by Martin Field

Caves de Beblenheim Pinot Blanc 2004 – Around $17 to $18
Appellation Alsace Contrôlée. Juicy aromas of ripe pears. Lovely mouth-filling style with flavours of pears and Granny Smith apples leading to a firm zesty finish. Excellent aperitif and solid entrée accompaniment.

Brown Brothers Vermentino 2005 (cellar door release) – $16-ish
Very pale, edge of green. Distinct citrussy fragrances on the nose. Quite a dry style with lots of mouth-watering, acid tang and noticeable alcohol (14.5%) warmth. Flavours are of citrus and maybe hay – not unlike a good semillon.

Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne 1998 – $35
Perfumed toasty, honeyed nose. Dry and elegant in the mouth with more honey and an edge of lemon marmalade. A bargain at the price – a classic eight year old wine from some of the oldest vines in the world. Only 250 dozen available. Will cellar gracefully to 2015.

Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Viognier 2005 – $18
Peaches and dried pears on the nose. Warm fruity softish palate showing loads of generous stone fruits and just right (i.e. restrained) support from new French oak. Would suit light main course dishes.

Gracedale Hills Rosé 2005 – $15
Light salmon-pink hues. Delicate aromas of strawberries and almonds. Light and soft, easy drinking style. Serve with canapés and other starters.

Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir2004 – $42
New Zealand. Bouquet of raspberries and oaky vanilla along with grassy, herbal notes. Delicious long lean fruit on the palate showing cool climate tartness at the firm, lip-smacking, food-demanding finish.

Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2003 – RRP $26, seen for $16.45
Pungent, plummy, spicy nose. Medium weighted style with complex flavours of maraschino liqueur, blackberries, berry conserve and smoky oak. The finish is firm, almost hard but this will soften off with a year or two more ageing.

Rogues Lane Heathcote Shiraz Malbec 2003 – $45
Dense black to purple hues. Youthful and intense nose of ripe berries, tobacco leaf, mint and alcohol (16%). A big red, abundant with generous fruit flavours and enduring length of finish. The mouthfeel is dominated by long and grippy tannic astringency. Really too young to drink but will cellar well to 2015.

Prices in Australian dollars.