It Tastes Like Grapes: September 2013

Welcome

Welcome

This is a resource for people who want to buy an interesting bottle of wine on a budget of about $20. If you get lost between Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and have access to a Dan Murphy's or Vintage Cellars (or Aldi, as of 2015!), you've come to the right place. Where possible, wines are listed with their single-bottle price from DM/VC/A and the winery's home page.

A good place to start is the 'Index', or if you know what type of wine you want, head straight to the 'Recommended Reds', 'Worthy Whites' or 'Stunning Sparklers' that only show 4 & 5☆ wines.

Your experience will be different to everyone else's, which makes wine such a pleasure. The same vintage wine at different ages will be distinct, as will the same aged wines from different vintages. What the glass holds is a unique parcel of time that should be enjoyed as such.

Sunday, 15 September 2013

(W) Cave de Lugny: "Bourgogne Reserve" Chardonnay 2010, from Mâcon-Lugny, Burgundy, France

Smell
Early: Very subtle tropical fruit and floral notes backed by significant flintiness.
Later: Didn't wait to smell it.

Taste
The mouthfeel is surprisingly acidic and almost a little bit sour. This is actually slightly offensive and hopefully a once-off bottle with a problem. As a first, I'm not going to finish the bottle.

Tale
Cave de Lugny are actually a local cooperative that sources grapes from approx. 250 different estates, which almost forms a monopoly on the wines produced in the villages of Lugny and St Gengoux-de-Scissé. The cooperative was officially formed in 1927 and currently has 1,450 hectares of vineyards to source grapes, with over 80% of these vineyards being dedicated to Chardonnay.

Price: $20
Quality: ☆
Value: ☆

http://www.cave-lugny.com/2011/institution/GB/page.php?PHPSESSID=j8vfvbcknu0ehbrhltc7iriea6&page=blanc
http://www.cave-lugny.com/2011/RSC/Fiches_Techniques/GB/FT%20BBL_gb.pdf
https://www.vintagecellars.com.au/White%20Wine/cave-de-lugny-bourgogne-blanc-750ml-2010_8650190

Friday, 13 September 2013

(R) Piana Del Sole: Primitivo (Zinfandel) 2009, from Salento, Italy

Smell
Early: Smokey wood and tobacco with spiced fruits.
Later: Prunes

Taste
This opens with a full mouth of fruit (thinking prunes and plums) and some subtly gripping tannins. The Primitivo is certainly sweet and fruity with a slowly diminishing amount of spice. Once the wine has had time to breath, the prune flavours become overdominant, so drink it quick!

Tale
Ooops... It appears this is actually a Wesfarmers (Coles) private label brand, which means it's really a dressed-up cleanskin.

Price: $14
Quality: ☆☆
Value: ☆☆

https://www.vintagecellars.com.au/Red%20Wine/piana-del-sole-salento-primitivo-igt-750ml-2009_4905244