Perth Area Wine Tasters

Tuesday 12th April 2011

Sandy Stewart from From the Markinch Wine Gallery presented the following wines

The theme is wines that Sandy likes

White

SABINA VIURA 2010, NAVARRA
This simple wine shows just how well Spanish wines at moderate prices have improved in recent years. This is a clean, fruity and balanced wine, unpretentious, but with some presence.

CON CLASS VENDEMIA EXCEPCIONAL 2009, RUEDA
Ricardo Sanz is an exceptional winemaker. This particular cuvee has been showered with praise in the last few years. It is a mixture of almost New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc and traditional Verdejo and little a Viura. I prefer the balance of this mixture to his impressive, straight Sauvignon Blanc.

CATALAN EAGLE 2009, TERRA ALTA
This is one of a number of wines made by Ed Adams MW and South African winemaker Bruce Jack. It is a mixture of Garnacha Blanca, Viognier and a little Rousanne from an organic vineyard near Tarragona. It is peachy and aromatic with a rich texture.

TXOMIN ETXANIZ CHACOLI 2010
This is a very unusual wine from the Basque region. It is made from local grapes, in this case a mixture of the aggressive Hondarribi Zuri softened by low alcohol Hondarribi Beltza. This is a wonderful wine with sea food, but great on its own.

Red

BIFERNO RESERVA 2006, MOLISE
Made with Montepulciano grapes in a small region just south of Abruzzi this wine shows real style and depth. Before Christmas we were selling the 2004 vintage and we could not keep up with demand, especially after the Telegraph chose it as a Christmas wine at suggested prices well above ours. The 2006 is also excellent and was recently extravagantly praised in the Daily Mail.

COLONNA ALESSANDRA BARBERA DEL MONFRRATO 2000
This wine shows how well Barbera, so aggressive in its youth, ages. Mark you this was an excellent wine to begin with. Alessandra won a Gold medal in the Wine Challenge. The wine from selected bunches, aged in oak is reaching its mature best.

BADIA a COLTIBUONO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007
This wine won the top award, Tre Bicchieri, in the Gambero Rosso, Italy's top guide to fine wines. It is unusual for such a 'modest' wine to win this award. The wine is made with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Caniolo. The estate is now fully organic. The wine shows soft tannins and
succulent acidity.

UNDURRAGA T.H. CARIGNAN 2008, MAULE
Made from vines more than 60 years old, from two small sites in the Maule region, this is an unusual New World wine. The unirrigated vines have very low yields and a consequent intensity of flavour. There are wild berries on the nose, deep fruit and oak on the mid palette and ripe, structured tannins on the finish.

The Markinch Wine Gallery
61 High Street
Markinch KY7 6DQ
Tel. 01592 750024