Bloodwood 2009 Big Men in Tights (4* $16) Almost luminous, and the nose has plenty going for it. Length on the palate and a solid, earthy style. Will be back for more.
Bloodwood 2009 Riesling (4.5 $22.50 ) From the first sniff we're definitely talking Riesling, but one without the angularity of some South Australian styles (and I really love Clare /Eden Valley Riesling). Where some of my favourites burst upon your palate saying something like I am Riesling, handle it, this one (and I'm using Madam's terms here) sidles up beside you and says Hi there! Like to get to know me better? A slinky style that will become increasingly familiar. Frequent reorders on the horizon. If I didn't like it, I suspect Madam would insist anyway...
Bloodwood 2007 Shiraz (4.5* $26.75) White pepper on the nose and palate, medium bodied elegant style that's extremely moreish. Given comments in the Riesling department and my own liking for the Rose, this seriously good Shiraz complicates matters.
Brook Eden 2009 Chardonnay (4.5* $29/$25.60 Vintage Club) Soft peachy style with great elegance. Could drink any number of these in vast quantities, but they've yet to find a niche in the LHoC wine/food matching environment apart from the roast chicken, which isn't a seven days a week proposition, which it'd need to be to cover the rising Oz Chard wave. Fantastic wine but looking elsewhere....
Brook Eden 2009 Pinot Gris (4.5* $20) Straw-coloured, fragrant nose with loads of pear notes. An impressive subtler style that's quite delicious with plenty of lingering flavour. Definitely one to reorder.
Brook Eden 2009 Riesling (4.5* $22.50/ $20 Vintage Club) Nicely balanced expression of the regionality you get with the variety, with depth of flavour and crisp acid. Will probably be looking at some more if/when I line up for the Pinot Rose.
Brook Eden 2009 TRS Riesling (4* $22.50) Lower alcohol (11%) semi-sweet (TRS = 30g/litre residual sugar) in a German Kabinett style. Pale straw, subtly fragrant nose, softly elegant with interesting interplay between acid and sugar. One of the numerous off dry Rieslings emerging onto the market and worth further investigation for those who like that dash of sugar.
Grosset 2010 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (5* $18) Stunning. From the opening sniff, a rounded complex blend of Clare Valley semillon (60%) and Adelaide Hills sauvignon blanc (40%) with vibrant tropical fruits and refreshing acidity. Will be a regular part of future orders.
Lake's Folly 1999 Hunter Valley Cabernets (5* n/a) Fragrant earthy berries on the nose, savoury palate with well defined length. Wonderful event wine where the drinking experience more than matched the anticipation and reputation. Would like to think I can try other vintages, but am not holding my breath. That said, if I see one I'll more than likely be buying.
Olssens of Watervale 2006 The Olssen Six (5* $60) Possibly unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carmenere and Petit Verdot. From the first whiff there's a considerable Wow! factor. Intense, focussed, layered and elegant, a wine to savour at length and leisure.
Olssen 2006 Shiraz Mataro (4.5* $26) Rounded, complex but very balanced style, and almost alarmingly easy drinking. At 14.5% alc/vol it could well sneak up on you. Looking forward to trying the 2007.
Pfeiffer 2008 Carlyle Shiraz (4.5* n/a) Full-bodied style with berry fruit, spicy notes and luscious tannins. Winery currently has the '09 on offer, so presumably all gone. Pity.
Pfeiffer 1999 Chardonnay (4.5* n/a) Eleven years is plenty of time to allow the elements to integrate, resulting in a full-bodied, soft and rounded style that’s interesting drinking. Members only Autumn 2010 C2 Club special, so not a reorder possibility.
Pfeiffer 2009 Ensemble Rose (4.5* $16/ C2 $14.40) Fresh light pink tannin-free style that Madam really liked and would be ideal summer drinking. There are an increasing number of them about. Probably go half and half with the 2010 Gamay when it comes out.
Pfeiffer 2010 Gamay (4.5* $18/ C2 $16.20) Regulation cheery cherry red in the glass, whiff of berries on the nose and the usual fresh fruity style across the palate. They've done it again. Integral ingredient in the Little House of Concrete summer drinking strategy. Would be 5* if you rated it on latest expression of almost absolute reliability.
Pfeiffer 2008 Merlot (4.5* $25/ C2 $22.50) Deep red in the glass, pleasantly aromatic nose and soft rounded tannins across the palate. Good food style and definitely one to consider.
Pfeiffer 2008 Pinot Noir (4.5* $25/ C2 $22.50) On the basis of received wisdom suggesting Pinot goes best in cool climates there's no way Hughesy should be rating this rounded medium bodied wine as highly as I do. Maybe it's the particular clone or the fact that the wine comes from sixty year old vines. Not a wine I'm likely to reorder, but one I look forward to sampling with each new release.