Ruinart 'R' de Ruinart Brut Champagne NV: Pale colour. Lacking on the nose. Subtle yeasty notes, fresh citrus aromas. Creamy texture on the palate, but palate also seems flat and uninteresting. No fruit. Perhaps subdued fruit evidence of a corked wine? Certainly not showing well. Not rated.

Ruinart Brut Rosé NV: Pleasant colour and aroma. Some nice red fruit on palate, well balanced. Overall pleasant, although lacking in complexity. Expensive for what you get. 15.5/20

Ruinart 'R' de Ruinart Brut Champagne 1993: Yeasty, biscuity nose. A creamy texture on the palate, lovely mousse, attractive white fruit. Good acidity, refreshing. A little short on the finish, but certainly enjoyable. 16/20

Laurent Perrier Brut NV: A blend of all three grape varieties, although I didn't catch the exact percentages. Nose was pleasantly fresh with some bready notes. Palate had pleasant fruit, but was marred by excessively high acidity - something that seems to me to be a Laurent Perrier trait. Finish was especially 'sharp'. 14/20

Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut NV: Pinot noir 50% / Chardonnay 50%. Here the wine, following remuage, is topped up not with the usual 'dosage' of sugar-laden wine, but with more of the base wine only. No extra sugar. Appley fruit on nose. Pleasant, could lead to good things. Pleasant yeasty flavour. Unfortunately high acidity, combined with the extremely dry palate, makes this wine difficult to drink. Bitter finish. I'd class it as 'interesting' rather than a 'buy'! 15/20

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle 'La Cuvee' NV: Again Pinot noir 50% / Chardonnay 50%. Base wine 1990, with additional '88 and '85, which have both been kept on their lees in stainless steel up until blending prior to the second fermentation. Subsequent bottle age of finished wine 7 years. Up front, yeasty nose. Some white fruit. The palate has nice fruit, bready yeasty flavours abound, less aggressive acidity, and surprisingly warming alcohol for a champagne. Excellent length. Backward, but has potential. 17+/20

Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut NV: This interesting wine is 100% Pinot noir. Laurent Perrier pay their growers 15% over the usual price for the ripest grapes. They are picked and de-stemmed by hand, and then fermented in a 'maceration' technique, pumping the juice over the skins. After several days, when the desired colour has been achieved, the wine is run off, and there is some gentle pressing of the pulp. Nice colour. Fresh red fruits, notably strawberries, are more evident than in many rosé Champagnes I have tried, probably reflecting the 100% Pinot and above technique. Palate is nicely balanced. Pleasant red fruits, showing particularly well on finish. Very nice, very drinkable, but perhaps lacks finesse. 16/20

Lindauer Special Reserve NV: Attractive onion-skin colour. There is a slightly yeasty note to the nose. Fairly neutral, unexciting palate. 13/20

Seppelt Great Western Brut (Australia) NV: An attractive golden hue, with a greenish tinge. The aromatic, grapey nose (the blend includes grapes such as Muscadelle) leads into a spicy, aromatic palate. A nice mousse. Just off dry, and quite refreshing. 14/20

Seppelt Great Western Rose (Australia) NV: Onion skin appearance. An orange peel, candied, confected nose. Pleasant fruit on the palate, and a soft mousse. Lacking in acidity, in fact really quite flabby. 11/20

Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz (Australia) NV: An attractive, deep, juicy red hue. The faintest hint of orange-pink at the rim. A smoky, cherry, slightly estery nose. Very forward. The palate follows with black fruit and pepper, and a soft mousse. A slightly bitter note to the palate. No length. 14/20

Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) 1998: A pale lemon yellow with a hint of green. Nose of fresh dessert grapes and citrus fruit. A grassy, white fruit palate. Poor acidity, reflecting the warm 1998 vintage in New Zealand. 14.5/20

Hardys Stamp Series Riesling/Gewurztraminer (Australia) 1999: This wine had a light, aromatic nose. The palate was flabby, lacking in acidity, with a bitter finish. Could be corked? What a let down! Not rated.

Cono Sur Gewurztraminer (Chile) 1999: A pale yellow. Quite an attractive, aromatic varietally correct nose. Medium bodied on the palate, nice aromatics. Lacking in acidity somewhat. 14/20

Montana Reserve Chardonnay (New Zealand) 1998: A fairly pale colour for a reserve wine. On the nose there is spicy, toffee oak and ripe melon fruit. The palate profile matches that of the nose, but what fruit exists is dominated by excessive oak. Quite an attractive, fat texture. 14.5/20

Montana Reserve Gewurztraminer (New Zealand) 1999: A richer yellow colour. Good aromatic Gewurztraminer nose, with fresh grapey aromas. Good acidity on the palate, good balance. Much more stylish than the Chardonnay. 15/20

Church Road Chardonnay (New Zealand) 1998: Yellow-gold hue. The nose is loaded with spicy, vanilla, American oak. The palate is also oak dominated, with a fat, rich texture. Good acidity, however. 15.5/20

Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Chile) 1997: A deep colour. Spicy blackcurrant fruit on the nose. A fairly one-dimensional Cabernet fruit palate. Pleasant tannins and acidity. 14/20

Montana Reserve Merlot (New Zealand) 1998: A nice ruby purple. Dusty black fruits on the nose. Attractive palate, with more fruit and some spicy notes. Good finish. 15/20

Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) 1997: A deep colour. Vanilla oak and black fruit nose. On the palate there is black fruit, good tannins, just sufficient acidity. Some length. 15/20

Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet (Australia) 1999: Good rich colour. An attractive black fruit and liquorice nose. On the palate there is an attractive sweetness to the blackberry fruit, with a buttery, creamy texture. 15/20

Rosemount Grenache Shiraz (Australia) 1999: A good nose of wild herbs and black fruit. On the palate more fruit, liquorice. Good body. 15/20

Rosemount Merlot (Australia) 1998: Pleasant red-purple colour. A very forward, fruitcake and blackcurrant nose. A full, fruit-laden palate, with soft tannins and good acidity. 15/20

Rosemount Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) 1998: Good deep colour. Blackcurrant nose, leading on to palate. Soft tannins. Has a little length. 15/20

Leasingham Classic Clare Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) 1994: A deep red-black hue. Rich vanilla and spicy black fruit nose. An intense cabernet palate, lovely intensity of fruit, nicely structured tannins. Good length. 17+/20

Leasingham Classic Clare Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) 1995: Also a deep colour. Opulent fruit on the nose, with vanillin, spicy oak. The palate holds well balanced tannin and acidity, and good fruit. Good finish and length. 17+/20