Wines made in Veneto’s Appassimento fashion is the theme for this release on April 12th. There are some wonderful wines, but sadly there was not a lot sent for sampling, so here is my take on those that were.

650713 MONTE ZOVO SA’ SOLIN RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA 2011 $17.95
Very good concentration of dried fruit, polished mahogany, brown cardamom shell and cigar leaf on the nose, lively palate has vibrant blackberry and blueberry flavours with a hint of dusty cocoa on the finish. Find this wine

685107 TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO SELEZIONE ANTONIO CASTAGNEDI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2010 $43.95
Lovely aromas of blackcurrant, tar, black tea, fresh cut flowers, new leather and dark roasted coffee grounds lead to a mouth-watering palate of pure dark fruit, perfect acidity, bitter clove and dried plum, with a dose of astringent tannin on the finish. Find this wine

300012 BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2009 $49.95
A wine brimming with aromas of cherry cola, sweet candy, dried cherry, cassia bark and dried meat. There is a floral background too whilst heady aromas of cherry brandy take centre stage. It has seventeen degree of alcohol, which deposits some heat on the palate, it is quite astringent, dysfunctional and clumsy now, but given time, this could be quite some wine. Find this wine

333575 CAPARZO ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2011 $19.95
Earthy, with lots of aromas of wet cut grass, mineral, rosewater, damson and red currant. The fruit aromas flow through to the palate. It’s nicely balanced, lively acidity, with a note of mocha and chocolate tannins on the finish. Find this wine

OTHER WINES:

318345 ROSEWOOD ESTATES RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2010 Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula $39.95
An intriguing blend of pure red and black fruits, a hint of licorice root, clove, milk chocolate, lamp oil and jelly bellies. It is forward on the palate showing plenty of mineral, a metallic note, with strawberry and raspberry flavours, gentle tannins and a note of dusty ash and dark cherry on the finish. Find this wine

188110 FIRST PRESS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Napa Valley $22.95
A little herbaceous at first, but notes of cedar, smoked meat, blackcurrant and vanilla show through to a creamy palate, with simple structure, gentle tannins and little else. Find this wine

671164 ST. FRANCIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Sonoma County $29.95
Some nice aromas of forest floor, black cherry, blackcurrant and heady oak. It is highly extracted, bursting with sweet flavours of dark fruit, berry crème brulee and vanilla. Find this wine

169862 CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CARMENÈRE 2008 Peumo, Rapel Valley $19.95
Some underbrush and forest floor notes, but a spin or two of the glass reveals a layer of bright red fruit, black raspberry and mineral. Very full on the palate, it is balanced, carrying its fruit from start to finish, tannins are firm, but do not distract. Find this wine

256685 MONTES LIMITED SELECTION CARMENÈRE 2011 Colchagua Valley $14.95
Captivating cherry cola, red frit jam, coconut shell, tobacco and balsa aromas are followed by a palate with very good balance, lots of sweet cherry and black raspberry flavours that run through the rich and spicy finish. Find this wine

212936 ZONTE’S FOOTSTEP BARON VON NEMESIS SINGLE SITE SHIRAZ 2010 Barossa Valley, South Australia $17.95
Weird initial aromas of sewer, grease trap and clay, not too appealing I know, but the fruit does appear in the form of blackcurrant, plum and blackberry. It does please the palate, acidity is spot on, but nonetheless, there is a funky note here. Find this wine

677476 JIM BARRY THE COVER DRIVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Coonawarra, South Australia $26.95
Muddy, wet soil, a touch of thyme, some dark chocolate aromas give way to a back drop of black cherry as the wine gets air. Its palate is pure nectar, packed with dark and red fruit, a creamy texture and the right amount of acidity. A most tasty bottle of wine that can be drunk now or put away for a year or two. Find this wine

269076 THE GRINDER PINOTAGE 2012 Swartland $13.95
Another candidate in the South Africa versus Starbucks series that starts out with notes of cough medicine, corn syrup, coffee bean, straw and hay. It is full of sweet red fruit, low acidity and a weird funky flavour on the finish. Find this wine

324533 PORTUGAL QUINTA DO PORTAL FRONTARIA 2009 Douro $14.95
A floral wine with a medicinal note, but layers of solid dark fruit, sweet spice that tingle on the tongue. It has very good flavours of blackcurrant and blackberry, tannins are gentle and acidity is clean. Find this wine

That’s all folks.
Cheers
CZ

Related posts:

1. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 12th Release – Tasting Notes
2. Alan Kerr’s June 12th, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
3. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s April 16th Release – Tasting Notes
4. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s April 14th Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s April 2nd Release – Tasting Notes