Terra Nostra Nielluccio Corse Rouge 2011, Corsica, France (£7.25 The Wine Society)
The bruised cherry edge and slightly tart, appley acidity seem more Italian than French, good fresh earthy style, but needs some fat and tomato to fight against. B+
Poggio del Sasso Sangiovese di Toscana 2011, Italy (£6.95 The Wine Society)
It comes with a screwcap, but have to say this lacks freshness. Don’t mind the plumskin and cherry flavours, or the note of rosehip, but there’s an almond-like torpor that lets it down. 0
Vigneti Trebbio Toscana 2010, Italy (~£20 Vinum)
This blend of Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah combines flavours of both Tuscany and Bordeaux. The Tuscan bit is the spicy slightly baked cherry sourness of Sangiovese, while the Bordeaux bit is the leafy/herbal plum, blackcurrant and blackberry. The slightly dry tannins are also Bordeaux-esque, but they do have plush coating of fruit to balance. Good wine, chewy but still supple, although maybe that leafy, chocolatey Cabernet is just a bit too loud. S
Comelli Pignolo 2009, Friuli (N/A in the UK)
It seems like there’s reasonable plummy loganberry and mulberry fruit here, but it’s very hard to get to it under the overlay of tannic smoky oak. I gave this three days to see if the wood would soften, but it didn’t seem to… ???
Tesco Chianti Classico 2010 (£6.99 Tesco)
Warm, earthy, Wednesday-evening type of wine, slightly chewy with some freshness, and enough hearty cherry and plum fruit to pad it out. B(+)
Castellare Chianti Classico 2010 (£15.95 Bibendum)
Polished plummy plushness, modern style with blackberries and blackcurrant alongside the cherries, and touches of spice and vanilla to back it up. Purists might not like it, but it’s very tasty. S
Poggerino Chianti Classico 2009 (£15.50 Lea & Sandeman)
Light and charming, delicate and fragrant, with juicy cherry and red berry, an undercurrent of earthiness, and a fresh finish. High cheekboned style, with effortless allure. S(+)
Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2009 (£16.99 selected Sainsbury’s)
Another from the modernist school, with the leafy blackcurrant and berry pointing to the inclusion of some Bordeaux grapes. But there’s still enough of the spicy cherry kernel, cola and herb to say that this is Chianti. S
Guerrieri Rizzardi Valpolicella Classico 2010, Veneto, Italy (£15.99 The Wine Alley)
The smoky vanilla oak sheen and the ripe berry fruit veering towards the slightly baked and overripe may appeal to some, but I want my Valpol to be fresher and perkier than this. C+
Tenuta I Collazzi ‘Collazzi’ Toscana 2009, Italy (N/A in the UK)
Can’t fault it for its fresh, ripe blackcurrant, blackberry and cherry flavours, but I’m not so keen on the slightly too-sweet vanilla oak influence, and I miss a backbone of tannin and acidity. Good, but feels like it’s been made for a certain style of US drinker. S-
Piccini Sasso al Poggio Toscana 2007, Italy (£12.99 Morrisons)
Think Chianti for Shiraz lovers, this has the classic aromas of Cola and sour cherry, with a warm, hearty finish. Not all that subtle, but soft, mature and tasty. S-
Zorah Karasi 2010, Armenia (£22.99 Philglas & Swiggot, Sipp London, The Old Bridge Wine Shop, Vin Neuf, Wined Up Here)
Refreshing open-hearted style of wine, generous and soft, but never too ripe, with notes of cola and wet clay to its violet-scented berry flavours, and a refreshing minerally finish. Good lunchtime glugging fare, could almost take a chill. S
Valle Vento Barolo 2007, Piedmont (£14.99 Spar)
Some will praise its old-fashioned, volatile, meaty style and rustic charm, others will dislike it for precisely the same reasons. It is a bit tired and consommé-like, but there’s still enough fragrant tar aroma, plum and citrus peel flavour and chewy tannin to make it interesting, if not special. Showed it to a tasting group a couple of hours after I filmed this – very much a love/hate wine… B
Castello del Trebbio Vigneti Trebbio IGT Toscana 2009 (N/A in the UK)
Rounded, warm and already quite developed, with fragrant, dusty plum and berry fruit pepped up with touches of tar and honey. Almost Barolo-like in its fragrant plummy rusticity, maybe not most complex of wines but smooth and satisfying. S(-)
Pinino Brunello di Montalcino 2007, Tuscany (~£30-35 Vinum)
Wonderful combination of generous, herb-strewn cherry, loganberry and plum flavours with a stern, aristocratic backbone of fine tannin and iron-like minerality. Firm but fine, warm and welcoming, grown up, complete wine. G-
Bergaglio Sassaia Monferrato Rosso 2007, Piedmont (₤18.60 Symposium Wines)
Oh so nearly… This combines the ripe plummy blackcurrant of Cabernet Sauvignon with the awkward herbiness, rose petal and tar of Nebbiolo and friendly blackberry edge of Barbera, but then the flashy vanilla sheen of oak intrudes and takes away much of the pleasure, and it doesn’t seem to dissipate with time. Good, but could have been so much better. B+
Miopasso Primitivo 2009, Puglia (£8.99 Field & Fawcett, Last Drop Wines, Mill Hill Wines, SH Jones, Whitebridge Wines, Trina’s Wines, Wines of the World)
Boisterous brambly style, like you wish Zin was, but seldom is, lovely honest wine with spicy, earthy, herby notes to the joyous blackberry and loganberry flavours and a juicy savoury finish. S-
Piccini Memoro Vino Rosso d’Italia NV (£9.49 Tesco)
Reasonable ripe blackberry, cherry and plum flavours, but there’s that shrivelled character of overripeness, plus an overcoat of rather crude, rubbery vanilla oak that dominates the wine. C(+)
Piccini ‘Orange Label’ Chianti 2010, Tuscany (£6.99 Sainsbury’s)
Fruity youngster that wouldn’t object to 20 minutes in the fridge before serving, with vibrant plum and cherry freshness, a touch of almond, some spice & herbs, and just the right amount of tannic bite to the finish. B(+)
Umberto Cesari Yemula Sangiovese/Merlot IGT Rubicone 2008, Emilia-Romagna (N/A in UK – RRP ~£22)
Peculiar wine, with a soft, smoky oak sheen and some soft berry fruit, but the main impression is of coffee and vanilla tinged with some volatility – reminds me of Tia Maria! C+
Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon IGT Rubicone 2008, Emilia-Romagna (£21.99 Hallgarten Druitt)
Shares the same Tia Maria/vanilla/coffee style as the Yemula, but has a little more structure and more evident fruit – blackcurrant and cherry. B-
Umberto Cesari Sangiovese di Romagna Riserva 2008, Emilia-Romagna (£14.99 Hallgarten Druitt)
The savoury sour cherry kernel and blackcurrant edge of Sangiovese comes through here, but – again – let down by that clumsy volatile vanilla note. B
Umberto Cesari Tauleto IGT Rubicone 2004, Emilia-Romagna (£36.99 Hallgarten Druitt)
There’s a touch of the volatility that was in the Cesari 2008s, but here it’s in balance with the earthy mineral, cherry (flesh and skins), blackcurrant and damson fruit and the note of cola. Still on the chewy side, with just a hint of green tannin, but decent, ever-so-slightly rustic wine. S(-)
Château de Fontlade Aurélia Prima Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010, France (£7.99 Waitrose)
Solid but simple youngster, reasonable citrus and peach with a light sandy character, just a touch bubble-gummy. C(-)
Cuvée de Richard Rosé 2010, IGP Pays d’Hérault, France (£4.99 Majestic)
Not much going on here, a few notes of citrus, berry and apple but has a slightly cloying finish. 0
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand (£11.83/£7.71 Bibendum – sale price valid until Aug 1st 2011)
Not the most subtle of wines, but its fresh, forward and fruity peach melba and vanilla character are rather appealing. B
Tenuta Degli Dei ‘Le Redini’ IGT Toscana 2008, Italy (~£18)
Quite a lush modern style with berry, sour cherry and damson skin flavours, Alicante adding some iron and herbiness and oak giving a smoky vanilla sheen, finishes in gentle, soft and supple style but maybe just too smooth? S-
Caiarossa IGT Toscana 2006, Italy (£39 Berry Bros & Rudd)
Very classy wine, manages to pack in the slightly spiky personality absent in Le Redini, shows notes of cola, herbs, chocolate, brooding dark fruit and grilled, herb-sprinkled meat, has richness and warmth, but still finishes with freshness. S+
Piccini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2007, Italy (£9.99 Sainsbury’s)
Struggles a little after Caiarossa, but still shows decent, slightly dusty cherry, berry and redcurrant flavours with a touch of vanilla, good bistro glug. B(+)
Dry Creek Heritage Zinfandel 2007, Sonoma County, California (contact Bibendum)
Starts well with briar, bramble and berry fruit and a touch of chocolate, but finish lacks structure – feels as if the winemaker was scared of making it too structured, and the result is just a little fey. B(+)
Da Vinci Chianti 2008, Tuscany, Italy (£8.99 Liberty Wines, Whole Foods, Noel Young) Juicy, earthy style, combining violet-scented bitter cherry & raspberry flavours with a herby wildness and a sappy, refreshing finish. B+
Poggiotondo Chianti Superiore 2007, Tuscany, Italy (£11.99 Liberty Wines, Whole Foods, Noel Young) More flesh and polish than the Da Vinci, a touch of VA (volatile acidity – think ever-so-slight vinegar) but it’s in balanced with the smooth, serious morello cherry and blackcurrant fruit, also a seam of minerality, with tannin & acidity to keep it in balance. S(-)
Greenstone Sangiovese 2007, Heathcote, Australia (£26.99 Liberty Wines, Imbibros, Noel Young, Wimbledon Wine Cellar) Shows the cola edge often found in Sangiovese, along with the characteristic earthy bitter cherry fruit and tangy tannins, but it’s more leathery, warmer & riper than the 2 Italians. Perhaps lacks subtlety, but it’s not too heavily extracted, and the finish is full and satisfying. S-
First Drop Wines Minchia Montepulciano 2008, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£17.99 from October 2010 New School Wines Ltd, The Secret Cellar, Cambridge Wine Merchants) Riper and fleshier still, almost verging on the jammy, with the slightly baked berry edge of very ripe grapes. Plummy and upfront, but with a sappy savoury edge and tannin to freshen up the finish. B+
