Tuscan wines are the feature this release and I can state there are good quality wines to be found at both ends of the pricing structure. Not too many other wines to report on as little else was sent to sample. There is a Chilean sub release, but my palate was done after tasting these big Tuscan beauts.

378257 BANFI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 $59.95
An enticing nose built of black raspberry, berry, dark caramel, espresso, polished wood and treacle. The palate has other ideas about drinkability though, it is tight, showing a little red fruit, bay leaf, sweet spice and plenty of gripping tannin on the finish. Find this wine

315150 CASTELLO D’ALBOLA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2008 $22.95
Some pretty aromas of perfumed black fruit, thyme, cherry, tree bark and cigar leaf; sadly a little lean on the palate, tannins are dusty, but non aggressive. Find this wine

164707 LEONARDO CHIANTI RISERVA 2010 $19.95
Quite intense and stimulating, with a smoky/bacon note backed up with clove, plum, dried fruit and cave air. Fruit on the palate is quite dense showing off dark cherry and plummy flavours that render a decent wine for the price. Find this wine

222810 ROCCA DI CASTAGNOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2011 $17.00
A nice perfumed nose with heaps of plum, blackberry, fresh flowers and sweet spice leading to a slightly sweetish palate, but nonetheless, it has good solid dark fruit, gentle tannin and a soft texture. It is a tasty and nicely balanced wine. Find this wine

943670 AVIGNONESI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2011 $35.95
Laden with sweet fruit aromas, black cherry and fig take centre stage, but are supported well by notes of cured meat, Asian spice box and black tea. Chewy and ripe, the palate is full of flavours of damson, cherry and chocolate; there are some assertive tannins, but no bitterness whatsoever. Give this a couple of years and it will be a stunner. Find this wine

722470 ORNELLAIA 2011 $189.95
Dark, chunky notes of cedar and balsa give way to layers of sweet blueberry, blackberry, mineral, iron and mocha. Solid palate, full of chewy dark fruit, clove and blackcurrant, with a silky texture that struggles against the discernible tannins. Should be a winner in a few years, but only for those with the patience to let it show its best. Find this wine

946954 ROGGIANO MORELLINO DI SCANSANO 2012 $16.95
A New World style wine showing plenty of sweet red fruit with mocha, black licorice and black toffee. Fleshy and creamy palate of sweet cherry and currant, with good texture and decent acidity, albeit a touch sweet on the finish. Find this wine

685263 LUCE 2011 $99.95
Dark and inky, boasting rich aromas of cassis, Ribena, black licorice, vanilla and chocolate. Very good structure and balance, oozing with dark fruit flavours, some sweetness, toffee and tannins that have yet to show how powerful they may become. Find this wine

072439 TENUTA SAN GUIDO GUIDALBERTO 2012 $52.95
Heaps of dark fruit, forest floor, pine cone, wet earth and ground pepper aromas run to a solid palate of blackberry and juicy blackcurrant, with a creamy toffee texture, a pleasing bitter note and racy acidity. Great length on the beautifully balanced finish. Find this wine

384552 ANTINORI BADIA A PASSIGNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2009 $44.95
A leathery wine backed up with blackberry liquor, sweet chocolate, pepper, pine cone, cedar and Moroccan spice. Its palate is showing well too, with lots of toasty dark fruit, black cherry and some tannins. Find this wine

239707 POGGIO VERRANO CHANCE 2006 $37.95
Impressive and dense wine, very youthful, but wants to show off its aromas of pure dark fruit, plum pudding, anise, fennel, earth, mineral and tobacco. Very forceful on the palate, plenty of compact dark fruit, great acidity, some tannins and just a note of heat on the finish. Find this wine

276576 POGGIOTONDO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 $36.95
The initial funky hit of pig poo dissipates to show pleasing aromas of dried leaves, dark fruit, black cherry, rose petal and Turkish Delight. The palate shows superb balance with tasty dark cherry, blackberry, Dutch licorice and gentle tannins. A good value Brunello that is tasty now, but will show its best with a couple of years under its belt. Find this wine

912956 RUFFINO MODUS 2011 $29.95
Chocolate nougat, mocha, tobacco leaf, leather, ground pepper and bouquet garni all surface before the fruit, which does however show its ripeness on the palate, but so do the aggressive tannins. This does need time, but what will happen over several years, I truly do not know. Find this wine

033951 LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE PINOT NOIR 2011 Niagara Peninsula $45.00
Full of mineral and dried herbs, some red currant and stewed fruit aromas do surface; the palate has tight red fruit, but the tannins just build and build to the point of becoming overly assertive. Find this wine

256735 McMANIS FAMILY VINEYARDS ZINFANDEL 2012 California $19.95
Very sweet, aromas of blackberry cream soda, coconut, cocoa and red licorice lead to a globby palate showing cherry and sweet black fruit flavours, with silky tannin. An industrial wine at best and for those that want it, it is a nine dollar bottle of wine south of the border. Find this wine

161299 NAPA CELLARS MERLOT 2011 $24.95
Lots of black cherry, currant, caramel, tea leaves and mineral aromas, a pretty clean palate, good fruit and acid balance, but short on the finish. Find this wine

743989 CHAPEL HILL SHIRAZ 2012 McLaren Vale, South Australia $26.95
A power house wine showing some funk, wet earth, clay, blueberry and blackberry, fresh flowers and black pepper. Full palate, fruit laden, but balanced by lively acidity, lovely creamy texture with a long blackberry/dark fruit and sweet spice finish. Find this wine

674564 PALACIOS REMONDO LA VENDIMIA 2012 Rioja $16.95
A lively wine, with sweet aromas of fresh picked blackberry, balsa, cedar and honeycomb. Super flavours of black and red fruit, mineral, superbly balanced and at this price, it is a great deal. Find this wine

383018 RAMIREZ DE LA PISCINA CRIANZA 2009 Rioja $15.95
A briny nose of olive, supported by blueberry, currant, mocha and coconut aromas; quite spicy on the palate, but solid fruit and great acidity warrants buying in larger quantities. Find this wine
Cheers
CZ

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