Tiberio Pecorino IGT 2009

I was given this a little while ago and I thought I should have a crack.  It is made from a winery that has deep roots in Italiy and want to do everything to maintain the distinctiveness of the region and country.  Now the Pecorino vine has been extinct for sometime now but when the team at Tiberio were investigating their terrain they found a few of these and then began a rejuvenation and replanting process.

Tiberio IGT Pecorino 2009

This wine tastes exotic and unique yet has something familiar about it but I just can't put my finger on it. The wine starts with peaches poached in vanilla beans and topped with wild nuts.   I can imagine myself eating a bowl of this lovely food then being attacked by a haystack and covered in citrus.  I did get a faint hint of cheese on the back palate or that could be my mind playing tricks on me. The texture takes it to a new dimension as there is a gylcerol mouthfeel to the wine  with an extremely long palate that all end in a vibrant finish. If you want to try something beautiful and unique, try this.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $35
Rated: 89
Drink: Now - 2015
Importer: Bottega Rotolo

Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009

Last week I had a conversation with a winemaker about wine styles and we got onto the subject of how Australia should make some of the Italian varieties.  His point of view was that it is too difficult to sell wine with tannin so we should treat all varieties like Shiraz.  To say I was a little disappointed would be an understatement. As the numbers for Italian wines, a lot of their wines possess huge tannin structures, are in the biggest growth area in Australia, I would say that people are calling out for added texture and structure.  Furthermore, if a variety has thick skins and would normally show tannin why not harvest the natural qualities of the variety? Why not increase the diversity within Australian wines?

Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009

Oh boy oh boy this is a dirty little number as the main stay of the wine is dirt or potting mix.  There are moments of spice, roasted meats and dark cherries intermixed with a lovely acid structure that runs right along the wine and then the tannins kick in. They are like James Bond in that they are very seductive and enchanting and you know that you are on track for an action packed ride.  This wine is highly drinkable and oozes juiciness even if it is a little sour. In fact I love that sour mid-palate! I want more. This would be in line for a top three finish for the bargain of the year.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $30
Rated: 92+
Drink: Now -2018
Importer: Mediterraneo Wines

Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2009

I love the idea behind these wines. Low or no oak, keep it fresh and doesn't burn a hole in your wallet.  It’s the sort of wine people turn to if the budget is under attack. Well they must be turning to it as domestic consumption is falling but European imports are up 1.5 to 3% this year and now make up 15% of the total wine consumed. Even though i want to say, you should support your local community, I think that variety has increased 10 fold as people are trying to find something that doesn't put them into an alcoholic stupor after one glass.

 

Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2009

 

So I seem to be on a bit of an import bender at the moment which is fine with me if they are priced like this and have quality and interest to burn.  It’s a wine my Calabrian uncle would slap down on the table with a bowl of olives, oil and crusty bread. Do I feel like I am solving world peace while i'm drinking this? No but I do feel a whole lot better after a glass or two.  The wine is light to medium bodied with chalky tannins, beautiful acidity and flavours of savory herbs, cherry balm, dehydrated cranberry’s, earth and burnt coffee beans.

 

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $10
Rated: 87
Drink: now - 2014 

Importer: Mondo Imports