Preamble Tasting November 2002
Wines of the Week of the Year
John Heavey
John's annual selection from the recommendations of the country's wine correspondents, for better or for worse.
1. Fuedo dElimi, Sicily, 2001
Floral, hint of wood, some
sweetness but with matching acidity. This is the Grillo grape.
13.5% alc. (Served blind)
Molloy's €8.49
2. Pinot Grigio, Colia Vini, Italy, 2000
Light
green-yellow. Melons, tropical fruits on the nose. Dried
pineapple flavours in the mouth, but with enough acid; well-rounded,
fruity. 12.5% alc. Very nice!
Widely available €12.81
3.
Fruits of France, Viognier, 2000
Very light with greenish
tinge.Floral, rounded, sweet, spicy. slight buzz on the tongue, tropical
fruits, chalky? 14% Very good, and excellent value.
Widely available €7.99
4. Chatsfield Mount Barker
Riesling, W. Australia, 2001
Golden yellow, nose
decidedly paraffin/petrol. Mineral on the palate, good acid.
possibly a bit too tartaric and sweet at the finish - I prefer it a bit
steelier. Still, a nice wine if a bit overpriced.
Widely available €14.50
5. Vignobles Quiot, Cotes
du Ventoux, France, 2001
Light, slightly
purply red. Very elusive nose. Hint of maceration
carbonique (pity). Grenache, some Syrah Ripe berry. Very
nice, grows on you. Nice bitter twist at end. Good price.
14% alc. Pron. key-o. Cheaper than last month :)
Searson €9.95
6. Laurent Miquel, 2000
Lovely mid-red.
Pastilles on nose. Quite fruity; a Valpolicella cherry, some crunchy
tannins. Tom Doorly reckons it to be like a good chunky claret - I can't
see it. Quite hot, although only 13% alc. Quite pleasant at
the price. Bit hard on the palate. Needs another year.
Cabernet and Syrah.
Widely available €7.99
7. Vina Albali
Gran Reserva, Tempranillo, 1995
light,
slightly orange rim. Pastille, "Ribena" nose. Lots of tannin, good
fruit. Big, well-made, cherries at the end. Very good and at
this price, get out and get some. (Leave some for me.) This
was served blind and I think surprised most people.
Superquinn €8.62
8. Primitivo Salento san Giorgio, 2000
Quite dark,
clean red. Warm nose, although not very pronounced. Luscious cherry
but with a quite astringent, though not unpleasant edge. Hint of
sugar and vanilla. Well rounded, very nice.
Searson €9.75
9. Argento Malbec, Mendoza, Nic Catena,
2000
Dark,
black-red. Big jammy nose. Plum jam on the palate, with an
astringent finish. Two separate tastes; needs time to get together.
Enough tannin to match the fruit. Nice but a bit too jammy for me.
O'Briens €10.99
11. Falesco Vitiano, Umbria, Italy, 2001
Very dark red. A bit
dumb. Young looking, big, lots of amaro. A blend,
Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet, four months in new oak.
12.5% Put it away for a few years.
O'Briens €11.50
12. Trapiche Oak cask Pinot Noir, Argentina, 1999
Mid red, strawberries but
with a stiff backbone. I wonder how it will turn out. Worth a
try.
McCabes €11.50
10.Murphy Vineyards Willandra Shiraz, 2000
Light pink red.
Quite a big smoky nose. Huge fruit-gums taste. Good tannins,
well-balanced with fruit. Recommended to keep it for some years.
13.2%
Searson €13.50