Bodegas Fontana Selection, Churchill Douro Red and Bisquertt Carmenere

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Bodegas Fontana ‘Mesta’ Ucles Verdejo 2015
  Other White from Spain

  Review Date : 26-Nov-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light golden-hued straw-yellow colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is bright, vibrant and up-front with aromas of yellow stonefruits and tropical fruits entwined with herb, lanolin and nutty notes, showing with good depth and concentration. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is lively and juicy with rich, accessible flavours of yellow stonefruits, tropical fruits, herbs and nuts with lanolin elements. The mouthfeel ha suggestions of unctuousness, but is balanced by slippery acidity and light phenolics, lending a smooth-flowing, near-oily line. The wine carries to a lingering finish of stonefruits, lanolin and nuts. This is an up-front dry Verdejo with stonefruit, nutty and lanolin flavours, on a rounded, smooth flowing palate. Match with poultry and pork dishes over the next 2-3 years. 100% Verdejo from organic estate vineyards, given a short period of skin contact and fermented in stainless-steel to 12.5% alc. and 4.5 g/L RS, the wine aged on lees for 3 months with no MLF. 17.0+/20 Nov 2016 RRP $17.99
• Bodegas Fontana ‘Oveja Blanca’ Dry Muscat 2015
  Muscat from Spain

  Review Date : 26-Nov-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, pale edged. The nose is fresh and slender in presentation with moderately concentrated aromas of musk, white and yellow florals and grapes, the nose building in intensity in the glass. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has a good core of flavours, showing yellow florals and musk with fresh grape notes. The flavours are soft and immediate, and underlined by a soft, rounded mouthfeel with fresh, light acidity providing balance. As the wine flows, the flavours recede, leading to a dry, light, musky finish. This is an accessible dry Muscat with floral, musk and grapey flavours of a soft palate. Serve as an aperitif, and with Asian and Middle Eastern fare over the next 2+ years. 100% Muscat a Petits Grains, fermented to 13.0% alc. and4.5 g/L RS. 4,937 dozen made. 16.5+/20 Nov 2016 RRP $22.99
• Bodegas Fontana ‘Oveja Tinta’ Graciano 2015
  Other Red from Spain

  Review Date : 26-Nov-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, deep, near impenetrable black-hued purple-red colour, very youthful in appearance. The nose is fine in proportion and well-concentrated with a deep, rounded heart of ripe redcurrant and boysenberry fruit aromas with notes of whole berry fermentation jam elements, lifted by herb and floral nuances. Medium-full bodied, bright, juicy and succulent fruit flavours of dark raspberries, redcurrants and boysenberries feature on the palate. The fruit is vibrant and very primary in expression, and supported by fine-grained, supple tannin structure with integrated, ripe acidity. The flavours carry with soft linearity to a light, lingering finish of raspberries, currants and jam. This is a bright and juicy, supple-textured Graciano with raspberry, redcurrant and plum jam flavours. Serve with tapas, pasta and barbecued fare over the next 3 years. 100% Graciano, fermented to 13.5% alc. 4,285 dozen made. 17.0+/20 Nov 2016 RRP $22.99
• Quinta de Quercus ‘Single Vineyard’ Ucles 2013
  Tempranillo from Spain

  Review Date : 26-Nov-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Even, black-hued ruby-red colour, lighter edged. This has a very aromatic bouquet with harmoniously melded aromas of dark-red and black-berried fruits entwined with funky, fragrant herbal and violet floral notes and layers of cedary oak. Medium-full bodied, the palate is sweetly rich with succulent dark-red and black berried fruits interwoven with fragrant herbal notes and layers of spicy, cedary oak. The palate is smooth-flowing with plenty of fine-grained, flowery tannins providing structure and depth. The acidity is soft and lends background energy. This has richness and linearity, and the flavours of fruit and oak carry to a fine, dry, sustained, textural finish. This is a refined and harmonious Tempranillo with funky herb and spicy, cedary oak overlaying the dark-red and black fruit flavours. Match with roasted and grilled lamb, beef and game meat dishes over the next 6-8 years. The third release of the second wine of the Quercus Estate, a single vineyard Tempranillo, the fruit from the ‘Ocana’ and ‘Morras’ sites, from vines around 30 y.o., fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 300 L French and 228 L American oak barriques, 25% new. 18.0+/20 Nov 2016 RRP $33.99
• Churchill ‘Meio Queijo’ Douro 2013
  Blended Red from Portugal

  Review Date : 26-Nov-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, black-hued purple-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is moderately concentrated with aromas of ripe black-berried fruits entwined with rustic notes of earth and dark herbs, revealing fragrant blackcurrant and spice detail. Medium-bodied, the palate has up-front, juicy and succulent flavours of black-berried fruit entwined with herb and stalk notes, currants, earth and minerals. The fruit is supported by supple tannin extraction, and the acidity is soft and ripe. The mouthfeel is balanced and follows a soft, textural line, leading to a dry, lingering finish of black fruits, herbs and rustic earthy elements. This is an up-front, sweet-fruited Douro red with black-berried fruits, herb and earthy flavours on a soft, supple palate. Match with game meat dishes and semi-hard cheeses over the next 4+ years. 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% each Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz from the company’s ‘A’ plantings, fermented to 13.0% alc., 20% of the wine aged in seasoned oak. 17.5/20 Nov 2016 RRP $24.99
• Bisquertt ‘Petirrojo’ ‘Reserva’ Colchagua Valley Carmenere 2015
  Other Red from Chile

  Review Date : 26-Nov-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Even, dark ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is softly full with a core of dark red berry fruits with notes of red and black currants, along with a layering of dark herbs and light varietal stalkiness. Medium-full bodied, the palate is gentle with soft and light flavours of red and blackcurrants harmoniously entwined with herb and stalk detail. The fruit possesses sweetness and is supported by light, supple tannin extraction and soft acidity. This flows easily and the flavours recede to a light finish of currants and herbs. This is a soft, light and gentle Carmenere with currant, herb and stalky flavours and a supple, easy mouthfeel. Match with herb-marinated red meat dishes over the next 3+ years. Carmenere from the Colchagua Valley from 15 y.o. vines fermented to 13.5% alc., 30% of the wine aged 4-6 months in oak. 16.5/20 Nov 2016 RRP $23.99