Below are my notes on the third batch of wines that I have been lucky enough to taste so far in March 2016.

From this batch my favourites are the:

2007 Kumeu River Mate’s Vineyard Chardonnay
2014 Sequillo Swartland White Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdellho, Palomino
2001 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz
2001 Seville Estate Reserve Shiraz

The Wine

wdt_ID	Wine	Photo
1	Name: Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard Vintage: 2007 Region: Kumeu, Auckland, New Zealand Varietal: Chardonnay Alcohol: 13.5% Colour: Bright golden straw Aroma: Elegant perfumed mix of grapefruit, citrus, lemon and lime Palate: Crisp and refreshing Finish: Medium - long Comment: Another great Chardonnay from Kumeu River. Still very bright and youthful, will continue to improve with age. Well worth a look or four!
2	Name: Felton Road Bannockburn Vintage: 2013 Region: Bannockburn, New Zealand Varietal: Chardonnay Alcohol: 14% Colour: Bright straw Aroma: Grapefruit, peach and French oak, possibly marzipan Palate: Medium-bodied with an abundance of fruit and a mineral / chalky finish Finish: Medium - long Comment: Very nice wine, not as good as the Mate's Vineyard, but still worth a look.
3	Name: Sequillo Swartland White Vintage: 2014 Region: Swartland, Paardeberg Mountain, South Africa Varietal: Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdellho, Palomino Alcohol: 14% Colour: Golden straw Aroma: Fragrant combination of peach, almond, honey and vanilla Palate: Full-bodied, savoury and balanced Finish: Medium - long Comment: Great wine, lots of fruit with a great finish. Interesting mix of grapes, my first Clairette Blanche.
4	Name: Cremes Gaja Vintage: 2014 Region: Langhe DOC, Piedmont, Italy Varietal: Dolcetto 50% e Pinot Nero 50% Alcohol: 13% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Cherry, blackcurrant and plum Palate: Complex and balanced Tannin: Silky Finish: Long Comment: Interesting wine, enjoyed it, drinking well now.
5	Name: Katnook Estate Odyssey Vintage: 2004 Region: Coonawarra, South Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14% Colour: Deep garnet Aroma: Plum, oak, mocha and vanilla Palate: Full-bodied structured and balanced Tannin: Smooth Finish: Long Comment: Very enjoyable wine that has evolved nicely and will continue to for a few more years. Definitely worth a look. Obviously some bottle variation as my last tasting of this wine was not as enjoyable.
6	Name: Suckfizzle Vintage: 2003 Region: Margaret River, Western Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep garnet Aroma: Fragrant mixture of blackcurrant, mocha, herbal and spice aromas Palate: Balanced and structured, a bit of fun Tannin: Savoury Finish: Long Comment: A good example of Margaret River Cabernet, definitely a great BBQ wine. Drinking well now.
7	Name: Kaesler The Bogan Vintage: 2004 Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia Varietal: 98% Shiraz 2% Viognier Alcohol: 15% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Earthy combination of blackcurrant, plum, vanilla, spice and cedar Palate: Full-bodied with a sweet finish Tannin: Silky / smooth Finish: Long Comment: Another great Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, aging gracefully, still has more years in it.
8	Name: Requiem Ribera Del Duero Vintage: 2012 Region: Ribera de Duero, Spain Varietal: Tempranillo Alcohol: 14% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Blackberries, tobacco and cherry aromas Palate: Full-bodied, structured and smooth Tannin: Silky Finish: Long Comment: A decent Tempranillo, silky tannins with an enjoyable long finish.
9	Name: Seville Estate Reserve Vintage: 2001 Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia Varietal: Shiraz Alcohol: % Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Cherry, blackcurrant, spice and a hint of dark chocolate Palate: Balanced and structured Tannin: Smooth Finish: Long Comment: A great wine, really enjoyed this. A good example of an Australian cool climate Shiraz. Hope I get to try this again, soon!
10	Name: Fox Creek Reserve Vintage: 2001 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia Varietal: Shiraz Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Aromatic blend of blackberry, spice, plum and liquorice Palate: Full-bodied balanced palate with a subtle dark chocolate finish Tannin: Smooth Finish: Long Comment: IMHO McLaren Vale is one of the regions in South Australia that does not get enough recognition, Fox Creek is one of the best wineries in the Vale and their Reserve wines are usually very good, this was no exception, loved the finish.