Rosemount Estate Diamond Label - Merlot 2004

I've always tried Merlot as a blend, but never by itself before. As it was selling for a ridiculously low price - $6.97 to be exact - I thought to myself, "Why not now?"

Merlot has always been seen as the little brother to the more popular Cabernet Sauvignon; when it's blended (you'll never find it as Merlot Sauvignon), or at the shop shelves where Merlot are always placed at the back, near the fire escape.

However Merlot is starting to gain some recognition as a wine to be enjoyed on its own, thanks to the endless promotions and huge discounts on it. Yours truly was about to be sucked into the brilliant marketing ploy to encourage wine drinkers to pick up a bottle of Merlot again.

The verdict? Even though the winemakers put it a lot of effort into making this wine, it just doesn't have the "kick" and the body to make this a wine to enjoy. Sure it's smooth and plummy, but it can only be plummy for so long until it starts to taste like cough syrup.

Maybe it needs a couple more years to mature. But I'm the kind of person that lives only for today.

And today I'm going to get myself a nice bottle of Shiraz... ^_^

Sandalford Margaret River - Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

There is wine that's good; and then there is wine that's just great. Squashed, macerated and fermented right here in Western Australia, Sandalford has produced one of the finest quality Cabernet Sauvignon I've ever tried. It doesn't even cost you an arm and a leg to get your hands on this. Ok maybe just the leg... Why? Because it's SOLD OUT everywhere!

Sandalford has managed to combine the dark berry flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon with the smooth cedary essences of French oak, to produce a wine that just sits so elegantly on the palate.

Winning top drop at the Royal Hobart wine shows, including triple gold medals at the Brisbane, Adelaide and WA Wine Shows, this proves that Western Australia does have what it takes to produce fine wine.

Price? Doesn't matter how much it costs... If you can find it, get it! ^_^

Brown Brothers - Spatlese Lexia 2004

Mention the word "Lexia" at any wine shop and you'll surely be directed to one of 2 places. One is the rack at the back which houses all the cheap cask wines. The other, contains this beautiful bottle from Brown Brothers.

This Muscat variety has been proven so popular that every cheap sweet wine wants to be labelled as such. Fortunately for us, Brown Brothers has produced the real deal with its late harvest Spatlese Lexia.

While Lexia does not come close to satisfying the tastebuds as much as Orange Muscat & Flora can, it compensates by allowing its fragrance to linger a tad bit longer. For what it lacks in terms of complexity, it makes up for it by allowing the wine to be enjoyed without over-saturating the palate.

With its bright yellow hue capturing the essence of the summer rays, this wine is sure to entice all your senses. From the lush fruity flavours to its smooth musky aroma, these characteristics combine to make this wine an excellent companion to any meal.

Remind yourself of how enjoyable wine can be for just $14 at any wine store near you ^_^