Round-up

Cantina Bolzano - St Magdalener Classico "Huck am Bach" 2006 (Alto Adige, South Tyrol, Italy)

From a fantastic Alto Adige tasting in Oxford, this was a Gamberro Rossa best value wine winner. Quite light red in colour, with an aromatic nose that was open, fine, not a million miles away from baby Nebbiolo with a delicate nose of red fruits and violets. Palate similar: delicate and light, fresh acidity, medium bodied and well structured. Perfect served cool with Italian charcuterie on a summers evening. Enjoy now, not for keeping. The wine takes its name from the winegrowing village of St. Magdalena, which achieved DOC status in 1971. The blend is approx 90% Schiava (Trollinger ) and10% Lagrein. Huck am Bach is the south facing vineyard slope where the grapes are grown above Bolzano (Cantina Bolzano). I would be interested to explore this relatively neglected area and taste more! 16+/20.

Wynns - Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2005 (Coonawarra, South Australia)

A South Australian classic that ticks all the boxes for this great style of wine, but also has a bit of age (5 years) from a good vintage. Near-opaque black colour, open nose of big black fruits and quite heady, although it has lost the brashness of youth and is integrating. Leathery blackberries. Full-bodied palate, maybe a little thin in the middle? Carries the alcohol well (14%), very rich indeed. Just a little short on the finish, but lovely and will keep. Needs hearty steak! 16/20.

Weingut Bründlmayer Chardonnay 2001 (Austria)

Hints of a good wine, but sadly this one had just been kept in the cellar too long. Dried out and a little oxidised. To be quite fair, it was never sold as a wine for cellaring either.

Côte d'Olt Co-op - Paradis 2000 (Cahors, France)

This was a treat. Originally tasted and bought direct from the winery, this particular was a lonely left-over spotted on the bottom shelf of a rural French supermarket being sold off at a silly price (~£8). The top wine from the co-op producer in a very good year for Cahors. Opening it at 10-years old was probably not doing it justice - it could have kept another 10! Deep in inky colour, the subtle nose opened out in aromas of cedar and black fruits. The palate was still quite unctuous and full, with weighty tannins and structure. Black fruit still present in abundance. If tasting blind I might have said this was a 5-year old solid claret from a good vintage, not a 10-year old Cahors! Wish I had another bottle to come back to in another decade. 16+/20.

La Garrigue - Vacqueyras "Traditionnelle" 2006 (Southern Rhone, France)

Bought from the winery, this is a lovely Southern Rhone wine. Straightforward and direct in style. Robust tannins, nicely balanced by weight black fruits inkeeping with the vintage. Just goes to show what great wines are coming from this area at really sensible prices. Drink now. There is something nicely rustic about this, and I don't mean that in a bad way, but I like the fact it lacks the polish of so many new world equivalents. It does taste like its come out of a traditional family winery, with all the rough edges that brings! Perfect for a meaty BBQ or winter roast. 15.5/20.

Ernest Hill - Chambourcin 2007 (Hunter Valley, Australia)

Bought from the winery in the Hunter on my last trip there. Intended as a random blind tasting with friends, it certainly worked and confused them all. Not really like much I've tasted before - perhaps something a little in common with the St Magdalener Classico in that it was herbaceous, light, juicy and aromatic, but this was a touch simple and short in length by comparison. A nice lunchtime quaffer, pleasant, not too heavy, but nothing more. Chambourcin is a hybrid variety although I can't seem to find the parentage. Not for keeping. 14/20.