Wine Tastings July Highlights

I have been busy tasting plenty of wines over the last few months. I have coallated the best below. I have kept the notes brief so if you are interested in find out more detail or order any of the wines please send me an email philip@thewinedepository.com.au or call 0418 23 04 82.

Sherry Plus Port Plus Sweet Spanish Reds Tastings
La Goya Manzanilla April 12 bottling. Dry, nutty, pepper, oystershell, clean and a hint floral. Perfect Manzanilla, just needs some olives, and jamon and a warm day…..

Romate Marismeno Fino April 12 bottling. Candied core or citrus fruit, oyster shell and spice. Nutty and lean and dry. Really enjoyable.

Romate Perdido Fino A modern day example of the traditional fino production style (before mod cons like refridgeration). Dry and dusty, clay, rounded. Lemon zest, herbal, v textural, chalky and fascinating.

Niepoort White Port Stonefruits and hazel nuts. Medium sweet, clean, white chocolate, hint bitter. Really drinkable.

Niepoort Ruby Port Red fruits, smoke, jubey. Raspberries, milk chocolate, pepper, fruit tannins.

Quinta do Vallado 10 year old Tawny Elegant, floral, red and blue fruits. Hints of spirit and prune, clean, nutty finish and great mouthfeel.

Quinta do Vallado 20 year old Tawny More nutty and spirity than the 10yo, hints of red fruit and floral notes. Very Armangac like, stone fruits, warm spirit but integrated, clean, long and yum!

Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage Port 2005 Smells like a nice Shiraz – red fruits, intense, spicy and vibrant. The palate is ligt fresh with firm spirit and a clean finish.

Niepoort Vintage Port 2005 Spice, plums, smoke, dense, sweet, intense, firm and structured. Needs another 10 or so years. But will be pretty darn smart by then.

Quinta do Vale Dona Maria Late Bottle Vintage Port 2007 Currants and  raspberries, smoke/schist. Firm, structured, like a sweet version of red Bordeaux. Good stuff!

Quinta do Vale Meao Vintage Port 2007 Meaty, spice, hints of rubber. The palate is juicy, clean, pruney and well structured. Needs more time.

La Purisima En Escensia Monastrell Dulce 2008 Made from sun dried grapes and unfortified. Sour, blue jam, raisins. Grippy, intense and smokey.

Capcanes Pansal de Calas Garnacha 2008 Fortified red from Montsant. Red fruited, clean, floral, sweet, pepper and smoke.

Unexplored France
Prieure VDP Chenin Blanc 2011  Light, fresh, great texture, hint creamy, clean and lovely. Everything that Loire Chenin should be. Great value too!

Plaimont VDQS St Mont 2010 Made from Gros & Petit Manseng in South West France this was pungent, passionfruited and citrus, clean with tangy acidity. Really freshing.

Sieur d’Arques AOC Limoux 2009 Chardonnay from Languedoc. Rich, hints of oak, spice, creamy, melons, round generous and lovely.

Rottier Moulin A Vent 2010 I do love a good Beaujolais! Red fruits, crunchy, sweet mid palate, clean finish, violets, smoke and a nice whack of fruit tannins. Really tasty.

Caves de Pouilly Sur Loire Coteaux du Giennois 2009 A blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay. Nice tart red fruits, smokey, minerally, dry, clean, nice meaty notes.

Chateau La Croix d’Armens St-Emilion 2006 Not so unexplored but lovely none-the-less. Hint backwards and savoury, red fruits, spice, fine, elegant, hint bitter. Great value and drinking now.

Del Sud

Beach Rd McLaren Vale based producer sourcing wines from there and Langhorne Creek. Strong focus on Italian wines. Great work so far.
Fiano LHC 2011 Floral and grapey
Greco LHC 2011 Doughy, zesty, clean
Vermentino MCV 2001 Riesling like
Aglianico LHC 2010 Red, floral, silky, tart, herbal see tasting at Mezzo
Nero d’Avola Smokey, dry, red fruits.

Brash Higgins Mclaren Vale based American somm. Trying interesting things.
Nero d’Avola 2011 Sweet red, huge tannins, herbal and clean. Made in Amphorae.
Grenache Mataro 2011 Bright rich fragrant, chunky tannins, some silk. Co fermented.

Chalmers
Vermentino Heath 2011 Not bad
Sangiovese Heath 2011 Light red meh
Lagrein MD 2009 Oak and spice
Aglianico MD 2009 Really really good varietal.
Sagrantino MD 2009 Red and vibrant, crunchy, shiraz like.

Antonio Gaggiano Tauri Aglianico DOC Campania Pretty darn good.

Foster e Rocco
Fiano 2011 Clean and vibrant
Rose 2011 Hint savoury and composte.
Nuovo Sangio 2011 Red, roses, fresh and crunchy
Sangiovese 2010 Dark, currants, earth, dry, quite Chianti, long, dry fab.

Montevecchio see events
Moscato 2011 Fresh and moscato like.

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