St. Hallet Barossa Faith Shiraz (2004)

Hello!

At first sip Faith arrives like a jolly fat friend, but as she warms up she magically starts to thin. Its as if she's is on one of those instant weight loss programs. As a result Faith becomes more "drinkable," but at the cost of those lingering chocolatey flavors that made you like her in the first place.

Faith, I liked you better when you were fat. In spite of your sudden anorexia and a somewhat rubbery nose, I suppose we can still hang out once in awhile. And I won't be too embarrassed if my friends see me with you.

6/10

Brokenwood Pinot Noir Beechworth (2004)

Yum!

Get's better with every sip. And by the time you finish your first glass the bottle has breathed enough to really open up in a bold (for Pinot Noir) fashion. It's almost like a son of a Cabernet...but without Dad's fiery temper.

This kid's gonna grow up and be a fine dancer, smooth and light on his feet - and a great partner no matter what's for dinner.

8/10

Mt. Difficulty Pinot Noir (2005)

Sneaky!

The kind of reds I like are big, bold and after you take a sip, they hang around for awhile...sort of like that last friend to leave a party at your house. You both know it's time to go, but the company and stories are good so you just enjoy the moment. If you're a bit sleepy in the morning, so what?

This Pinot doesn't stick around. In fact, I wonder if it thought it was even invited. Sure it was tasty, and to use a stereotypically Aussie description, "drinkable," but it left me wanting more. Instead of hanging around telling stories, it was off to the next party without even saying goodbye.

5/10