It's nice when you choose three wines - two reds and a white - and get excited about all of them. The two reds are quite different from each other. They surprised me and I really did like both of them. The white wine is one I've had many times but am always happy with it. Try all of them and let me know what you think.
Nugan Estate
Alfredo Second Pass Shiraz 2012 (877134)
Australia
$17.99
Shortly after Alfredo Nugan arrived in Australia in 1939 from his native Spain he started a business supplying fruit and vegetables. This became very successful and Nugan soon became one of the largest producers and packers in his newly adopted home. But, it wasn't until the year 2000 that the now, family business, began seriously producing wine. Today, Nugan Estates is a premium producer of estate grown wine from Australia's finest regions of Coonawarra, King Valley, McLaren Vale and Riverina. under many different labels.
Alfredo is one of the newest labels in the Nugan Estate wine family. The Nugan family has created a red wine in the style of Italy's famed Amarone della Valpolicella wine. However this wine has a twist. It is made from Shiraz grapes and not from Veneto's traditional grape varietals - Corvina and Rondinella.
Using the same old world, wine-making techniques as Italy's Veneto region, Nugan Estate's Dried Grape Shiraz is made from - you guessed it - dried grapes. In this case, Alfredo Second Pass is created by passing new Shiraz wine through grape pomace or waste to concentrate aromas and tastes. After this second pass, the wine is aged for 12 months in French and American oak.
This Australian Shiraz was quite different from others I've tasted. It has big aromas of black plum, cherry and currant with some dried fruit qualities. In the mouth, the fruit is very present, but not in a sweet jammy way. It's full-bodied with layers of flavours and textures. Vanilla, dark chocolate and a little spice provide even more pleasure in the mouth. There is more tannin in this wine than I remember experiencing in other Shiraz wines, but they only added to the experience. I think this wine would be best served with strong hard cheese or if you have any wild game in your freezer to barbeque then this is a good choice.
Monte Del Fra
Bardolina (283648)
Italy
$16.99
This second red wine is from Bardolina - an area that neighbours Veneto and shares some of the same grape varietals. The varietals included in this wine are: 65 per cent Corvina, 30 per cent Rondinella and five per cent Sangiovese. The Bonomo family has been cultivating grapes and making wine here since 1958. The family focussed on making wine using older traditional methods as well as integrating modern techniques using the indigenous grapes.
This wine is so different from the first, but equally enjoyable and more than I expected. The light red colour reminds me of a Pinot Noir and does not have the body the previous wine had. However there was nothing light about the aromas, it is full of red berry scents -red raspberries, cherries and strawberries being the most pronounced. On the palate, it is crisp and clean with plenty of red berry flavours, an ideal summer wine. This is a light-bodied wine with a citrus zest finish and will pair with any Italian tomato-based pasta sauces or a slice of pepperoni pizza.
Casas Del Bosque
2013 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (740878)
Chile
$16.99
Over the years, I have bought this Sauvignon Blanc from Chile'sCasablanca Valley several times.. Its quality has been consistent and the price has actually been reduced from when I first bought it. The label has changed recently and luckily that is all that has changed. Stephen Tanzer from the International Wine Cellar agrees with me and has given this vintage 90 points.
In the glass, this wine has a bright lemon gold colour and you can tell it's going to be crisp and refreshing. On the nose, it has a delicate citrus aroma with pear, gooseberry and herb. In your mouth, it is medium to full-bodied with flavours that match the aromas. I did notice some minerality on the palate but that just added to its complexity. It is clean and very crisp on the finish, which lingers and is one of the reasons I like Sauvignon Blanc so much. Grilled prawns, chicken or a summer greens salad would make a very good match served with this wine.
