The 2008 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline is medium (+) purple in colour with very slight garnet on the rim; a nose of sweet dark currants, boisen berries and some vanilla notes with some gentle refined oak.

Quite linear upon entry with slight gravelly notes and dark currants, and dark cherries, followed by grass and straw. There's a rising back end alcohol. Tannins are rather refined and fruit driven in style. A jammy finish and rather palatable wine. Quite soft and well-balance with a medium (-) finish. Expected more concentration and drive nonetheless. (89-90).

The 2008 Château Gazin is dark purple in colour with an attractive nose of coffee, smoked & dusty cedar, tabacco, vanilla, dark chocolate and cassis. Fruit-driven on the palate with its chocolatey, cassis and fragrant incense notes sits comfortably alongside its silky texture. Tannins are quite refined, though one may find it to be a little powdery perhaps. Nonetheless, full on structure and an excellent drive powers the wine through to a medium (+) finish. An excellent food wine with weight and density.

The 2008 Domaine de Chevalier is dark purple in colour with a nose of slight leather, plums and prunes. An entry on the palate of prunes, pluminess, sweet & fresh dark currants before progressing to underlying green capsicums. There's an excellent concentration in this wine that makes it stand out among the flight.

Beautifully structured with a good weight as flavours rest firmly (but not overwhelmingly) on the palate. Super fresh mid -palate and round indeed. Layered and soft in style, very well-balanced definitely. A refined, clean finish of medium (+) length. Brilliant and lovely characters for a 2008 vintage left-bank. Great value stuff.

The 2008 Meerlust Rubicon is medium (+) purple in colour with a slightly more garnet on the rim. The nose boasts of dark chocolates, dark cherries, fresh cedar and thyme. On the palate, an entry of fresh, juicy and sweet fruitiness of dark ripe currants, cherries before moving on to some grass and dried leaves. The mid-palate did progress to a little more linear in style which is followed by a minty freshness. There's a slight steeliness to it (which one may relate to a freshness that lacks sufficient drive). Only a slight back-end alcohol. Good structure without it being too overwhelming. Palatable and pretty good quality there from the region and vintage. (89-90)