Baileys of Glenrowan 2009 Rutherglen Petit Sirah (4.5* $25) While its cousin/brother was remarkably understated for a Durif, this one takes things a step further with softer, rounder velveteen tannins across the palate. Richly aromatic on the nose, it scored a big seal of approval from Madam, to the point where I'm looking at a reorder. Available in half-dozen lots (15% discount and freight free for 1870s Club members) a six-pack should do us for the duration of a regular Bowen chilly winter (i.e. the week when the overnight minimum drops below 10).
Fermoy Estate 2009 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc (4.5* $22) Almost crystal clear pale straw, brightly aromatic and leaning to the tropical rather than the cut grass end of the spectrum, balanced with genuine varietal character, depth and a lengthy finish, this was quite wonderful drinking and had me wishing I'd doubled the order. Assuming consistency across future vintages I'd happily pay the full RRP whack, and at the discount on offer at the time (it's presumably long gone) a no-brainer.
Fermoy Estate 2009 Yallingup Vineyards Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (4.5* $20) Not quite half and half (52-48%) the Semillon characters sit on top of the grassy passionfruit Sauvignon Blanc, resulting in a blend that's tightly knit with a tangy complexity and a lengthy finish across the palate and plenty on offer through the nose. A wine that had me wishing there were more than five of them left. Will be looking very closely at the 2010.
Hay Shed Hill 2008 White Label Tempranillo (4* $30) Medium bodied elegant, silky style with full, soft, rounded tannins, gently spicy with tasty mouth feel. Very easy to drink. While it mightn't be the greatest Tempranillo going around it's a long way from being the worst.
Pfeiffer 1999 Reserve Marsanne (3* $n/a) While it was pleasant enough drinking, with touches of honeysuckle and a rounded mouthfeel and I could be charitable and suggest we might have left it a tad too long, this did nothing to dispel my view that Tahbilk is the automatic go to for Marsanne, particularly something with a bit of bottle age.
Pfeiffer 2009 Shiraz (4.5* $22.50; Wine Club $20.25) This rather tasty densely coloured wine, with savoury aromatics on the nose and a lingering finish across the palate could well find itself featuring in a reorder though much depends on which wines out of the rest of the C2 Club pack make me sit up and take notice.
Pikes 2009 The Assemblage Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache (4.5* $22) SMG rather than GSM, but in the same flavour profile. Medium bodied, brightly coloured, fruit rather than oak-driven. Soft, savoury food-friendly style with a touch of elegance that is definite reorder material.
Pikes 2009 Gills Farm Mourvedre (4.5* $22) Savoury herb and spice characters through the nose and across the palate, a little violet and blackberry combining to produce a very easy drinking food friendly style. There'll be the odd bottle thrown into the next order.
Whiskey Gully 2005 Upper House Cabernet Sauvignon (4* $26) Quite attractive retro red if you like that style, which I do. While there's nothing wrong with the wine, which packs most of the requisite elements into the glass there's nothing that makes me stop and take notice either. Long finishing steak or roast beef style that won't have you racing out looking to buy it by the pallet but does its job quite satisfactorily.
The 4* rating translates to: I should buy this, but there may well be constraints that prevent me from doing so. The constraints run in at an unwillingness to shell out for a dozen, uncertainty about the current state of play at the winery and a website that doesn't seem to have been updated in a while.
