Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale 2007

Price: $26.20 from Dan Murphy's
Closure: Screwcap; 14.0% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 90
Value: ***

Dense, tarry, chocolately nose with some muddy tones as well. A milkiness about it that is quite appealing. The nose opened up considerably with some rigorous swishing in the glass. Cabernet characters more evident on the blockbuster palate - a slight leafiness together with blackcurrant flavours hidden behind a wall of fine-grained, dusty, caressing tannins. Terrific mid-palate with an explosion of ripe, opulent fruit. A chocolately goodness with very mouthful. This wine is built for the long, long haul.

Having said that, after some time in the glass and coming back to the wine a few times, it seemed to give less and less pleasure. The finish was becoming short and the tannins just seemed to get in the way of everything else. Will leave it overnight and revisit again.

Moorooduc Estate McIntyre Vineyard Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula 2007

Price: $35 from Cellar Door
Closure: Screwcap; 13.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 93+
Value: *****

Lovely nose, some nutty and deftly managed buttery character. Palate is full with some nice minerality especially on the finish. Oak treatment is restrained and the focused palate sings of melon and peach/nectarine flavours. Long, lingering finish and natural, balanced acidity bring up the rear of the delectable, elegant wine. Not at all tiresome to drink even after it has warmed up to room temperature. One of the best Chardys I've had in a long while.

Richard Hamilton Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale 2008

Price: $15 from Dan Murphy's
Closure: Screwcap; 14.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 92
Value: *****

Full-throttle nose, nice regional chocolate and mocha aromas. Cabernet characteristics somewhat taking a backseat. This is not a "classic" Cabernet nose in that sense but still rather likeable. Densely flavoured on the full bodied palate, a ton of blackcurrant fruit, rather sweet and inviting with some soft tannins on the long finish. Outstanding value, nothing to dislike about this wine.

Moorooduc Estate Garden Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula 2007

Price: AUD35 from Cellar Door
Closure: Screwcap; 14.0% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 88
Value: ***

My last wine at 265 Exhibition Street. I sit here in a sparkling clean apartment with the twinkling city lights in front of me, Ray Lamontagne crooning beside me and I think back on the many wines I've had in this apartment, shared with lovely company amidst unforgettable conversations. Nostalgia hangs heavy in the air as I contemplate how great these 2 years have been, forging new friendships and cementing old ones. The question of what I'll miss most in Melbourne is an easy one - this apartment and all the memories contained within.

This is a Pinot Noir with quite a strong twist of Cabernet on the nose - some leafy, tree-bark like aromas. Rather woody with the red fruits hiding in the background. Smells distinctly like a Margaret River Cabernet Merlot, a fabulous nose. Rather silky on the palate with a savoury sour tinge on the back palate. Quite complex in flavours, there's a lot going on in there. A bit of medicinal nuances and dusty tannins on the finish as well. Seems to be rather developed already making for an interesting drink.

Craiglee Shiraz, Sunbury 2005

Price: about $50 from Cellar Door
Closure: Diam; 14.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 96+
Value: *****

A multi-faceted and layered wine with a highly aromatic nose of red and black fruits, licorice and peppery spices. There is a cherry-like, plummy quality about it. Silky smooth on the palate, such is the refinement of this wine that the mouthfeel rivals that of a Pinot Noir. A distinguished, complex and immaculately balanced wine with smooth tannins, gorgeous peppery red fruit and acidity that isn't a least contrived. Velvety and seductive, this wine is almost dangerously delicious. Dare I say this could be Victoria's best cool climate Shiraz?

Tawny Taste-Off

Chateau Reynella 16 Year Old Tawny


Price: $9 from Dan Murphy's (375ml)
Closure: Cork; 19.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 89
Value: *****

Isn't great that you can open a bottle of Tawny and sip it slowly over an extended period of time and it still more or less remains the same? This bargain of a wine has the usual nutty, oxidised complexities on the nose. Reminds me rather much of a packet Soy Bean drink called Vitasoy! The palate is lusciously sweet and the same "rice" taste I get on many Tawnys. Some clean acidity balances the sweetness on the finish.



De Bortoli Old Boys 21 Year Old Tawny


Price: $38 from Dan Murphy's
Closure: Cork; 19.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 94
Value: ****

Deeper and darker in appearance compared to the Reynella. Translates well into the nose - stronger, bolder aromas. Smells fruitier and sweeter as well. The palate is a dead giveaway on the sheer class of this wine. More complex rancio flavours, a tighter and precise palate which gives way to a finish that is starkly lengthier than the Reynella. Tasted side-by-side, there is just no comparison. A wonderful Tawny and worth every cent.

Paringa Estate "Estate" Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsular 2006

Price: about $60 from Cellar Door
Closure: Screwcap; 14.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 95+
Value: **

Rim of the wine showing some browning. Complex Pinot nose - ripe plums and dark cherry together with mushroomy goodness. Gorgeous oak treatment thrown in for good measure - the deftly handled oak adds a whole new dimension. Perfumed and delectable, just a Pinot bouquet should be. Dense dark flavours spice, sweet-sour dark cherries on the palate but still retaining a lovely silken texture. Quite a powerful and concentrated Pinot but in very good harmony; bright acidity and smooth tannins prolong the refined finish that sails on. A great Pinot thoroughly enjoyed on a rainy Melbourne night.

Clyde Park Chardonnay, Geelong 2007

Price: about $35 from Cellar Door
Closure: Screwcap; 13.5% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 86
Value: **

Full-throttle nose, lots of buttery, melon-like aromas. Dense and oily on the palate with nice fruit sweetness but with a bit of phenolic bitterness. Some peach flavours thrown in together on the full, lush palate. Alcoholic heat a tad noticeable. Needs a bit more focus. Finish is somewhat lacking as well.

Heathcote Winery Mail Coach Shiraz, Heathcote 2007

Price: about $25 from King & Godfree
Closure: Screwcap; 14.7% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 87
Value: **

Open nose, slightly milky and creamy with red and purple fruits. Proclaims its Shiraz characteristics with aplomb with bright fruit and pepper aromas. Dense on the palate with somewhat harsh tannins and acidity. Acidity seems a bit contrived and artificial. Good fruit concentration and length but just doesn't seem like very good value for money at $25. Everything about this wine is great except for the acidity, is my palate acting up tonight?

Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula 2008

Price: $30.90 from Dan Murphy's
Closure: Diam; 14.0% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 93+
Value: *****

An utterly explosive nose. Red cherry, ripe strawberry. Fragrant and very primary. Sweet fruity nose with balanced oak taking a supporting role. Palate is smooth and refined. Lots of pure focused and intense fruit, great texture and structure. Fine acidity running through the entire length of the palate. Everything in good balance, nothing jutting out. Seductive finish. Nose opens up even more with aeration. Needs more time to gain complexity but still dangerously delicious now.

Best's Bin 0 Shiraz, Great Western 2004

Price: $50 from Cellar Door
Closure: Cork; 14.0% alcohol

E-Hern:
Score: 91
Value: NR

This wine had quite a bit of ullage - the level of wine was almost to the shoulder of the bottle. I figured that I better drink this up sooner rather than later. Wine closure had completely failed with dried wine encrusting the top of the cork.

Wonderful nose with some roasted coffee aromas - a simply gorgeous complex array of smells. However, the age of the wine was apparent on the nose and it somehow smelt distinctly Old World. The palate was fresh and not too tired though the fruit had faded a bit to reveal some aged complexity. Good fruit flavours amidst some obvious acidity. Elegant mouthfeel, and a medium bodied wine driven more by tannin and brisk acid than upfront fruit. I think this wine has been aged prematurely because of the failure of the cork. However, it had not deteriorated to the point of becoming vinegar. The same probably can't be said if I had opened the bottle one year later.