See the wines Decanter's team has been tasting over the past week, including Brunello di Montalcino 2010, Barossa Shiraz and a Tuscan 100% Merlot and Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc.
It’s been another whirlwind week of tasting for Decanter’s editorial team including a large Bordeaux 2013 tasting in London. Here’s what else we’ve been drinking:
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Lamaione, Tenuta di CastelGiocondo, Toscana IGT, Italy 2011
This went brilliantly with a heartily flavoured primi piatti of mushroom risotto with lashings of black truffles. Grown on clay, this 100% Merlot is sumptuously upholstered with rippling tannins, creamy texture and intense coffee bean, damson and plum fruit. (John Stimpfig, content director) £48 Fintry Wines
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Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz, Barossa, South Australia 2012
Wine Australia runs a monthly blind tasting club for wine professionalsand this wine stood out in a flight of Shiraz this month – bursting with red berry and plum fragrance, and a hint of earthiness, it was fresh and yet ripe. Produced after 10 rows of Shiraz planted pre-1860 were saved from the developer’s bulldozer. (Amy Wislocki, managing editor) £35 Berkmann
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San Pedro, Gato Negro Carmenère, Central Valley, Chile 2013
From its deep purple hue and its dark fruit and tobacco nose to its soft yet powerful texture on the palate, this is a great value, food friendly wine. Look out for notes of green pepper and liquorice, as well as lots of spice and herbs (Sylvia Wu, editor of DecanterChina.com). Winetransit.com (New York, US) $5.99 Gold medal winner at DWWA 2014
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Lanson, Extra Age Brut, Champagne, France NV
A Lanson release which only uses fruit from Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards from the best years, it’s a blend of 40% Chardonnay & 60% Pinot Noir and was spotted at a well-known supermarket by my sister. This Champagne has much more depth than the straight NV; with citrus fruit, pears, honey, fresh bread and developing notes – yet with a wonderful freshness. This was a great find and fantastic value if you line it up against it’s other NV piers (Harry Fawkes, digital publisher). Total Wine (US) $99.99 / £54.99 Ocado
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Altesino, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy 2010
We’d heard whispers of good things from the 2010 vintage and we wanted something to go with a great lamb roast. This Brunello was great value for money, clean and fresh with bright flavours of red cherry, mineral, leather and earth. Pretty serious stuff with a long steely finish. Really showed the step up from entry Chianti Classico to Brunello di Montalcino. Can’t wait to see the results to the Decanter Brunello 2010 panel tasting, if this is anything to go by, it should be a good one (HF). $44.99 Zachys (NY) / £24.99 Roberson Wine
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Oldenburg Vineyards, Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2014
Oldenburg in its present form is less than a decade old, with propietor Adrian Vanderspuy overseeing vineyard re-planting from 2003 onwards. This Chenin was great as an aperitif at 1:54’s Contemporary African Art fair in London – it has ripe peach and apricots on the nose, with notes of vanilla, honey and also a slightly herbaceous character. There is a bolt of acidity on the palate, with citrus, pineapple and a touch of marzipan towards the finish (Chris Mercer, editor Decanter.com). £15.95 Berry Bros & Rudd
Stockist details aided by Wine-Searcher.com.
