Roundup of this week's wine reviews (17 July 2013)

A nice bunch of food-friendly wines were sampled this week.


Cesari Essere Merlot 2010
Verona, Italy
Main varietal: Merlot
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5); 90 pts (out of 100)

Nice structure for a merlot. Bit of horizontal complexity too. Nice plum notes with good minerality.


Santa Luz Alba Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Central Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 3 stars; 89pts

Cassis, almost layered. Good mouthfeel with a fruity finish.


Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2005
Southern Rhone, France
Main varietal: Grenache Noir, Syrah
Rating: 3.8 stars; 93pts

Cellared for about 4 years. Double-decantered 3 hours before serving, so this wine quickly opens up and delivers complex red stone fruit flavours with hints of plum, smokiness, white pepper, cassis, vanilla... Lovely mouthfeel and decently persistent.


De Toren Stellenbosch Fusion V 1999
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: The 5 (V!) Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
Rating: 5 stars; 95pts

Ink-coloured. Vibrant and fresh on the palate, boasting complex cassis, mint and a myriad of flavours, big in depth and breadth.


Bird in Hand Shiraz 2011
Mount Lofty Ranges, Australia
Main varietal: Shiraz
Rating: 4.2 stars; 92pts

Crushed pepper, plums and cassis. Good intensity and persistence. An elegant expression of Australian shiraz, appreciate the French rather than American oaking.



Bird in Hand Merlot 2011
Mount Lofty Ranges, Australia
Main varietal: Merlot
Rating: 4 stars; 92pts

Fleshy-textured with some semblance of structure. Less-ripe plum with some meaty hints. Quite yummy.


Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico 2007
Tuscany, Italy
Main varietal: Sangiovese
Rating: 3.8 stars; 90pts

This bottle is tasting a bit more rustic than expected. Great with food.


Caliboro Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Maule Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 3 stars; 90pts

This bottle has not been well-stored, showing oxidative hints. Otherwise, nice intense cassis with oak notes. Age-worthy.


Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva 2007
Tuscany, Italy
Main varietal: Sangiovese
Rating: 4 stars; 93pts

Typical chianti savory cherry with nice pepper hints. Complex, long, layered.