Vinosphere, Part 3 - Other Red Varieties

In this bracket, I tasted all red varieties, other than Pinot Noir. Many wines were international, but I also tried some Australian icons. Here are my brief notes.

- Quinta do Crasto: 2015 Superior Tinto, Douro Valley: intense flavours, blackberry, forest fruit, elegant (94 p)
- Escondido: 2015 Meio e Meio, Langhorne Creek: well made, but a bit basic (90 p)
- Balnaves: 2012 The Tally, Cabernet Sauvignon: black, black, deep and concentrated and elegant, wine of the night (96 p)
- Casa Fresci: 2015 Nebbiolo, Langhorne Creek: a light version of Nebbiolo (88 p)
- Jasper Hill: 2016 Georgia's Paddock Nebbiolo: good fruit, lacks typical backbone (91 p)
- Elvio Cogno: 2013 Barbera d'Alba: plum, a bit simple, good length (91 p)
- Elvio Cogno: 2013 Barbaresco Bordini: quite light, clean, pretty fruit, good length and silky tannins (94 p)
- Ferdinando Principiano: 2013 Barolo Serralunga: fragrant, savoury (93 p)
- Ferdinando Principiano: 2013 Barolo Ravera: more intense, more elegant, long finish (95 p)
- Girolamo Russo: 2015 Etna Rosso Cru San Lorenzo: made from Nerello Mascalese, lively red fruit, strong tannins (93 p)
- Santa Maria la Nave: 2015 Etna Rosso Calmarossa: light and lifted, red fruited, elegant (93 p)
- Talenti: 2012 Brunello: earthen, not well balanced (89 p)
- Gianni Brunelli Chiuse di Sotto: 2012 Brunello: black cherry, mocca (92 p)
[ there are outstanding 2012 Brunellos; the last two are not amongst them]
- Antiyal: 2011 Vinedo Escorial Carmenere, Chile: strong barnyard flavours (86 p)
- Mont-Redon: 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape: red fruit, medium intensity (92 p)
- La Barroche: 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape: sweet fruit, smooth, good balance (93 p)
- Clonakilla: 2016 Shiraz/Viognier: deep plum, blackberry, lifted on medium weight, elegant and long (95 p)
- Thomas Wines: 2016 Kiss Shiraz: Plum fruit hits the palate, elegant, soft tannins (94/95 p)
- Castagna: 2015 La Chiave: fresh, quite soft, balanced, soft tannins (95 p)
- Castagna: 2015 Genesis Syrah: red and black fruited, quite lifted and elegant (95 p)

The Australian wines were the clear winners in this bracket. It is a little unfair, as these were all icon wines, whereas some overseas wines from great vintages, such as 2013 in Piedmont, 2012 for Brunello, and 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape are not from leading suppliers.