Monday 30 June 2014

Cheap & Cheerful Tasting : Rocca Ventosa Montelpuciano 2011


So its early in the week and again I've spent too much on the weekend indulgences, so I'm a little skint.. time for a budget wine. For under $15 this Italian red was excellent. The variety, Montepulciano, is one of my favourite easy drinking cheapies (and is luckily widely available here in Oz) and this is no exception.

A seductive nose of macerated cherry, some dried cranberry and coconut.
Fresh in the mouth, very smooth soft mouth coating texture helped by the light to medium  tannin structure. Black cherry and some more ripe red berry fruit too and faint liquorice.


Soft plush and easy going... A great one to quaff, a definite crowd pleaser. Perfect for going to a house party where someone will steal your wine as well as be impressed by your choice!! ;)
(RRP: $13) Imported by Domaine Wine Shippers and available at many independent bottle shops.
Montepulciano on the vine in Abruzzi. Image from Wikipedia.

Monday 23 June 2014

Wine of the Week : Pierre-Marie Chermette, Les Griottes, Beaujolais 2013


This organic Beaujolais has great expression of fruit and very true to the varietal, Gamay.

Star bright ruby in colour with distinct purple high lights. Very lifted and pretty nose of strawberries and some faint mulberry and leafyness. 

Palate of fresh red fruit and some red berry compote, blueberry subtleties and hints of mushroom. Acidity is lively and gives a good backbone that holds it together. Youthful , feminine and vibrant. 

If you like light red wine with a touch of refinement this one is for you.

(RRP $30-35) (I've seen this in a few boutique bottle shops in both Sydney & Melbourne)

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Wine of the Week: Savaterre Pinot Noir 2012

Savaterre Pinot Noir 2012


Awesome wine !! Bags full of character from this Organic Beechworth Pinot.

Nose of red cherry, mushroom, forest floor and dried leave characters from the whole bunch ferment (grapes fermented with stalks and all).

Velvet smooth texture on the palate with under-ripe red cherry, brown spice, leafy-ness and real earthy tones with subtle mushroom again. Super fine tannin keeps it in balance with an excellent length to boot. This has real depth and complexity!

Could do with a few years to be even better I reckon. Lovely stuff to cellar or to have now if your like me and couldn't wait. Recommend decanting.

Savaterre wines ain't exactly cheap but this is no pay for the hype type wine. Its the real deal and worth it. 
(RRP Approx $70 ) http://www.savaterre.com/
Also worth trying from the range are the Shiraz and their knock-out Chardonnay.


NB. Savaterre vineyards are farmed using Organic principles and thus proclaim to be Organic, but are not yet certified.



Tasting : Lovely Chardonnay Import

Louis Latour, Chardonnay 2011, Macon Lugny Les Genievres, Burgundy (France)




This is a bargain for good white Burgundy and such a nice wine to boot.

A light to medium intensity nose of lemon, under ripe stonefruit and some subtle dairy like characters.

The palate is medium in body yet is quite delicate...it's soft and creamy with butter flavours as well as textures, stonefruit too with lemon again and hints of raw nuts.

Perfect match for Salmon (or other pink fleshed fish), creamy pasta and lemon chicken.


(RRP $25) I've seen this sold at quite a few Melbourne bottle shops, so not hard to find. Imported by Craggy Range Australia.


Monday 9 June 2014

WINE OF THE WEEK: Adam's Rib 'The White' Chardonnay Viognier 2010

Castagna Adam's Rib 'The White'  Chardonnay Viognier 2010, Beechworth, VIC



This is a great full bodied style white from this Biodynamic vineyard in Beechworth.
An intense nose of pear, butter, cheese rind and subtle honey.

Rich and opulent on the palate, very creamy and rounded with white nectarine,pear again and some definite nutty characters there too. Yummy stuff. Great on its own but would be optimal with food.. I'm thinking most poultry and french lentils with pork sausages.

(RRP $35) http://www.castagna.com.au/


Sunday 8 June 2014

TASTING: Savaterre Shiraz 2012


Savaterre Shiraz 2012, Beechworth, VIC


An intense nose of earth, blackberry, pepper, subtle smoke and barnyard. Smells very savoury and old world in style and you can really tell this has been whole bunch fermented (stalks and all).

Savoury again in mouth but not overtly with dark plums and some blackberry showing alongside blackberry bush and pepper and again some earthy characters. Mouth coating dry tannins even this out nicely. Great food style. Needs decanting( 2hours if you can).

http://www.savaterre.com/

Note: Farmed using Organic principles, but not certified.