Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard Pinot Noir

Rating: 92/ 100

Review Date: 27 April 2012

Winemaker: Tamar Ridge

Style: 100% Pinot Noir

Region/ Country: Tamar Valley, Tasmania

Vintage: 2010

Oak: 12 months French 20% new oak barrels

Alc %/ Std Dks: 14.0%/ 8.3 standard drinks

Price/ Bought: $24.99/ Dan Murphy's

Appearance (Max 5)

Great colour, light red hues, classic pinot - 5

Aroma/ Bouquet (Max 15)

Simple bouquet, light cherry, subtle pepper - 11

Taste/ Texture/ Flavour/ Finish (Max 20)

Spicy length, peppery undertones, a good combination of sharp acid and rolling tannic finish but also fruity full earthy body - 18

Overall Quality/ Opportunity for improvement (Max 10)

Adam: I'd like to put a few of these away and try them in a few years time, I think with the full rounded tannins and pepper flavours this wine would develop quite nicely - 8

Would you buy this again?

Adam - YES, but because of the price only on special occasions.

Total Score (Max 100): 92

E.Guigal Côtes du Rhône 

Rating: 89.75/ 100

Review Date: 13 April 2012



Winemaker: E.Guigal

Style: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mouvedre

Region/ Country: Côtes du Rhône, Rhône, France

Vintage: 2007

Oak: 18 months French Oak

Alc %/ Std Dks: 13,5%/ 8.0 standard drinks

Price/ Bought: $19.99/ Dan Murphy's

Appearance (Max 5)

Great colour, fantastic and quite full-bodied- 4

Aroma/ Bouquet (Max 15)

Typical bouquet characteristic of the GSM style. Earthy undertones, forest-floor and tobacco - 12

Taste/ Texture/ Flavour/ Finish (Max 20)

Great flavour, characteristic undertones of GSM but more subtle in this French variety. Nuances of smoke, grapefruit and earthy-dusty undertones - 18

Overall Quality/ Opp. for improvement (Max 10)

Sean - 6.5: I found this French GSM more subtle and more complex compared to the other Aussie GSM I've tried tonight but I assume there is better out there.

Adam - 5: I've tried some great French wines and this is not what I expected, CDR is a great region and regardless of the hype this is not worth $20 a bottle.

Average: 5.75

Would you buy this again?

Adam - YES it is a good wine for the $20 price.

Sean - NO, I've drunk much better wines in France for heaps cheaper than this!

Total Score (Max 100): 89.75

Maverick Twins GSM 2008

Rating: 90.25/ 100

Review Date: 13 April 2012

Winemaker: Maverick Twins

Style: 50% Grenache/ 31% Shiraz/ 12% Mouvedre

Region/ Country: Barossa Valley SA/ Australia

Vintage: 2008

Oak: American and French Oak to finish

Alc %/ Std Dks: 14%/ 8.3 standard drinks

Price/ Bought: $22.99/ Dan Murphy's

Appearance (Max 5)

Clear with characteristic rich reds, very dark, copper - 5

Aroma/ Bouquet (Max 15)

Floral bouquet, violets, fruity, fresh minty and peppery undertones - 13

Taste/ Texture/ Flavour/ Finish (Max 20)

Characteristic flavours you would expect from a GSM very smooth but no real 'wow' factors. Herbaceous, vanilla, white pepper, petroleum,- 16

Overall Quality/ Opportunity for improvement (Max 10)

Sean - 6: This was one of my first GSMs but I found it quite interesting.

Adam - 6.5: Typical of the style, but not something I would write home about.

Average: 6.25

Would you buy this again?

Adam - YES, as a treat.

Sean - NO

Total Score (Max 100): 90.25

Zuccardi Q Malbec 2009

Rating: 84.5/ 100

Review Date: 13 April 2012

Winemaker: Zuccardi Q

Style: 100% Malbec

Region/ Country: Mendoza/ Argentina

Vintage: 2009

Oak: 12 months in French oak

Alc %/ Std Dks: 14%/ 8.3 standard drinks

Price/ Bought: $31.99/ Dan Murphy's

Appearance (Max 5)

Clear with characteristic ruby-red/ deep purples typical of a Malbec - 4

Aroma/ Bouquet (Max 15)

Acceptable bouquet, slight aroma and bouquet, woody and earthy - 10

Taste/ Texture/ Flavour/ Finish (Max 20)

Acceptable undistinguished wine but overall pleasant. Has some minor flaws, lacks in complexity, lacks in bite and is somewhat thin in the finish. Pencil shavings, smoke, cork,- 13

Overall Quality/ Opportunity for improvement (Max 10)

Sean - 7: Pleasant example of Malbec yet nothing outstanding nor worth the price.

Adam - 8: A typical example of a Malbec, could easily find this with the cheaper $10 version.

Average: 7.5

Would you buy this again?

Adam - NO

Sean - NO

Total Score (Max 100): 84.5

Wine Tasting Wheel & 100 Point Rating System

This is the wine aroma/ tasting wheel we will use in all tastings

The Robert Parker 100 Point Rating System Used

Robert Parker's scoring system gives every wine a base of 50 points. The wine's general colour and appearance merit up to 5 points. Since most wines today are well made, thanks to modern technology and the increased use of professional oenologists, they tend to receive at least 4, often 5 points. The aroma and bouquet merit up to 15 points, depending on the intensity level and dimension of the aroma and bouquet as well as the cleanliness of the wine. The flavour and finish merit up to 20 points, and again, intensity of flavour, balance, cleanliness, and depth and length on the palate are all important considerations when giving out points. Finally, the overall quality level or potential for further evolution and improvement— ageing—merits up to 10 points.

96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.

90 - 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.

80 - 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.

70 - 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is a soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.

60 - 69: A below average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor, or possibly dirty aromas or flavours.

50 - 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.