by Martin Field
Murray’s Nirvana Pale Ale – about $3 the 330ml bottle – ***
Golden syrup hued ale. Hoppy, spicy nose. The palate is full and smooth with hints of cardamom and lime and a firm bitter finish. Moreish.
Veuve Amiot Brut – $12.30 – **
AOC Saumur, Loire Valley. Methode traditionelle. Chenin blanc and chardonnay. Refreshing bubbly with a nose of dried pears. On the palate, it shows almonds and apple pie along with mild acidity and a good length of palate.
Tyrrell’s Stevens Hunter Semillon 2005 – up to $32 – ****
Very pale. Fresh as a newly bloomed daisy – you wouldn’t know it was over four years old. Aromatic, showing citrus fruits and freshly baled hay. Light lime marmalade flavours are supported by brisk lemon peel edged acidity. Tasty.
Scarborough Chardonnay 2006 – $21-ish – ***
Hunter Valley, New South Wales. A nose of new white peaches and biscuity French wood. Well-structured in the mouth with flavours of stone fruits, subtle toasted oak and a lively acid finish.

Ravenswood Lane Chardonnay 2007 – up to $30 – ***
Hahndorf. South Australia. Unwooded. Fragrant apricot conserve nose. Fresh clean and elegant in the mouth, with nutty and apricot Danish elements. Sherbet like acid enhances the clean aftertaste.
Churchview Estate The Bartondale Reserve Marsanne 2007 – around $30 – ***
Margaret River, Western Australia. Aromas of white flowers and delicate honey. The palate shows crisp limey acid underlying notes of lemon, marzipan and a touch of barrel maturation. Will suit light courses such as spaghetti carbonara.
Jacobs Creek Merlot 2007 – $6.55 – **
Cherry, berry nose. The medium-weighted palate shows mild tannic astringency and fruit sweetness that leads to a pleasing finish. A decent food wine and top value for money.
Ninth Island Pinot Noir 2008 – RRP $23.50 – ****
Tasmania. Complex cherry, rose petal, leafy, woody nose. Quite a powerful style, dry, bursting with fruits of the forest flavours and lovely dining oriented drying tannins.
Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 – up to $36 – ****
Italy. Sangiovese grapes. Italian winemakers make wines to eat – that is wines for food accompaniment. I wish certain Australian winemakers would bear this in mind before they trick up their next Parker palate pleaser. Where was I? The wine is savoury and complex with aspects of coffee, sour cherry, mulberries, leather and tobacco. The tannins are chewy and lasting and demand richly seasoned main courses to accompany.
Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – up to $22 – ***
Nagambie Lakes, Victoria. Cigar box and blackberry nose with a hint of mintiness. Straight as a die, traditional Australian full dry palate shows ripe berries, leather, and textured drying tannins. A red for all seasons.
Rating system
Five stars ***** – outstanding
**** – classy
*** – first-rate
** – good stuff
* – commercial
NB Australian dollar prices.