Alkoomi, Jarrah, Frankland River

Whites with Teochew Food (Lee Kui (Ah Hoi) Teochew Restaurant, Mosque Street) : Another new world Shiraz, this time clearly Aussie, although almost all of us guessed cool climate. Nose showed plums, spice and licorice, with some powdery stony mineral. Lots of savoury notes on the palate, almost salty, with preserved plum powder mixed with prunes. Simple, but very well balanced. Finish was long and clean, with more licorice and a crush of blueberries. Very pleasant wine.

NobleRottersSydney - Marg River & Great Southern (Alio's, Surry Hills) : [cork, 13.5%] It’s funny how many Australian regions which claim cabernet as their flagship wine manage to produce awesomely good shiraz (although I note that the exact regional make-up of this wine is not revealed). A beautifully developed nose of earth and polished leather, sandalwood & cinnamon precedes a deep, warm palate of furry fruits, soft powdery tannins, and beguiling length. The first wine we’ve had tonight that’s indisputably …

NobleRottersSydney - Vic & WA less-heralded regions (Lucio's, Paddington) : Deep purple/red. Bright raspberry/pepper fruit, with a little choco-vanilla oak underlying. Fresh and clean on the palate; the powerful initial impact of fruit is quite warm, but this initial bloom of flavour does wane rather quickly. Pretty nice wine, though.