Wine codes 0-10 :Sweetness code

March

LE01

Chilean Carmenère/Cabernet Sauvignon (0)

The Region: Chile is one of the oldest ‘new world’ winegrowing regions, with its first vintage planted by the Spanish in the 16th century. Winexpert’s Carmenère comes from the Maipo Valley, Chile’s most famous growing area located just south of the capital of Santiago.

The Wine: Similar to Merlot, Carmenère is a synonym for brilliant red, ‘carmine’. Blended with the King of red grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, it produces exceptionally powerful, rich red wines of great length and structure. Deep crimson red colour with luscious fruit aromas of plums and blueberry, a touch of chocolate and hints of coffee and toasty oak. On the palate, notes of red fruit, dark plums, damsons and spice, generously framed by toasty oak with a soft and well structured mouth filling texture, velvety on the tongue with very supple tannins.

March

LE02

The Region: Australia’s vast Riverland region produces nearly 20% of all the country’s wine. The warm climate and rich sandy loam soils could produce higher yields, but artisan grape growers remove half the fruit at budburst and limit irrigation. With smaller numbers of berries and water-stressed vines, the resultant grapes, like those used in our Australian Riesling, display highly concentrated flavour, aroma and body.

The Wine: Medium bodied, crisp and refreshing, with aromas of white fruits, juicy apple, and the perfume of spring blossoms. It’s wonderfully drinkable, but still shows depth of flavour with minerals and a bracing backbone of acidity and structure. The main difference between a German and an Australian Riesling is that Australian Riesling tends to be drier. The Australian version exhibits the characteristics of the grape that we expect: the perfume, the complexity and the zest.

April

LE03

The Region: The Sicilian climate has long hot summers, plenty of sunshine and mild winters, with just enough rainfall to keep the vines strong. Avola is a village in South Eastern Sicily, where Nero d’Avola evolved through selection by vine growers centuries ago, and has spread throughout the island.

The Wine: Sicilian winemakers often treat Nero d’Avola like Shiraz, which is why the two blend so well together. It has the classic Shiraz notes of blueberry, blackberry and dark fruits, with a delightful scent of rose, cherry and herbs. This dark-garnet wine shows ripe, berrylike fruit aromas lent complexity by hints of toast and smoke. Warm and plummy with a touch of raisins and a hint of almonds in the flavour, there’s sufficient acidity to give it structure, but the overall impression is soft as velvet.

May

LE04

The Region: The Pacific Coast of North America has micro-climates that match those of the blazing sunshine of the Mediterranean to the crisp mountain air of the upper Rhine. With so much range and variety, there is a perfect terroir for almost any grape you can name.

The Wine: This wine showcases bright fruit, excellent structure and a long finish. Vidal from British Columbia gives spiciness and stone fruit. Chenin Blanc from California gives a wonderful melony-honeyed aroma with hints of apple. Gewürztraminer from Washington contributes lychee, rose petals and floral notes, and Muscat from Australia’s Murray-Darling Valley gives wonderful grapey notes with dried fruit and hints of orange peel.

June

LE05

The Region: Italy’s long, narrow peninsula reaches deep into the Mediterranean, basking in the relentless sunshine and welcoming warmth. Gentle sloping hillsides, rich mineral soils, the moderating breezes off of the Mediterranean waters and unique grape varieties work to make wonderful wines.

The Wine: Brunello is a large-berried variety of the Sangiovese grape, most famous in Brunello di Montalcino. Italy’s hot, dry climate allows Brunello to thrive, displaying great varietal character and intensity. The flavour profile of Sangiovese is fruity, with strong natural acidity, a firm and elegant to assertiveness and a robust finish that can extend surprisingly long. The aroma is generally subtle, with cherry, strawberry, blueberry, and violet notes.