This very good red wasn't drunk under the best circumstances, well not at first anyway. Due to the recent 'Antarctic blast' and the fact that maintenance of the Winepunters HQ heat pump left much to be desired, this cabernet merlot was chilled, almost refrigerator chilled. 

Despite this unfair treatment this wine still showed a very bright cherry and mint nose with those distinctive slightly sour merlot overtones. So what did it taste like we hear you as ask. As our medieval peasant ancestors would say "As yea smells so does yea taste" (Speak for yourself I come from a long line of  aristocrats - Ed).

It certainly got the saliva going and when we teamed it with a Beef and Chorizo Ragu it really hit it's straps. This Moores Hill is one of those wines that improves it's own taste and that of the food. 

So far so good but next day things got a little strange. It was the 'mysterious case of the missing merlot'. Trying this very tidy wine caused us to screw up our faces with perplexity. "What happened to the merlot?". 

Suddenly we were drinking a spicy blackcurrant red wine with no merlot overtone. Sure it went well with the Lamb Shanks but what the ...?

Overall it's a great wine and you get to play 'spot the merlot'. Bargain really.

Every year you'll see the same footage of people rushing through the doors of shops like David Jones and Myer. The 2009 Spring Vale Pinot Noir reminded us of those post Christmas sales.

This is a wine in a hurry. It pushes past your tastebuds like a man on a mission. Having said that it is a much more pleasant experience than the frantic shopper crush which reminds us of a mosh pit with none of the good bits. 

Make no mistake, this is a terrific wine and proves that the fine folk at Spring Vale have still got it. Flavour, finish and all the bits in between. We are looking forward to trying it again after it has got over it's youthful enthusiasm. Our guess is that it will be as close to a perfect pinot as you can get.

How can a wine that tastes like it has no back end have a finish that hangs on like one of those demented fans that celebrities seem to attract?

When you first drink the 2008 Kilbowie Oyster Cove Pinot Noir, which won the recent "You Be The Judge", you experience a massive fruity front end and the smoothness that can only come from crossing silk with the pick up lines of a 70's lounge lizard. Brilliant.

Things change when you get to the second glass however. "Oh boy, ok, there's the tannins". Normally we wouldn't say this but rush the first glass because you'll love what happens from then on.