2008 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett (Nahe, Germany)
Such a great Kabinett; full of flavour yet really light and elegant with lots of polish and precision. Pear, red apple and citrus fruits dusted with minerals and herbs with fantastic acidity and length.
2005 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses (Burgundy)
Jay Miller had opened a bottle from this producer that I'd really liked at a dinner a few months back; on a visit to Table & Vine recently I saw this wine in halves so decided to pick up one. I will have to get more on my next trip there as this is really delicious stuff, full of bright red fruited flavours and softer leathery and earthy notes. There's really good acidity here giving it a sense of freshness (and a little tartness on the back end) and making it very pleasant with food - fantastic value at $15/half.
1998 Best's Great Western Shiraz Bin O (Victoria, Australia)
Phenomenal. This is one of those wines I could have just kept smelling all night - the first impression is just of eucalyptus, mint, earth and touches of dark chocolate, then with a little air the aromatics expand as blackberry and plummy fruit flavours emerge along with cinnamon and pepper notes. In the mouth it's still very youthful showing plenty of bright fruit, dark chocolate and earth up front, but turning more savoury and herbal on the back end, finishing with a refreshing cool mintiness. Really fantastic wine combining power and elegance with the structure and balance to age for a good while - reminds me of a more civilized Wendouree with a lot less tannin. I'm delighted I have more of this.