Still busy this week, but not quite the depth of field that I’ve become used to. Our final threemaintain a good standard though, and again our finalists are all classic Australian wines First up, from Mark on T20, a bottle of 1999 Leeuwin Estate ‘Art Series’ Chardonnay, Margaret River. A little muted on the nose upon opening – I even thought I caught a whiff of oxidation, which wouldn’t be unusual at this advanced age - but we poured it nonetheless. I guess if you’d been sleeping for 22 years it would take you a while to wake up, and so it proved with the Leeuwin. After almost an hour it started to blossom: nectarine and grilled grapefruit, cashew nut oak, and some light ginger spice. Long finish. Amazing presence for one of Australia’s topwines The same table produced this gem next: 2000 Brokenwood ‘Graveyard Vineyard’ Shiraz, Hunter Valley. We tend to generalise about vintages in Australia, despite the fact that we’re almost as large as Continental Europe. So, 2000 has a bad rap because most of the Southeast had an ordinary harvest that year. Most, but not all... The Hunter Valley had a blinder, and this edition of the Graveyard proves it. Touches of bacon fat and pepper highlight the nose, with medium weight plum and blackberry fruit hanging on. Lovely long finish too, with some wood spice emerging at the end.

Mike & Rose on T11 brought in a bottle of 2002 Clonakilla Shiraz - Viognier, Canberra District (NSW). A beautiful nose, all integrated by now of course, so no identifiable viognier lift. Just elegant red fruit framed by subtle oak. The palate showed the wine just starting to fade a little, with the acid and oak providing complexity, although the fruit has started to run a little short. Still gorgeous though, but if there are any more at home, I’d be looking to drink them in the next year. Sing out if you need a hand...

Despite the cold and our tendency to glug big reds at this time of year, I have to give the gong to the Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay. It was simply superb! Many thanks to Mark on T20 for bringing it in.

See you again soon