30 April: Wine List Australia has first stocks of the Hugo (McLarenVale) Shiraz 2005 @ $17.99/$215, it scored a heap of show medals last year and I tried it at the NWS last year, it's definitely worth a look at that price, which is essentially unchanged from the prior vintage.  If you are a Bress Gold Chook Heathcote Shiraz fan, the 2006 is out, $39.99 @ WLA, $40 ex-winery and $43 @ Cloudwine, up a few dollars on the best price for the 2005.

I thought for a moment that W* was matching the $24.99 price of the 2005 Balnaves Cabernet at Kemeny's, but it is the 2004 Balnaves Cabernet Merlot offered at that price, with a James Halliday Wine Companion 2008 with a full case buy.  Wine Empire $22.95 (full case buy), but no bonus book.

Nicks have added the Steve Hoff Heritage Wines Shiraz 2005 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 @ $22.99, a couple of dollars per bottle less than from the winery and freight inclusive for mixed case buys.  They also have the Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2006 @ $15.99 (WLA $18.99 and WLA are showing a 2005 TN from Parker and a partially-quoted Jeremy Oliver TN for the 2005 vintage.  Looks like no one is reading or taking notice of what Ric and I write.)

Wine Market has a pair of Hazyblur Shiraz from 2005, the McLaren Vale @ $32.99, the Barossa $37.99, with 93 and 95 Jay Miller points respectively.  They are still on offer at the Private Cellar version of Cellarmasters for $42.99 and $45.99 respectively, so the Wine Market "Don't Pay" prices are a bit dated.

More feedback on the Gotham McLarenVale Shiraz 2007 @ GWD, John H and a couple of his mates were impressed enough today after tasting it to buy a couple of cases each. They found lots of oak, but fruit to cope.  BTW it's 15.2% a/v.

John K sent me the Viking order form, they've dropped the prices on their wines again, $25 for the Grand Shiraz 2005 (it was going for $20 at GWD a while back), $20 for the 2004 Grand Shiraz-Cabernet and $25 for the 2005 Ironstone Cabernet Sauvignon (still available from GWD for $19.95).  Free freight on case buys.

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29 April: It's tough when a merchant can't tell the difference b/n the $20 Cabernet-Merlot 2005 and the $30 straight Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 from Vasse Felix. That's the generous interpretation of Auscellardoor using the Winorama TN for the latter to promote the former.  Good merchants don't make these sort of basic mistakes. Thanks Gary W for forwarding this.  They've fixed it on their site now, using an unattributed note, possibly from the winery.

The Wine Society has Elderton Ode to Lorraine CSM 2004 @ $28, $34-$35 elsewhere, + $6/case freight, must be a member to buy.

Graeme D went into GWD to try the Gotham Shiraz 2007 (see 25 April).  He says the consensus of tasters he spoke to at the time, and the counter staff, was that it was showing strangely, very oaky and dumb, two bottles opened showed similarly, one had been open a while.  He wasn't at all tempted to buy.  Thanks Graeme, additional feedback welcome.

The two 2006 Rory Lane The Story Shiraz are now also available shipped direct at $20 and $38 with free freight on 12 bottle buys if you order through Squashedgrape (or from Boccaccio at the same price). 

A new product called BottleWise that may be useful for people wanting to carry wine when travelling by airline.  Certainly looks a lot better than the 2-bottle polystyrene pack I normally use.  It's $69.95 + $15 postage.

Sixty Darling St are offering the Petaluma Coonawarra 2005 @ $45 less 5% for case buys, + freight.  RRP is apparently $65, the first batch released is sealed with cork, I'm waiting for the next batch sealed with stelvin.  Ph 1300 139 252 to order and mention the SMH advert.  Winorama TN here.

In my Monday tasting set last night we had some mostly shiraz in a more restrained style.  Top wine was the Evans & Tate Reserve MR Shiraz 2005 ($31.99 Kemeny's, $33 @ DM, coming soon at WLA), medium-weight, refined, balanced and all class, albeit showing a little coconutty oak.  Next in a bunch were Kirrihill Clare Shiraz 2005 (about $19, nice fruit, cedary oak), Henschke Keyneton Estate 2005 ($23.70 at DM this week, but a little disappointing I thought, lacking depth and structure) and Rockbare McLarenVale Shiraz 2005 (about $15).  A bit distant at the rear were Lake Breeze Langhorne Ck Cabernet 2005 (surprisingly, it was best Cabernet at the Sydney Show this year, seemed pretty lean though and the remainder is showing a little ethyl acetate volatility this morning) and the Normans Old Vine Barossa Shiraz 2005 ($9.95 at GWD), possibly affected slightly by the crappy twin-top cork, it never looked like impressing, one to avoid on this showing.

Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2007 will be available from 5 May, $17/$204, free shipping on case orders.

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28 April: Got a special occasion requiring a good Champagne coming up?  Kemeny's have Dom Perignon 1998 with a leather case and gift box for $219 +freight.  The same offering is $299.99 at W*. Pay freight on the single bottle and still save $70.  The 1999 vintage is around at a few places for the same price, but no leather case etc.

The Boccaccio Newsletter is up already (see left panel link), featuring the two Rory Lane "The Story" shiraz mentioned yesterday, also a price drop on the Elderton Shiraz 2005 to match the competition @ $19.99.

27 April: The Story Orphan Shiraz 2006 and Westgate Vineyard Shiraz 2006 impressed James Halliday (see w/e Australian and his Wine companion site if you are a subscriber).  He scored them 95 and 96 pts respectively, the first is $20, the second $38.  Both available from Boccaccio and apparently moving as fast as Rory Lane can deliver them.

If you are looking for a McLarenVale Shiraz with a little age, this one might suit:  Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz 2001 is $20 at Cellarit.  It's ex-investment stock, but if it's as good as the one from my cellar I just opened it is good value at that price and well under half the price of the current vintage.  JH 93, drink to 2016, but I think I'd drink it over the next couple of years.  Also listed is the 2002, it's an even better wine, but $32.

When I was reworking Games They Play recently I could have used this one from a Sydney retailer/e-tailer as an extreme example of desperate advertising using dated TN: "**James Halliday Feb 19 2001 Medium red; a moderately intense, clean bouquet with red berry fruit; a medium-bodied palate follows, with redcurrant/berry fruit, subtle oak and tannins; elegant and understated. "  This was for a 98 vintage wine and was used to promote a 2006 vintage of a wine from a producer that had been sold and re-sold in the interim.

When I see a new release red I'm interested in and note a significant price rise, I often also look at the prior vintage again, especially if it was a good vintage.  One I was looking for is Seppelt Mt Ida Shiraz 2006, supposedly released at the start of this month (along with the other Seppelt new vintage reds).  The Mt Ida hasn't appeared on wine-searcher yet and there are only a couple of listings for the 2005 @ $49.95.  But when I looked for the 2004, there are still quite a few listings, as low as $34.99 at Boccaccio.  The 2004 is a very good wine and about $20pb less than RRP of the 05/06.  There are also $10pb differences to be had buying 2004 Langi Shiraz and 2005 Dalwhinnie Shiraz rather than the new releases and in both cases the wines are of comparable quality.  See various entries below for where these are available if you want to beat the price rises.

26 April: Another couple of Champagnes courtesy of Kemeny's, on Thursday we drank the Besserat de Bellefon Cuvée des Moines Rosé NV, it's as much a mouthful as the name, but flows across the tongue in a more lively fashion, nice pinot character, with a hint of earthiness, fresh dry finish of good length, seems reasonable value @ $59.99.  Last night it was the Charles Ellner Prestige Vintage Brut 1998.  The Charles Ellner line of Champagnes doesn't seem to have sold well and prices on the range have dropped substantially since first listing over a year ago, this one has dropped from $79 to $69.99 and now $54.99.  It doesn't have the sheer class of some of the more expensive Vintage Champagnes, but the palate is still fresh behind the initial more mature aromas and flavours from lees ageing and bottle maturation, it's not tired or blowsy at all and the second glass disappeared as quickly as the first.  Has to be good value at $54.99, it's selling in the USA for anywhere between AUD $43 and $88.  There is also a Seduction 1995 vintage @ $69, down from an original price of $120 or more, but I haven't tried that one.

I received an email from Stuart B at Wine Market, he has more stock of the Yalumba Octavius Shiraz 2002 @ $69.99.  This isn't the oak-monster of years gone by, the 2002 is a brilliant wine, JO 96, drink 2014-2022 "Marvellously tight, restrained, elegant and finely crafted for such an overt and showy shiraz."  Stuart is also offering RBG readers ongoing free freight, simply type RBG in the Coupon/Voucher box at checkout.  Freight was already cheap at $5/case, but it's still a nice offer.

25 April: I'm almost tempted to buy this one from Get Wines Direct, just to see how close to the hype it really is.  But I've bought far too much already this month, so I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who does try it.

24 April: Dan Murphy has responded to the challenge.  If you haven't already seen the advertisements, this should get you moving:  Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2005 @ $13.60/$12.90, Vasse Felix Cabernet 2005 @ $23.90/$22.70, Henschke Keyneton Estate 2005 @ $24.90/$23.70, and Saltram #1 Shiraz 2004 @ $39.90/$37.90.  Most of those prices would be under cost price of the independents. Update:  This isn't just a limited quantity promotion, there are substantial stocks and more can be ordered in at present.  Don't leave it too long though, the wines are selling fast and stocks are finite.  Also at my local DM, Sevenhill Inigo Shiraz 2005 @ $13.90, it's very good value at that price.

All I could find at 1stChoice was St Hallett Old Block Shiraz (hopefully 2004) @ $57.79/$54.90 and Mumm Cordon Rouge NV @ $18 pb more than the $51.90 at DM ($49.90 in Vic).

Wine Empire has stocks of the Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2005 @ $57, or $54.15 for members and they have some of the just as good 2004 @ $45.84 members price (Canterbury Wines $44.99, NSC $45.99), both by the 6-pack, get one of each to make up a dozen.

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23 April: Armadale Cellars in Melbourne don't have online ordering yet, but their web site is gradually improving, with more wines and information.  They do have a special on Taltarni Cabernet 2004 @ $24.95 (CD $28), it's a very good wine for that price and much better than the 2002 mostly in the shops still, but perhaps the "Is this the Worlds best Cabernet!?" is slightly tongue in cheek.  If you are browsing the site, don't stop too long on the Deus Grand Cru beer @ $49.95 a 750 ml bottle, the one I tried was floral and sweet/sour, very cloying and not a refreshing drink.

I came across this one yesterday, WineDirect2U has an outlet in Carnegie (Melbourne) and a primitive web site offering a limited range of wines including "private label" lines.  What is interesting is that it is a Coles Group outlet.  A few current offers look tempting though, Lanson Black Label Champagne NV @ $39.99, Water Wheel Memsie blend 2006 @ $7.99, Killibinbin Sandtrap Shiraz (no vintage) @ $12.99, also Killibinbin Blend (no vintage) @ $14.99.  Freight $5 in Vic, $10/case elsewhere. Update from Geoff G:  The Lanson NV is $5/$10 freight per 6-pack as they are too large/heavy to tape together for shipping.

Wine List Australia have Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2006 @ $16.99, with TWO bonus magnums with a case buy this week.  Nicks have it at the same price, but no bonus magnums.

The Penfolds super-premiums must be on the way, I've received the first offer from Bests Cellars, I'm only interested in the St Henri 2004 (possibly) it is offered @ $85.  The 2003 is still around at under $70, so I expect better prices than $85 on the 2004.

Discount Wines are quitting finals stocks of d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2005 @ $49.50 pb in full/mixed dozens.  It's still listed @ $60 on their web site.  Probably best to phone order if interested.

22 April: It seems the Dalwhinnie distributer in Vic has about 200 cases of the 05 Cabernet yet to move and is holding back the 2006, so you may have to get your 06 Cab from Sydney e-tailers.  W* still has stocks of the 05 Shiraz @ $44.99, $10pb less than the common price for the 2006 Shiraz.  Maybe raising the price of the 2006 was a slightly "brave move". 

The new Boccaccio Newsletter is up, see left-panel link, featuring a $16.99 Cote du Rhone Rouge 2006 and the new Vinea Marson 2006 reds @ $39.99, plus some other reds (and a bunch of whites).

Kemeny's SMH advert today has some new offers (see 19 April for the prior list, many carry over), including the Evans & Tate Reserve Shiraz 2005 @ $31.90 ($1 less than Dan's price), Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2002 @ $65 (NSC $73.99, WLA $74.99, W* $75), Jacobs Ck Limited Release Shiraz-Cabernet 98 @ $44.99.

If you are a Woodstock The Stocks Shiraz fan, the 2005 is $39+freight from winebizz (WLA, Nicks $42.99).

Sixty Darling St is advertising Chapel Hill Cabernet 2005 for $20 (it's $25 on their site) and Petaluma Coonawarra 2005 for $42, all prices + freight outside of Sydney Metro, call 1300 139 252 to order.

21 April: From Paul H for Brisbane readers:  1stChoice Oxley has Zema Family Selection Cabernet 2004 for $29.99 ($39.99 elsewhere) and also have stocks of John Duval Entity Shiraz 2005.  For those with bigger budgets, 1st Choice at Jindalee have Penfolds 2004 Block 42 Shiraz (cork) and the 2004 Bin 60a Cab-Shiraz (screwcap) both for $370 pb, elsewhere $430 to $600+.  Buy 1 bottle and save 5 years worth of subscription costs. :-)

Get Wines Direct are offering 4 Peter Howland Wines Shiraz from WA all @ $19.95.  wine-searcher lists 3 of them (the 2004s) as being $33 from the winery, but the PH site is suspended for account arrears, so I can't check any further.  The wines have good reviews from James Halliday.  The 2002 Langley Vineyard is available for $15+freight from Cellarit and $14.30 +freight from Wine for Life (thanks Peter S), may have been part of an investment scheme.  Stick to the 2004's I think.

I've updated the Cabernet feature with current availability and updated the table listing merchants I've bought from this year so far.

Matt at Premium Wines Direct is offering RBG readers the Kalleske Pirathon Shiraz 2006 @ $18pb plus $3/case freight (goes up to $5 in May), elsewhere $19.99 to $24.50.  I bought a bottle to try, drank it tonight with Thai food, it's luscious, silky with soft fine tannins, lovely wine, maybe not for cellaring too long, although these impeccably balanced young shiraz can surprise.  Email Matt to order.

There is only 1 6-pack of Yalumba Octavius Shiraz 2002 @ $69.99pb left at Wine Market, I just bought the second last one.  The 2002 is probably the best ever of this line and a lot better than the current 2003 vintage. (More stock now)

20 April: From David K, Dan Murphy (Willoughby) has John Duval Entity Shiraz 2006 @ $210.90/6-pack ($35.15pb).  Fair stock as of this morning.  Thanks David.

I tried the Besserat de Bellefon Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne ($64.99 at Kemeny's) with friends, but the consensus was that it was a bit too fine and elegant for us, I preferred the richer style of the standard NV and it is $10 cheaper too (or even less this week, see yesterday's post).  Not being a renowned Champagne expert, I'm sure some people would have quite the reverse preference.  I've still got the Rosé and Vintage 2000 to go.

19 April: The new Kemeny's SMH advert today has a free case of Carlsberg (locally brewed now) when you buy a case of Taylors Clare Shiraz or Cabernet 2006 @ $12.99, Maglieri 2006 reds @ $12.99 (go for the Taylors I think) or Thorn Clarke Shotfire Ridge Quartage 2006 @ $17.99. Other interesting offers include the Balnaves 2005 Cabernet still @ $24.99, Tahbilk 2002 ESP (Reserve) Cabernet and Shiraz @ $49.99, Elderton Barossa Shiraz 2005 @ $19.99 and Cabernet 2005 @ $18.99, Mitolo Reiver Barossa Shiraz 2004 @ $42.99, St Hallett OB Shiraz 2004 @ $59.99, Heathcote Estate Grenache Noir 2005 @ $19.99.  Also a "Value Pack #1" with 6 of the quite drinkable KHL Victoria Shiraz 2004 and 6 Penfolds Bin 389 2005 for $288 seems like a good deal and the Besserat de Bellefon Brut NV Champagne is being offered at buy 5, get one free for the normal $54.99 price, or a 17% discount to $45.83pb.  All prices plus freight.

Katnook have released a Sparkling Shiraz NV under the Founders Block label, it's $15.99 + freight at The Ed or $16.99/$200 @ Wine List Australia.  Hopefully it's a better effort than the OK but lightweight efforts under the Riddoch label.

18 April: I thought I had posted this, but can't find it, so maybe I didn't.  A couple of people have mentioned some specials at Wine Market, Seppelt Mt Ida Shiraz 2003 @ $19.99 and Balmoral Syrah 2002 @ $24.99.  The prices are good, but I can't recommend the wines, the 2003 Mt Ida isn't as good as 2002/2004/2005 and the Balmoral 2002 is so bad (IMO) it didn't sell out quickly when Dan Murphy had it at $20 and under  last year, I certainly didn't go back for more after trying one.  I just noticed Wine Market is part of the Cellarmasters Group, they seem to specialise in moving left-overs of prior vintage wines, but they seem to have pretty good guarantees.  Just be careful and check vintages if you don't already know the one on offer.

17 April: Dan Murphy has the Evans & Tate Reserve Shiraz 2005 @ $34.60/$32.90 (2004 is around at a few other places, it's OK, but not as good as the 2005). E&T were still making some good wines even as they were going under, the Reserve Cab 2004 is very good too, $30.60 +freight from MRRWC.  Also at DM, Brands Coonawarra Cabernet 2004 @ $16.60/$15.80, Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2006 @ $17.70/$16.90, Hewitson Miss Harry GSM 2006 @ $16.70/$15.90, Charles Heidsieck MIC 2000 @ $65.90/$62.60, Piper Heidsieck NV @ $41.90/$38.90, Tattinger NV $59.90/$56.90.  They are also offering Petaluma Coonawarra @ $47.30/$44.90, 2005 on offer in Victoria, 2004 in all other states.

1stChoice has Bollinger NV @ $63.05/$59.90, Taylors Clare range @ $12.53/$11.90, Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz @ $24.11/$22.90.

Win List Australia has a Katnook feature this week, Estate Coonawarra Cabernet 2004 @ $29.99, with a bonus magnum of the 2003 Cabernet with each dozen, same deal on the 2004 Shiraz, also Founders Block Cabernet 2005 @ $16.99/200 and 13 to the dozen.

The Hewitson Private Cellar Tempranillo 2006 has had a couple of rave reviews.  If you want to spend $60 to find out what the fuss is about, it's available at Wine Culture for $59.95+freight and $65 @ Cloudwine.

There is another ex-HFW clearance auction on Grays, closing today.  If you are bidding, be aware there are many lots with odd numbers of bottles, do the arithmetic carefully, some of the prices have gone way too high already.

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16 April: I've started an overdue update to the State of the Market series.  It is scheduled to be ready for May 1 release and will be available only to subscribers.

My Monday tasting group tried 6 Kemeny Hidden Label reds this week, samples from Kemeny's.  The wines in group ranked order (mine was fairly similar) were:

• KHL2243 Mt Barker WA Reserve Shiraz 2006, 14.0%, screwcap, made by Larry Cherubino, $16.  This initially showed a lot of pencilly oak, but the medium-bodied fruit surfaced after a short while revealing a nicely balanced attractive wine.

• KHL2048 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, 14.0%, screwcap, made by Paul Gordon (Leconfield), $10, this was the bargain of the line-up, I ranked it first, not hugely varietal or definitively Coonawarra, but an interesting and moderately complex wine already.

• KHL2109 Victoria (Heathcote, Bendigo, Yarra) Shiraz 2004, 14.0%, cork, made by John Gosper, Domaine Chandon/Green Point, $13, nice drinking as it opened in the glass, good value.

• KHL6515 Reserve Barossa Shiraz 2005, 14.5%, screwcap, made by Ralph Fowler, apparently at Ch Tanunda, $12, a quite reasonable wine for the price, nothing out of place, some attractive spice and liquorice over plummy fruit, good drinking already.

• KHL2945 Reserve Barossa Cabernet 2005, 14.5%, screwcap, made by the legendary John Glaetzer, $16, but didn't impress greatly on this occasion, seemed a bit soft and dilute.

• KHL1540 Adelaide Hills Reserve Merlot 2006, 14.0%, agglomerate/twin top cork, made by James Irvine, $16, this one rated a distant last, it never impressed from opening and provoked some discussion as to what the fault(s) were, there was some mustiness and a hint of nail polish, I think let down by a dodgy cork.

I was more impressed tonight with the Caldora Yume Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2004, 14.0%, $21.99 exclusively at Kemeny's.  My partner tells me there isn't a Y in the Italian alphabet, so I don't know where the name originates, one listing I saw suggests it is the phonetic version of the Japanese word for "Dream".  It has an enticing magenta colour, nose of dried herbs, red fruits and aniseed/fennel, a beautiful fruity but slightly savoury mid-palate framed by firm, drying tannins and a satisfying moderate length finish. It is a great food wine and Australian producers should take note of the value offered by these well-priced imports.  I'll be buying a few of these.

15 April: The W* email this week is up, Elderton Shiraz 2005 $19.99 (Kemeny's $18.99+freight, elsewhere $22-$23), Vasse Felix MR Cabernet 2005 @ $27.99 (Boccaccio, WLA $26.99).

The Boccaccio weekly newsletter is up already too, featuring Langi Shiraz 2005, the Dalwhinnie 2006 reds (see Featured Wine page) already mentioned below and Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz-Cabernet 2005 @ $17.99 (but WLA have it for $16.99).  Also Torbreck Struie 2006 @ $44.99 (same price a few other places, Wine Knows in Adelaide lists it for $43, but don't have online ordering) and The Gask 2006 @ $69.99 ($75 and up elsewhere so far).

At Baileys of Glenrowan CD in February I thought the best red was the 1920's Block Shiraz 2006.  It's available from Wine List Australia for $34.99/$414 and the winery for $30/$330 with free freight if you join the free no-obligation Bundarra Club.

More misleading vendor ORP on Grays: 2004 CHÂTEAU LE BORDIEU, BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR ROUGE, FRANCE. ORP $74 PER BOTTLE is listed on wine-searcher as selling in France for $13.52 and $76.94 a 6-pack, 2005 CHÂTEAU CAZEAU, BORDEAUX ROUGE, FRANCE. ORP $79 PER BOTTLE is selling for $11-$12 in the USA.

14 April: I've updated the Featured Wine page with Dalwhinnie 2006 red prices out so far and updated the Glaetzer Anaperenna prices with some new lower offers.  Kemeny's prices have also been added for the Dalwhinnies and Voyager Cab-merlot 2004.

I tried the first of the range of Besserat de Bellefon champagnes sent to me to try by Kemeny's, the Cuvée des Moines NV.  Besserat is part of the Boizel group, producers of Boizel, Chanoine, Philipponnat, Lanson, de Venoge and Alexandre Bonnet. The Besserat is in a distinctive broad-based bottle with a narrow neck and is smartly sealed with a Diam closure.  The wine itself is a very satisfying drink with a quite delicate nose but full palate, fresh, but with a hint of older material, long clean finish, good on it's own as well as with the home-cooked flathead fillets and chips we were eating.  It reminds me a bit of the Charles Heidsieck MIC.  It seems to be pretty good value @ $54.99, a world-wide search on wine-searcher showed some cheaper prices in USA and France and some similar or higher in the UK, France and other countries.  Usually Champagne prices in Australia are consistently higher than in USA/Europe.  Certainly a safe buy in an NV Champagne.

The quite lovely (despite the pollution) Goundrey G Shiraz-Viognier 2005 offered by Get Wines Direct for $17.95+freight is listed at Kemeny's for $16.99+freight and appears in their current catalogue for $15.99+freight.

Another reminder for those buying on Grays to have patience.  Linke Barossa Shiraz 2005 appeared a few days ago, it's available at retail for $22-$24 and initially sold on Grays for up to $154++ or about $15.60 delivered.  I scored a case at a later auction after a couple of tries for $84++ or $8.88 delivered.  It's up to $104++ in today's auction with a couple of hours to go.

11 April: Boccaccio have listed the 2005 Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz @ $54.99, the Dalwhinnie 2006 Shiraz @ $53.99 and the 2006 Dalwhinnie Cabernet @ $44.99, wholesale price increases on all of them.  Wine Empire is currently cheaper on the Dalwhinnie after the 5% member discount $50.43 and $43,15 respectively) , Wine List Australia has $52.99 on the Shiraz, $47 on the Cabernet.  I'll do an update to the Featured Wine Page on the Dalwhinnie reds soon.

Petaluma Coonawarra red 2005 is out or on the way, Avalon in Sydney (02 9918 3207) have it for $48.99, with a bonus bottle of 99 with a case buy.  Also Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz 2005 @ $38.99 (Cloudwine $45).  They've gone back to semi-random sorting of their wine list again too.

Updates will be sparse today and replies to emails/subscriptions delayed, personal business intervenes.

10 April: Kemeny's have taken the fight to Dan Murphy with a big Sydney Morning Herald advertisement (1.2mb pdf) on the traditional DM and 1stChoice advertising day, with the new "We won't be beaten on our advertised wine prices" message prominently displayed.  It's a mixture of prior offers and some new offers and bonuses.  All prices plus freight. Ok, here are my picks from the advert:

The new Cloudwine email with Autumn Reds is worth a look, see left panel.  Mount Cole Wine Works is down past Mt Langi Ghiran, we missed it on our recent trip, but the wines have some good reviews,

09 April: Ric and I have updated an old article dating from 2004, exposing the "Games" some wine retailers play, sometimes bending the rules a little. The article is on TORBwine here.  Stick to the good merchants who have good service, reasonable prices and don't play these sort of games, or if you must stray, factor in the risks.

Wine List Australia's email this week has Arakoon Sellicks Beach Shiraz 2005 @ $17.99/$215 (Nicks $19.99), John Duval Plexus GSM 2006 @ $34.99 ($312.50+freight from winebizz) and Entity Shiraz 2006 @ $39.99 ($42.95 and up elsewhere on wine-searcher), limit 6 of each, get in quick the Entity will sell out soon.

The price of Petaluma Coonawarra 2004 has risen, get in for current stocks if you want some or pay $5 or more extra per bottle. Boccaccio $43, WLA, W* $44.99.

The Veronique Barossa Shiraz 2006 made by Domenic Torzi and mentioned on 31 March is now available at Boccaccio for $16.99.  The newsletter arrived this week before it was posted online, there may be other wines there that interest you if you are into Pinot, Riesling or Chardonnay.

I've loaded a new Winebizz monthly email (see left panel), some new releases, some others, I've highlighted a few that look to be good prices, but there aren't really many in my price range that really grab me.

07 April: Get Wines Direct offerings this week: The Dal Broi  Shiraz Tempranillo 2005 is a pretty good wine for $7.95 if the cleanskin is the same as the labelled version I tried some time ago.  The Lethbridge Indra Shraz 2004 I have not tried, but the GWD price is a dollar or so less than Nicks case-only price and it is $55 ex-winery.

06 April: Peter S emailed to say Liquorland are advertising an RB special: "Buy 4 bottles of Red Wine and get the cheapest FREE" (Excludes white wine, sparkling wine, wine packs, casks & fortified wines.)  Last time I went into LL during the 20% off for 6 bottles, I couldn't see anything I wanted to buy, let alone a great price, but you might find something at 25% off.

Vintage Cellars are having a 20% off for 6 bottles sale, the online site has Berrys Bridge Cabernet 2002 and 2004 for $25.99 (2004 is $29 incl freight from CD, full case price, 2002 ex-HFW stock $21.50 at Cellarit) after the discount, also Penley Estate Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet 2004 @ $43,99.  St Hallett OB Shiraz 2004 @ $61.99, Glaetzer Anaperenna 2006 @ $39.99.

Kemeny's advert (pdf) in the Age is a small raid into Melbourne territory.  Elderton Shiraz 2005 @ $18.99, Taylors Clare Shiraz 2006 @ $12.99 (+magum with a case buy), Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2005 @ $16.99 (+magnum of Vic Shiraz 2003 with case buy), Balnaves Cabernet 2005 @ $24.99.  Lots of others at prices similar to Melb merchants.  Let them know if you see a better price, they are adopting the big chain policy of "We won't be beaten on advertised prices."  Andrew Kemeny sent me a bottle of the Caldora Yume Montepulciano D'abruzzo 2004 ($21.99) to try, along with some other exclusive lines, I'll get to it soon and report.

04 April: Some of you may have come across Wine People, a newish (in Australia) club-type wine sales site with a limited range of wines from small producers and a selection of mixed packs.  If you read the About Us page, you may think it is an Australian family company.  It might be in some ways, but there is a close association with probably the biggest UK direct wine sales organisation, Laithwaites, their sites are even hosted in the same UK location.  Nothing wrong in that, but why not be up front about it?

My Primo Estate Joseph Moda 2000 @ $12pb delivered (see 20 March) arrived today.  The back label indicates it was meant for AD Bibendum Fine Wines in Belgium, I wonder what is the story behind this one.  Shane H also got his today, but his doesn't have the export back label. Tried one this evening, it's in fine condition, just like I remember from the winery tasting last September.

Apparently the Langi Shiraz 2005 landed cost is now around $48, so expect prices in the mid-50's from even the most competitive merchants.

03 April: Wine Empire have added the Dalwhinnie Cabernet 2006 @ $43.14 member price ($48 + freight from the winery) in 6-packs to go with the Dalwhinnie Shiraz 2006 @  $50.43 (free freight for dozen orders).  Wine List Australia has come in at $52.99 on the 2006 Dalwhinnie Shiraz.

In looking at the 2006 Dalwhinnie reds, I nearly forgot to post that W* has the 2005 Dalwhinnie Shiraz @ $44.99, and the 2005 Cabernet @ $39.99 (same as Wine List Australia on the Cabernet).

I swapped a bottle of 2002 Taltarni Cephas for a bottle of the 2002 Hares Chase Shiraz (available for $22 + freight at 60 Darling St), a friend had some via the local Wine and Food Society.  I think he got the best of the deal, the Hares Chase is certainly not an over-the-top Parker style, it's 14.5%, in fact it's fairly restrained.  There is some nice fruit there, but it's pretty simple, the mid-palate lacks weight and mouthfeel and it finishes a bit short.  It's Ok, but not one I would really recommend.

Get Wines Direct are still advertising the Capel Vale Debut Shiraz 2005 as a cleanskin with the same inaccurate/incomplete blurb as previously, including the truncated Winorama TN.  See the archive entry for 04 February 2008 if interested in the full details.  The Rohrlach Family wines offered may be worth a try, this label used to be one of the Cellarmasters lines, there are still some Rohrlach Family wines listed there.  It looks like they've gone out on their own as well some time ago and the prices are less than they were via Cellarmasters and about half the mail order price from Rohrlach.  The Coonawarra Cabernet 2004 cleanskin @ $7.95 could be worth a try as well, given the strength of the vintage and the money-back guarantee.

The new Matt's Specials for April are up, see left panel. Again, I don't know some of the reds, but the Gemtree Bloodstone Shiraz 2006 @ $16, Uncut Shiraz 2006 @ $17, Poverty Hill Cabernet 2005 @ $18 and The Willows Shiraz 2004 @ $22 could all be worth a look.  I found the Lucky Country Cabernet 2004 to be too rich and ripe even for me.  As ever, email Matt and mention this site so Care Australia benefits from each purchase.

02 April: I'm still catching up, Kemeny's advert in the SMH yesterday has a lot of offers from the current catalogue, plus some extras.  Brookland valley Verse 1 Shiraz 2006 @ $12.99, GB Filsell Shiraz 2005 @ $24.99, Balnaves Coonawarra Cabernet 2005 is $24.99, Torbreck RunRig 2004 is $199, Craggy Range Sophia 2005 @ $54.99 (elsewhere $60 and up) , Devils Lair Cab-Merlot 2004 @ $34.99, Wynns Johnson's Block Shiraz-Cabernet 2004 is $26.99 (W* $29.99).  All prices plus freight. Also the RBG reader special offers accessed from the left panel.

From Mark C in Sydney, Vintage Cellars Bondi Junction were selling yesterday 6-packs of Riedel Vinum Chianti glasses for $149, down from $199.  Peters of Kensington price is $66 for 2, $256 for 8.  VC are also having another 20% off for 6 bottles sale, you never know your luck, there may be a bargain to be found.

Geoff G has tracked down some more sources of the Koonunga Hill Seventy-Six Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 that was supposed to be "on premise" only.  Apparently (doesn't seem to be online yet) North Sydney Cellars have it for $16.99 and Discount Wines have it for $16.95, there may be other merchants who have been "favoured" by their local Fosters rep.

The new Boccaccio newsletter is up, see left panel link, there are a few reds amongst all the whites.  The Le Potazzine Gorelli Brunello Di Montalcino 2001 looks pretty interesting @ $65 and the new vintage of Palacios Remondo La Montessa 2005 should be worth a try @ $33.99, although I preferred the more expensive Propiedad ($44.99) of the two 2004 wines.

Winestar have the Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet-Shiraz 2004 for $24.99, it's been winning a lot of medals and glowing reviews.

It looks like Bremerton Wines (pdf) only increased the price of the new vintage 2005 Old Adam by a fairly modest amount, but have limited mail order purchases to 2 bottles.  Also limits on some other wines, it's good to see them doing well on the basis of making good wines.

The Nicks Newsletter this week has a Narkoojee Gippsland Cabernet 2005 with 97 pts from Nick @ $27.99/$330, could be worth a try to calibrate your palate against Nicks. It is also $302/case including freight from the winery.  Also Henschke Keyneton Estate Euphonium Shiraz blend 2005 @ $32.99, but it is $29.99 from North Sydney Cellars and $31.99 from Wine List Australia.

Thank you to those that have sent supportive messages for the move to subscription membership and who have already signed up, it's been a steady trickle each day.  In early May I'll be offering chances to get free membership extensions for sending me hot red wine tips that I can publish that I wouldn't otherwise find.

01 April: Looking at the access logs, some of you have been having some difficulty logging in.  Once you subscribe I send you an email with your username and password.  These are what you should use to sign on and they are Case Sensitive.  The username is NOT your email address, although it may be the first part of your email.  Once you get in, save the user name and password via the browser login box and you won't have to worry about mistyping etc.  If it still doesn't work, send me an email and I'll check it out.

If you missed out on the Taltarni Cephas 2002 @ $25, never fear, I expect to have the 2003 vintage available to you from another source at a similar price from about May 1st.  Only paid up RBG subscribers will be able to see this one.

Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2005 is on the way, wine-ark are offering it at their usual high prices ($62 for members), it should appear at some other merchants soon at better prices.  It's under screwcap too, a lovely wine, I've got three in my cellar already courtesy of left-over show samples from the NWS, I struck it lucky in both 2006 and 2007.  The 2004 is good to, it's still available at $44.99 (W* and Canterbury Wines) and slightly more at other good independents.  I suspect the 2005 will have had a price hike, the 2004, 2005 and 2006 have all won trophies or Top Golds at the NWS in the last 2 shows.

I don't know much about Hare's Chase, but their wines seem to be hard to get in Australia.  wine-searcher has no Australia entries, but lots in the USA and Europe.  It was a bit of a surprise then to see the 2002 and 2003 Hares Chase Barossa Valley Shiraz in the 60 Darling St "The Wineroom" mailout, and at $22 and $19 respectively when the cheapest USA price is just over $30AUD.  On vintage reputation the 2002 may be preferred, but they both have 92 Parker points.  Also listed are the 2006 Dalwhinnie Shiraz and Cabernet @ $55 (Wine Empire $50.43) and $47 respectively, less 5% if you buy at least 4 of each and other wines from the "Cellar List".  All prices + freight, call 1300 139 252 to order.

Looks like Margaret River Wine Centre under it's new owners are having a few teething troubles.  A box of wine arrived from there and I opened it to find a mixed case of 6 pairs of white wines rather than the Happs Nebbiolo and E&T Reserve Cabernet I ordered.  A very unpleasant surprise!  Luckily my wine was sent to someone else in Canberra and not too far away from where I live, so we can easily do a swap.