(R) Illuminati: "Ilico" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2010, from Controguerra, Italy

Smell
Early: Dark full nose with a touch of earthiness
Later: Lingering earthiness on softened background of blackcurrants

Taste
A rich reddish-purple colouration typical of the Montepulciano grape. The palate opens to delicately soft forest fruits with a pertinent peppery edge sitting on a bed of tannins. The fruit fades away if the wine is afforded breathing space, however the earthy tannins remain, accompanied by a smooth and moderately dry finish.

Price: $13
Quality: ☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://www.illuminativini.com/en/vini/rossi/ilico.cfm

(R) Lello: Tinto 2009, from Douro, Portugal

Smell
Early: Powerful dark plums and black cherries with hints of spice
Later: Dark red fruits with only a faint memory of spices

Taste
Thick legs with dark pink colouration, bordering on burgundy. A very fruit-driven drop with a moment of sweetness that's quickly overcome by a wave of earthy tannin, followed by a lingering aftertaste of pepper. With time the pepper finish fades away and the fruit lingers on. By the end, dark red fruits remain stronger than ever, with a tannic finish rounding the experience.

Composition
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Francesa
Tempranillo
Tinto Barroca

Price: $10
Quality: ☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://www.borgeswines.com/apartat.php?id=vinhos&id_categoria=1&id_subcategoria=4

(W) Dopff Au Moulin: Riesling 2011, from Riquewihr, Alsace, France

Smell
Before & after: Mineral with a touch of melon and citrus

Taste
Warm, almost oaky with a tart finish. The ever-present slate is not particularly rich, yet certainly not bland. With legs almost imperceptibly thin, this riesling is incredibly easy to drink, with a touch of honey hiding behind citrus and melon notes.

Price: $14
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://www.dopff-au-moulin.fr

(R) Durbanville Hills: Pinotage 2010, from Durbanville, South Africa

SmellEarly: A fruity mix of dark plumb and strangely enough, the ends of a kabana or salami (Note: I must find out what smell my brain's confusing for sausage)
Later: Smokey Earth, ripening to dark fruits

TasteAn incredibly dark red, just shy of purple. Very dry and peppery to the point of tannic saturation after a single glass! The wine softens to reveal rich dark fruits, such as blackcurrant and blackberry. If you take your time, the bottom half of the bottle will be slightly sweet and have almost no pepper remaining.

Price: $7
Quality: ☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆☆

http://www.durbanvillehills.co.za/wines/hills-range/pinotage

(W) Dopff Au Moulin: Gewurztraminer 2011, from Riquewihr, Alsace, France

Smell
Early: Semi-tropical flowers
Later: Ever-floral, sweetening to soft pear

Taste
Absolutely scrumptious from cap to punt! An archetypical aromatic Alsatian with a subtle nose that conceals the complexity of flavour lurking beneath its surface. Whilst this is certainly a sweeter wine, the grapes were not picked so late as to be overbearingly sweet. This couples nicely with a slightly tart finish that begs for more upfront sweetness. A combination of summer blooms dance around sweeter notes of white-fleshed fruit that grow bolder with time to reveal white peaches and a touch of apples and pears. Although the wine's not inherently spicy, it accentuates spices if matched with food. Dopff's Gewurz is what's so disappointing about their Pinot Blanc.

Price: $18
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://blog.dopff-au-moulin.fr/?p=267

(W) Dopff Au Moulin: Pinot Blanc 2011, from Riquewihr, Alsace, France

Taste
Before & after: Dried grasses

Taste
Hopefully one of the most static and insipid Alsatian whites on market. Both the bouquet and palate are dry enough to turn hints of freshly cut grass into straw before the glass is half empty. Aside from acidic moments of not-quite-ripe stone fruit, the overwhelming sensation remains of straw that was once freshly cut grass. Disappointingly uneventful to the extent it could almost be marketed as Pinot Bland. Thankfully Dopff's 2011 Gewurztraminer and Riesling are on standby to rescue the brand's reputation.

Price: $13
Quality: ☆
Value:   ☆☆

http://www.boutiquedopff.fr/catalogue/nos-vins-1/tradition-reserve-19/2011-pinot-blanc-04-15.html

(R) Kaiken: "Ultra" Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, from Lujan De Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

Smell
Early: Dry tobacco
Later: Smooth dark berries with a touch of earthy tannin

Taste
The wine leaps out of the bottle like a glass of dry & earthy tobacco seeped in Cab Sauv. Once it's given time to act its age, the wine mellows out to produce spicy notes of ripe forest berries that retain the tart puckering mouthfeel that began when the cork was popped.

Tale
Ambitious Chilean vintner Aurelio Montes decided Chile wasn't big enough for him, so he co-founded Kaiken in Argentina. Kaiken is named after a type of Patagonian goose (Kaikenes), which like Aurelio Montes, would flitter between Argentina and Chile. The "Ultra" are Kaiken's premium line of wines.

Price: $10
Quality: ☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆☆

http://www.kaikenwines.com/english/kaiken_ultra.htm