Water Wheel Vineyards Sep/Oct 07
By Josh Raynolds

2006 Water Wheel Vineyards Memsie White Bendigo 87
($14; a blend of 40% sauvignon blanc, 30% semillon, 21% roussanne and 9% chardonnay) Green-gold. Spiced pear and peach on the nose, with an exotic floral quality adding interest. Dried pit fruit flavors recall a northern Rhone wine. Finishes with a warm, lightly nutty note. This rich, velvety wine needs food.

2006 Water Wheel Vineyards Memsie Red Bendigo 90
($14; 87% shiraz, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 6% malbec) Saturated purple. Inky blackberry, blueberry and candied plum on the nose, with a bright peppery quality. Chewy dark fruit flavors are firmed by dusty tannins that carry through the finish. Solidly built-in fact, almost brawny and strikingly concentrated for this price point.

2005 Water Wheel Vineyards Shiraz Bendigo 88(+?)
($17) Ruby-red. Intensely floral, exotic aromas of red and blue fruits, violet, lavender and incense. Deep and chewy, with solid tannins framing raspberry and dark berry compote flavors. Gains weight on the long finish. Give this some time in bottle.

2005 Water Wheel Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bendigo 87
($17) Inky ruby. Smoky blackberry and plum aromas show exotic vanilla and floral scents. Creamy dark fruit flavors are pure and expansive, with impressive thrust. A touch bourbony but offers easy appeal and good depth of flavor. (Southern Starz, Stamford, CT)