*Except Northern Territory

2013 RAVENSWORTH SHIRAZ VIOGNIER - $34.50

"Ravensworth 2013 is one of the greatest reds to come out of the Canberra District, a very fine but powerful expression of the local specialty - shiraz co-fermented with small amounts of the white, viognier. Winemaker Bryan Martin writes, "after a few tough years in the vineyard, this year [2013] saw us all in hammocks reading 90s crime fiction, it was that easy". The crime, though, would be drinking this wine too early. Tasted soon after bottling, it revealed, in a raw, youthful way, Canberra's distinctive floral aroma, vivid berry-and-spice varietal flavours and sensuous, supple texture. It appeals now, but will deliver even more with bottle age." Chris Shanahan, Canberra Times

"Cook/chef, pig-raiser, pig-butcherer, pig-curer, forager, grower of foods, writer about foods (Canberra Times) and by-the-by, winemaker at Clonakilla. Take a bow Bryan Martin. Also, impossibly self-effacing, though not so much able to when on a roll with some amazing wines - mojo hitting its stride and his vineyard (own estate) maturing. Its twee saying anything like 'baby-Clonakilla shiraz viognier' when this wine is proudly its own self, $32 and without the legacy, but gee, gets you thinking… High toned floral and red fruit perfume, really pretty, touch of stone fruit, whiff of garrigue/earthiness. Good scents. Juicy hit of flavour, on verge of crisp, some game and meatiness in the mix. Savoury set wine here - very good to drink. Has satiny slinkiness to texture too. Superb length, finesse, carry of sleek flavour. Drinkability is so high. Right here, right now. Drink 2014 - 2029." Mike Bennie, The Wine Front - 95 points

"Blends of the red shiraz and white viognier are a mixed bag, but when the viognier component is almost subliminal, it adds lovely mystery, dimension and silky texture to the finished wine. This week we review two such wines, both excellent. Ravensworth, from the Canberra region, is beautifully fragrant and fine, with floral, raspberry and exotic peppery spice aromas of true elegance, and a satiny palate of lovely finesse. Fine-grained, earthy tannins give excellent balance without intruding. A bargain. Screw cap; 14 %; Ageing? Drink over six years." Ralph Kyte-Powell, Epicure Uncorked - 94+ points & WINE OF THE WEEK

"There's no mistaking it as anything other than a Shiraz Viognier but if you have any time for the blend in cool climates then I urge you not to write it off. Incorporation of whole bunches and 5% Viagra…I mean Viognier. Perfumed and oh so pretty. A bouquet of lavender and rose petals, tar, red cherries, plums, pepper and veal jus. Seriously slinky and intense in the mouth. Star anise and a mere hint of exotic stonefruit. Fine acidity contributes to a sense of medium-bodied delicacy with toothsome tannin weaving through the back-palate in a supremely textured manner. Savoury, spicy and elegant with great endurance. Alcohol: 14.0% Closure: Screwcap Price: $35 Tasted: March 2014.? Jeremy Pringle, winewilleatitself.com - 93+ points

"Bryan Martin, whose 'day job' is as assistant winemaker at Clonakilla, also makes his own elegant, effortless whites and reds from Canberra District grapes. The colour is light for a shiraz, but bright and of excellent hue. The lovely fragrance invokes rose petal and red fruits as well as various spices and flowers. It's only light to medium-bodied, but beautifully proportioned, with elegance and restraint. The tannins are super-fine and subtle, but present, providing the requisite structure. It's a delicious wine of great charm and ready drinkability. Now to 2025." Huon Hooke - 93 points & WINE OF THE WEEK

2010 MOUNT TERRIBLE PINOT NOIR - $39.95

Very occassionally one comes across a wine from a hitherto unknown winery that blows one off one's feet. Such a wine is the 2010 Mount Terrible pinot noir from 20-year-old vines on a miniscule 5 acre plot at a thousand feet above sea level in the stunningly beautiful Jamieson Valley. John Eason, the winemaker, strives to produce a pinot noir in the style of the great French Burgundies, and has gone a long way to achieving his goal with the release of the exquisite 2010 pinot.

Fresh, tangy, savoury cherry and plum fruit, spice and briar aromas are mirrored in a vibrant and intense palate that is beautifully structured, long and lingering. The oak handling is impeccable. Oozes class, but with the best years in front of it. Only 280 dozen produced.

"From four estate-grown clones (114, 115, 777 and MV6), cold soaked (with 20% whole bunches) for five days before open fermentation, then 18 months in French oak. Has excellent colour and clarity, this is a serious pinot noir, the whole bunches contributing to but not dominating the texture and structure of the wine; bright red fruits merge into a gently savoury/foresty backdrop, tannins perfectly pitched. Drink by 2018." James Halliday - 94 points

"Frosts and bushfires have meant releases from this winery in the valley of the Jamieson River in the foothills of Mount Terrible have stuttered in recent years. This one is perfumed, with aromas of plum, strawberry, rhubarb, spice and raspberry plus stalky, sappy and earthy characters. The perfume flows through the mouth, along with a darker set of berry flavours and stewed plum, with prune-like intensity. Intensity builds and builds and there's a nice grip and fresh berry and plums on the finish. " Ben Thomas, The Weekly Review

"Clear garnet, complex red fruit bouquet, intense juicy fruit on the palate seamlessly integrated with lingering fine grain tannins. The best wine so far from Mount Terrible." Winery Notes

2010 PENFOLDS ST HENRI SHIRAZ - $149.95

"I felt palpably nervous before tasting this wine. To my mind, it was the most important wine of the whole event. I have been waiting for this taste for four years. Harvest conditions meant that this had to be a great vintage for St. Henri. But how great? That was the only question. I never will wines to win 20s in my notes. They just happen without me questioning it. Perfect wines don't have to try too hard. For me, this is the finest young St. Henri I have ever tasted. It is phenomenal in every way. I cannot imagine how it could be bettered. I like it more than the fêted 1990 and 1971. It is 100% Shiraz and it draws on fruit from all corners of the State. The clarity of message from start to finish is arresting. Gago picked out a few vineyards in the Adelaide Hills to try to explain just how this wine has benefited from the aromatic purity of the fruit from these parts - Waterfall Gully, Rostrevor and Paracombe. They add wistful spice and heavenly floral notes to the already majestic drive and intensity of fruit. The tannins are awesome and you already know that the oak is old! It provides the wooden stage for this heavenly beauty to entrance your whole being. Dense damson and blueberry notes cavort - the whole experience is almost transcendental. Epic and thrilling I couldn't spit it out. I couldn't whiplash it out of my mouth even if I was crashed into at speed while waiting for a red light to change. Weirdly it wasn't swallowed either - it was subsumed into my soul." Matthew Jukes - 20++ ponts out of 20

"The finest vintage under this label since it was first released during the 1950s. With a history interlinked with the story of Grange, 2010 St Henri stands as the triumph of this year's Penfolds luxury release. The wine is amazingly expressive with deep colour, superb fruit complexity, voluminous richness and supple textures. Dark chocolate, dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, roasted chestnut aromas are followed by a richly concentrated palate full of dark chocolate, paneforte flavours, generous sweet fruit notes and ripe loose-knit chocolaty tannins. It finishes graphite firm, long, and minerally. A gorgeous wine with all the hallmarks of long term ageing potential." Andrew Caillard MW - 100 points

"Very deep purple-black in color and showing an attractive nose of warm blackcurrants, blueberries and licorice with a complex undercurrent of mocha, cedar, menthol and grilled meat, the full-bodied 2010 St Henri Shiraz is relatively rich in the mouth, offering tons of fruit structured by firm, fine tannins and refreshing acid. It finishes with great persistence. Drink it 2015 to 2030+." Lisa Perotti-Brown MW; eRobertParker.com - 97 points

"If you buy no other Penfolds this release, don't miss St Henri. It's as if the 2010 season was perfectly orchestrated for this large format, old oak style. A celebration of this great vintage, this is one of the finest under this label of the modern era, perhaps ever. The epitome of the St Henri style, effortless and elegant, with epic purity and definition, deep and full, yet in not way heavy or overbearing. Wonderfully crunchy and impeccable blackberry, blueberry and plum fruit is accented with notes of liquorice and dark chocolate, presented in a framework of beautifully crafted, finely honed tannins and excellent acid profile. It has space and grace, while lacking nothing in presence and structure, propagating with line and length nothing short of breathtaking. Wow. The price hasn't moved in three years, and long may it stay this way. 100% shiraz from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley, matured for 12 months in old, large 1460L vats. Price: $95, Drink: 2020-2040." Tyson Stelzer, Wine Taste - 97 points

"St Henri is the one Penfolds super premium we all should be following. This 2010 release is the best since the 2004. In short, it's gorgeous. I'm tempted to use the words Beg, Borrow or Steal. Nose, palate, tannin, finish; all are in full, healthy voice. Licorice, leather, plum, clove. Fine-grained tannin. Juicy orange-peel notes. Well stored, under screwcap, it will live for just about ever. Drink: 2020-2040." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 96+ points
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2008 PALLISER ESTATE PENCARROW PINOT NOIR - $24.95

The Palliser Estate Pencarrow pinot noir is always a wine that punches above its weight and has taken out many awards at the New Zealand wine shows. The 2008 is my favourite of the recent vintages; a classical medium-bodied vintage showing more elegance, liveliness and balanced structure than some of the latter warmer years.

"Pencarrow pinot noir from New Zealand is becoming a bit of a bargain bin regular. Recent vintages have rated highly on value for money and all-round tasting pleasure, so it's with some excitement that we can now list the new 2008 pinot noir release. Pencarrow is the second label of noted Martinborough winemaker Palliser Estate. The '08 is stunning in its perfume, with dark cherries and exotic, sweet, herbal smells. The palate is velvety soft, full and fleshy in red fruit, finishing with a clean rhubarb-like astringency. Approachable and pretty." Jeni Port, The Age - Bargain Bin

"A lovely expression of Pinot exhibiting dark cherry, game, spice and a hint of cedary oak characters. It's full and concentrated on the palate showing satin smooth texture and beautifully harmonised acidity and fine tannins. The finish is long and expansive. Amazing value for money. At its best: now to 2014." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit - 91 points

2006 SQUITCHY LANE YARRA VALLEY CABERNETS - $29.95

Owner Mike Fitzpatrick acquired his taste for fine wine while a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University in the 1970's. Returning to Australia he guided Carlton Football Club to two premierships as captain, then established Melbourne-based finance company Squitchy Lane Holdings. The wines of Mount Mary inspired him to look for his own vineyard, and in 96 he found a 16-ha vineyard of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon planted in '82 just around the corner from Coldstream Hills and Yarra Yering. Between then and 2003 the grapes were sold to well-known local wineries, but in '04 he began to put in place a team to take the venture through to the next stage with wines under the Squitchy Lane label, commencing with the '05 vintage, launched in '07.

A simply delicious cabernet blend (Cabernet Franc 55%, Merlot 30% and Cabernet Sauvignon 15%) from 25 year old vines in the Yarra Valley. 2006 was a great vintage in the Yarra Valley and this cabernet blend is now drinking superbly - lifted, sweet berry fruit on the nose with currants/briar/stewed plum notes. An elegantly structured palate with gentle, sweet cassis fruit and soft, fine tannins.

2009 CAHOOTS BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ - $18.95

Produced by the formidable team of Corey Ryan and Simon Cowhan (the winemaker and viticulturist behind the Sons of Eden venture), the 2009 Cahoots shiraz is a testament to what two incredibly skilled individuals can produce for less than $20 from parcels of fruit specially selected from the Barossa Valley & Eden Valley.

A ripper of a Barosssa shiraz with elegance and power seamlessly combined. Ripe, lush and intensely focussed black fruits on the full-bodied palate have great depth and complexity for such a modestly priced shiraz; the finish is lively, fresh and supple, due no doubt in part to the Eden Valley component. Wonderful value. Back-up the truck.