These notes, which also appear in the Tastings section of the site, are grouped together here for easy reference.
Pikes 2009 The Assemblage Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache (4.5* $22) SMG rather than GSM, but very much 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 2007 The Dogwalk Cabernet Merlot (4* $20) Nicely balanced blend, full-bodied with fine tannins and black fruits. Drink now style with the legs to go on for a couple of years. Looking elsewhere as far as reorders go.
Pikes 2008 Eastside Shiraz (4* $25) Plums and berries on the nose with a touch of peppery spice thrown in for good measure, plenty of fruit and smooth chocolaty tannins across the palate. Very enjoyable drinking, though I'm not sure I'd be queueing up for a resupply.
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.
Pikes 2010 'Impostores' Savagnin (4* $20) Crisp fresh tropical fruits run through a food friendly style from the variety previously thought to be Albarino. Interesting.
Pikes 2009 Luccio Pinot Grigio (4.5* $17) Refreshing summer drinking style with abundant tropical fruit characters and zingy acidity. Another one to add to the mix.
Pikes 2009 Luccio Pinot Grigio (4.5* $17) Previously Pinot Grigio Blend, with substantial assistance from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, this 100% Pinot Grigio looked attractive in the glass, and that impression carried across the nose, with evident pears and tropical fruits and the palate, which delivered restrained varietal character. Food-friendly style that's one to bear in mind next time around. Sure, it's not top notch highly memorable five star drinking but there's definitely a spot for something along these lines in the fridge over summer.
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 2010 Traditionale Riesling (4.5* $23) There's a pale green tinge to the straw in the glass and, as with the 2009 the traditional Clare Valley citrus on the nose along with some apples and stone fruit, lemons and slate on the palate, with a balanced acidity that palate, balanced style that suggests medium-term cellaring, though I expect I'll be looking to restock with this one or something similar by early August. Halliday, incidentally, gave it 94. At $18 on special, that's good buying and has me wishing I'd grabbed a bit more at the price.
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.
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.