**+ $$ McGuigan Esatate Shiraz, 2006, South Australia - Review and Rating

Review: This shiraz hails from grapes sourced from vineyards all around the South Australia area. The McGuigan's have been in the wine trade in Australia for the past four generations, since the late 1800's. I think I was fooled by the "McGuigan Estate" label, as these grapes seemed not to have been sourced from the winery's own vineyards, as is typically the case with "estate" wines.

Let's see what the McGuigan "estate" labeled shiraz has to offer. In the glass, it is medium deep red, though not tending at all darker in the middle. On the nose, it shows afruity, sweet cherry candy plus darkish oak. Seems to imply a lighter-bodied wine.

The palate is consistent with the suggestions of the nose, with 13.5% alcohol pushing the cherry/grape candy up into the gums and cheeks. Oak comes in a bit late in the game. I can only offer two stars, but I will add a plus because it's certainly friendly enough.

**+ $ Elysian Fields Medium Dry Red, 2007, East Anglian Region, Ely, England - Wine Review and Rating

Review: OK, call me crazy: an English wine?!? Beer we all understand from England. But wine? It struck me how un-Napa-like the weather virtually always is throughout the UK - cool, showers most days, little variation from day to evening temperature. Not prime cabernet sauvignon growing climate.

But, here I am in England, in the area of Cambridge and Ely, so how could I not try a bottle of local wine? "Easy", you might say. "Agree," I would answer, "but sometimes I just need to try the harder way."

So, here it is, the harder way - central English countryside wine...

Elysian Fields Medium Dry hails from Elysian Fields Vineyard at La Thetford, Ely. The winemaking itself was by New Hall Vineyard, Furleigh, Chelmsford.

In the glass Elysian Fields Medium Dry Red is ruby red, medium tint. A pretty color, something between a rose and a pinot noir. On the nose, a shy, bright aroma - with a deep sniff, you can pick up a beaujolais-style hint. Seems generally raspberry with a whiff of oak.

On the first sip, you are hit by two sensations at the same time - sweet and prickly acid. Those sensations are more typical of a white - a crisp riesling, for instance - than a dry red. Still, it's not an unpleasant sensation, and somewhat in keeping with the ruby color of the wine. Following the sip, light berry notes - red cherry and raspberry - sprinkle through your palate. Oak is the only element of a darker note. Finish is quick, a bit more like soda pop than wine. Still a generally pleasant experience overall, and much more impressive than I anticipated. The friendliness is complemented by a very modest 10.5% alcohol level.

Two stars on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its surprising and effusive friendliness. Congratulations, Ely, England, job well done!

** $ Domaine Jean Claude Courtault Chablis, 2007, Chablis, France - Wine Review and Rating

Review: This brand-new chablis from France is built to store up to six years for aging. We are trying it young.

We'll serve it quite cool, as recommended by the winemaker. In the glass, it is clear with a pale vanilla cast.

Aroma shows a touch of steely grass and a bit of lemon. On the palate, the quite dry and tart - almost citrus - twang hits your upper palate. The notable acids bring along lemon and grapefruit, with the "sweetness" appropriate to those fruits. Finish is clean and fairly lengthy. The tightness overall of Jean Claude Courtault Chablis does suggest that some of that potential aging would be warranted.

I'll award two stars on the Spirit of Wine scale for this wine in its youth. Might be interesting to see with a bit more meat on its bones.