Cameron's Pick:

Ronco dei Tassi Pinot Grigio 2008

I've been lazy lately and haven't updated my favourite for a few months. Problem is I can't seem to settle on one wine!

But finally I've done it, and I reckon it's delicious.

Ronco's Grigio is for me one of the most consistently good Grigio's we carry. It's a delight to enjoy a bottle, be it pre dinner, or with a meal. I particularly love the aromatic and textural highlights this wine displays, as it seems to change subtly from start to finish, but always delivers fruit balanced perfectly with delicate savoury notes.

$39 per bottle
$36 as part of a case buy
Buy this wine.

Eddie's Pick:

Mt Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2008

Mt Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2008 has been named Wine of the Year by Nick Stock in the recently released 2011 Good Wine Guide.
We've alway known that Mount Langi make great wine, and when we last spoke to winemaker Dan Buckle he mentioned that the 2008 was pretty special, and this is certainly special news indeed.

"A much-anticipated vintage that doesn't let an ounce of expectation go to waste, this continues the wine's upward trajectory with conviction. Plenty of depth from these old (45 years) vines: dark-roasted spices, pepper, essence of plums, blackberry, orange rind, cola, fine mineral flecks, some meaty edges and more - complex and soulful. The palate's immaculate and dripping with deep-wrapped fruit concentration: more plums and blackberries, deeply dug fine tannins, and a bracing finish that leaves a lingering, toasty plum and black cherry-stone flavour on point for what seems like an eternity. You'll taste it for a few minutes and think about it for days, maybe weeks. A new level has been defined."
98 Points by Nick Stock.

$99 per bottle
$94 as part of a case buy

Phil's Pick:

Collector Marked Tree Red Shiraz 2008

It is not often that Shiraz 'wows' me but this wine from Glorious Canberra did. Made from fruit sourced around Murrembateman the wine is remarkably perfumed and complex on the nose. It shows floral, violet like characters with dark currants and chocolate plus cardamom, black and white pepper, aniseed and other spices. Each sniff of this wine offers a new character.
The savoury palate is mid-weight, well balanced and with fine tannin. It finishes long with a lovely fragrant lift at the end. I have to admit that I enjoyed smelling this wine so much that the palate sensations were secondary to the experience.
This wine will improve with aging for at least 5 years, but I would guess it has a lot longer than that in it.

$30 per bottle
$28 as part of a case buy

James' Pick:

Fairbank Rose 2009

This is not your average rose. Made by frenchman Gilles Lapalus of Sutton Grange near Heathcote.

It is a blend of Merlot, Shiraz & Cabernet fruit, picked early for delicacy of flavour & good acidity, and made in a simple provincial style. But there's more to it than this. While many roses are about fresh crisp fruit, clean dry palate or brisk crunchy tannins, this is a very different wine. For a start it doesn't look like rose; a pale rosey gold in the glass, it is what they call "onion skin" in Bandol.

The nose is delicate and a little rustic with some faintly floral, faintly gamey aromatics over a taut framework. The palate is surprising and interesting. With a very restrained, almost savory fleshiness and a finely textured minerality, it is a palate that seems to hint at other more complex styles. The finish is measured and elegant.

It is a charming, eminently drinkable and very affordable wine and my pick of the current Roses (though there are a couple that give it a run for its money). The Viogner is worth a look as well.

$27 per bottle
$25 as part of a case buy

Dave's Pick:

Shaw & Smith Shiraz 08

Cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith venture started in 1989 when they decided they to make wine together. Both had considerable experience in the wine industry, with Shaw working for Brian Croser at Petaluma for 8 years, and Smith became the first Australian MW in 1988, as well as being a prominent International Wine judge representing the Australian Wine Industry.

Their winery is based in the Adelaide Hills, which has become one of Australia’s best cool climate regions. Located in the Mt Lofty Ranges 30 minutes drive from Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills forms a narrow corridor 70 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide. Due to its altitude, the Adelaide Hills is significantly cooler than other regions such as the Barossa and McLaren Vale, with the average temperature 4 degrees cooler during the day and 8 degrees cooler at night.

Shaw and Smith are probably best known for producing one of Australia’s best Sauvignon Blancs, but they also produce top Chardonnay and Shiraz. Their Shiraz is produced from two separate sites, one in Macclesfield and the other in Balhannah. The Macclesfield vineyard is warmer so its provides richness and structure to the wine, while the Balhannah vineyard fruit provides spiciness and perfume. The 08 Shiraz has ripe berry fruit on the nose, and as it hits your palate you get a rush of rich silky berry fruit. It finishes with a savoury edge and fine, soft tannins. While excellent drinking now, this wine will reward careful cellaring over the next 5-10 years.

$43 per bottle
$39 as part of a case buy
Buy this wine.

Gina's Pick:

Valminor Albarino 2009

With all the excitement about Australian Albarisn’t, or Albari-not in the last 18 months, I thought it was time to have a good look at the real deal – Spain’s great white variety Albarino, and one of the star producers of Rias Baixas – Valminor.  Pale gold in colour, the nose start out as white flowers and stonefruit, and opens up to bring in citrus characters too.  The palate shows nectarine and some ripe melon, but with a tight and fine acidity and lingering finish.  Great summer drinking, especially for those getting a little tired of pinot grigio – it has a similar fruit spectrum but more excitement and complexity than a typical grigio style, while sharing some of the texture and flavour of a good Gris.

$39 per bottle
$35 as part of a case buy