(R) Torresella: Sangiovese 2010, from Maremma Toscana, Tuscany, Italy

Smell
Early: An earthy, slightly oaky backbone accompanied by black cherries and ripe dark forest fruits
Later: Cherries grow into rich and lightly poached plums and more abundant oaky notes

Taste
As expected from a Sangiovese, the mouthfeel is slightly more substantial than a Pinot and at three years old, this particular Sang has turned a deep ruby red and the tannins are suitably subdued. The light and acidic mouthfeel is bursting full of fruit. This is not a mind-blowingly complex wine, however it will match fantastically with almost any Italian combination of carbs, tomato and meat.

Tale
Torresella winery is based near the town of Portogruaro, just north of Venice, where it forms part of the Santa Margherita group of wineries. Santa Margherita estate was founded by textile tycoon Count Gaetano Marzotto Jr in the earlier parts of the twentieth century. The old Latin name for Sangiovese was Sanguis Jovis, or "Blood of Jupiter". The fruit for this "Blood of Jupiter" has been sourced from the Tuscan region of Maremma Toscana, where the ancient wine-loving Etruscans used to live and probably drank an early version of Sangiovese.

Price: $15
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://www.santamargherita.com/en
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_716752

(W) Kurfürst Karl Kaspar: Niersteiner Gutes Domtal 2011, from Nierstein, Rhine Valley, Germany

Smell
Before & after: Apple blossoms and pears that are all a tad musky

Taste
Right from the start, this is a bland semi-sweet German wine that feels tailor-made to wash down most south-east asian dishes. At a stretch, this Qualitätswein could lay claim to floral, semi-tropical or orchard-fruit flavours and slowly developing passionfruit. This would be a great choice for someone after wine & Thai <$20. If you care about enjoying what you drink or impressing a drinking partner, splurge on a Riesling or Gewurztraminer at twice the price for a drop worth sharing.

Tale
This non-specific regional blend appears to have been named in honour of Karl Kaspar, the 17th-century Archibishop-elector of Trier and Prince-elector (Kurfürst) of the Holy Roman Empire. Beyond this, all I can establish is that the grapes are from Nierstein, which means they were possibly a conglomeration of the lesser-quality grapes from a range of local vineyards.

Price: $8
Quality: ☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆

http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_906811

(R) Thorin: Gamay 2010, from Montmelas-Saint-Sorlin, Beaujolais-Villages, France

Smell
Early: Straight from the bottle, sweet and dark waves of ripe forest fruits and black cherries with moments of undergrowth
Later: The ripe fruit is slowly overran by green vegetal notes, including hints of mint

Taste
A refreshing and soft mouthful of berries that finishes slightly acidic, tart and dry. Soon the cherries from the nose present themselves as sour cherries as the acidity grows. Finally the end of the bottle shows some signs of spice, however it's not enough to give real character to the wine.

Tale
Benoit Thorin founded the Maison Thorin in 1843, south of Beaujeu, the historical capital of the Beaujolais province. The vineyard sprawling between Château de Montmelas and the river Rivolet is now owned and ran by the Boisset family. Boisset: La Famille des Grans Vins was established in 1961 by 18yo Jean-Claude Boisset and now manages a stable of wine labels including the Grandin range of bubbly.

Price: $12
Quality: ☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆

http://www.boisset.fr/en/corp-familles/m-mht-thorin.php
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_382927

(W) Klostor: Liebfraumilch 2011, from Nahe Valley, Germany

Smell
Early: Semi-sweet citrus with some gentler stone-fruit notes
Later: Retaining sweetness as it develops a florally melon nature

Taste
Starting with a bland sweetness that's followed by a faint musky aftertaste. The mouthfeel is virtually non-existent and leaves almost before it arrives. As the wine warms and oxidises, it opens to show signs of citrus that would be expected from a predominantly Riesling blend. As with the nose, citrus notes evolve into floral overtones with moments of spice. Probably best to err on the side of drinking warm & oxidised, as the character will be missed in a cold & freshly opened bottle. It's an easily drinkable companion to food that won't amaze anyone with its lack of complexity.

Tale
The Liebfraumilch blend, typically 70% Riesling accompanied by Sylvaner and Müller-Thurgau, gained it's name from the wine produced on the grounds of the Church of Our Lady (Liebfraukirche; Milch = milk) in the city of Worms. Liebfraumilch must be a QbA (Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete) class of wine and can only be produced in the Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Nahe or Rheingau wine regions.

Price: $8
Quality: ☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_906812

(W) Schloss Vollrads: "Volratz 1573" Riesling 2010, from Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau, Germany

Smell
Early: Fresh and crisp apples fading to orchard flowers mingled with pineapple
Later: Greener apples stewed with rhubarb, dusted with spices and served on graphite

Taste
This pale gold wine opens strongly with a touch of acidity riding the crest of a wave of large firm stone fruit that leaves the mouth lightly rinsed in viscosity. The fruits remain omnipresent, albeit more tropical than before. As the bottle empties, the increasingly tropical fruit is cut and diced by lemon and lime riding on a blade of slate. The bottle finishes grippingly tart with cloyingly thick honey and cinnamon lurking beneath the impenetrable surface of citric acidity. Whilst this is certainly a young and fresh Riesling, it's by no means under-done. It's young love in a bottle - youthful, vibrant and energetic.

Tale
The family owned estate Schloss Vollrads has been selling wine just outside of Oestrich-Winkel since the early 1200s, which probably makes them the oldest commercial winery in Germany! The 200 acre winery produces only Rieslings and this particular label is named after the earliest known illustration of the Schloss (a German Château/Manor/Palace).

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

http://www.schlossvollrads.com/en.html
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_348073

(R) Travers: Vieux Naudin 2009, from Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

Smell
Early: Gentle dark cherries and blood plums with earthy and woody afternotes
Later: The nose unripens, revealing green flavours of mint and possibly eucalypt or capsicum, whilst retaining the original woodiness

Taste
A very light mouthfeel that carries through a sweeter version of the fruity nose - highlights being strawberries and raspberries, accompanied by redcurrants. The Merlot-driven fruity parade distracts nicely from the tannins that slowly creep up to grip the entire mouth (I blame the Cab Sauv). The mouthfeel remains moderate, however the well-hidden tannins with moments of spice ensure the finish lingers much longer than expected. This is an uncomplicated and enjoyable wine that's more textual than flavoursome. Definitely a superb partner for a rustic red meat dish.

Tale
The Travers family are fourth generation immigrant winemakers from the nearby region of Corrèze. This Bordelease winery is focussing on bio-dynamic vitriculture to allow the terroir of such valuable land to show through in the wine.

Composition
70% Merlot
20% Cab Sauv
10% Cab Franc

Price: $22 (Ivy Bottle Shop, http://merivale.com.au/thebottleshop)
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆

http://www.vignobles-travers.com/en/media/50641bdce0466.pdf
http://www.vignobles-travers.com/en/

(R) Mouton Cadet: Bordeaux Rouge 2010, from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Smell
Early: Soft plums and forrest berries
Later: Sweetening to jammy notes of dark cherries, currants and blackberries

Taste
The nose's red forest berries present themselves as a velvety smooth lining around some very soft tannins. As the wine aerates, subtle spice and earthy notes reveal themselves. A possible criticism is the wine could be conceived as slightly watery. Nevertheless, the mouthfeel is occupied with a punchy fruitiness that's backed by enough astringency (puckering mouthfeel) to imply liberal blending of Cab Sauv.

Tale
In the days of the Great Depression, Baron Philippe De Rothschild's legendary winery Château Mouton Rothschild produced some wine that wasn't quite up to Phil's lofty standards. Rather than throwing away good wine, the Rothschild family cadet (French for youngest son) decided to relabel the wine as Mouton Cadet (an early form of factory seconds). To meet the next year's demand, the Chateau bought grapes from surrounding areas and, aside from a break for WWII, the Mouton Cadet brand has been delivering affordable Bordeaux wines to the public ever since. Unfortunately, Mouton Cadet is as close to Château Mouton Rothschild as most of us will ever taste.

Composition
65% Merlot
20% Cab Sauv
15% Cab Franc

Price: $12
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆☆

http://www.moutoncadet.com/index_en.asp
http://www.bpdr.com/gb/default.asp
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_733330/mouton-cadet-rouge

 

(W) Tulloch Wines: Marsanne 2011 Cellar Door Release, from Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, Australia

Smell
Before & After: Oil & oak, so thick on the nose it jumps out of the glass.

Taste
Such a rich buttery, oaky texture forces me to question if I need to better acquaint myself with the Marsanne grape, or if the winemakers at Tulloch are underselling their craft. The wine is so soft and gentle that the glass seems to empty itself. There isn't much complexity and the experience is unwavering from cap to punt. If you like oaky, oily, luscious whites, this is a must-try.

Tale
In the late 1800s, shopkeeper John "J.Y" Tulloch accepted a property to settle debt. The property contained 5 acres of rundown Shiraz vines, which were brought back to life. After 70 years of family winemaking, the winery was sold into a 30 year period of revolving corporate ownership before finally being reclaimed by a conglomerate of Tulloch family and friends early in the new century. The winery remains under steady control of the forth generation of Tulloch winemakers, who are producing outstanding examples of mainstream and alternative varieties, with a special focus on Verdelho.

Price: $20 - Cellar door price, currently unavailable at DM/VC
Quality: ☆☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://www.tullochwines.com/our-wines/
http://www.tullochwines.com/media/194770/james_halliday_2013_wine_companion.pdf (p5)

(W) Domaine Des Amoureux: Muscadet Sévre Et Maine 2010, from Loire Valley, France

Smell
Before & after: Frail nose of slightly unripe white-fleshed friuts.

Taste
A light, fresh and slightly mineral taste, which lingers once the freshness has departed. There are hints of citrus acidity and a touch of dryness, however that's where it ends. It's an okay, slightly confused wine that doesn't know who or what it is. Not a bad drop and perfectly drinkable.

Tale
Domaine des Amoureux is one brand of Muscadet produced by Ollivier Frères Vineyard, which has been passed from father to son since the 17th century. The nine-brand business is managed by two brothers, with Jean-Luc managing the administrative and commercialisation aspects of running a winery. This allows Jean-Luc's brother Guy to focus on the vitricultural (vine-growing) and oenological (wine-making) operations. The grapes are grown on hillsides between the Sévre and Maine rivers, which is where the appelation's name Muscadet Sévre Et Maine comes from. The terroir of these hills produces naturally acidic grapes capable of becoming white wines that are made to age.

Price: $10
Quality: ☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆

http://muscadet-grenaudiere.fr/produits-gb.html
http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_348688