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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.

Saturday, 1 November 2014

(R) Cono Sur: "Bicicleta" Pinot Noir 2011, from Central Valley, Chile

Appearance
A semi-pale dark ruby that looks delicious!

Smell
Early: Full of dark cherries, and an indistinct punchy aroma of plums with some alcohol heat
Later: Subtly decaying bramble fruits and forest undergrowth, with some plums

Palate
Dry, medium acidity and very little tannin (not surprising for a Pinot) and not too alcoholic. The mouthfeel is light and other than some upfront fruit flavours of sour cherry and plums, you should find some dried undergrowth on the back palate.

Tale
Being a New World winery, it's no surprise Cono Sur are focusing on innovation and technology to produce fantastic wines at very convenient prices. Cono Sur, or "Southern Cone" in English, refers to the region of South America, in particular in the west where Chilean valleys provide ideal geography for viticulture.

Founded in 1993, Cono Sur exported more than 30,000 cases from the inaugural vintage, launching the brand onto the market. By 1999 the Pinot Noir project was underway, with integrated vineyard management in place, which encourages insects and animals live amongst the vines as a natural defence from pests. In 2008 the winery capacity reached 3,900,000L, with a new Pinot facility capable of ageing 130,000L of a total 396,000L Pinot at the facility. With current capacity at 12ML, Cono Sur remains one of the most prolific Chilean producers, both in terms of volume and value.

The greatest criticism is that for a wine of this colour and mouthfeel, the flavours are much fuller and representative of a light Merlot, compared to what's expected of a Pinot. Similar to a sledgehammer that looks & handles like a ball-peen hammer, this wine packs much more of a punch that what you'd expect. This is amazing straight from the bottle, but once it's open, do not hesitate in drinking it, as it'll only go downhill.

Price: $10
Quality: ☆☆☆
Value:   ☆☆☆☆

http://www.conosur.com/wines/bicicleta-pinot-noir/
https://www.vintagecellars.com.au/Red%20Wine/cono-sur-pinot-noir-750ml_6094186


 

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