28 December:  Langton's Exchanges in both Melbourne and Sydney are now free of buyer's commission until January 31st 2008.  There may be the odd bargain, but most of the desirable wines I saw were fully-priced or more.  See 22 December below for some possible Sydney buys and there is a 6-pack of Houghton's Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 @ $36 in Sydney, but it's listed as Frankland River rather then Margaret River, I was tempted to buy but couldn't be bothered in the end.  It's a while since I bought anything at Langton's, I don't remember them having a 1% credit card surcharge before, they do now.

1stChoice has some of it's exclusive cheaper champagnes on special, Cattier NV @ $29.90 and Drappier NV @ $29.90 in case buys.  Also Moet & Chandon NV @ $56.90.

22 December:  I told you updates would be infrequent and I've got a new toy to play with that will take some time too. I bought a new HP Centrino Quad core media centre desktop fully loaded with Vista Ultimate etc and will be getting an Office 2007 upgrade soon too, it always takes a while to get a new computer setup with all the necessary bits and pieces.  Strangely enough I bought it from Gray's, despite their misleading quoted ORP which was the RRP including a monitor and this deal didn't include a monitor, but that was what I wanted as I have an nice 21" 1900x1200 flat panel anyway.  When I noticed my card had been charged, but I hadn't received and invoice copy or delivery notice like they do for wine and some other goods I emailed their customer service on 19 December and again on 21 December.  I still haven't got a reply, but the box did arrive around midday on Friday.

One item worth mentioning is that Langton's Sydney Exchange is open, giving the option for saving on freight for Sydneysiders who find something there or to drop off for sale.  Carl S found a couple of possible bargains (all prices +15%), Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2001 @ $10 and Greenock Creek Cabernet 2001 @ $18.  There is a bit of ex-HFW stuff listed, avoid the Heaven's Gate Shiraz 2001, if it's like the case I tried it's expensive vinegar at $15pb.  Also, maybe wait until January, the last couple of years Langton's have waived the buyer's premium for Exchange sales in January.  A few that caught my eye are: Dalwhinnie Eagle Shiraz 1998 and 2000 @ $82, Maxwell Lime Cave Cabernet 2002 @ $10, Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2003 @ $27, Primo Moda Cab-Merlot 1996 @ $31.  Others to probably avoid include Langi Cab-Merlot 1998 (tough lean wine, fading), Petaluma Merlot 98/99, Quartetto Shiraz 2000 and most of the other stuff that is full-priced or over-priced. 

19 December:  I've had a couple of emails relating bad experiences with Gray's, wrong vintage (refund offered after a lengthy delay) and delivery of the wrong wine (refund after being asked to take a photo of the wrong case and sending it in).  Both commented on poor customer service.  Gray's sell a huge amount of wine to a large number of people, most of the transactions are without problem, but when something goes wrong their customer service and speed of response leaves a lot to be desired.  Also some local drivers for the new(ish) freight company they use have the habit of peeling off the part of the label with address and signature details and arranging them in delivery order, I've twice had them attempt to deliver a wrong wine as they don't have a name on the part they've peeled off and no address on the box, so they sometimes grab the wrong one out of the van.  The copy of the address label in the clear-fronted pocket (which previously held the invoice copy) is carefully reversed so it can't be read.  If you do have a problem there is a 1300 number to call, but you'll probably spend a lot of time on hold, I suggest emailing every second day until you get a response.

I scored a 6-pack of the Cathcart Ridge 2007 Chardonnay ($34++, some people have scored it for $14++ and $19++) for my white-drinking friend, he remarked the wine tasted fine but had a disconcerting pink tinge, so there may have been a minor slip-up at the winery on this one, or they tried to do a reverse shiraz-viognier by adding a little red wine to the mix. The listed ORP is $28 on this too, the Cathcart Ridge web site has $190/case for the 2005 (Nicks list the 2005 for $294/case) and wine-searcher lists them as selling the 2006 for $12.95, but it's not on their site.

I promise I'll get off this Gray's kick soon, it's fun in a perverse sort of way, but there are definitely bargains to be had if you are careful and it shows how little people are still willing to take these days for wine they produce, after commission Cathcart Ridge would get about $4pb for the supposedly $28 Chardonnay at the $14/six-pack price.  I still haven't worked out the difference between the Cathcart Ridge Reserve Shiraz 2004 (ORP $42) and the Cathcart Ridge Shiraz 2004 (ORP $52), the bottle photos seem to be the same but the descriptions are different, they've been on sale periodically since at least September 2006.  (BTW, I thought the batch of the Reserve I bought back then had a bit of brett, so be careful if you are sensitive to that.)

18 December:  I think updates will be pretty sparse over the next couple of weeks, it will take a pretty good deal to prise me away from sustained eating, drinking and sleeping activities prevalent at this time of the year.  Hopefully there will be some good specials early in the new year as retailers encourage us to replenish supplies after the end of year excesses.

Matthew at Squashedgrape makes sure I hear about the new wines he lists on behalf of small producers, but like a lot of offerings from small makers at Cloudwine and other places as well, I won't list them here unless I have personal or other (IMO) reliable information about the wines.  In the case of Smallfry wines, TORB has tasted the three 2006 reds on offer, the 2006 Barossa Shiraz seems to be the pick, all the reds are $28pb, free freight for full/mixed cases.

There is a new Winebizz email, see the left panel link, I've highlighted the ones that caught my interest.

Another regular reminder to be careful bidding for wines on Graysonline.  There are some bargains to be had if you are patient and do your research, but with the sheer volume of lots going through they make some mistakes in their listings, including the wrong label pictures and James Halliday tasting notes for a different vintage than that being offered, as is the case for the Fuse 2004 Cabernet Merlot, they have used the TN for the 2003 vintage. I've been buying some whites for my (few) white-drinking friends, with fairly good results so far, I'm not sure who I will give them to if I do pick a dud.  Many of the wines re-appear day after day, sometimes for weeks or more, so don't bid too much, you will strike it lucky sooner or later.

17 December:  If you are looking for some Victorian Shiraz, you could be tempted by the well-credentialed Plunkett Reserve Strathbogie Shiraz 2004 for $29.99 from Wine Box Warehouse.  The Plunkett reds I've tried are pretty good, but the standard asking price of $39 for the top level reds is a bit steep, $30 makes them more tempting.

16 December:  I guess I should apologise for the bad thoughts about Aussie Post Courier service, my second case of Champagne from Ross Duke arrived today, the guys and gals are working all weekend this time of the year.  Certainly a change from the old days of Australia Post I remember.

14 December:  East End Cellars in Adelaide have put together some special Christmas mixed cases of single bottles, have a look if you want a bit of variety in your Christmas drinking.

Gary Walsh has added his positive review for the Conte Estate Over the Hill Reserve Shiraz 2006, it's available from Get Wines Direct for $19.95 and the winery has reduced prices on case buys by 15% and offered free freight since I first looked on 10 December.

The Wine Robot site is back on the air, they've got Nicks, East End Cellars and The WineYard on board, also Cellarit and Wine House, so it may be worth checking out again.

I haven't given up hope yet, but the second of my cases of Champagne from Ross Duke didn't arrive with the first.  Of course it's the one with the more expensive contents as well.  Hopefully it will turn up next week, or otherwise some Aus Post person will be drinking very well this Christmas.  I wonder whether the rate of pilferage/loss does actually increase around this time of year?  Or only for cases with "Champagne" in big letters on the box?

13 December:  Longview Yakka Shiraz 2006 was a finalist for the Jimmy Watson Trophy this year, not that that necessarily means much, but the wine has a track record for past vintages as well.  It's available at a few places, Candamber/Discount Wines have it @ $21.95 (listed as a Shiraz-Viognier, but I think it's the same wine, apparently it includes a bit of Viognier pressings), Get Wines Direct have it for $26.95 and Wine Box Warehouse have it at $26.99 or 12 for $311.88 plus a bonus magnum of Browns of Padthaway T-Trellis Shiraz, vintage not shown, elsewhere $27.95-$32.  I don't mention the last merchant much, they seem to have a lot of remainders and odd brands on offer, but there are some good deals on good wines too, so it might be worth visiting them occasionally or signing up for their email, they have free freight for dozen or more buys.  They also have Martell XO Cognac @ $144.10, over $20 less than Dan Murphy mixed 6 price.

Get Wines Direct have been quick off the mark with the Goundrey G Shiraz-Viognier 2005 that scored top red in the NWS Commercial classes, $17.95 if you want to see what the fuss was about, I can't say it was a big hit for me, even though the Viognier is pretty well hidden.

1stChoice are trying the Champagne lure, with Lanson Black Label NV for $42.00/$39.90 in Vic, SA and WA, Moet & Chandon NV @ $57.79/$54.90 in Qld and Louis Roederer NV @ the same price in NSW/ACT.  Dan Murphy ACT/NSW have Thorn-Clarke Quartage 2006 @ $17.80/$16.90 and Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2006 at the same price.

I know it doesn't have any effect, but I can't help complaining about the lack of  basic commercial care and honesty by Gray's when they list ORP (with a disclaimer in the fine print), particularly for their imports that are "EXCLUSIVE TO GRAYSONLINE".  Many of them are hard to check, but the currently listed "PAUL CHAMBLAIN `BLANC DE BLANCS` BRUT NV, VIN MOUSSEAUX, FRANCE. EUROPEAN ORP €40 PER BOTTLE; EXPECT TO PAY $64 IN AUSTRALIA."  appears on wine-searcher, mostly in USA, with a minimum listed price of $7.97 AUD and a maximum of $11.40 AUD.  I know it's not original, but Shame Gray's, Shame!

12 December:  Boccaccio are still featuring the Piper Heidsieck NV in the cool-box pack for $39.99 (Wine List Australia has the same deal), also possibly the most expensive sparkling red in Australia, the Castagna Sparkling Genesis @ $79.99, and the Balnaves Coonawarra Shiraz 2005 @ $25.99, but it's $22.99 @ Canterbury Wines, Kemeny's and W*. Ask Anthony for a "price-match" ;-)

Matt at Premium Wines Direct has some reds he'd like to move before Christmas, enough to make 32 dozen at a special price of $130/case delivered and with a Care Australia donation still included.  The wines won't set the world on fire, but the price is less than half RRP and they all look like good drinking at that price.  The wines are:  6 bottles Dog Ridge DV6 Cabernet 2001 and 1 bottle each of Kirrihill Clare Shiraz 2005, Sevenhill Cabernet 2003, Mountadam Barossa Shiraz 2005, Tyrrells Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2004 or 2005, Tim Adams Fergus 2003, Morris Shiraz 2004. Email Matt to order.

I had cause to have a rare look at Wine Robot yesterday, but it seems to be offline, don't know whether it's temporary or permanent yet.

11 December:  The Heritage Fine Wines liquidator auctions at Gray's seem to be coming to an end, the last one has been announced. I've bought a bit more at the Gray's regular auctions, with mixed success, including a couple of Chardonnays for friends who drink the stuff.  See here for an updated list.

Botanical Winestore are offering Devaux Grande Reserve Brut NV @ $47.99.  I haven't tried the wine, but it is definitely $59-$60+ elsewhere and $75 at Yering Station, the importer.  Not just a 1-day offer this time, "while stocks last". W* has a different (I don't know where it fits in the range) blue-label Devaux Grande Reserve for $49.99.

Nicks weekly newsletter is out, featuring Sanguine Estate Heathcote Shiraz 2005 @ $32.99 (JH 94, Nicks 96), the lovely Sevenhill Inigo Shiraz 2005 @ $17.99 ($19 CD, sometimes cheaper at Dan Murphy) and Taylors Clare Shiraz 2006 @ $12.99 (same as Kemeny's), plus a Sellicks Black Diamond Sparkling Shiraz NV for $12.99.  I'd exercise caution concerning the Ch. Fayau Cadillac sweet white 2005, I bought the similarly hyped 2001 in 375ml size and found it lacking intensity and acidity, my last 3 went off to auction.

10 December:  I think my wine purchases for 2008 are just about done, but there always seems to be that late mad Christmas special that brings me undone. Despite the very long list of purchases below, due to restricting myself to 3-bottle buys in many cases I have actually bought less wine this year than any year since 1998, about 12 dozen less than each of the preceding two years.  Maybe I'm finally getting my buying addiction under control, apologies to all those merchants whose businesses are suffering as a result.

Get Wines Direct are flogging the Brookland Valley Verse 1 Shiraz 2006 @ $15.95, but it's available elsewhere cheaper, including Vintage Cellars 2 for $26 at present.  The also have the 2006 vintage of a Conte Estate Old Vine McLaren Vale Shiraz for $19.95.  The 2005 vintage of this scored 95pts from James Halliday in the current Wine Companion, since 2006 was a good vintage in McLarenVale it might be worth a try, it's $25 from CD, no case discount and + freight.

W* weekly "specials" (the prices seem to be the same as previously listed on their site) are up already, featuring Bin 389 2004 @ $39.99.  There are a few merchants with slightly cheaper prices and others at the same price, but I suggest you wait for the 2005 and hope it will come out at the same price (or less), it's a far better wine IMO.  I saw a couple of listings in the USA for the 2005 vintage, I'm not sure when it is due out in Australia.  Also Howard Park Scotsdale Shiraz @ $34.99, it's jumped about $10pb in a few vintages, this is $3-$5 more than the currently offered 2004 prices at a few merchants, I never bought it at the lower price, it would want to be a much better wine to justify the $35 price.  And to top it off, Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz 2005 @ $19.99, the same as Vintage Cellars (on current special) single bottle price, they do it for $17.99 in full/mixed cases, also $3pb more than the 2004 is selling for at Wine List Australia and Jim's Cellars.

Amongst all the odds and sods at Wine Liquidation Centre there is an offer of 12x375ml Wolf Blass Black Label Shiraz/Cabernet/Malbec 2002, @ $300+freight or $25 pb, when the full-size bottle is normally $100+  Thanks Paul C for the information.  The wine listings are in random order, there is a 6-pack of Devil's Lair Cabernet-Merlot 2004 @ $165, the price is right but I've heard mixed reports on this wine, I couldn't see anything else that interested me.

A few of you have been ordering the Chapel Hill Cabernet 2005 f@ $20.95 + freight from Candamber/Discount Wines, they complained to me that I was making them work a bit hard when I was in there today.  They have 32 cases coming tomorrow and are trying to get more.  One is mine, the case they had put aside for me was the 2004.

Wine List Australia has the Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz NV and Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz 2004 (crown seal) both @ $14.99, both down from their prior $16.99.  Unfortunately you need to buy more than a dozen to qualify for the $200 free freight limit.

09 December:  I came across another new wine site this morning, Drinx, seems to be pretty new, the online presence of a Brisbane chain of stores. it looks like the web site/data was rushed a bit to get up before Christmas.  The producer name is repeated in many listings and many of the listings don't have a vintage listed or have odd information like "12 year old" or "non-vintage" on a wine like Majella Malleea and some others.  They have quite a big range of wine including back vintages of some (where the vintage is shown), but prices don't look too competitive and are plus freight.  To order you have to create a membership account and login, shipping costs are available, but you have to guess to click on the Australia Post logo (or notice the link on the browser status bar when you mouse over the logo).  The Terms and Conditions page looks pretty uninspiring as well.  I didn't even bother to add it to my wine site bookmarks.

08 December:  Kemeny's have Lanson Black Label NV for $46.99, buy 6 get 7, makes it just over $40pb.

Vintage Cellars are advertising the Brookland Valley Verse 1 Shiraz 2006 at 2 for $26.

07 December:  The new Saltram No 1 Shiraz 2004 vintage is out, $54.99 + freight from Kemeny's with the Melbourne trio of Boccaccio, Canterbury Wines and W* all at $59.95/$59.99.

One out of left field if you are a fan of small makers, I'd never heard of this mob before I tried one of their wines at the NWS, where it won a gold medal.  I scored a bottle of this after the show and it featured in a flight of NWS Gold medal wines at a tasting group last night, coming a close second behind the Thorn Clarke Quartage 2006.  The wine is the Vincognita Nangkita Shiraz 2005, grapes from the Southern Fleurieu Nangkita vineyard, it's a lovely expression of bright and pure shiraz fruit without any hint of over-ripeness, some nice spice notes, fine soft tannins and restrained oak influence.  I think it's pretty good value at $19 + freight from the winery.  I've changed the URL for Vincognita above to a subsequent page, looks like their home page may have been hacked. (Thanks Phil for the warning.)

I've got a case of the Chapel Hill Cabernet 2005 waiting for me at Candamber/ Discount Wines, they didn't have stock but ordered it in from the distributor.  I told them to buy all they could get, as what is in the channel is all there is.

06 December:  After a quick scan through the chain adverts, with little of interest, I opened my email to find Domenic Torzi is playing Santa this Christmas.  He's put together a special freight-inclusive deal on the trio of Longhop / Old Plains reds   Check out the offer here, you can order and pay by Paypal or credit card directly.

If you trust Campbell Mattinson's recommendations, Dan Murphy has the Richard Hamilton Gumpr's Shiraz 2006 @ $12.50/$11.90, Campbell thought it was worth 92 pts, drinking 2008-2014 and was good value at $17.95.  Also at Dan's, current Taylor's Clare Estate Range at $155/dozen, plus a case (24) of Bitburger beer.

Also from Campbell, a big 95pts for the Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, it also scored a Gold in the Cabernet Trophy Class at the NWS last month, I think that it's the best wine from Chapel Hill for 10 years or so.  I'm sure I saw it at Nicks recently, can't find the listing now, it is listed for $20.95 + freight at Candamber/Discount Wines, I don't know if they have stock or not, it may not actually be released yet, there's a bit of the 2004 still around.  Update:  Nicks sold out of their 80 case allocation in double-quick time, that's why it's not visible on their site now.  I checked the winery website, it's sold out there too, on the back of a host of awards for it and Michael Fragos.

04 December:  Kemeny's advert in the AFR today has a mixed Champagne case of 4 each of Lanson NV, Moet & Chandon NV and Besserat De Bellefon Cuvee Desoines NV  for $588 = $49pb, also Mountadam Barossa Shiraz 2004 @ $13.99 (that makes 3 vintages of this on sale at present) and Taltarni Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon @ $24.99.  All price plus freight.

02 December:  Candamber/Discount Wines are offering the Mountadam Barossa Shiraz 2006 @ $150/case + freight. Winorama TN on the 2006 here.  Matt from PWD will match this price on the 2005 vintage for RBG readers, with $3/case freight, email Matt to order.

I've made Cloudwine work a bit, ordering a mixed case of single bottles of some of their interesting stock, mostly Shiraz, including Berrys Bridge Shiraz 2004, Foggo Old Vine Grenache 2004, Hewitson Private Cellar Shiraz-Mourvedre 2005, Luke Lambert Syrah 2006, Morgan Simpson BP Shiraz 2005, Tim Smith Shiraz 2005, Trevor Jones Wild Witch Shiraz 2004, Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz 2005 and Flamma Sparkling Shiraz 2006.  These will go into forthcoming tastings to see which, if any, make the buy list.

Out of curiosity I bid on a lot of 2 bottles of Black Stump Wine #5 at Graysonline, it's a multi-vintage red blend bottled in 1996, supposedly ORP of $45, I got the two for $19+15%+$10 freight, it's listed at The Ed for $72.  Sounds like a great Options wine!