Pikes 2007 Luccio Sangiovese Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Blend (4.5* $17) Lighter bodied very (Italian) food-friendly early drinking style. Cherry and herbal notes with savoury tannins make it a natural fit with some of my standard dishes. Definitely need more!
Pikes 2007 Luccio Sangiovese Rose (4.5* $17) Bright red, delicate nose, bright fruity (predominantly cherry) style with a dry finish. Another summer drinking option to add to the mix. Likely reorder in a three way split with the two Mullets.
Pikes 2008 The Red Mullet (4.5* $15) Shiraz-dominant (79%) blend with some Tempranillo, Mourvedre and Grenache that makes for a fairly soft, rounded savoury style that is quite delicious everyday drinking. Definite reorder material in that everyday drinking bracket (i.e. in half-case lots).
Pikes 2009 Traditionale Riesling (4.5* $23) As the name suggests, classic straw-coloured Clare Valley trademark Riesling. Citrus on the nose, clear cut lemon lime and slate palate, balanced style that would probably handle bottle aging but is unlikely to be given the opportunity.
Pikes 2009 The White Mullet (4* $15) Pale green Riesling dominant blend. There's a bit of everything on the nose because there's a bit of everything (well, Viognier, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc anyway) in the blend. Fresh flavoursome everyday drinking style. Good value for summer, and one to keep on hand.
Pikes 2009 Valleys End Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (4.5* $20) Brightly coloured in the glass, fresh zingy citrus aromas, herbal notes and tropical fruit balanced on the palate with a long finish. Refreshing summer drinking style that matched most of what we recently sampled in Margaret River. Definite summer drinking reorder possibility to go with seafood or spicy Asian dishes.
Rockford 2009 Barossa Valley White Frontignac (4* $15.50) Once again, clear, pale yellow in the glass, plenty of aromatics on the nose and crisp and clean on the palate. Has reserved a regular place in the Little House of Concrete wine rack.
Rockford 2006 Basket Press Barossa Valley Shiraz (4.5* $51) While I could almost have gone with a 5* rating, this was a wine both of us thought needed a good five plus more years in the cellar. Plenty of velvety fruit-driven flavour, high quality Barossa Shiraz, and worth every cent right now. Looking forward to another try in 2015, when I suspect I'll be going 5*. The only factor preventing me from ordering half a dozen of the 2007 is lack of space in the wine fridge.
Stella Bella 2007 Sangiovese Cabernet (4.5* $30) Halliday described it as "totally delicious" and I couldn't do any better. Plenty of fruit flavour and fine tannin. Will definitely be back for more.
Stella Bella 2007 Tempranillo (4.5* $30) Monstrous savoury nose, with abundant muscular tannin. One to savour over a stew in winter or with chargrilled beef. Will be looking at the '08.
Tahbilk 2009 Roussanne (4* $14.45/$13 Wine Club) Typical flavours I associate with the Rhone white varietals. Though I prefer the Marsanne, this one makes a pleasant change. Refreshing acidity. One to order in the appropriate Wine Club mix.
