darkness to it. this wine will polarise opinion. I found it an unusual and interesting wine. Pat not so.