30 December:   The first worthwhile post-Christmas wine sale I've seen was notified by Neville K, (a non-subscriber disappointed at my move to charge subscriptions), thanks Neville.  Peter Marr Wine Traders in Melbourne has a good range of wines on sale at many price points and is offering 2 Riedel shiraz glasses for a $500 buy or 6 of the same for a $1,000 buy.  (Warning, the page was very slow to load, thought my IE7 had locked up, it was much faster in Opera/Firefox.)  A few that caught my eye:  Tar & Roses Heathcote Shiraz 2007 @ $13.90, Bress Silver Chook Bendigo/Heathcote Sparkling Shiraz NV (I hadn't seen this anywhere before, $19.00 at Cloudwine), St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2006 @ $23.90, but there are many more including a lot of whites and Champagnes.  The rest of the site is worth browsing too, I saw Castagna Genesis Syrah 2004 @ $59.00, Ch Coutet (Barsac) Sauternes 2001 @ $130 for a full 750ml ($100+ for halves elsewhere) and Heathcote Estate Shiraz 2006 @ $29.90.

From Rodney in Hobart:  BWS are having a 30% off sale on sparkling wines (6-bottle buy) and it seems to be nation-wide.  There are a few sparkling wines already on special, so the 30% off is on top of that, there may be a few sharp prices.

27 December:   Get Wines Direct has the Conte Estate Over the Hill Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 @ $15.95 today, previously $19.95  Check out the glowing reviews if you are interested in a lush but not over-the-top McLaren Vale Shiraz

24 December:   Langton's Exchange has removed the 15% buyers premium from today until 30 January.  They also seem to have removed the full-pack requirement, with a lot of single bottle or part-case lots.  I had a quick scan and didn't spy any bargains, vendors seem to have fully-priced the wines, but you may find something of interest.

Winestar have their Top 100 wines of 2008 up in the latest newsletter, many of them still available.

23 December:   Wine Emporium in Brisbane have regular email offers that I usually don't mention, unless they are really sharp, like the Spinifex reds a while back.  They don't have online ordering and the email offers are not listed on their site so I can't post a link to them, nor are delivery charges, they seem to be focussed on local trade.  If you are in or near Brisbane it is probably worthwhile joining their email list.

21 December:   I've had one enquiry about a gift subscription for another person.  If you want to do this, please send me an email first with the details (first/last name, email address) of the gift recipient and a date you want the email sent to them.  Then you can put through a new subscription with your own PayPal details and I'll adjust the registration details and send the gift subscription email on the designated date.

A couple of good Coonawarra Cabernets to round out the year:  Penley Estate Reserve Cabernet 2004 is $47.99 @ WLA ($50.50+freight ex-winery, $49.49 at Vintage Cellars, $57.95 and up elsewhere) and Petaluma Coonawarra 2005 still $39.99 at Boccaccio and WLA.  The 2006 Petaluma is appearing now, initial prices are a lot higher than the 2005 ($54-$60).

I've had a hectic few days, I haven't seen any super deals, lets see what happens in January.  I did find time to buy some Magpie Estate Election Shiraz 2006 that has recently been released, it's $70 ex-winery, limit of six, 240 dozen made.  I got a dozen (6 for me) from Cellardor @ $48.15pb + $6.60 freight.

I had given up on Gray's for the year, but bidding seems to be a bit quieter now that people are focussed elsewhere and a few low bids came through, including a 6-pack of Domain Day Riesling 2006 for a friend @ $19++, I've paid up to $34++ in the past, a dozen Garlands Reserve Shiraz 2004 @ $44++ (paid up to $64++ before) and a dozen Garlands Reserve Mt Barker Chardonnay 2006 @ $44++ for my WWD friend.  So if you see anything interesting, now might be the time to get a bargain.

18 December:   There were no local newspaper adverts from the chains today, nothing online yet either.  DM in-store flyers are online now.  In NSW/ACT, Charles Heidsieck MIC 2007 @ $62.60, Sir James Sparkling Shiraz 2004 @ $16.90 and Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz 2006 @ $15.90, Yalumba Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet 2005 @ $34.90.

The O'Leary Walker Claire Reserve Shiraz 2005 has appeared at a couple of places, the cheapest being Cellardor @ $74 but full dozen buy required and it's not really from Martinborough NZ).  I don't know if this is as good as the 2002/2004, although a random barrel sample tasted a couple of years ago showed promise.  There is still some 2004 listed, the best price being $75+freight at winebizz.

Also Primo Joseph Moda Cabernet Merlot 2006 is out, $53.95+freight @ Discount Wines, $55-$60 at a few other places, expect wider availability in the new year and Sally's Paddock Cabernet-Cab Franc 2006 is available at Cellardor for $54.16, Canterbury Wines for $54.95 and myWineStore for $55.00

17 December:   The good lads at Teusner are giving a Christmas bonus of 15% off  this week only for direct orders, freight free for orders over $140.  Two Astral Mataro 2006 and four Albert Shiraz 2006 will be coming my way.

It's catching on, Cooper Burns have 20-25% off with free delivery and insurance Aus-wide, some reviews on Wine Front if you are a member.

WLA have the Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz 2007 @ $23.99, quoting a partial TN from Wine Front that is actually from the review of the 2001 vintage, not the first time this sort of careless quoting has happened. (Discount Wines $25.50+freight, Cellardor $26.95).  Now replaced with an anonymous note from their own case4claret site.

Cloudwine has three Jimmy Watson Trophy winners on offer, the Flametree Cabernet Merlot 2007 @ $25 (dozens only), the 2006 Scarpantoni Brothers Block @ $38.00 (dozens only, it may still be available from the winery direct for $30pb+freight) and the Shingleback D Block Cabernet 2005 @ $54 (6-packs).

I hear the Rosemount Reserve reds are getting better, the Show Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 is $13.99 @ Wine Market in 6-packs, free freight if you use the RBG coupon code.  It's the same price at Kemeny's, + freight.

r the prior Shiraz cleanskin entry).  There isn't any mention of this blend on the Montara site or anywhere else on a quick search.

16 December:   The new Boccaccio email is up, Riesling, Pinot, Imports, oh and a few Aus Shiraz (Bowen 2006, Balnaves 2006, Craiglee 2005, Mt Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2005 all at competitive prices) and Elderton Command Shiraz 2004 @ $79.99 which is off the pace a bit ($69.99 @ Botanical Wine Store, $74.60 @ Cellardor and $74.99 @ Wine Market).

15 December:   Time is running out for pre-Christmas wine deliveries for some areas.

Graham P emailed to notify an increased price on the Sorby Adams Morticia Sparkling Shiraz, from $20 to $22 +freight direct from the winery.  In checking out alternatives I found it is currently $114/6 + freight from Taste Eden, the same place I bought my first lot .  As I'm down to my last bottle of this I ordered another dozen from there, it is a good easy summer drinking sparkling red at a very good price.  As Seppelt and Leasingham work through their brett and other sparkling red problems, I'm finding some good alternatives amongst the small makers, Bundaleer, Jamabro, Sorby Adams, Ashton Hills and (not so small) Brown Brothers and Tahbilk, mostly not available from retailers but worth buying direct.  Boccaccio seems to still have some of the Ashton Hills Sparkling Shiraz 2001 available @ $39.99.

Winestar Wines of the Year email is online, see left panel link.  Voyager Estate Cabernet merlot 2004 @ $44.99 is as good as I can see anywhere now (same as WLA, elsewhere $48 and up).  Also the contenders in varietal categories offered at mostly reasonable prices.

Cloudwine Best Wines of the Year are up too, see left panel link.

The GWD cleanskin Grampians Shiraz is probably from Montara (see October 13 for details of the prior offer).

12 December:   From Mark S, about Gray's complete disregard for checking the truth in listings.  Some of the Veritas lead-free crystal set of 4 glasses with an ORP of $356 seems to be available from Target for $49.99.  At $89 per stem, that puts you into some pretty nice Riedels.

The Kemeny's Adverts in Sydney and Melbourne today repaeat many of the prior offers, browse below.  New items include Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir 2006 @ $34.99 (Discount Wines $34.50+ freight, $35.99 and $36.99 at the other good independents) and Bleasdale Frank Potts Cabernet blend 2005 @ $24.99 (same as WLA, Nicks $27.99), both with a cheap Heineken beer offer for a dozen buy.

Tit for tat on NV Champagne at the chains, DM now has Moet & Chandon NV $48.90, Bollinger NV @ $64.80 and Pommery NV @ $37.90, 1stChoice has Lanson NV @ $35.99, Veuve and Taittinger NV @ $57.68, Wynn's Black Label Cabernet @ $19.80, Penley Phoenix Cabernet @ $16.90.  Both still claiming they will beat the other, this should reach the point of diminishing returns soon as they start to undercut in 10c increments (or is that decrements?)  Hopefully they will then move on to reduce something else interesting, not that I'm personally buying there, although the Lanson NV price is pretty tempting.

11 December:   DM this week: Moet & Chandon NV $49.20, Mumm Cordon Rouge NV $49.90, Sir James Sparkling Shiraz 2004 $16.90, Brand Laira Blockers Cabernet 2005 $17.90.

1stChoice has Bollinger NV @ $64.90, Pommery NV @ $49.90.

If you are a fan of Fire Block Clare Shiraz or think you can cope with a case of 15.5% Clare Shiraz, the 2006 Fire Block Shiraz is $11.99 at Drop of the Day, previously $16.99, it is $16.95 to $20 elsewhere.  Plus $7.95/case freight.

Wine Market is offering the Willunga 100 Grenache 2006 (JH 90, drink 2009) for $11.99 (down from $13.99, it is $20pb direct from the winery, was offered for $25 on Cellarmasters sites).

10 December:   JH gave the O'Leary Walker Clare Cabernet 2006 95 pts, drink 2011-2021 in his recent Top 100 for 2008.  It's available from WLA for $16.99, Winestar for $17.99, elsewhere $19.95 and up.  WLA also have Majella Malleea 2005 @ $59.99 ($66 ex-CD), complete with 3 anonymous "reviews" attributed to their own associated sites.

 It's strange sometimes which wines suddenly strike a chord after being around for a year or more.  The Ashton Hills Sparkling Shiraz 2001 was reviewed on Wine Front in November 2006 and I bought 6 in December 2006 from the Ashton Hills mail out and another 6 in March 2007.  I'd been thinking of buying some more but hadn't had a mail newsletter from AH for a long time, so looked on wine-searcher and found it listed at a few places and I ordered a dozen. Then Boccaccio listed it this week and it's gone ballistic, Anthony cleaned out the Vic distributor and is trying to get some more from the winery.  I've ordered another case from Boccaccio to split with TORB.  If you want some, get in quickly, it really is a very good sparkling shiraz and now that people have woken up it won't last long.  If Boccaccio runs out it is also listed at Canterbury Wines for $39.99 and Adelaide Hills Online for $450/case+freight.

Wine Market has 10 6-packs of the Chateau Tanunda Ebenezer Shiraz 2005 @ $26.99 pb.  This is regarded as the weakest of the three Terroirs of the Barossa series from CT, but reduced from around $48 rrp it might be worth a try.  If you are a member of Wine Front (and you should be), check out the reviews from both CM and GW on this wine before you consider a buy.  Halliday liked it a bit more than they did (93, drink to 2018).  Free freight with RBG coupon code.  They also have the Yalumba Octavius Shiraz 2003 @ $69.99, $10pb less than Nicks, $20pb less than WLA.  Also Torbreck The Struie Shiraz 2006 is down to $42pb.

09 December:   The SC Pannell Adelaide Hills Nebbiolo 2005 that reputedly confused some top Italian sommeliers is listed at Prince Wine Store for $55 less 10% for mixed case buys.   The 2006 vintage of the wine is $49.50+freight from Discount Wines and $49.89 from Cellardor. The 2006 SC Pannell McLaren Vale Shiraz is $52.95+freight from Discount Wines and $53.00 from Cloudwine, $55 and up elsewhere.

I've updated a fair bit of the Champagne-Sparkling page.

Kemeny's advert in the SMH today has moved the Jacobs Ck St Hugo Cabernet 2004 to 13 to the dozen @ $34.99 with a bonus Chivas Regal 12yo with each dozen too.  (Woolies  Liquor has the St Hugo @ $29.99 in 6-packs this week).

Rodney in Hobart is at it again: Eaglehawk Inn who were selling the Moss Wood for $60 appeared to sell out last week. They have more stock as of today. Also selling 96 and 98 Jack Mann for $70. Quite a few other older premium wines at good prices. Gasworks Bottleshop which is part of the Nine Eleven Chain is selling the following Penfolds premiums; 2004 and 2005 Bin 707 for $125.
Block 42 and Bin 60A for $329. Thanks Rodney, I hope there are some other Hobart readers who appreciate his efforts.  Also from Andrew, Eaglehawk In has Bin389 2005 @ $40/$440 and a warning that Gasworks is a bright, hot store in summer, so probably stick to current vintages rather than wines that have been on the shelf a while.

The Boccaccio newsletter this week is mostly whites and sparklings, with the Ashton Hills Sparkling Shiraz 2001 offered @ $39.99.  I bought the second last case that Cellardor had last week @ $36.03pb, it's one of the best sparkling shiraz around, made from Wendouree grapes. 

The Winestar email is up too, but there wasn't anything new or at a particularly good price that caught my eye other than the Carmes de Rieussec Sauternes 2005 @ $26.99 - this is based on the pre-arrival price, but stock is here and ready to go, other places have it at $32+.  Buy some of the Noble One 2006 at the same price and do a comparison.  The Carmes isn't as sweet and luscious as the de Bortoli wine so you need to be a little careful of the food you match it with, a very sweet dessert we had on Saturday overpowered the Carmes, it suited cheese much more though.

06 December:   Kemeny's SMH advert is online, featuring a range of bonus offers.  Six free Spiegelau Bordeaux glasses with each 6 bottles of Yarra Burn and Sir James Sparkling Whites, NV @ $16.99, Vintage @ $21.99, 6 free flutes with a 6-pack of the lovely Besserat de Bellefon NV Champagne @ $49.99, Deutz Marlborough Cuvee NV @ $17.99, 13 to the dozen ($19.99 and up elsewhere), Moet & Chandon NV still $99 for two, Lindeman's Limestone Ridge Shiraz-Cabernet 2004 down to $29.99, Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 down to $18.99, Seppelt Salinger @ $19.99 and Original Sparkling Shiraz 2005 @ $16.99 with a bonus Yellowglen Vintage sparkling with each 6-pack.

Piper Heidsieck NV is down to $36.90 at DM, how low can it go?  Bollinger NV @ $69.90, Taylors Estate range down to $11.30 and Bin 389 2005 @ $38.90 (Sydney, $39.90 in Brisbane).  Some stores should still have the GASC winning Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz 2006 for $23.90.  Almost enough to make me break my resolve to not buy from the chains.

05 December:   Charlatan Wines have retrieved some more 6-packs from Redheads Studio as they haven't been opening at weekends and the wine therefore isn't moving.  Chad is offering the remaining stocks of his 2006 Shiraz (made at Redheads Studio) for $100/6-pack + reasonable freight, this is the last chance on this.  Email Charlatan or call 08 8326 1181 for enquiries/orders.  (This was first recommended by Ross H and listed on Nov 11, quickly sold out then.)

Wine Market has Katnook Coonawarra Cabernet 2004 @ $25.99 (Jims Cellars $27.99+freight, Canterbury Wines $32.95, Discount Wines, Boccaccio, W* $34.99), still with free freight if you use the RBG coupon code.

I've taken the Ulithorne Flamma Sparkling Shiraz NV off the list of sparkling reds on the feature page, I've tried the 2 bottles I bought recently in two different tasting flights and it hasn't performed all that well.  It has a strange nose, I don't think it is brett, but it could be.  The palate is Ok, but a bit broad and lacking in freshness, quite sweet with candy undertones.  There are better sparkling reds around under that price, the Bundaleer, Jamabro and Morticia all performed creditably around and under $20, but won't be available in many stores.  The 1998 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz is also showing a fair amount of brett now, but still nice drinking, probably drink up soon if you have any and don't buy if that is likely to offend.

04 December:   Wine List Australia has a few wines offered at buy 11 get 12 prices until cob Sunday 7th:  St Hallett Faith Shiraz @ $13.75pb for 12, St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2006 @ $25.65, Katnook Cabernet 2005 @ $27.50, Pol Roger NV @ $54.99.

From Rodney in Hobart: BWS Aberfeldy are selling Wolf Blass Black Label for $48. 2003 and 2004 (2004 is better, normally $95) on the shelf. RWT Shiraz for $85 - 2002 and 2004 on the shelf. Both prices are for 6 or more.  Eaglehawk Inn in Nth Hobart have Moss Wood Cab for $60, 2004 vintage.  Some rare bargains for Hobart people.

Wine Culture have a big email full of sparkling wines in all price ranges, too many for me to go through and it's not on their site yet.  Join the mailing list if you aren't on it already, Wine Culture has a great range of wines and some pretty good offers from time to time.

DM specials this week: Piper Heidsieck NV $37.40, Heartland Shiraz $14.90, Taylors Estate range $11.80, Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 $19.90 and Warburn Estate range with a dozen cleanskins thrown in for $94.80 a dozen.

1stChoice: Piper Heidsieck NV $37.80, Taylors range at a higher price than DM, but price match applies if you buy 12.  How does DM always seem to know what prices 1stChoice are going to advertise at and always undercuts some key items?  Also Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet @ $14.99, Mumm Cordon Rouge NV @ $49.99, Henschke Keyneton Estate $28.49.

The new Matts Specials from Premium Wines Direct are up (see left panel pdf).  There are a bunch of of mixed case offers, not something that normally attracts me, but a good chance to try a mix of new wines.  The standouts are still the back-in-form Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 @ $22.00 and the Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2007 @ $17.  Some of the wines are cheaper elsewhere, Croser LD 98 is $41.95+freight from Discount Wines, Yalumba The Scribbler and Turners Crossing Shiraz-Viognier are a little cheaper elsewhere and the Innocent Bystander is on Gray's currently at around $6-$7 delivered, I found the bottle of Branson Coach House I tried from a friend to be very ripe and a little porty.  Go for the Leconfield though, it's still the best price around.  As ever, email Matt and mention this site so Care Australia benefits from each purchase.

03 December:   If you trust Jeremy Oliver and want to take a punt on some older wines, the Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz-Cabernet 2001 (95pts JO and the lesser 2000 vintage at 87 pts) are being sold at the Rosemount Cellar door in McLaren Vale for $30 including freight (on cases I presume).  Contact details here.  (Info from Burges B., thanks).

Wine for Life have a new web site with substantially better looks and functionality.  There are a few ex-HFW wines at reduced prices that may be worth considering: Paul Lindner Mouthpiece Barossa Shiraz 2002 @ $7.68 (bought quite a bit of this for friends a while back for around $11-$13), maybe the Binder-Mitchell Baroota Shiraz 2002 @ $7.59, Willow Bridge Reserve Shiraz @ $11.39 if you don't mind a ripe alcoholic style, 2002 Gemtree Uncut Shiraz @ $12.65, 2002 Somerled Shiraz @ $12.65, 2002 Nefertiti Shiraz @ $15.18.  There are a lot of wines left on offer at widely varying prices for the same wine and most of it isn't worth buying, so be careful.

02 December:   For Yarra Valley Cabernet fans, the Yering Station Cabernet 2005 is available for $17.45 from Wine Empire if you take up the 13 to the dozen offer or $18.90 otherwise.  One for early drinking or short term cellaring, it's a good honest wine for that price.  It's $19.99 @ Winestar, $20.42 at Cellardor and $26.00 ex-winery.  If you like the standard Yering Station Shiraz-Viognier 2006, it's available at the same price, with a similar relative pricing to other merchants.

Chris F scored a 6-pack of Kay's Block 6 Shiraz 2006 from Auscellardoor for $62.95 and was surprised to find 4 bottles on the shelf at Dan Murphy (Malvern) for $56.95.  Taking the four plus 2 other wines to the checkout he was further surprised when the Block 6 failed to scan and wasn't in their database.  So they gave it to him for the price of the most expensive Kay's they did have listed, the Hillside @ $37pb.  So, if you are visiting DM, keep your eyes open, but I suspect it may not be widely stocked.  Kay's marketing this year seems designed to pi$$-off mailing list members who are restricted to 2 bottles plus 4 other wines minimum..

W* weekly offers are up, featuring the Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2006 @ $16.99. Kemeny's have this for $15.99 +freight and WLA has the same price but with a bonus magnum for a case buy.  Most of the reviewers seem to love this wine, it's not one of my favourites though.  Also Yarrabank Cuvee 2004 @ $29.99 (same as Boccaccio, Canterbury Wines, Auscellardoor).

The new Boccaccio Newsletter is up too, featuring the Cape Mentelle MR Cabernet 2004 @ $64.99 (Canterbury Wines $62.95, Cellardor $63.51 (full case buy), WLA and W* also $64.99, Discount Wines off the pace at $70.50), Marques de Riscal Reserva Rioja 2004 @ $43.99, a bunch of Pinots and Krug 1998 @ $419.99 (W* $429.99, Wine Market $475).

Nicks have optimistically listed the Seppelt St Peters Shiraz 2006 @ $64.99, it is available @ $54.99 at WLA and $59.99 @ Winestar.

01 December:   GWD have the Fraser Gallop MR Cabernet Merlot 2007 that was in the JWT shortlist @ $17.99, the same price as Nicks, Premium Wines Direct $19.00, WLA $19.99.  If you want a case, Nicks is $210, freight inclusive, GWD is $222.38 after no case discount and plus $6.50 freight.  I don't know anything about the Normans 2002 Shiraz-Merlot, but of course ignore the $45.95 Don't Pay prices on all the Normans wines.

WLA has the lush, sweet Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz NV @ $14.99 ($15.99 to &$17.99 elsewhere), but you'll have to buy something else as well to qualify for the free freight for orders over $200.  I just noticed there seems to be a 1% fee as well to insure the wine during delivery, most of the other good merchants include it in the price or delivery fee (Nicks also charge an optional 1% insurance).  Also Yarra Burn Sparkling White and Rose @ $14.99.