There’s nothing like a trip to Melbourne to be reminded that September is finals month. We went down to visit my in-laws rather than to watch the footy, but the game found its way into our get together, all three versions of it. Only one code though is applicable to this blog, AFL.

Why? Because it struck me that a wine is a bit like a game, with four distinct quarters: first quarter is the nose, second is the up front taste, third, the mid palate and fourth, the finish.

There are those rare wines which get goals in every quarter, but the one that got me thinking about this was one that had a great third quarter and nothing but behinds for each of the other three.

Evans & Tate Butterball Chardonnay promises to be big and buttery (it sounds weird that a wine can be buttery, but it is a genuine trait of great chardonnays) and it does manage the latter enough to keep the ACCC at bay. It’s a shame, if it had lived up to its description it would be a worthy purchase at on $15.19 in 6 from Dan Murphy. It is a 2015 vintage. Maybe in 12 month’s time it will have a racked up few goals in the early quarters.

Bulldog lovers may already have come across Barking Mad ($12.99 in a dozen at Nick’s Wine Merchants) as there’s a charming picture of a dog on the label. Cat fans are missing out. There are goals in every quarter for this Claire Cabernet Sauvignon. Winestate Magazine gave it 4.5 stars and ranked it in their Top 40 under 20, saying:

“Great depth of colour with rich sweet oak aromas sitting op top of the Cherry Ripe-like fruit…. it’s full of flavour and underscored with lovely sweet tannins.”

It’s a speccy. However, it achieves all this thanks to a huge punt of alcohol. A throat burning 15% which is a bit much for me, but perhaps a plus for many.

Riddoch Coonawarra Merlot, 2013, $15.20 in 6, Dan Murphy

Unlike some people I know, I haven’t had to change the size of my sms text, but I really am struggling to read the blurb on this bottle. Looks like the designer beat the copywriter on this one. Not only is the text small, I’m guessing 7.5 pt, but it’s an almost invisible elegant pale grey.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the wine has won a design award. It’s a very elegant looking bottle, slightly taller and heavier than usual with a deep punt – trust me, a deep punt is important.

But I don’t think the wine inside the bottle has won anything. There’s nothing wrong with it; lots of up front varietal character, cherries, plums – my mother’s Christmas pudding springs to mind – full flavours and some soft tannins. No subtlety or complexity.

I’m not sure I’d buy it again – I’d prefer the Chateau D’Escart (see earlier post) – but if someone brought it over for dinner I wouldn’t be disappointed.

It’s a good merlot for people who like shiraz and an excellent companion to cheese. As to a footy score, well, I’d say it had a good second and third quarter, but too many behinds in the first and final.