RBG Red Wine Buyers Guide July 2009 Archive

27 July: Peter Marr Wine Trader responded to my second email and their IT support have seemingly implemented secure ordering, but in a site-wide fashion that is reported as partial encryption by IE8 and Firefox and insecure in Opera. I hope the key ordering bits are secure, I placed an order for some Duval-Leroy 1996 and a couple of the Viottolo reds.

Nothing of interest to me in the GWD offers today.

Vintage Cellars have a 30% off sale (dozens) or 20% off (6-packs), starting today, no end date specified. In trying to check if there are any real bargains I'm reminded how awful and slow their web site is... I don't have time right now to wait around for it to change pages, most of the prices I saw were not as good as the good independents prices anyway.

25 July: If you are up for buying from New Zealand, Glengarry are having a sale, with Grange 2004 down to NZD$499 again, Grange 2002 @ NZD$399 and a big list of other Australian and French wines. PDF list here. Finishes Sunday July 26 (tomorrow).

WineboxWarehouse have 2004 Langi Billi Billi Shiraz @ $10.99 (originally around $14-$15). There is a reasonably positive review on Wine Front (89pts, drink to 2010) so maybe the WBW 94 drink to 2013 is pretty optimistic. Interestingly this vintage is missing from Halliday and Oliver reviews, vintages on either side are reviewed. I am not familiar with this wine, current vintage is 2006, so this has been sitting around somewhere for a year or two. Update: Ron R advises he bought 6 of the Billi Billi 2004 some time ago from a different source and has found it very lack lustre and suggests people avoid it.

23 July: Market forces at work. I don't know the wine, Kennedy Heathcote Shiraz 2006, but it's appeared at a few places and is offered in today's Wine Emporium email @ $26 (down from $29), it is listed on wine-searcher @ $26.79/$321.48 @ Cellardor and $348 full dozen only @ Nicks. However the same wine appears on WLA @ $19.99/239.88 and on it's alter-ego Aussie wines site @ $239.88 by the full dozen only. Wine Emporium also are offering an inexpensive Barbaresco: 2006 Sansilvestro Barbaresco Magno $37 (Usually $42) but it's not online yet.

After a big week last week the chains have reverted to normal advertising this week, i.e. mostly ho hum prices on run of the mill wines. Dan Murphy does have Laphroaig 10yo Malt @ $69.90.

Apparently Woolworths is having another 20% off sale on wine. Nick P struck it lucky at Gungahlin (ACT) and found some already reduced Champagne that were included in the 20% off. Not usually worth mentioning as there are/were only 5-6 bottles left of Krug MV @ $222 less 20%, he got the last Dom Perignon 2000 @ $177 less 20%, but you may find a local Woolies already clearing some top-shelf wines and adding the 20%off actually makes it a rare bargain there.

Not quite as great a bargain as the 2003 Grampians or 2004 Pyrenees @ $19.99 back in April, but Jacks Wines now have the Clayfield Grampians Shiraz 2005 @ $35pb, buy 10 get 12, or $29.17pb + freight, normally $45 ex-winery.

Peter Marr Wine Traders have failed the 1-day email reply test. I've had no response to my query re non-secure ordering system and they haven't noticed my incomplete order on their system.

Forget the claimed savings, the standard price for Normans Old Vines McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008 is now $9.95 exclusively from GWD who own the brand. I haven't tried this in recent years, but it may be worth a punt at that price, just send it back if it doesn't live up to the hype.

McLaren Vale Cabernet can be very good, recent years have seen many excellent examples from the region. Wine Market have one from a bit south of McLaren Vale that score a quite impressive Halliday review, might be worth a try at $11.99. Minko Mt Compass Reserve Cabernet 2008.

Mixed dozens of single bottles of all reds are on offer from East End Cellars ($265) and Cloudwine has a dozen from Heathcote @ $389.

Wine Market has procured stocks of the Ch Reynella Shiraz 2006 as cleanskins for the same price as the 2005 ($18.95), stock arriving soon, but available to order now. I've ordered 2 cases, the labelled version is around @ $39 and up. Or you could wait and see if it appears at WLA or elsewhere at a cheaper price like the 2005 did. Don't forget to enter the RBG coupon code in the last stage of checkout, it's accepted and works Ok for one case, they adjust manually for multiple cases. (Let me know if it doesn't work.)

22 July: I was doing a periodic trawl of the Peter Marr Wine Trader site last night (they aren't on wine-searcher) and saw a few tempting buys in the clearance sections, including Duval-Leroy Champagne 1996 vintage @ $65 (elsewhere $85 and up) and a few Viottolo wines, Viale Sangiovese Cabernet 2005 @ $18.90 and McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 @ $19.90 (both originally $35+). I was going to place an order, but couldn't be assured that the credit card details were being transmitted securely, so abandoned that and emailed them to check. No response yet. The offers are worth checking out, but order by phone rather than online.

A local wine scribe, Fergus McGhie, has written in the Canberra Times today that the Grove Estate Sommita Nebbiolo 2007 from Young was "possibly the best New World expression of the variety I've tried". Fergus is a nice guy, but I don't really rely on his reviews for personal buying, but this one may be worth a try. Prince Wine Store have it for $30/$324, it's available direct (via Wine Boss) for $30/$330 + freight. Discount Wines has the 2006 vintage listed @ $24.95, they should be able to get the 2007.

21 July: The Boccaccio weekly newsletter is up, featuring De Bortoli Pinot Noirs, from the Estate 2007 @ $26.99 (down from $29.99, same as W*, WLA still $29.99) and Gulf Station 2008 @ $14.99 (same as W* and WLA, Kemeny's $13.99) to Windy Peak 2008 @ $10.99 (WLA $9.99). Enough already! On to the usual imports, Italian if you are shopping in the $80-$130 range and Telmo Rodriguez Lanzaga Tempranillo 2006 at a more affordable $42.99 (Cellardor $47.36). Then a bunch of Aus. Shiraz, Shaw & Smith 2007 @ $36.99 (WLA $34.99, several others around $36.99), Henschke Mt Edelstone 2006 @ $89.99 (Cellardor $82.83, The Wine Society $84.99, Canterbury Wines $85.00) and Henschke Hill of Grace 2005 @ $499.99. In the SMH Good Living today 60 Darling Street lists the Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2007 @ $33, less 5% for 6 or more. Ph 1300 139 252 to order. There web site is now just a "parked" domain name.

If you like Kilikanoon Covenant Shiraz 2006, there are some good prices around. Kemeny's have it advertised today for $35pb and Discount Wines have it listed in one of the "best buys" pages buried in their site @ $390.60 + freight for a dozen or $32.55pb.

Qwoff has Metala Original Plantings (Black Label) Shiraz 2004 @ $34.99 + freight, elsewhere $39.99-$49.99. Their freight company doesn't acknowledge Canberra is a Capital City though.

If you like Yalumba Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet 2006, then the new release Yalumba The Cigar Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 @ $22.99 @ Nicks might be worth a try. It's off the younger (15yo) vines in the Menzies vineyard.

GWD realised their Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2007 offer at $16.95 wasn't good enough and have dropped the price to $13.95pb today only. If you can cope with a dozen, the WLA offer at $16.99 with 2 free magnums with a dozen is still cheaper, around $12.75pb including the magnums.

20 July: The Winestar weekly offers are up already (see left panel link), featuring the De Bortoli Gulf Station Pinot Noir 2008 @ $14.99, it might even be drinkable according to all the rave reviews from respected scribes. Also Mt Langi Shiraz 2006 @ $55 (previously mentioned on 15 July).

I don't have any opinion on the GWD offers today, if you are into young, probably early-drinking cabernets, then the Coonawarra Cabernet 2007 cleanskin (now with a bonus dozen, 2 dozen for $143.40+freight) or the Y Wines MR Cabernet 2007 @ $10.95 might be worth a punt. Speaking of GWD, the Normans Chais Clarendon Cabernet 1998 was going briefly today at Wines for Life for $6.33, now listed @ $10.12. I'm not sure if this is getting tired or not, but it may be still hanging in there, JO rated it 91pts, drink to 2010.

I've got a wine-searcher alert in for Evans & Tate MR Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, but I must have specified it incorrectly, because the wine is now listed at Kemeny's @ $34.99 ($45 at the MR Regional Wine Centre) and my alert wasn't triggered. I loved the 2004 vintage of this and the 2005 is just as classy, tasted at the NWS last year. I got a heads-up to look again from a person I'm following on Twitter. I've got mixed feelings about Twitter, I'm not sure how you can really "follow" hundreds or thousands of people and still do work or have a life, but it does seem to be useful and amusing at times.

Vintage Cellars are offering a Knappstein Clare Valley Cabernet 2008 @ $99/12, with a bonus Knappstein Sparkling Shiraz thrown in. Their related Liquorland Direct site offers it for $29.99/$299.98+freight. Not available in-store, offer expires July 30th. I don't know the wine, indications are that it's for current drinking.

19 July: The Ed Shiraz Challenge 2009 Top 20 winners have been notified:

18 July: Matt at Premium Wines Direct has another mid-month mixed-case special offer this month. He said they were all reds, but beware of that "red" Riesling on Offer 10. Details (pdf) are here. Some of the offers look to be tempting, but the JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz 2005 wasn't a big hit with me when tasted at the winery a year or two ago and it seems to be hard to move the remaining stocks, maybe you might like it more than me, the price is getting to be fairly cheap now. As ever, mention this site so Care Australia benefits from your order.

16 July: The Wine Culture email this week has a long list of new(ish) releases that scored rave reviews from well-regarded reviewers. It's actually (unusually) online already, so check it out here. It has the first listing I've seen of the Chapel Hill Cabernet 2007, but at $31.99/$28.99, about $4-$5 more than the 2006, so better prices may be in the offing, or maybe not, it's hard to tell these days.

The chains, particularly 1stChoice are making me work more than usual today. 1stChoice has an 8-page colour newspaper insert here today, with a large range of wines and prices that on a first scan range from sharp to quite a bit higher than the good independents.

Dan Murphy leads off with an exclusive-to-them Heathcote Shiraz 2008 @ $12.90 (complete with "Hurry, limited stock"), it might be worth a try to see if it really is the bargain their tasting panel claims it to be. Also Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Shiraz 2007 @ $14.80 (Kemeny's $15.99, Boccaccio $16.00, W* $16.99, Nicks $17.99) and that's about it for offers of interest that are significantly better than the independents.

1stChoice:

15 July: A rare Pinot Noir mention, Scotchman's Hill Pinot Noir 2007 gets a very good review on Wine Front (and the in the BRWB), checking the prices I found it listed at Boccaccio for $20pb. That seems pretty sharp, RRP is apparently $30+ and it is listed @ $26 to $33 elsewhere. AFIK there is only one Scotchman's Hill Pinot, so get in quick before Anthony wakes up or changes his mind.

Wine Market has a Balgownie Limited Release Shiraz 2005 @ $9.95 that is selling at Balgownie CD for $35/$28. From the description on the Balgownie site it's possibly not the same as the standard White Label Shiraz 2005, but if you like Balgownie Shiraz then the deal certainly looks attractive.

The price on Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2006 was rumoured to have increased substantially on the back of show success in the last few years. Not at the good independents though, Winestar has just listed it @ $55 and it is still $52.99 at Botanical Winestore. Elsewhere $63-$81. The 2005 is still $49.99 at Boccaccio, someone please buy it so they will get the 2006 in.

14 July: I hadn't tried Montrose Mudgee Black Shiraz for many years, it used to be a bit of a favourite in the mid-late 90's (vintages). I bought a bottle of the 2006 vintage at Discount Wines, along with the multi-trophy-winning Paringa Estate Shiraz 2006 and Campbell's Bobby Burns Shiraz 2006 and they went into a tasting flight for my Monday tasting group. Also included were a Sacred Hill Deer Stalkers Syrah 2006 from Hawkes Bay, Gipsie Jack Langhorne Ck Shiraz 2006 and Leasingham Magnus Clare Shiraz 2006. The tasting group showed a clear preference for the surprisingly refined Montrose ahead of the Paringa Estate, Leasingham Magnus and Sacred Hill, with the other two equal last in the rankings. I thought the Magnus was pretty ordinary really and maybe I've gone off the Rutherglen style a bit, but the Bobby Burns also failed to impress me, seeming to be a bit jammy and sweet, but not vibrant. Id did like the cooler-climate styles of the Paringa Estate and Sacred Hill, the Paringa Estate quite ripe and rich for a Mornington Shiraz, deftly judged oak and good overall balance, the Sacred Hill a bit edgier and with some overt oak that needs a bit of time to settle. The Montrose Black Shiraz 2006 is $23.75 at Discount Wines and $288/dozen at Nicks, it may appear at the chains as well.

The Boccaccio weekly newsletter is online now (see left panel link), featuring Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 @ $15.99 ($16.15 member price ex-winery, $16.95 @ Discount Wines, $18.99 Winestar and Cellardor), Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 @ $46.99 (same as Nicks, elsewhere $49.95 and up so far) and Ringbolt MR Cabernet 2007 @ $18.99 (Kemeny's $16.99 + freight, Discount Wines $17.95+freight, Winestar, WLA $19.99).

Winestar is also out early again this week, featuring Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz 2005 @ $17.99 (down $1 from prior offer, Jim's Cellars same price, elsewhere $22), the 2006 has been out a while but there still seems to be plenty of the 2005 around.

That Chateau Reynella BP McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005 cleanskin keeps popping up. Now WLA have it at $14.99, about $4pb less than it was at GWD and still is at Wine Market. Tempted to get some more... (Thanks Graham W.)

There must be a lot of fraud happening with internet sales at some places. I had a weird experience when I tried to buy a 1TB WD disk drive at this site ($99+$11 delivery). They don't have PayPal which is my preferred mode of payment, so I paid by CC. Then I got an email saying they couldn't verify my address via White pages or Google. I'm not listed in the White Pages directory, so that's not too surprising, but I do appear in Google results, but not with an address other than Canberra. I asked them to either send it or cancel the order, they opted to cancel, so now I have to watch out for the transaction reversal...

13 July: If you are looking for a probably near mature Barossa Shiraz, the Gibson Barossavale Shiraz 2002 @ $20pb++ in 6-packs on the Langton's Sydney Exchange may be of interest, there are 13 @ that price and some more @ $22pb. I paid $30 for the 6 I bought in Dec 2004, must be time to try one soon. There are also 8 lots of the same wine in 6-packs in the Sydney Auction, finishing tomorrow, sitting @ $15-$22++ at present. Also one 6-pack of Two Hands Lily's Garden McLarenVale Shiraz 2005 @ $27++ (JH 94, to 2025), some in the current auction also, sitting @ $26-$27++ already. There isn't a lot in the Melbourne Exchange, even less than in Sydney, it looks like Langton's are moving away from that model, or just moving lots from the Exchange into Auctions.

If you liked the previous Green Point Heathcote Shiraz vintages (I preferred 2005 to 2006), then the new 2007 vintage from GWD should be on your list at the same $11.95 price as the 2006. One caution is that 2007 in Heathcote was "in general" a lesser vintage than either 2005 or 2006 and you can't believe the GWD hype.

The James Halliday Wine Companion 2010 is on the way to printing, wineries are getting some indication of wines that made the grade. One is the 2008 Charlatan McLaren Vale Sangiovese, with the winery appearing for the first time in the Wine Companion, both winery and wine rated 4 or 5 stars (specifics not notified by WC). Chad is offering the wine in 6-packs for $90 delivered, phone 08 8386 3463 or email him to order.

12 July: A quiet weekend for updates, I went to a friend's wedding yesterday and out to Yum Cha lunch with friends today.

I've had feedback from one reader that The Chateau Shiraz 2005 from the recent Ch Tanunda export-labelled sale may have a bit of spritz. I missed out on this and my Grand Barossa Shiraz 2004 hasn't arrived yet, but apparently it doesn't have the same problem. If you bought The Chateau Shiraz 2005 and find it spritzy, try a vigorous decant and leave it for a few hours, if you still find it unsatisfactory, contact the winery to see if they will take it back and give you a refund. (Thanks Les.)

I'm getting the feeling that 2007 in South Australia may be a bit of a tough vintage, with many Barossa reds in particular seeming to lack fruit generosity and having less than ideal (hard) tannins. I guess it was too much to hope for that after the excellent (but different) 2004. 2005 and 2006 vintages that another would just roll along. And of course 2008 in SA is likely to have a proportion of wines made from somewhat cooked fruit. All the more reason to subscribe to the site of your favourite wine scribe(s) and, where possible, to taste before you buy in any quantity. I'll certainly be looking carefully before I buy SA 2007 reds and hopefully will be able to point to some good ones at good price.

On that theme, Wine Front reviews of the 2007 Turkey Flat Shiraz and 2007 Mourvedre seem to support the contention above, I've also heard that Kalleske and Dutschke 2007 reds, while good, have a hard tannin profile and are not as good as the 2006 vintage of the same wines. Never fear, there are always exceptions to any generalisation, there will be plenty of good 2007 reds around and there is always the seemingly safe Western Australian / Margaret River 2007 option.

10 July: NWR: Vicarious shopping is quite fun at times. I helped a (female) friend buy a new TV and DVR today. Armed with a bit of research we started at JB H Fi and then moved on to Myer, who are having a stocktake sale with 15% off electrical goods. The prices on offer were substantially better than the starting prices at JB HiFi and Bing Lee and without more than looking a little hesitant we were offered another 10-15% off on the deal for the pair. And even when the deal was done, the young guy tossed in a $55 RRP HDMI cable for free. I wasn't quite satisfied though by spending someone else's money and had to drop in at Candamber/Discount Wines on the way home to order some Peter Rumball Sparkling Shiraz 1997 (recommended by a couple of people on the forums) and pick up some new release single bottles for tastings.

While paying at Discount Wines Geoff told me of the latest scams being tried on credit card purchases. One is to fudge the use of a PIN, press 3 numbers and then the fourth key pressed is "Clear" and then Enter, then wave away the receipt as not required and leave the store in a hurry and hope the server doesn't notice the CC printout has reverted to Signature Required. Apparently one of their junior staff was conned this way recently. The second is to scribble a signature that isn't like the one on the back of the card and then deny any knowledge of the transaction to the card issuer. They have started taking down ID details for any CC transaction over $100 if the customer is not known to them.

09 July: 1stChoice has Lanson NV Champagne @ $39.99 again, also Knappstein Chainsaw Sparkling Shiraz @ $19.99 ($18.75+freight from Discount Wines, $20.56 Cellardor), haven't seen/tried the Knappstein for a while, but it could be good drinking at that price. Other offerings are in many cases more expensive than the good independents and the "We Beat everyone's prices" headline is an outright lie.

"Dan Murphy" must be feeling unloved, they keep asking us to "trust" them. I seem to remember the man Dan Murphy being in trouble with the law for tax evasion or similar late in his life, but Googling doesn't turn up any biographical info, it's a little strange that there isn't much info on Dan himself out there. Anyway, Bremerton Tamblyn Cabernet Shiraz Malbec Merlot 2007 @ $14.90 may tempt ($17.00-$18.00) elsewhere and if you can cope with Warburn Estate reds for a quaffer, you can get a case of (locally brewed) Stella Artois beer with a dozen for $94.80 and Taylors Estate varieties are $11.90.

GWD are offering the "new vintage" (it's been out quite a while now) Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2007 @ $16.95+freight, but it is $15.99+freight at Kemeny's and $16.99 with two free magnums on a dozen buy at WLA. Nice try Tony, but some of us are awake out here.

I'm not familiar with Delacoste NV Champagne, but $29.33 + freight from Jacks Wine could be tempting as might $11.44 for a Pyren Vineyard Pyrenees Shiraz 2005 and/or Tempus Two Botrytis Semillon 2005 (250ml bottle) @ $8.88 (WLA $16.99).

My Personal Wine Merchant has Punters Corner Coonawarra Cabernet 2003 @ $145/dozen freight-inclusive. This might be a bit of a "punt", TORB and I weren't overly impressed by it at the winery in May 2008, it's a leaner style and fairly acidic, probably better with food. The price is right though, the current release 2004 is offered @ $24.95-$30.

Wine Culture is offering the St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2006 @ $69.99 ($84.99/$76.49 @ VC, 1 bonus cellar share with each bottle) and the Eden Valley Shiraz 2006 special release @ $35.99, both reported as being very good by John Davis (The Pie King of SA) based on tasting at the winery last week. As usual, not online yet, ph 02 9882 1788 to order.

Cloudwine have the Longhop Shiraz 2007 @ $13/$156 (full dozen price, not sure if that includes freight), My Personal Wine Merchant is still a touch cheaper @ $150 incl. freight.

08 July: WLA has Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2007 @ $34.99 and the Rockbare Mojo Barossa Shiraz 2006 @ $14.99, with two bonus Riedel O glasses with each dozen, freight-inclusive on dozens. The Mojo is mostly $16 -$19 elsewhere, but Discount wines have it @ $167.40 ($13.95) by the dozen, plus freight.

07 July: A bit of a late update this morning, I've been playing with a new "toy" - setting up my new Logitech Harmony One universal remote to operate 4 different devices including an eGreat Networked Media Tank. I think I've got it all working Ok now, I can put away the 4 other remotes.

Another reason not to even bother with price matches at Dan Murphy and 1stChoice. Check out the new DM rules and the scarily similar 1stChoice rules . "Online offers" are now excluded. Support the independent merchants who offer a great range of interesting wines at fair prices and have great service as well.

I noticed a couple of good prices on wine-searcher for Wine Box Warehouse, but when I clicked through they were higher. It seems WBW has reverted to pre-GST prices on wine-searcher, ~~either deliberately or i~~nadvertently. (It's technically illegal to advertise items for sale in Australia without including GST in the price (unless exempt)). Update: Mat from WBW contacted me to say he thought it was a wine-searcher error in picking up the data from their site and definitely not a deliberate act on their part. The wine-searcher entries now reflect the inclusion of GST in prices.

The Winestar weekly offers are up, featuring Ringbolt MR Cabernet 2007 @ $19.99, but Kemeny's have it @ $16.99, Greenstone Heathcote Shiraz 2006 @ $27.99 (same as Auscellardoor, others $29.99) and the Tyrrell's 4 Acres Shiraz 2004 @ $79.99 if you missed out on the 2007.

Mike A emailed to inform that St Hallett have some half-bottles of 2006 Blackwell Shiraz going at $130/dozen, plus $10 freight, free for 3 or more cases. Call 08 8563 7000 to order.

The Boccaccio Newsletter offers are up too, featuring Cape Mentelle Trinders Cabernet-Merlot 2007 @ $23.99 (elsewhere $24.95+freight and $28.22), three Teusner current reds, the Albert Shiraz 2006 the pick for me @ $44.99 ($42.50+freight at Discount Wines, $43.00 @ Cloudwine, $44.11 @ Cellardor, $44.99 @ Auswine, then $46-$49.95), also Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2007 @ $36.99 and Toolangi Estate Pinot Noir 2005 @ $35.99 (Discount Wines $31.95+freight, Cellardor $35.93).

I don't follow Huon Hooke ratings that much, but 95 pts for the Dominique Portet Heathcote Shiraz 2006 in the SMH Good Living today may mean that wine is back in form. $42.90 from Auscellardoor, $44.99 from WLA.

The new monthly specials from Matt at Premium Wine Direct are up too, some carry-overs (JJ Hahn still offered), some new, new mixed packs, new bonuses, see left panel link. Email Matt and mention this site so Care Australia benefits from each purchase. Also a couple of extra mixed dozens just for RBG readers (essentially getting the Bin 555 for free):

Matt’s Specials Red dozen featuring 6 bottles each of Bird in Hand Cabernet 2007 ($26-$30) and Wyndham 555 2005 Shiraz (3 trophies and 4 golds) for $156 plus $7 freight
Matt’s Specials Shiraz dozen featuring 6 bottles each of JJ Hahn 1928 Shiraz 2005 ($30) and Wyndham 555 2005 Shiraz (3 trophies and 4 golds) for $156 plus $7 freight. Email Matt direct and quote Matt’s Specials pack 1 or pack 2 to order…
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05 July: GWD have some Virgin Hills Cabernet blends from 2001 and 2002, the last under that label, for $19.95 if you are a fan. I tried a bottle of the Hope Estate Cabernet 2005 (from the Virgin Hills Vineyard, sourced from Gray's @ $10pb) on Friday night. It initially seemed a little thin and sour-edged, but the fruit gradually emerged and it drank quite nicely with the pan-fried flathead fillets and home-cooked chips. The Beaumont Hunter Semillon 2004 @ $9.95 has also been on Gray's (2005 appearing more recently) and is a bit softer and sweeter than the usual crisp Hunter efforts, still quite drinkable though according to my WWD friend. I think I paid around $7pb delivered from Gray's. Update: Someone is paying $304++ on Grays today for a dozen Virgin Hills 2001 red.

Wine Market has a couple of red mixed dozens and a premium 6-pack. The numbers on the premium 6-pack with the Pol Roger NV bonus don't really seem to add up to a huge bargain for me, but there is some added value in the bonus Champagne if that tempts. The Black Spade dozen @ $131.99 may suit you if 15% Barossa Shiraz and Cabernet from 2006 is to your taste. Free delivery with the RBG coupon code.

04 July: The Jeremy Oliver site has reverted to the old format, but with "several thousand ratings and tasting notes." Quite a few of them seem to be wines not yet released, in preparation for the release of his 2010 Wine Annual. I'll look for any highlights in current releases and check prices. There are lots of wines with sub-90 scores that have had more favourable reviews elsewhere, including some high-priced premiums scoring mid-high 80's, looks like JO is in "hard-marking" mode. Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2007 is pronounced "smoke-tainted and green-edged", 72 pts.

On the Wine Front, Yelland and Papps Greenock Shiraz 2007 scored 93pts, drink 2009-2017, it's $30/$170 6-pack ex-winery, + freight. Their one page PDF order form says “Please turn over for freight prices”

Want some halves of Shiraz? Langmeil ~~have~~/had (all gone now) 38 cases of 375ml USA labelled Valley Floor Shiraz 2007 @ $100/dozen plus $15 freight or freight-free if you order off the regular list as well. ~~Ph (08) 8563 2595 to order.~~

03 July: Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2004 is getting some rave reviews, prices are $69.90/99 @ Auscellardoor, Avalon and Winestar, $74.99 @ Boccaccio and WLA.

Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2007 is likewise garnering rave reviews, it is $36.03 @ Cellardor, $36.99 @ Canterbury Wines, WLA and Winestar, $37.99 and up elsewhere.

Ordered two shiraz from a Barossa winery this morning after a couple of subscribers forwarded me a mailing list offer on export-labelled wines. Prices were $90 and $84 / dozen plus $12 freight/case. One of the wines has been selling on Grays recently for around $189++/case. I'm waiting permission to post details here, they may want to keep it to mostly mailing list people. Update: No reply from the winery, it's Chateau Tanunda, a few of you emailed, got the details and ordered some wine, The Chateau Shiraz 2005 @ $90/doz is sold out, there may be still some Grand Barossa Shiraz 2004 @ $84/dozen plus $12 freight, ph (08) 8563 3888. I have no idea why they sold at these prices when they (or their agent) were getting more on Grays, but it's a gift to their mailing list and people they forwarded details to.

Adelaide Cellar Door are offering mixed/full dozens at wholesale prices during July. heck out their rang and if interested, email Jane or Peter and ask for the price list.

There have been a couple of email offers on Longhop Shiraz 2007, Auscellardoor has it @ $13.90, Boccaccio and Winestar have it @ $14.99 and it's still available direct for $162/dozen delivered ($13.50pb). It's also available for $150/dozen delivered from My Personal Wine Merchant (thanks Otto).

Just noticed on The Wine Front a review of Mantra [abundance] Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (93pts to 2015), it's only $20pb including freight on dozens from the wine by brad winery site. On the list also is the 2005 Mantra Cabernet Merlot @ $15 (91pts to 2011 from GW). Another possibility is a Mt Barker Galafrey Cabernet 2005 (92 pts to 2015), it's $24 ex-CD, but available from Cellardor by the dozen for $19.29pb.

02 July: The chains are focussing on the low-middle ground still. Dan Murphy has $1.99 cleanskins again and 1stChoice has Annie's Lane under $10pb. A few other wines of possible interest were advertised, but the prices are nothing special.

Jeremy Oliver seems to have gotten into a difficult situation with his new site and is reverting back to the old one, albeit with "several thousand" new ratings added. "This site, whose development has been riddled with a plethora of inconceivable issues, plainly has not delivered. I have been in this space for longer than most wine commentators and this is the fourth commercial website I have developed. So despite the fact that I don't lack experience in this area, I have been staggered by the issues I have needed to encounter in this particular process." A quick scan of the new site reveals many design issues. My IT system development Rule #23 says "Don't develop IT/Web systems with family or friends." A lesson Kemeny's should have learned by now as well.

The GWD Rex Watson Coonawarra Shiraz 2005 and Cabernet 2007 may be worth a try @ $9.95. The Cabernet 2007 is elsewhere $150 (Virtual Cellar Door), $215.88 (WLA) per dozen and the Shiraz 2005 is $19.99/$17.99 at Vintage Cellars.

01 July: Happy New Financial Year, let's hope it's a lot better than the one just ended.

I just realized I didn't buy any wine at all in June. Not a bad thing as I've bought heaps in the preceding months and the cellar count is creeping up.

From the Halliday 100 tasting notes for July: Amherst Dunns Paddock Pyrenees Shiraz 2007 (94pts, drink to 2016) is available ex-winery for $25/$270 + $15/case freight. Michael Hall Eden Valley Syrah 2007 (94 pts to 2020) is $45 at The Ed. Scarpantoni Black Tempest Shiraz NV (94 pts, to 2013) is $28/$319.20 + freight ex-winery. Thompson Estate Cabernet Merlot 2005 (94pts to 2018) isn't listed on wine-searcher or at the winery, but the FE Andrea Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2005 (94pts to 2020 in the 2009 Wine Companion) is $28.93 @ Cellardor ($38/$400 at the winery). Wise Wine Lot 80 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (94 pts to 2018) is $35 via Virtual Cellar Door.

The weekly Boccaccio newsletter is up, featuring a cheapie, Angas the Bull Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 @ $13.99 with a bonus "waiters friend" with each 6-bottle buy (Kemeny's $14.99, Winestar $16.99, WLA $17.99). Also the new 2007 Cullen Diana Madelaine Cabernet Merlot @ $94.99. The winery had a deal until 16 July, free freight and 10% off if you by a dozen ($94.50) or 20% off if you buy 2 dozen ($84). Last stocks of Langi Shiraz 2005 @ $49.99 and the 2007 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot @ $37.99 (Discount Wines $39.50+freight).

Nice article on Marius by Philip White. If you haven't discovered Marius reds yet, it's about time you did! Also worth reading his TN on the 2007 Cullen Diana Madelaine.

I scored a dozen Hope Estate Macedon (ex-Virgin Hills) Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 on Gray's today for $89++ or under $10pb delivered. I hope the JH 93pts TN is accurate still. GWD still have stocks @ $14.95pb, so it hasn't flown out the door there since first appearing a few weeks ago.