31 August:    WLA have listed the Escarpment Pinot Noirs, including the Kupe 2006 (see 16 August) @ $74.99, a fair bit more than Cellardor, but you don't have to buy a full dozen (weird policy as they come in 6-packs).

I've updated the first two Shiraz sections of the Halliday Best of the Best feature page with latest prices availability.  I'll work through the rest over the next day or two.

I've added a new recipe, "Crayfish au Chardonnay", just so there will be one recipe that uses white wine, in this case Blanc de Blancs Champagne was specified by the original recipe.  I made this again recently on Andrea's birthday.

The "careless web site update" award goes to Discount Wines this month, they've moved the vintage of the Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Cabernet from 2005 to 2006 and left all the rest of the guff, including awards, tasting notes/dates and price comparison dates for the 2005 vintage.   Runner up could be Drinx, with this lovely entry:
Bests Thompsons (sic) Family Shiraz
Straw gold with green tinges - a fine mousse and bubbles A clean, refined bouquet of fresh, floral, ...

29 August:    Updates have been a bit slow the past week, partly as it's been my birthday and my partner's 50th birthday, with her party planned for tomorrow, so celebrations and preparations have taken priority.  I should get back to checking out the newish releases more thoroughly early next week.

Wine Market has just listed Wynns Michael Shiraz 2005 @ $62.99 in 6-packs, free freight to RBG readers.  Boccaccio still has 10 bottles @ $59.99, WLA has it @ $69.99.  Update: Ah, competition is alive and well in some quarters, Wine Market has matched the Boccaccio $59.99 price.

Cloudwine have listed the Pierro Reserve MR Cabernet Merlot 2004 @ $48.00, that's about $11pb less than from Cellardor or Auscellardoor.  JH 96pts.  Update: All gone now. They also have the Teusner Albert Shiraz 2006 @ $43, it should be as good as or better than the 2005 (which is still listed @ $38.95+freight at Wine Culture and $43-$45 elsewhere.)

Have a browse through the Nicks What's New pages, there has been a big run of pretty low-scoring wines reviewed lately, mostly mid-range wines, but 81 pts for the $100+ Songlines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 is food for thought.

28 August:    1stChoice is going down the bonus give-aways this week, but there isn't a lot to tempt me.  Maybe Maglieri Shiraz (2006?) for $125/dozen with a bonus 24-bottle pack of Memminger beer.

Wine Market has found 2 more 6-packs of the Jack Mann Cabernet Blend 1999, $64.99pb, free freight to RBG members.

Dan Murphy is featuring boutique beers and the usual range of reds priced from $7 to $26 that I'm afraid you'll have to decide for yourselves, there was nothing that really caught my attention on a quick scan.

The Boccaccio email is up, featuring Kalleske Pirathon Shiraz 2006 @ $20.99 (It is $19.75 @ Canterbury Wines, $19.99/$20.00 @ WLA, Nicks and Premium Wines Direct), Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz 2006 @ $23.99 (same as Winestar, $1 less than Nicks and WLA), swings and roundabouts.  Plus some new release imports and a couple of Pinot Noirs that those of you hooked on the chase should look at.

Wine List Australia is still the only e-tailer listing Houghton Wisdom MR Cabernet 2004 on wine-searcher, @ $27.99.  There should be plenty of it around, I'd probably wait for alternative prices.  They also have the Paul Osicka Heathcote Shiraz 2006 @ $29.99 (same price as Nicks), I used to buy a bit of Paul Osicka shiraz in years gone by, but they dropped off the radar for a long while.  The wines can have a fair amount of eucalypt too.

GWD is flogging the Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2006 @ $16.95+packing fee this week.  This one was selling at that price with bonus magnums a while back and is still $15.99+freight @ Kemenys and $16.99 from Nicks.

For Sydney-siders, the Chandon Heathcote Shiraz 2006 (see 24 August below) is available for $25.99 from Red Bottle ($26.95 at Auscellardoor).  Their site doesn't list wines or have online ordering, they have 23 outlets in Sydney.

26 August:    Bert at Winestar has come up with a sharp price on the Kirrihill Bothar Umair Cabernet 2006 @ $17.99 ($18.50 @ Auscellardoor, $18.99 @ WLA, $20 ex-Kirrihill), also some Spiegelau glassware offers and Dom Perignon 1999 in the two-flute gift pack for $250+$10 freight (Boccaccio $240).  See newsletter link in the left panel.

GWD have the Serafino McLarenVale Cabernet 2006 @ $16.95, usually $19.95 and still is elsewhere, also DiLisio Quarterback blend 2006 @ $16.95.

Wine Market have the (prior vintage) Dutschke St Jakobi Shiraz 2005 @ $29.99, case of 12, free freight for RBG readers (elsewhere $31.95 and up+freight).  TORB TN here.

25 August:    If you are a fan of Orange wines or Printhie wines, Wine Market has the 2006 Printhie Mountain Range Cabernet Sauvignon @ $10.99 in dozen packs, free freight if you type RBG into the coupon code at checkout.  Stuart has also just listed Balthazar of the Barossa Shiraz 2003 @ $44.99.  The 2003 is rated slightly higher by Halliday (93pts) than the 2002 and 2004 (90pts) but with a shorter drinking window, 2010 vs 2020.  Stuart also wants to quit the last stocks of Grosset Gaia Cab blend 2003 and has put it up in 6-packs @ $35.99pb, down from $39.99, today only (elsewhere $45.50 and up).  I also noticed the 2003 Yalumba Signature Cabernet-Shiraz @ $32.99 in 6-packs, elsewhere $39.99 and up.

Get Wines Direct is offering the trophy-winning Goundrey G Shiraz-Viognier 2005 @ $18.95.  In a possible indication of GWD normal margins, the wine is available from CBD Cellars for $14.70, Discount Wines for $14.75 and Kemeny's for $16.99, all prices plus freight.

Wine List Australia has the Peter Lehmann Mentor Cabernet blend 2004 @ $34.99 (CD members $36)

24 August:   Everybody seems to be making a Heathcote Shiraz these days.  Domaine Chandon Heathcote Shiraz 2006 impressed at Wine Front, it is available from Cellardor for $26.95+freight (full dozen) and Auscellardoor for $28.90.  They seem to be dropping the Green Point label, or maybe this is a new premium range for them.  If you can't find the Greenstone Heathcote Shiraz 2006 (international partnership with Kooyong Estate, JH 95), or don't want the full dozen you have to buy at Cellardor, then the 2005 vintage is still around, same score, shorter drinking window.  It is $26.99+freight @ Kemeny's, $27.95+freight @ Discount Wines and $28.90 @ Auscellardoor.

The Marius 2006 Simpatico Shiraz should be released fairly soon, the (positive) reviews are starting to appear.  There won't be a Symphony Shiraz from 2006, all the fruit went into the Simpatico.  The Symposium Shiraz-Mourvedre 2006 (JH 94, drink to 2021) is still around, $25.95 @ Discount Wines, $27.99 at North Sydney Cellars, $29.00 @ Cloudwine.  It is still available direct too, $25.50 (freight free on dozens) for club members and the 2005 Simpatico and Symphony are also still available.  Join up if you aren't already a member, it's free and the wines are good.

The price of fame, the Yabby Lake Vineyard Roc Mornington Peninsula Shiraz 2004 that scored 97pts in the Wine Companion 2009 was listed in the Companion @ $90.  It is now available from Winestar for $199.99 and Prince Wine Store @ $210 (less 10% on mixed case buys). 

23 August:   Kemeny's SMH advert today has Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet and Shiraz 2006 @ $24.99, Saltram #1 Shiraz 2004 @ $49.95 (but Wine Market still has some for $45.95), also Wynn's Black Label Cabernet 2006 @ $21.99 and Metala Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 @ $11.99.  All Kemeny's prices plus freight.  Andrew Kemeny promised me some new RBG specials a couple of weeks ago, but nothing has shown up yet.

E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2004 is out, WLA have it for $89.99.  I haven't seen any reviews, but at that price I'm unlikely to find out how good it is anyway.  Jeremy Oliver rated it at 88 points, drink 2009-2012, but annoyingly the TN isn't posted to find out the details.  Of possibly more interest is Balthazar of the Barossa Shiraz 2004, available from the winery for $270/6-pack ($45)+freight or Discount Wines for $46.95 + freight.

Richard H asked me whether I tried the 2006 Cullen Diana Madelaine Cabernet blend when I visited Margaret River briefly in July.  The answer is "No", but I thought I'd expand a little on my previous comments on 2006 MR reds.  Some of the efforts we saw showed just how how good the better viticulturists and winemakers were that year, but invariably there is one or more of a thin middle palate, or a niggling hard edge or green tinge that tells you it isn't a top wine.  With 2004, 2005 MR reds still in abundance and 2007 supposedly good, I won't be buying any MR reds from 2006.  I've been caught too many times by trying to pick the good ones from dud vintages, they almost never turn out as good as you hoped.

I had to chuckle today at the sign-board outside Candamber (Discount Wines).  Amongst other things it claimed they had a "modern web-site".    Someone is living 10 years in the past.

22 August:   A delayed post, I've been helping friend move things the pro movers won't touch to his new house.

Dan Murphy has an extra advert locally today, probably elsewhere as well.  They feature a mostly export label called Mak, with a 2004 Coonawarra Cabernet blend and a 2004 Clare Valley Shiraz @ $6.90/$6.60.  There have been and still are some 2003 vintage Mak wines on Grays, but I've never taken the punt for lack of information and the less than reliable 2003 vintage on offer.  The 2004 may be worth a try and you may be able to get a taste first too.  I'd steer clear of the 2006 MR Ringbolt Cabernet unless you can taste it before buying, many MR Cabernets form 2006 are less than exciting.  The Reschke Vitulus Cabernet 2004 @ $18.80/$17.90, St Hugo Cabernet 2004 @ $29.90/$28.40 and Claymore Dark Side of the Moon Clare Shiraz 2006 @ $18.80/$17.90 are all reliable, the new Tar and Roses Heathcote Shiraz 2007 @ $14.60/$13.90 could be worth a try too.  Other reds on offer could be worthwhile too, try before you buy or buy a bottle to try first.

21 August:   Nicks has listed the Kurtz Family Boundary Row Shiraz 2005 @ $19.99.  It's a good wine and value at that price.  If you want a full case or some of the other Kurtz reds as well, you can probably get it direct from the winery for $18 if you lie and say you are a mate of TORB.

Avalon Fine Wines are not winning on too many technical issues these days.  Their email "buy me" links lead to a generic "About Us" page and often the wines are not even listed on the site.  Today the site appears to be down too.  They have the new vintage Peter Lehmann Mentor Cabernet Blend 2004 listed @ $32.99+freight (Discount Wines $35.50+freight, winery $36.00 for Club Members).  They are still listing Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock Shiraz 2006 @ $54.99 and Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz 2005 @ $38.99, both excellent prices.  Also Murray Street Greenock and Gomersal Shiraz 2004 @ $35+freight, also pretty sharp prices (2005 is current release and they are about $5-$10 more than the 2004).  Call them on 02 9918 3207 to order.

Possibly one for Canberrans, from Justin G, Jim Murphy Market/Airport Cellars is apparently advertising a Wynns Black Label Cabernet (no vintage shown) for $19.95.

The Wine Emporium (Brisbane) email has Cullen Diana Madelaine Cabernet 2005 @ $80+freight.  I can't see it on their site, so email or phone order.

Grays Online seem to be having some systems problems.  I've recently bought a few cases of reds and although I received the bid-won email, the normal Invoice and Delivery notifications haven't been received, the wine just turns up a week or so later.  Update: I finally received 3 Invoices this afternoon, after the wines were delivered, maybe I'll get the delivery notifications tomorrow.  One of the wines, a Millstone Shiraz 2005 was listed on the auction as being from McLarenVale and Barossa fruit, it turns out to be a Hunter Shiraz, I'm seeking to return it for a refund.

The pitfalls of young Cabernet in cold weather was the lesson of the week.  My Monday tasting group flight featured Cabernet from 2005, including a couple of samples from Adelaide Cellar Door.  I usually make sure the tasting wines are warm enough, but on Monday I had appointments and errand and the wine was in the mostly parked car for 2-3 hours.  Despite and insulated container the wines were cooler than ideal and this made the acid more prominent over the subdued fruit, making the tasting quite hard going initially.  I took a couple of the wines home and they were much better the next day slightly warmer and with a bit of air time.  The first four are all credible, good value wines, in my order of preference, they were:

• Brands Laira (The Blockers) Coonawarra (15.5% $20) - best fruit intensity, good tannins, best balance.
• Poverty Hill Eden Valley (15.0% $22.50) - initially a bit earthy and "different", got much better as it breathed in the glass, softer and fleshier than the others. (Sample from Adelaide Cellar Door, but $19.00 at Premium Wines Direct)
• Yering Station Yarra Valley (14.5% $20) - lighter and leaner, quite classy though, good food wine already.
• Flint's Gammons Crossing Coonawarra (15.0% $23.41) - one where the acid poked out a lot initially, but much better the next day and a good wine. Sample from Adelaide Cellar Door, no other retail listings on wine-searcher, winery orders here.
• Santa Carolina Reserva Chile (14.5% $9.99) - distinctively cabernet in the leaner base level Chilean style, a bit of a polarising style for those used to fruitier cabernets, but preferred to the next one.
• Yellow Tail Reserve SE Australia (14.0% $13) - not as sweet as the base level Yellowtail wines, but disjointed and unrefined compared to the others.

It was more cabernet (and a few shiraz and merlots) at the Coonawarra Roadshow yesterday.  Some brief highlights:

• Bowen Estate Shiraz and Cabernet 2006 are back on track, 14.5% and none of the super-ripe essency fruit of some of their past 15%+ wines that went flabby so quickly.  The 2006 Cabernet in particular has impeccable fruit over fine firm tannins, good balance, might be time to give them another chance. (Winepool $22+freight, Boccaccio, Canterbury Wines, Nicks, WLA all $22.95 - $23.00, W* $23.99)
• Brands seem to be back in the groove again too, the Blockers Cabernet 2005 looks good (Boccaccio, WLA $17.99), the nicely maturing Erics Blend is very good, but stretching the friendship @ $60+, The Patron Cabernet 2004 is also pricey at around $70 (Bocaccio $68.99, WLA $69.99) but is up there with the likes of John Riddoch.  I was less impressed by the Stentifords Shiraz 2003, too hard-edged and blocky.
• Flints seem to be doing a good job, as one would hope with the wines being made at Majella.  The Merlot 2006 (first attempt) is a credible effort, spicey, not sweet, good structure.  Of the two Rostrevor Shiraz showed, I preferred the 2005 to the 2006, the 2005 is a more balanced and structured wine, the 2006 all nice bright fruit but less structured and refined.  The two Gammons Cabernets are both good, the 2005 on this showing was showing better than the bottle on Monday, but still had a slightly hard finish.  The 2006 Gammons had better structure and balance, good fruit, but with a slight eucalypt overtone that could put some off al little.
• Leconfield Cabernet 2006 is due to be released soon and is looking good, the fruit is ripe with no green edges an the tannin structure is very firm but the wine still balanced, definitely worth a try on DM special in the very low $20's.
• Rymill Bees Knees Sparkling Cabernet/Merlot/Cab Franc is a lightweight fizz, but the flavour is very good and lingers well, it finishes dry.  Apparently the price is dropping slightly from September 1 and it should be available under $20 then.  Discount wines has it now @ $19.95 + freight.  The MC2 Blend 2004 and Yearling Cabernet 2006 are well made early drinking "bistro" wines, safe buying but of no great distinction.  The Cabernet 2005 is a well-made wine, but has a lot of competition at the $22-$25 price point.  They are offering the 2002 Cabernet as a Maturation Release and tried to talk the wine up, however it is a classic example of rampant herbal tobacco leaf on the nose and palate with a brief core of bright fruit in the middle, from a very cool vintage and should be given a wide berth unless you are looking for an example of this characteristic.
• Stonehaven Father Woods Cabernet 2006 is a very classy wine and I think the JH 95pts is pretty much spot on.  Made with careful vine-by-vine grape selection and hand-picked.  Kemeny's have it for $42.99+freight.
• Highbank had the 2003 and 2004 Cabernet blends on tasting, both have a level of complexity not matched by most of the other premium Cabernets on tasting at the Roadshow, the 2003 just marred by some hard edges, I much preferred the 2004 but I can't find it listed at retail, the price is around $40-$45. The also had a Merlot 2004 that is one of the better examples you will find made in Australia.  However, as it is the same price as the Cabernet blend, I know where my money would go.
• The local Zema rep has too much of the 2004 vintage to move yet and didn't have the 2005 Cab and Shiraz open.  The 2004 Family Selection Shiraz was showing a worrying level of volatility, but the 2004 Family Selection Cabernet was singing, happy to have it in my cellar and leave it another 3-4 years yet.

19 August:   The Boccaccio newsletter (see left panel link) this week features the Woodlands MR Cabernet Merlot 2007 @ $17.99 (PWS $20 less 10%, winery direct $19+freight) and Diggers Bluff Barossa The Watch Dog Cabernet Shiraz 2002 @ $32.99 (not listed on the winery web site yet, the 2001 was $32 ex-winery, $35+ at retail).

The W* email this week (see left panel link) has Turkey Flat Shiraz 2006 @ $39.99 (JH 95pts, same price @ WLA), Bream Creek Reserve Tasmanian Pinot Noir @ $36.99 (JH 95 pts, but it is $32.50 @ Canterbury Wines and $32.99 @ Boccaccio) and Allies Stone Axe Heathcote Shiraz 2006 @ $24.99 (JH 95 pts Prince Wine Store $25 less 10% for case buys)

18 August:   GWD have the Hewitson Ned & Henry Barossa Shiraz 2006 @ $19.95 (W* $21.99, elsewhere $23 and up)

17 August:   I have added a selection of JH 95 point Shiraz from the 2009 Wine Companion to the feature page, mostly $50 and under, see link above.

16 August:  Another example of how Coles is being killed by Woolworths in the wine market.  Vintage Cellars are having another 20% off wine sale (yawn) and their advert today includes Piper Heidsieck NV @ $47.99 in 6-packs, when Dan Murphy this week has it @ $37.90.  Also VC is offering Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz @ $29.59 in 6-packs when it is under $24 at Dan Murphy in Victoria.  To rub it in a bit more, Figtree Cellars in Lane Cove Sydney are having a 30% off sale for 12 or more bottles  from Monday 18th August to Sunday 31st August.  Ph +02 9418 9666  E-Mail: Nick Wood (nwood@firstestate.com.au) if you want to check on any wines/prices.

Wine List Australia has the Houghton Wisdom Margaret River Cabernet 2004 @ $27.99 (Gary Walsh 94 pts, drink 2010-2018).  This is the re-branded GI range that previously sold down to $19.95 case price in past vintages, so maybe there will be better prices on this as more stockists appear.

Campbell Mattinson has just reviewed the Kupe by Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir 2006, giving it 97 pts.  Cellardor have it listed @ $65.59 by the dozen, but you have to email to see if they can get it.  Chambers Cellars have it for $78.99 and Victoria Cellars $84.99/$479.94 a 6-pack.  Look here for Geoff Kelly reviews of this and other Escarpment Pinots.  Some of the others are also available in Australia. 

15 August:   The Wine Market $50 off offer (see 08 August) ends today.  There is still one 6-pack of Jack Mann 1999 left, Elderton Command Shiraz 2004, Dutschke St Jakobi Shiraz 2005 (12), a 6-pack of each of the Saltram #1 + Wynns Black Label Cabernet 2006, Pol Roger NV or a 6-pack of Lanson 1996 Champagne all meet the $300 buy requirement.

Metala White Label Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 is available @ Kemeny's for $13.99+freight ($14.95+freight @ The Wine Society, $16.99 @ Wine List Australia, $16.95+freight @ Discount Wines.

14 August:   W* is the first to list the much hyped Isole e Olena Cepparello 2004, @ $99.99.  Expect other listings soon, but it might go pretty quickly.  Boccaccio has listed it at the same price, with a 3-bottle limit.

Jane and David at Adelaide Cellar Door sent me a mixed 6-pack of reds from some of the small makers they stock.  They hold stocks of all the wines they list and are thus able to mix up dozens from various suppliers if you want.  The first wine I've tried is the Somerled McLarenVale Shiraz 2003 @ $20.49/$240 + freight.  Somerled supplied some wines to Heritage Fine Wines and the 2001 and 2002 Shiraz are still on the secondary market for as little as $12.65pb+freight (and very optimistically as much as $61.99, see here, note the Steeplechase 2002 may be a lesser wine than the standard 2002 Shiraz).  Anyway, the 2003 is a good effort from the fairly tough 2003 vintage, it shows none of the blocky hard tannins and rough edges of many McLarenVale and Barossa shiraz of that vintage and drank well over two days.  It's not as big as the description implies, but is certainly nicely ripe with good fruit weight and has good balance.  Good drinking now and over the next 2-3 years.

1stChoice has a due of Moet & Chandon, vintage and NV for $130.

Dan Murphy has Mr Riggs Shiraz 2006 @ $34.60/$32.90 ($39.99 @ Discount Wines, WLA, W*), Rockbare Shiraz 2006 @ $17.80/$16.90 (WLA $15.99, North Sydney Cellars $16.99, elsewhere $18-$20) and Tim Adams Shiraz 2005 @ $20.90/$19.90 (elsewhere $21 and up).  Also Piper Heidsieck NV @ $39.90/$37.90 and Taittinger NV @ $58.70/$55.90 ($63-$75 elsewhere).

A new casualty amongst the small producers, Abbey Rock (described as: "An expanding business with wines sourced from a number of regions spread across SA." in the Wine Companion 2009) has gone into receivership and GWD are offering their wines for $9.95, down from around $22.95.  Most of them scored in the low-mid 80's from James Halliday, the sparkling Pinot/Chardonnay 2006 scored 87, drink to 2011.  The Kirkstone reds on offer are also made by Abbey Rock.

Wine Market has listed the Katnook duo of Prodigy 2003 Shiraz @ $62.99 and Odyssey 2003 Cabernet @ $69.99.  The Prodigy might be worth considering at that price, but the Odyssey 2003 isn't a great wine IMO and not value at this price.  These would qualify for the $50 off offer (see 8 August).

13 August:   Wine List Australia is offering a free James Halliday Wine Companion 2009 with each dozen of their featured wines in this weeks email.  The selection is a bit limited, the Zema Family Selection Cabernet 2004 @ $37.99 is the only one that grabbed me, but the non-Reserve Yering Station Pinot, S-V and Chardonnay are all offered @ $19.99, which seems to be the going rate for this vintage elsewhere too.

The Wine Market $50 off offer finishes on Friday.  If you haven't used it already, a couple of wines that may tempt:  Lanson 1996 Vintage Champagne @ $344.94/6-pack delivered = $57.49 a bottle, there is 1 6-pack of Houghton Jack Mann 1999 at the same price (JH 97, drink to 2029).  If you can find something else to order to get you over $300, you can get Saltram #1 Shiraz 2004 @ $234.94 a 6-pack = $39.16 a bottle.

12 August:   Campbell Mattinson has given a "must buy" rating and 95 pts to a $20 Kirrihill Single Vineyard Clare Cabernet 2006.  You can buy it direct from the winery for $20, freight free dozens.  Wine List Australia is quick off the mark and bought the Melbourne distributor stock of this, it's listed at $18.99.  Auswine also have it and the sibling Tulach Mor Shiraz 2006, both @ $19.99.  Auscellardoor have it for $18.90.

Lazy Ballerina have released their 2007 reds.  $20 for the Shiraz and $30 for two new single Vineyard shiraz.  Free freight on mixed dozen buys.

Anthony at Boccaccio has decided to be perverse this week and feature whites, Pinot and a Shiraz-Viognier in his newsletter.   There is a $16.99 Cabernet, the d'Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet 2006, a fairly consistent performer in recent years and will cellar for 5 years or so as well if you want. There are quite a few places that list it for $14.99 +freight though, including Nicks, Corkscrew Cellars, Discount Wines, Jims Cellars and Winebizz.

The W* weekly offers (see left panel link) include the Deen De Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz 2006 @ $120/case, including delivery.

If you are not afraid of 15%+ alcohol in well-balanced Barossa reds, then you may want to try the Glaymond 2006 reds @ $32.99 from Nicks (same price as the previous vintage).  I haven't tried the new releases, but last night my Monday tasting group enjoyed a flight of 2002 and 2005 Glaymond reds, weighing in at 15.1% to 16.0% but not hot, to our tastes anyway.  The standouts were the two Shiraz, with voting split between the 2005 and 2002, both beautifully balanced and the 2002 showing some elegance and structure from the cooler vintage.  The Landrace Shiraz-Mataro 2005/2002 pair were next, again with voting split for and against the quite firmly tannic 2002 and more earthy, meaty 2005.  We only tried one of the Cabernets, the 2002 ranked last, probably because it had a little mustiness from a less than perfect cork, but I think the shiraz and blends are better suited to this style than the Cabernet.  A few months ago I had a 2002 el Abuelo Tempranillo/Grenache with Indian food and it was a great match, the 2006 el Abuelo seems to be a straight Grenache.

I've added a few wines to the Gray's Online Wine Auctions page, bought a couple of months ago, these are still listed in current auctions and a couple are good buys.  I also tried the Sandalford 2006 Shiraz at the winery recently, it's a bit lean and green, like many MR reds from that vintage and not great buying, go for the 2005 Protegé (the prior label of this wine) instead, it is a much better wine.  Note that the new 2006 label looks a bit like the Reserve range label, but this wine isn't the Reserve.  Another one to avoid is the Longview Black Crow Nebbiolo 2004, if the locally-sourced bottle I tried a month or so ago was any indication, it was tired and fading fast, it scored 85 from JH back in 2006 too.  Also the Cavalier Crest Sparkling Pinot Noir 2004 seems to be pretty variable, of three I've opened, one was dead flat and oxidised one was partially flat and pretty ordinary and one Ok.  Both the dodgy bottles had a crimp and/or chunk off the bottom edge of the cork, looks like they had bottling problems.

11 August:   There is a new Winebizz irregular offer up, see left panel link.  Prices are a bit variable, I've highlighted my picks, including the Brands Patron Cabernet 2004 @ $60+freight ($69-$70 elsewhere) and the scarce Pirramimma ACJ Cabernet Blend 2004 @ $39 +freight (it was $50+ at the winery).

Yet another one for the pinotphiles, Mayer Yarra Pinot Noir 2006, $49.99 @ Boccaccio, 95pts GW.

For those in Perth, Re Store (Leederville) has the JH 95pt Stella Bella Cabernet Merlot 2005 @ $22.95.  Thanks Michael G for the info.

Given the recent performance of McLaren Vale Cabernet (some stunners from 2004, 2005, 2006), the Get Wines Direct Normans Escapade McLaren Vale Cabernet 2006 @ $9.95 might be worth a try.  You can always send it back for a refund if it doesn't live up to the hype.

10 August:   From Damian P, the Wine Emporium in Brisbane is having an August sale.  You need to register (instant sign-up, free) to see the pdf sale catalogue.  There are a lot of imports, champagne etc and a limited selection of Australian wines.  They do have 36 bottles of the JH 96 pt Bindi Pyrette Heathcote Shiraz @ $28+freight.  Freight rates aren't listed on the site, Damian said he thought it was around $11/case, sounds a bit cheap from Brisbane though.  Order by phone.  Update:  The sale was apparently for one day only (Sat 9th), but as it is still listed on their site you should be able to talk them into it if there is something you want.

09 August:   The Halliday/Edwards Best of the Best reds page has been updated, with some more wines and some corrected entries.  There are even a few 96pt Pinots listed, but I skipped the Shiraz-Viogniers.

08 August:   A special offer from Stuart at Wine Market: Until 15 August, if you spend more than $300 on an order, you can get $50 off by using the special Code REDBIGOT50  as you place the order.  As you can only use one code, the free freight code can't be used as well, so $5 freight per case will apply.  I've used it already to order a 6-pack of Elderton Command Shiraz 2004.  Update:  You can only use this code once per customer, choose wisely.

From Rodney B in Tassie: BWS here are having a 30% off red wine sale. It ran last week and is running again this week.  With the new release of Penfolds premiums they had ramped up the prices like everyone did a couple of months ago. ie St H went from $75 to $88, Bin 389 from $45 to $54.
During the first week of the sale St H was $88, RWT & 707 were $180 and Bin 389 was $54. But it seems their sale was too successful and they have upped the prices again for the 2nd week of the sale. St H is now $92, 389 is $56 and RWT and 707 are now $190.  So is it a 30% off sale or not? Or is it a +5% - 30% off sale?

07 August:  The new Matt's Specials from Premium Wines Direct is up (left panel, pdf).  I haven't had time to go through in detail yet.  As ever, email Matt and mention this site so Care Australia benefits from each purchase, we are over half-way to the next $1,000 donation.

For the Pinotphiles, Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2007 is $42.99 @ Boccaccio, $47 @ Cloudwine and the winery.

The Halliday 96/95 point lists are here.  It's not complete yet, but Shiraz, Cabernet and Cab blends/Merlot are done.


06 August:  I haven't got my copy of the new Halliday Wine Companion yet, but there seem to be many offers on some of the 96 point wines, I'll work my way through the 96/95pt reds soon.  A quick check on the Wine Companion website shows that a few of the 96/95pt wines have already featured here over the past 6 months or so and I'll revisit those that are still available.

W* is offering the Chalkers Crossing Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 @ $24.99 (JH96), it's $23.95+freight at Discount Wines.