2010 Yalumba Running With Bulls Barossa Tempranillo

Opaque, deep ruby crimson in colour with restrained aromas of spicy red fruit, maraschino cherries and mulberries. A hint of liquorice and chocolate rounds off the nose that improves with airing. The palate is medium weight with smooth, juicy, subtle oaky flavours and well balanced acidity with fine chalky tannins adding length at the tail end.

Tempranillo is a widely grown Spanish red grape that translates as "little early one" in reference to its short ripening period. Rioja and Ribera del Duero are the two main regions in Spain where Tempranillo dominates.

The Running With Bulls is sourced from numerous vineyards throughout the Barossa Valley and Penrice region. As a regional expression of tempranillo, this is an excellent wine with interesting fruit flavours but it may not show the real essence of the variety as its Wrattonbully cousin for example, which is sourced from different sites from the one vineyard.

Tempranillo is growing in popularity on the Australian wine landscape with its early ripening ability, potential and suitability to grow in both cooler as well as warmer environments. It will be interesting to compare its popularity to the Italian Sangiovese variety as its rival for hearts, minds - and palates - as the next big thing!

Source: Retail Purchase. Rating: 89 Points.

2010 Station Creek King Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Station Creek is a boutique winery located at Cheshunt in north east Victoria's cool climate King Valley, a region consistently producing quality traditional grape varieties as well as the emerging Italian varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Arneis.

This pale green Sauvignon Blanc has subtle gooseberry, citrus fruits and tropical aromatics with green beans and passion fruit notes to add a little interest.

Fresh, crisp acidity on the palate with herbaceous characters give this elegant wine a satisfying and long finish.

Winemaker David Steer considers this to be his best production since the first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc in 1999.

This is definitely not the pungent Marlborough grassy fruit bomb we have come to experience nor does it have the rich complexity of for example, the Sorrenberg Sauvignon Blanc.

What it does deliver to the drinker is a refreshing, zesty dry wine that provides a different variation on the usual one dimensional Sauvignon Blanc theme. Serve this to accompany lightly crumbed fish flllets and lemon wedges. 

Source: Winery Purchase. Rating: 85 Points.