Mark Donaldson

Chateau De Gourgazaud 2009, Minervois

Disclaimer - I work for Churchill Cellar's - the importing agent for Gourgazaud. I've tasted this wine for eleven vintages in a row and this this is as good as it has ever been. A new harvesting machine can take some of the credit - along with a stellar vintage. (hand-picking is difficult in Minervois due to lack of labour and a machine can harvest the fruit when it is great condition all at once). For the record - Gourgazaud does not put this wine into any oak barrels, which is reserved for The Reserve La Liviniere and Cuvee Mathilde. We've set up a Facebook Page for Gourgazuad - have a visit.

Chain Of Ponds The Ledge Shiraz 2008, Adelaide, South Australia

Did John and Dave taste the same wine?

Wente Cabernet Sauvignon Southern Hills 2008, Livermore Valley, California

A very solid Cab at great price. Still, decidedly leaner than Napa-based Cabs, this wine 'plays well with others' when it comes to food matches. Try it with Mediterranean-influenced food or something well-spiced like Moroccan Lamb.

Casa Silva Reserva Carmenère 2009, Colchagua Valley

Casa Silva Carmenère is built in a user-friendly style with lots of up-front fruit on the nose and palate. Aromas of plum, sweet dark fruit, spice and chocolate are evident on the nose. Plush chocolate and ripe fruit flavours are complemented by spice and juicy acidity. There is quite a bit going on in this well-made red. Vintages tagged the wine as a ‘Complex crowd-pleaser’ in their March 3rd release and we have to agree with them.

Have some fun with this wine and experiment with all sorts of different flavours of food. Use this Carmenère when you might otherwise shy away from wine and drink beer. Tex-mex flavours would match as would barbecue pork ribs, Peking duck, souvlaki or grilled salmon teriyaki. It also plays well with Mediterranean dishes.

Wente Cabernet Sauvignon Southern Hills 2009, Livermore Valley, California

Wente's 2009 Southern Hills Cab continues to improve on the previous two vintages with increased intensity and excellent balance - there is very little not to like here. Still in the mid-weight category, this Cab brims with ripe red fruit on the nose with pleasant hints of spice and cedar. The palate delivers pleasing blackberry and dark cherry with a sandalwood-like spiciness. Very good length with noticable spice and pleasant currant-like acidity. Serve with roasted red meat, grilled sausages or tomato based pasta dishes.

Angelini San Leonino Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Docg

This style of wine is made for the express purpose of drinking with food. The nose suggests pretty rose and violet notes up front followed by a complex array of dark cherry fruit, wild herbs, exotic spices, oak and earth. It’s medium-full-bodied and dry on the palate with plum, coffee and herbs wound around fresh, dark cherry acidity. There is great structure and balance with a solid tannic frame and a long, complex and fleshy finish. Drink with tomato-based dishes, game, grilled steak, braised beef or medium-strong cheeses

Deakin Estate Shiraz 2010, Victoria

88 - Points. Great value in this single estate-grown shiraz from northern Victoria. A quick visit to their website and you will find that the estate stretches over 350 hectares (865 acres) near the Murray River at Red Cliffs and that Deakin has received a Save Water Award for water conservation practices. "Somewhere" is a vineyard named Deakin Estate just south of Mildura.