Wine of the Week : El Castro de Valtuille Mencia Joven 2012

This variety, Mencia, is best known in the Spanish region of Bierzo, but lucky for us there are now quite a few importers here in Oz stocking it in both discerning bottle shops as well as Spanish restaurants.

The wine shows such a nice nose of distinct red roses, dough, subtle icing sugar and purple fruits. 

In the palate we have ripe plum , some blackberry very chalky tannins in the mouth with a savoury almost earthy character in the back. I really like the tannin and oak profiles here, both very well integrated, a good length as well.

Its definitely got a bit of seriousness to it even though it is a "joven"(Spanish for "young").  

Wine of the Week : Livio Felluga Friulano 2011

Wow. This is an amazing wine. Made from 100% Friulano from Friuli, Italy.

On the nose is pear , citrus, baked white cheese and peach. Digging deeper it shows some honey and nut complexities too.

A rich medium to full body with pink grapefruit and lemon as well as a subtle almond character. This really has lovely texture and the length is exceptional.

(RRP varies between $40-57) Imported by Arquilla.  arquilla.com

Livio Felluga website:
http://www.liviofelluga.com/?lang=en

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.

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.