Scenic Cellars Italian and Spanish Red Selection

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Tenuta Ulisse ‘Unico’ Montepulcians d’Abruzzo DOP 2014
  Montepulciano from Italy - Other

  Review Date : 07-Jul-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, near saturated black-purple colour, very youthful in appearance. The nose is well-concentrated with rich and lusciously ripe aromas of blackberry, black plum and liquorice fruit, some boysenberry elements, dark herbs and plum jam, unfolding some earthy detail. Medium-full bodied, the palate features sweetly ripe flavours of blackberries, black plums, boysenberries and some jammy notes. This is juicy and plush with fine-grained underlying tannins and soft acidity lending a degree of unctuousness, and plenty of sweetness to the mouthfeel. As the wine flows, some herbal detail emerges to complement the ripe black fruits on the finish. This is a rich, generous, sweet, black-fruited, mouthfilling Montepulciano with subtle herbal notes. Match with game meat dishes over the next 4+ years. Montepulciano fruit from Chieti fermented to 14.0% alc., aged 4 months in tank and bottled without oaking. 17.5/20 Jul 2016 RRP $21.99
• Tenuta Ulisse ‘Amaranta’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOP 2013
  Montepulciano from Italy - Other

  Review Date : 07-Jul-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very full black-hued purple-red colour, near impenetrable and youthful in appearance. The nose is full and firmly packed with densely concentrated aromas of very ripe blackberry black plum and boysenberry fruit along with liquorice and black cherry liqueur notes, revealing floral and jam elements and sweet oak. Medium-full bodied, rich and plush, sweet and juicy fruit flavours of blackberries, plums and blue fruits show with liquorice, jam and slight confectionary notes. The fruit is bold and up-front, but supported by fine-grained tannin structure and background acidity. A little alcohol drive is present, but the wine retains style and balance, and carries to a long, lingering finish of black fruits, liquorice, and nuances of herbs and minerals. This is a rich and plush Montepulciano with black fruits, fine tannin structure and some sweet, opulent detailing. Match with slow-cooked game met dishes over the next 5-7 years. Montepulciano fruit from Chieti, vines 30-35 y.o., fermented to 14.0% alc., aged 9-12 months in French and American oak. 18.5/20 Jul 2016 RRP $31.99
• Artero La Mancha Tempranillo 2015
  Tempranillo from Spain

  Review Date : 07-Jul-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, even purple-hued ruby-red colour. The nose is finely presented with deep and intense aromas of ripe dark raspberry fruit with dark floral lift, along with confectionary whole berry fermentation elements and refreshing dark herbal notes. Medium-full bodied, the palate is fulsome with well-packed, rich and luscious flavours of dark-red and black-berried fruits and dark plums. The mouthfeel is rich in presence and flows easily with light, underlying tannin grip and enlivening acidity. As the wine flows, the flavours recede, leading to a light and gently sweet, red fruited finish. This is a fulsome, well-packed Tempranillo with good mouthfeel and moderate, easy extraction. Match with pasta, pizza and barbecued fare over the next 3-4 years. Tempranillo fruit from 20 y.o. vines, fermented to 14.0% alc., bottled without wood. 16.5+/20 Jul 2016 RRP $13.99
• Legado Munoz Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Garnacha 2014
  Grenache from Spain

  Review Date : 07-Jul-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Even dark ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is elegant, accessible and finely proportioned with aromas of dark raspberry fruit with notes of red liquorice and raspberry liqueur and black-berried fruits at the core. Medium-full bodied, the palate is finely proportioned with stylish restraint, showing moderately rich and sweet dark-red berry fruits, lifted jam elements and dark plums. The flavours gently fill the mouth and are framed by light, fine-grained tannins with integrated acidity lending softness. The flavours recede as the wine carries to a dry, dark-red fruited, slightly jammy finish. This is an elegant, sweet-fruited Garnacha with ripe dark-red, jam-nuanced fruit and a light finish. Match with antipasto, and barbecued and roasted red meats over the next 3 years. 100% Garnacha, from La Mancha from 15 y.o. vines, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 3 months in American oak barrels. 16.5/20 Jul 2016 RRP $12.99
• Altos ‘R’ Rioja Tempranillo 2014
  Tempranillo from Spain

  Review Date : 07-Jul-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, very dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour with some purple on the rim. The nose is firm and intense with finely packed aromas of dark-red berry and cherry fruit entwined with savoury dark herbs along with nuances of earth and minerals, unveiling raspberry, liquorice and blackberry liqueur elements with aeration. Medium-full bodied, this has bold and moythfilling flavours of ripe dark-red and black berried fruits melded with fresh dark herbs, along with earth and mineral notes. The fruit is sweet and up-front and balanced by plenty of grainy tannin grip and acid liveliness. The flavours carry with good drive and line to a fulsome, sweet, black-fruited and liquorice flavoured finish. This is a bold, ripe and fulsome Rioja with sweet fruit and robustness. A Joven wine, 100% Tempranillo from vines 10-20 y.o., and fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 6 months in 80% French and 20% American seasoned oak. Match with Mediterranean cuisine, casseroles and barbecued red meat dishes over the next 3-4 years. 17.0+/20 Jul 2016 RRP $16.99