Wine: Pooles Rock Firestick Late Harvest Shiraz 2006

Hunter Valley, $16ish

Well this is an unusual one.  Chocolate, plum and berry aromas.  Similar flavours.  Smooth almost syrupy texture.  And it's sweet!  Almost a dessert wine.  Nice.  Apparently it's good chilled too.

Wine: Wine Society Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2007

Multi-region, $9

I never thought I'd say this, but there's too much alcohol in this wine.  14% is big for a red, let alone a white, and it overpowers the fruit, making it taste a little rough.  Flavours otherwise good, but hard to taste.