31 January:   One subscriber had a bad experience with shipping wine in hot weather this last week.  Despite being assured the wine would be held for cooler weather and that he would be notified on despatch, neither of those happened and his wine was shipped and left in 38C local temp.  I advised him to take it up with the e-tailer and ask for a replacement if he thought the wine could be heat-damaged.  Update:  This had the expected outcome from the reputable merchant, an explanation for the rare slip-up and a refund offered as the wine was sold out and a replacement not possible.

30 January:   It's almost too hot to think about buying wine.  Certainly too hot to have any deliveries.  The following two merchants will hold wine until cooler weather (but make sure you specify that if you order).

Boccaccio's new newsletter (see left panel link) features a few whites and the Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 re-appears at $22.99 (it's $22 in Matts Specials, $22.99 @ Nicks, WLA), a must buy for lovers of Coonawarra Cabernet.  Also possibly the best cheap Heathcote Shiraz around, the Tar & Roses Heathcote Shiraz 2007 @ $14.99.(WLA $15.99, W* $16.99, Discount Wines $14.95+freight).

WLA offers a couple of JWT finalists under $20, one is the Fraser Gallop Cabernet Merlot 2007 @ $17.99 (same as GWD, but without the $6.50 freight/packing fee), the other is the Xabragas Shiraz 2007 @ $14.99, see here for an alternate opinion on this one..

29 January:   1stChoice fights back this week with Wynns Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet (2006) @ $19.99 and Leasingham Bin 56 Cabernet Malbec @ $15.99.  Get them the same price at DM in 6-packs.

Last night I tried the sample bottle of cleanskin Shiraz-Tannat 2005 @ $14.99 from Wine Market (see 22 Jan below).  It looks the real deal in a heavy, dark bottle with a deep punt, sealed with ProCork (my bottle had a stain along the cork past the plastic end-cover).  The wine as very good for the price as well, not quite up to a $50pb price, maybe $35 labelled would look Ok value.  It is rich and nicely balanced, with the flavour kick and fine (nut not aggressive) underlying tannins from the Tannat. The first 250 or so 6-packs sold out, but Stuart has secured the final 280 6-packs, there is no more after that sells.

The GWD Stamford Brook Shiraz-Viognier 2007 local label is Angoves Nine Vines.  It is available elsewhere for $9.95, but the GWD offer has a bonus case of Normans Chandlers Hill Shiraz, which may or may not be of use to you.  GWD also have the Glen Eldon Dry Bore Barossa Shiraz 2005 @ $19.95, same as Winestar, but W* doesn't charge freight.

The Wine Emporium in Brisbane (07 3252 1117) has some sharply-priced Bin Ends:

Penfolds RWT 2005                                             $125  (Usually $170)

Standish "The Relic" Shiraz/Viognier 2006         $80    (Usually $115)

Standish "The Standish" Shiraz 2006                  $80   (Usually $115)

28 January:   Wine Market are clearing remaining stocks of Metala White Label Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 @ $10.99 in 6-packs and you still get free freight with the RBG coupon code.  That's cheaper than any chain special, go for it.  Stuart has also just listed the John's Blend Margarete's Shiraz 2005 @ $23.99 in dozens (JH 94 to 2015, Wine Empire $31.66).  The RBG code didn't seem to work on the Margarete's, so Stuart has changed it to default to free freight.  They are happy to hold shipping for cooler weather, but note it in the order comments anyway.

Prince Wine Store is having a 20% off sale for still wines on Saturday 31 January.  Their stock list in pdf format is here.

27 January:   I've been too busy drinking older wines from my cellar with friends to be looking for wines to buy and it's too hot to have wine delivered anyway.  The cork god has been kind as well, 94 Pyrus, 96 Sally's Paddock, 96 Woodstock The Stocks Shiraz, 96 Grossett Gaia, 94 Yalumba The Signature all in fine form even with a couple of crumbling corks.

Winestar offers this week feature the Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Shiraz 2006 @ $17.99 (same as Boccaccio and Nicks, it's listed at $16.00 at East End Cellars in Adelaide) and at the pricier end, Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2005 @ $125.00, down from $150 and $5-$25 pb better than the next best prices I can see.

GWD have the much-reviewed but limited distribution Possums Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005 @ $9.95.  Despite some accolades it hasn't sold (maybe the name?), and the winery has reduced their price from $20 to $15 as well.

23 January:   Tit-for-tat, 1stChoice drops Piper Heidsieck NV down to $37.80 (just 10c less than DM yesterday), Dan Murphy responds with a crushing $35.90.

The first Boccaccio newsletter of the year is up (see left panel link) , featuring a Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2005 magnum for $25, a premium-level Prosecco, a bunch of cleanskins and there are still stocks of the Ashton Hills Sparkling Shiraz 2001.

Stuart from Wine Market is sending me a bottle of the cleanskin Shiraz-Tannat to try, but he says at the current sales rate it might be all gone before it gets to me, I think the stock level dropped by over 200 6-packs since first listing yesterday, 247 left this morning.

22 January:   1stChoice has JC St Hugo Cabernet (2004?) @ $28.49, d'Arenberg Footbolt shiraz @ $13.99, Veuve Clicquot Vintage (2002?) @ $89.90 (elsewhere $99.95 and up).

Dan Murphy has Piper Heidsieck NV down to $37.90 again (1stChoice $44.99 caught out this week), Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet @ $16.90.

Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2006 seems to be just out, I saw a post about a $70+ retail price for the new release, but Botanical Wine Store has it listed @ $52.99, so maybe get in quick.  (I can't link directly, search for "Langi" on their main page.)  The other examples of price rises to $70 were Dalwhinnie and Seppelt St Peters.  With plenty of the current and prior vintages of these wines still offered, higher-priced new releases will meet some reluctance to buy I would think.  Update:  They only have the 2005, the 2006 is due early March.

If you are looking for something different, this export casualty may suit you.  Wine Market are offering the Yacca Paddock Shiraz-Tannat 2005 as a cleanskin for $89.94 a 6-pack.  The wine is probably made by Ben Riggs and past vintages have been offered for $50pb, but the 2003 is selling in California for $20AUD less volume discount.  There will be plenty more like this this year.

20 January:   Winestar has the Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz 2005 and has the same price at $19.99 as GWD sold the 2004 (elsewhere $22-$25), read the blurb and buy up.  Also Groom Barossa Shiraz 2006 @ $39.99 ($45 elsewhere) and Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet 2006 @ $49.99 (WLA $54.99).

Kemeny's have an advert in the SMH today, it is online too.  It's similar to the Age advert of a few days ago and similar comments apply, see 16 January below.

Another merchant in Perth, Raffles Liquor Merchant has fairly recently appeared on Wine Searcher.  They haven't been mentioned as their prices are usually at the high end.  They do offer 15% discount (and other benefits) to Wine Club members but it costs $115/year to join.  They also claim to be the largest "Australian online wine store" and have "Australia's largest vintage wine club".  I'm sure that's devastating news to the other online stores/clubs with much bigger ranges and more members.

The Cloudwine Newsletter (Summer Wines) has Rockburn Central Otago Pinot 2007 @ $53 (PWS $54, Wine Culture $59.95) and Vincognita McLarenVale Shiraz 2006 @ $20 (Adelaide Cellar Door $18.91 + freight, Wine Culture $19.95 + freight).  And then a lot of whites and no sparkling reds. :-(

I had a browse through the Cellar list that came with the print version of the new Kemeny's catalogue, these caught my eye as being sharply priced:

• Arakoon Clarendon Shiraz 2006 $26.99 (down from $29.99)
• Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2006 $95 (elsewhere $100+)
• E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2004 $75 (W*, WLA $89.99)
• Fox Ck Reserve Shiraz 2005 $49.99 (elsewhere $57 and up)
• Kirrihill Tulach Mor Shiraz 2006 $16.99
• Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2004 $32.99
• Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2005 $119
• Penley Estate Ausvetia Shiraz 2004 $49.99
• Shaw & Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2006 $34.99 (nearly sold out, get in quick if you want some)
• Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz 2002 $46.99 (Cabernet same price, elsewhere $50-$60)
• Torbreck Runrig S/V 2004 $189 (elsewhere $210+)
• Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2006 $46.99
• Brands Patron Cabernet 2004 $59.99 ($61-$70 elsewhere)
• Craggy Range Sophia 2005 $54.99
• Craggy Range The Quarry Cab/Merlot 2004 $59.99
• Glaetzer Anaperenna Shiraz-Cabernet 2007 $42.99 (Boccaccio $45.99, WLA $45.99 (full dozen) W* $49.99)
• Vasse Felix Heytesbury Red 2005 $60 (Discount Wines $62+freight, WLA $64.99, Nicks $69.99)
• Morris Sparkling Shiraz-Durif NV $15.99 (Winepool $15+freight, Discount Wines $16.50+freight, Boccaccio W* etc $17.99)
• Sir James Sparkling Shiraz 2004 $19.99

17 January:   I've been a bit distracted this week, went to the funeral on Tuesday of my GP for the last 12-15 years, there were at least 600 others there too.  He was only 48 and it seems he took his own life. 

I missed the Winestar email this week until checking just now.  The "loyalty deal" of Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2006 @ $39.99 with glowing 97/98pt reviews looks impressive, but the wine has been around for quite a while and hasn't sold out yet. It is listed on wine-searcher as being available for $34.50+freight from Discount Wines, $34.99 from Kemeny's and $38.00+freght from the winery.  Loyalty doesn't pay in this case, it costs maybe $5 per bottle.  The Wolf Blass Black Label Shiraz-Cabernet 2004 @ $99.99 is available in 6-packs for $95pb from Wine Market.  The Kay's Amery Shiraz 2005 @ $24.99 is the best price on wine-searcher but the John Duval Plexus 2006 @ $34.99 is $31.50+freight from Winebizz.

After a short absence, Wine Market has re-listed the Balthazar of Barossa Shiraz 2005 @ $44.99 ($50 ex-CD).  Free freight using the RBG coupon code.

16 January:   Dan Murphy has St Hallett Faith Shiraz @ $13.90 (WLA $14.99), Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2006 @ $14.90 ($16.99 and up elsewhere), Pommery NV Champagne @ $37.90, Taylors Estate range @ $11.90 and Annie's Lane range @ $9.90.  Also McWilliams Mt Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon @ $8.90.  Update: Paul from WA asked if these offers were for Perth too.  I don't check every state for DM (or 1stChoice) adverts, sometimes the offers are Australia-wide, sometimes not, sometimes the prices vary and downloading and looking at 6-7 large pdf files is very tedious for usually little value.  If you are interested in the offers I do list (usually ACT/NSW/Vic) and want to check, the DM web site will have the version for your local area.  Or buy your local paper on Thursday/Friday.

GWD sold a container full of Sieur D'Arques Aimery 1531 Grand Cuvee @ $15.95 in one day again, I guess it must be Ok to sell that quickly.  The Languedoc origins of the wine are carefully not mentioned, but the price is comparable to what it sells for in mostly the German market and I guess a lot of the buyers would be repeats from the previous shipment.  The wine was shipped in a refrigerated container.

Kemeny's have an advert in the Age tomorrow, it's online now with a claim that "We won't be beaten on our advertised wine prices".  Unfortunately there are quite a few wines listed that are advertised at a lesser price elsewhere, more if you take the same price but free freight at some merchants.  Some that aren't bettered elsewhere are:  Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz 2005 @ $49.99, Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2006 @ $24.99, Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2004 @ $32.99, Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2005 @ $119.

15 January:   1stChoice have JC St Hugo Cabernet (2004) @ $29.99, elsewhere $32.99-$34.99.

14 January:   Nicks have the 2006 Sevenhill Inigo Shiraz @ $17.99 (Discount Wines $17.95 + freight, Cellardor $19.28), that's about the same price as the prior 2 vintages.  They are still advertising the "very limited stocks" of Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2006 magnums @ $149.94 for 6.  Also Murray St Greenock Shiraz 2006 @ $42.99 (JH 95, drink to 2030, Cellardor $43.12, CD $50 less 20% for MSV club members.)

Auscellardoor has the 2004 Grosset Gaia Cabernet blend @ $46.90, the 2004/2005 are both listed elsewhere at $55 and up, so this looks like a good deal.  Their normal listing on their site for the wine says $47.90 and wine-searcher lists their entry at $49.90.

Wine List Australia is offering some "Start of Year Giveaways" but they aren't free.  Some of the prices are quite good though, St Hallett Faith Shiraz 2006 @ $14.99 (elsewhere about $17.99 and up if not on special at the chains), Peter Lehmann Futures Shiraz 2006 @ $24.99 is $1-$2 less than the competition and the Rockbare Mojo Barossa Shiraz 2006 @ $12.99 is a dollar or two below the next best I can see.

13 January:   The new Matts Specials from Premium Wines Direct are up (see left panel pdf).  There is a long list of reds this month, many I don't know much about though.  The standouts are still the back-in-form Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 @ $22.00 and the Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2007 @ $17.  The Tower Estate Coonawarra Cabernet 2003 is a nice discount to the members $37.50 price ex-winery, the Wise Coat Door 2005 blend is a nice quaffer, the Tyrrell's Hahn Barossa Shiraz-Mourvedre 2006 looks interesting. The mixed reds offer number 2 looks particularly good value at $140, compared to sum of the discounted bottle prices of $240+.  Some of the wines are little cheaper elsewhere, including Two Hands Bad Impersonator 2006, Yalumba The Scribbler and the Innocent Bystander 2007 is on Gray's currently at around $6-$7 delivered,   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, $280 to go to the next $1,000 donation.

If you trust the shipping at this time of year and storage at 60 Darling St (I don't), then you might be tempted by Piper Heidsieck NV @ $38.00 and Bests Thomson Family Shiraz 2005 @ $80 (about $50 pb less than anywhere else at retail and $70 less than CD, so maybe a mistake).  Phone 1300 139 252 to order.

12 January:   Wine Market has the Saltram Barossa Shiraz-Cabernet 2005 @ $ 12.99, apparently originally a $20+ rrp, it was $14.99 on Wine Market.  I haven't tried it, the only review I found on a quick search was at Nicks.  Could be worth a 6-pack buy if you are after an early-drinker.  Free freight with the RBG coupon code.

11 January:   Ultimo Wine Centre is having a 25% off sale for the rest of January, for 6 bottles bought in-store or 12 online.  If you know your imports, there may be some bargains.

Avalon Fine Wines new newsletter format looks eerily like that used by Kemeny's.  Unfortunately there wasn't a lot in the contents to spark interest.  I'm not going to load a copy and unlike Kemeny's it is not on their site.

10 January:   Need some Shiraz magnums that will cellar a few years or you could drink at your next party?  Nicks have the 2006 Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz in magnum @ $24.99, minimum 6-pack buy = $149.94 and you'll need to buy more to get free freight.  When it's $16+ for a 750ml bottle, that looks like a good bargain to me.  Curiously on Nicks site the 750ml is listed as 15.5% a/v, the magnum as 14.5% a/v and Halliday's review lists it as 14.8% a/v, as does the Tyrrell's web site.  Just how many versions of this wine were there?

There have been a couple of half-hearted attempts at January Specials, but nothing really interesting that I've seen, hence no updates the past few days.  Maybe things will liven up next week.

Just to prove me wrong, Kemeny's have a new advert up and in the SMH today and a new January/February catalogue online.  I'll go through it later today and post my highlights.  Nothing much stood out in the SMH advert, but there are some good bonuses if you are buying white wines, perhaps Elderton Shiraz 2006 @ $22.99 with a bonus bottle of Riesling for each 6 bought..  Update: From the catalogue, lots of summer whites, no sparklings or champagne, a few cheaper reds if you are after those, with various bonuses, a couple of possible standouts:

• Clos de los Siete Mendoza 2006 @ $34.99 looks interesting, but the price is a fair bit more than you would pay in USA/UK where it is a $20AUD wine.
• Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2004 @ $32.99 ($34-$40 elsewhere, $400 by the case ex-winery)

There isn't a lot new or exciting on Gray's at present.  I did pick up a 6-pack of Chain of Ponds The Ledge Shiraz 2004 for $54++ ($12pb delivered), it is on sale at the winery for $28.50.  I drank a bottle over the last couple of days, it took a while to open up, but it's a good wine for the price, quite smooth already but will cellar a few years if you want, all Adelaide Hills fruit this vintage rather than a McLaren Vale blend, cork 13.5%.

07 January:   WLA are offering Henschke Keyneton Estate Euphonium Shiraz Cabernet et al 2005 @ $29.99 (mostly $35.99 and up elsewhere), Tim Adams Shiraz 2006 @ $19.99 and Bowen Estate Cabernet 2006 @ $21.99.  Also Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz 2006 @ $22.99 (Nicks $24.99, Auscellardoor $25.90, W* $26.99, Boccaccio $27.99).

Wine Market has reduced the price of Metala White Label Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 to $11.99, in 6-packs, free freight if you use the RBG coupon code.

05 January:   GWD haven't given enough information this time for me to work out what producer the cleanskin Grand Reserve Barossa Shiraz 2006 comes from.  It's $9.95 if you want to take a punt, the GWD refund guarantee is rock solid if you don't like it.  Update: Both Ben T and John F are better Googlers than I am, they followed through and found the descriptions are taken from the Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz 2006 tasting notes (pdf file from Kaesler).  I stopped when I saw the difference in claimed a/v (15.5% vs 14.5%, so still a legal understatement) and I've only seen Stonehorse under cork.  Similar deal to the Nashwauk a while back I guess.  TORB TN here.  (John F, my reply bounced, said your mailbox quota was exceeded).

03 January:   Wine Culture has a bunch of new release reds notified by email, some are listed on their home page, but the full newsletter isn't on the site, so join their mailing list if you want to know about new wines they offer.  Wines include the new 2006 Radford Dale Shiraz @ $31.95 and the new "second label" Laughing Jack Jack's Shiraz 2006 @ $18.95 in mixed case buys.

I've updated the page with the list of wine e-tailers and auctions, a few have dropped off the list and there are about 20 new entries, see top link on the left panel..

01 January:   From John K, via Roy N:  Freedom Furniture are enticing people to join their mailing list by offering a $50 voucher for use at Cellarmasters.  Get the voucher here.  There isn't a lot to entice on the CM site, many own-label wines I know nothing about and others I checked (such as Tait BP Barossa Shiraz 2006 and St Hugo Cabernet 2004) are available cheaper elsewhere or direct, even after the $50 off.  The most tempting deals are Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2005 $24.99 and Katnook Coonawarra Cabernet 2004 $29.99 (both in 6-packs), the latter only appearing on the home page, it isn't in the red wine list.  John went for the Katnook, I went for the Filsell, free freight too on this deal, so 6 Filsell 2005 delivered for $99.94.

What will 2009 bring for wine-drinkers? If you have money to spend, there should be plenty of good buys. The silly pre-Christmas Champagne prices are already disappearing, new import stock may be higher-priced due to the ailing AUD, so stock up soon if you need to.  Some random questions:

• How many wine producers, distributers, retailers will cease trading or be taken over this year?
• What will Fosters do with their wine division?
• Will white wine-drinkers finally wake up to the fact there are many better wines than all those horrid Sauvignon Blancs.
• Will Kemeny's finally get a new web site with on-line ordering? 
• What will the chains do next in their fight to dominate the retail liquor market?
• What new players will enter the wine e-tail scene and will any of them do it properly from the start?
• How low will prices go on the remaining stocks of ex-HFW wines?
• Will WLA get rid of their dodgy-looking self-referencing review sites?
• How many of you will renew your subscriptions when they fall due?