Are any of these worth a buy?

[Smitty]

Have opportunity to order these wines this month and wondered if anyone can give me an opinion on any of them.

Two Hands 04 Bella's Garden Shiraz ($59.95Can)
04 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz ($29.95Can)

D'Arenberg 04 Laughing Magpie S/V ($26.95Can)

Quartz Reef (NZ) 03 Pinot Noir ($39.95CAN)

Need to place order by Jan 31st to try and insure I am likely to get them or take my chances there will still be some on the shelf on release day after pre-orders are filled.

[Gavin Trott]

Have opportunity to order these wines this month and wondered if anyone can give me an opinion on any of them.

Two Hands 04 Bella's Garden Shiraz ($59.95Can)
04 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz ($29.95Can)

D'Arenberg 04 Laughing Magpie S/V ($26.95Can)

Quartz Reef (NZ) 03 Pinot Noir ($39.95CAN)

Need to place order by Jan 31st to try and insure I am likely to get them or take my chances there will still be some on the shelf on release day after pre-orders are filled.

Bellas is good, but if you can also get the 2004 Lilys Gareden, should be the same price, I thinks its terrific.

Not tried the others.

[Adair]

Had the 04 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2 nights ago. Very ripe and rich yet no dead fruit fruit with excellent sweet spice from what I believed to be French oak. Classy winemaking. Very soft and ripe tannin nearly unnoticeable. Very easy drinking but the lack of class of the grapes shows itelf on the back with a litte acid (acidification showing) and not a great deal of complexity. Definitely a crowd pleaser though, that hides its 15% alcohol very well.

Adair

[Baby Chickpea]

Adair, do u have any teeth enamel left after all the high alcohol blockbuster vinfintacide you have been committing!?

[Adair]

Adair, do u have any teeth enamel left after all the high alcohol blockbuster vinfintacide you have been committing!?

...by the way, Wendourees are not high-alcohol blockbusters. I noticed that Lark Hill Pinot Noirs have more alcohol actually.

I have actually had a few alcohol free days recently preparing for tomorrow night. However, Wednesday night in Adelaide was not one of those.

Funnily enough, my mother-in-law this morning called and told me about a gum disease that wine drinkers are susceptible to and that I should be careful. I actually see my dentist every 9 months, which is free with my HCF insurance.

Good to see that you have been going through your cellar over the past few days working out what you are going to bring on Saturday.

Kind regards,
Adair

[Baby Chickpea]

Maaaate, we're ALL looking forward to that dessert wine! Attila is REALLY talking it up - I should have saved the 89 Huet Constance but it was only 375ml....

[Adair]

Maaaate, we're ALL looking forward to that dessert wine! Attila is REALLY talking it up - I should have saved the 89 Huet Constance but it was only 375ml....

It is great that you have high expectations. I, on the otherhand, have learnt from my 1990 Krug, 1988 Haut Brion, 1989 Leoville-Barton, etc. purchases and presentations to just hope for the best and expect not much from anything under cork.

Disillusioned,
Adair

[Baby Chickpea]

...hmn, and so far pretty lucky with lack of TCA-tainted bottles too - hope none this weekend given my potential choices!

[Smitty]

Thanks for the comments on the Two Hands wines. The LCBO lets wine writers taste most of the wines before their twice monthly "releases" of what we call non-general list wines. The wine review service I subscribe to didn't get to taste either of the Two Hands so I was flying blind on them.

FYI, here are their tasting notes for 2 other Aussie reds and the NZ pinot. The figure at the start of the note is their score. ($Can= $.94Au)

90 Chateau Reynella 2002 Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon **
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
ON $29.95 Vintages
A fruit-driven and approachable cabernet with impressive structure and length that has a few more years left in it. Black cherry, cassis, mint, mineral and coffee cream aromatic medley. An abundance of concentration with a streak of mineral complexity running through it. A coating of creamy oak joins in at mid-palate and lingers on the finish. A harmonious and tasty red that will be best 2006-2012. (JD)

89 DÂ’Arenberg 2004 The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier *1/2
McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
ON 26.95 Vintages
The 6% viognier really adds some aromatic jump and vibrant flavours in this perennial favourite. Very fruity and concentrated on the nose with blackberry, black cherry, peach, floral and a few foresty overtones. Good depth and focus on the palate with dark fruit, peach, mint and creamy elements sharing centre stage. Good length. Best 2006-2012. (JD)

89 Quartz Reef 2003 Pinot Noir *1/2
Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand
ON $39.95 Vintages
Fine red offering much to appreciate though it is a bit hot on the finish. Vibrant aromas of cherry, raspberry and violets. Lots of body and red fruit extraction with approachable tannin. Good balance between the fruit, acidity and tannic framework but the 14.5% alcohol really makes itself known. Drink 2006-2010. (JD)

Not Tasted

Two Hands 2004 BellaÂ’s Garden Shiraz Barossa Valley, South Australia, $59.95

Two Hands 2004 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz Barossa Valley, South Australia, $29.95

I'm sure I'll be back for some more input in future and will be using the search feature to find TN's on wines that become available.