These syrahs and blends of cabernets and merlot have lovely concentrated flavours with good structure and firm tannins. Medium to full bodied reds with complex flavours like some of these need simple food such as plainly grilled steak.
BEST UNDER $20
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Good value
Incognito wines are selected from leading producers' surplus wines and offer great value.
This is peppery with lovely purity of fruit, suggestions of dark berries and chocolate, spicy oak,
savoury undertones and fine-grained tannins. Available online.
BEST UNDER $20
Three and a half stars (our of five)
Good value
Attractive, soft dark berries, hints of fruit cake and dark chocolate with savoury undertones,
lots of spicy oak and a firm finish. Available online.
Three stars (out of five)
Average value
A soft, easy Australian red, simple and fruity with hints of raisins, dark chocolate and ripe
berries, and spicy oak on the aftertaste.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
From the relatively cool coast west of Coonawarra, this smooth, rich wine, oozing generous
ripe red berries with a suggestion of eucalyptus, dusty, spicy oak, firm structure and a long,
lifted finish, reminded me how delicious good Australian reds can be.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
From a vineyard run by three generations of women, this lively peppery wine with lovely purity of fruit oozes soft dark berries with an underlying minerality, a lively finish, and dusty, fine-grained tannins. A stylish young wine that will develop with several years bottle age.
Four and a half stars (out of five)
Below average value
One of New Zealand's most prestigious wines, this is complex with layers of ripe berry fruit - boysenberries, blackberries, spice and dark chocolate notes, supported by judicious oak and firm, fine-grained tannins, but above all, it's silky, harmonious and long. It will develop with several years bottle age, but is delicious now.
ANOTHER GLASS
• Spy Valley Marlborough Merlot Malbec 2010, $23
Three stars (out of five)
Average value
Hints of red currants, beetroot and ripe tomato, with suggestions of mineral, lots of oak,
grippy tannins that dominate the fruit, and a crisp finish.
• Murdoch James Blue Rock Martinborough Syrah 2010, $39
Three stars (out of five)
Below average value
A light red hinting of redcurrants with leafy, savoury undertones and an edgy finish.
www.murdochjames.co.nz
• Murdoch James Blue Rock Martinborough Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2009, $25
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
A mature wine, mellowed with hints of strawberry and dark berry jam, a suggestion of mineral
and toasty oak and a well-balanced finish.
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting
and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
