Yealands Riesling Marlborough 2008

A riesling bursting with apple and citrus flavour, but the wine lack complexity to make it a great wine. Still a good everyday drinking wine and good for its price range (about $20/ bottle)

Esk Valley Reserve merlot malbac cabernet sauvignon 2006

It has a very dark red color, almost purple. Its aroma is very ripe red fruit with spicy overtone and a hint of chocolate. It is a full body wine with still strong, but not undesirable tannin in the wine. The wine will benefit for another couple years of ageing for sure. The retail price is $65 but I got it at $34.

Lake Chalice Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008

It has a crimson red color and a light body. The first aroma I get is developed aroma such as pleasant bacon fat and barnyard. I also has red berry flavor with a hint of spicy overtone. It is a fruity wine with minimal amount of tannin and nice acid balance with a hint of sugar lingering. The wine is sold at glengarry for between $20-$30

Vidal Syrah Reserve 2005

dark red in color with a medium body, this wine has plum, herbs, blackcurrant, peppery and smoky aroma on the nose. On the palate it has hint of chocolate and coffee taste. A very good and complex Syrah. I bought it at $33/ bottle. The original price is $55/ bottle.

Brancott Estate Terraces "T" Pinot Noir 2009

The 2008 is reviewed here a couple months ago. Now the 2009 is on the market, also on a discount at New World ($19.99)

The 2009 has significantly less secondary characteristics. The earthy and barnyard smell is gone. Instead the wine has intense cherry aroma. The wine is crimson red in colour and has a light body. I personally like the 2008 more as it is more complex, but aroma may develop in bottle in the next year.

Brancott Estate Ormond "O" Gisborne Chardonnay 2007

Another of former Montana's wine on discount ($19.99). Like the pinot noir, it is superior in value compare to other $20 wine. This chardonnay has citrus, smoky oak, buttery and a hint of peachy character. This savory wine is well balanced and is a good buy at $20.

Montana Terraces "T" Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008

Terraces "T" Marlborough Pinot Noir is Montana's flagship pinot noir. It is a light body (like most pinot noir) wine with a crimson red colour. It has an aroma of blackcurrant, red fruit with earthy, cow yard undertone. It has a plumy and spicy taste. Overall it is a complex wine. The original price is $35-$40 but I bought it $20 at a supermarket. For $20 it is an exceptional wine for value.

Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul De Pinet Languedoc 2008

A lesser known varietal, Picpoul de Pinet in a lesser known region, Languedoc. The wine has undergone lees stir and malolactic fermentation resulting a fuller body and rounder mouthfeel. It has a clear yellow color with a citrus, lemon and buttery aroma. $23 from the wineshop in Elliot Stables. Would be a good match with a heavier seafood dish.