Below are my notes on the first batch of wines that I have been lucky enough to taste so far in April 2016. What have you been tasting?

From this batch my favourites are the:

2009 Brokenwood ILR Reserve Sémillon
2007 Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Grenache
2004 Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah
2010 Château Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The Wine Reviews

wdt_ID	Wine	Photo
1	Name: Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Vintage: NV Region: Reims, Champagne, France Varietal: 50 - 55% Pinot Noir, 15 to 20% Pinot Meunier, 28 to 33% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12% Colour: Bright pale straw Bead: Tiny, persistent bubbles Aroma: A bouquet of white peach , biscuits and vanilla aromas Palate: Fresh, light and creamy Finish: Long Comment: Always a good quality Champagne, the tiny, persistent bubbles are a good indicator of the quality of the Champagne, like the palate and the long finish.
2	Name: Brokenwood ILR Reserve Vintage: 2009 Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia Varietal: Sémillon Alcohol: 10.9% Colour: Bright pale green straw Aroma: A fragrant mix of lemon, lime and fresh straw aromas Palate: Great balance with the perfect level of acid and lemon zing Finish: Long Comment: What a great wine, still very fresh and youthful, has many years to go, can't wait to try it again!! Hunter Valley Sémillon is, IMHO, the most underrated wine produced in Australia, aged Hunter Sémillons are one of my favourites! This wine was rated the best Sémillon of by James Halliday in his 2016 Australian Wine Companion.
3	Name: Mount Edward Morrison Vineyard Vintage: 2014 Region: Central Otago, New Zealand Varietal: Riesling Alcohol: 11.8% Colour: Bright pale straw Aroma: Pleasant combo of lemon, lime and citrus aroma, with a hint of minerality Palate: Off-dry, good balance and a slightly mineral finish Finish: Medium-long Comment: A very nice Kiwi Riesling, great with spicy dishes.
4	Name: Stonier Reserve Vintage: 2012 Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia Varietal: Chardonnay Alcohol: 13.5% Colour: Bright straw Aroma: Pleasant mix of white peach, nectarine, lemon, citrus and vanilla aromas Palate: Medium-bodied, good balance and a lemon zest tang Finish: Medium - long Comment: An enjoyable cool climate Chardonnay, very refreshing.
5	Name: Bannockburn Geelong Vintage: 2008 Region: Geelong, Victoria, Australia Varietal: Pinot Noir Alcohol: 12.5% Colour: Ruby red, slightly cloudy Aroma: Earthy combo of cheery / red stone fruit, spice and cedar aromas Palate: Medium - bodied, dry palate Tannin: Smooth Finish: Medium - long Comment: Not a bad Pinot Noir, unfortunately probably past its peak.
6	Name: Warrenmang Torchio Aged Pressings Vintage: NV Region: Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia Varietal: 62% Shiraz, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Dolcetto Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep dark crimson Aroma: Bold mix of blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry, spice, cedar and a hint of chocolate aromas Palate: Full-bodied palate, the characteristics of the 3 varietals are evident Tannin: Bold but not overpowering Finish: Long Comment: This is a very interesting wine, a lot of fun. Definitely worth a look. Made from pressings Pyrenees Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Dolcetto kept from exceptional vintages over the past decade.
7	Name: Château Larmande Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé Vintage: 2010 Region: Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux , France Varietal: 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep garnet Aroma: Rich combination of blackberry, cherry and vanilla aromas Palate: Medium-bodied, dry mouthfeel Tannin: Evolving / firm Finish: Medium-long Comment: Still evolving, needs more time to reach its peak.
8	Name: Turkey Flat Vintage: 2010 Region: Barossa and Eden Valleys, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep garnet Aroma: Lush mix of blackberry, spice, tobacco and a hint of dark chocolate aromas Palate: Full-bodied, great balance, smooth Tannin: Smooth Finish: Long Comment: I am a big fan of Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, they are underrated, lost in the noise generated by Barossa Shiraz. Turkey Flat has been producing a straight Cab Sav from 1994 and sadly the 2012 is the last vintage of this very good wine. Will miss it. The 2010 vintage is the first vintage where a small parcel of Eden Valley fruit has been used in conjunction with the Barossa Valley fruit. From turkeyflat.com.au "The 2012 vintage is the last straight Cabernet Sauvignon to be produced from the vineyard, farewell dear friend, you have given us and many friends a great deal of pleasure over the years."
9	Name: Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Vintage: 2007 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Grenache Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep garnet Aroma: Pleasant combination of raspberry, fruit-cake and spice aromas Palate: Full-bodied, nice balance Tannin: Smooth / lush Finish: Long Comment: Great wine, drinking well now, would like to give it a few more years. Clarendon Hills keep on keeping on! This is an old vine Grenache, the dry grown vines were planted in the 1920's
10	Name: Clarendon Hills Astralis Vintage: 2004 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Syrah Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Lush combination of blackberry, dark fruit, black pepper, liquorice and spice aromas Palate: Full-bodied, elegant, great balance Tannin: Smooth / lush Finish: Long Comment: Wow, what a great wine. Not sure that it is worth the price tag, but would NEVER say no to anyone offering me a glass or two of this. IMHO it is starting to hit its peak now. A definite wine to add to the "Wine Bucket List" if you have one.