Some interesting wines for summer

Mitolo Jester Sangiovese Rose 2012

The weather has turned and the sunshine is out so it is rose time. This little number has savoury notes with some sweetness in the mid-palate which represents the style of roses that I think are better suited to the Australian lifestyle. The wine stays well clear of those confected sweet fruit bomb but rather is more akin to freshly picked cherries, strawberries with spice which is so nice. The acidity of the wine is bright with some added levels of chalkiness that finish the back-palate off in style. From the get go the wine is complete in balance and in depth of flavour.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $22

Rated: 86

Drink: Now or over the next three years

Coriole Nero d’Avola 2012

This grape variety originates from the island of Sicily in Italy but it has found a home in McLaren Vale. This should come as no surprise as the variety loves the hot weather as long as it gets a bit of cold sea winds to cool itself off at night. The wines from Sicily are generally medium bodied and savoury as hell and this wine is no different. Initially the wine shows plums rolled in wild herbs and freshly grated pepper and none of these flavours are at all sweet. In fact they are extremely savoury for a wine from such a region. After a while a little blueberry licorice comes through but never does the wine become big or broad, while the tannins hug the mouth from start to finish.  I will go out on a limb and say that Nero d’Avola is the next big development for McLaren Vale and South Australia. The only thing that held me back from giving this wine a monumental score was a little unresolved CO2 that was evident in the wine which distracted me just a little, saying that this wine is ridiculous value as I had it down as a 50 buck wine before I was informed that it is only 25 bucks at cellar door.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $25 (be quick as there is only 240 bottle produced)

Rated: 90

Drink: I have no idea but I could drink it now but I will be keeping some to see what it does in the cellar.

Maximus Old Vine Grenache 2010

McLaren Vale and Grenache is a match made in Heaven. What the relationship does is to allow the wine to show off the vineyard in a more savoury style with little overripe fruits than you would see in a shiraz. What they do here is use older American oak to allow the strong fruit to take centre stage. The wine comes a across as dirty with specks of raspberries and blood sausage before the light yet invasive tannins take hold. This is what the region does best and that is cram flavour and food friendliness into a bottle at a very reasonable price.

Alcohol: 14.8%

Price: $25

Rated: 87

Drink: Now – 2018

Deen De Bortoli Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2009

I love this wine for a few reasons but the first one is that it is readily available and is made in a more savoury yet medium to full bodied style.  Upon opening the wine shows violets and tart redfruits before the richness of chocolate, blackcurrants and freshly ground coffee sets in. This is the sort of wine you could buy a case of and happily serve it during the week or at a big event on the week end as it has value written all over it. Back up the truck? Yes it is a must.

Alcohol: 14.8

Price: $12.50

Rated: 86

Drink: Now or over the next 5 years