Tried and Tasted - this week's Staff Recommendations

Tiefenbrunner

This week, staff have been tasting three wines from the Tiefenbrunner Range.

Russell Wallace, General Manager

Mouthful wines from a mouthful of a vineyard! So at first glance at the name you would be forgiven for presuming this would be German or Austria wine we are discussing and out of fear or whatever else given them a wide berth. Well we implore you not to, instead ignore the vineyard/family name and think of these as just divine wines from the northernmost parts of Italy and we can continue. It is at this point that I need to tell you a little more about the Alto Adige homeland of these wines, bordering Austria & Switzerland and the Germanic influence of this Autonomous region. If we are honest though Wikipedia is likely to say it much more accurately and professionally than I so over to them! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trentino-Alto_Adige

In the family since the 1675 and named after the Castle Turmhof, it was only in the 1960’s that the current generation set the direction for the vineyard by bottling the estates wines for consumption off the premises. The dedication here is to maintaining and indeed showing off the relationship between varietal and the land resulting in fresh and voluptuous wines just full of character. I started off with the Pinot Grigio. It is a variety I enjoy, but I have to be honest in saying that I have had my opinion tainted by the bulk produced House wine and supermarket trash that has sullied this varieties reputation. In this example we see a delightfully simple refined wine, that would be a great pairing with simple fair, seafood salads perhaps. Quite a floral little number and not a hint of the over acidic qualities I associate with the lesser examples of this variety. Score 16/20

Then we move on to the Pinot Bianco. It is not a varietal I would pick off the shelves with great regularity, and again there is no real reason why I should not, other than fear of the unknown. Which is stupid as discoveries of the great unknown are, to me, some of the greatest blessings. I enjoyed trying the two white Pinot side by side (and indeed next up is a Pinot Nero), there was a similar fresh and voluptuous characteristic just with a more pronounced flavour in the Pinot Bianco. This is where we definitely step more firmly into food friendly wine territory, my thoughts being a rich lobster dish or maybe even a bouillabaisse type dish! The floral notes gave way in this case to a more crisp apple with just a gentle touch of the tropics about it. Score 17/20

Then it was on to the Pinot Nero with nero being the same in Italian as noir is in French so to simplify things, and that is my basic desire in wine, in essence we are talking Pinot Noir and if you didn’t already guess that the divine light characteristic colour should hint at it straight away. The actual wine was a real mouthful. This is not a delicate sip it by itself sort of wine, it really needs a nice game dish to enjoy it with. So try a bottle with friends, but I do not see this as a wine to enjoy a few bottles of on the sofa on its own. A new discovery for me and yet another wine that really can rival some of the worlds best Pinot Noir! Score 18/20

Leanne Brodie, Data Administration Assistant

Pinot Bianco - Really, really enjoyed this wine. Fresh tasting, nice and light and very refreshing! Tastes really fruity, would say the flavours are very tropical like. Ideal for summer drinking at a BBQ or with a nice crisp salad. I will definitely be having a bottle or two of this one. Score 20/20

Pinot Nero - Again a lovely wine which I also enjoyed. This one again has a summer feel with lovely smells of summer berries. Lovely and smooth with flavours of strawberries. Easy drinking! I had this one with a chicken pasta dish and it seemed to work well. Score 20/20

Pinot Grigio - Didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the Pinot Bianco, but was still delicious. Slightly heavier maybe. Strong aromas of citrus fruit. Nice and smooth to drink. I found this to have quite a zesty taste to it. Score 17/20

Ally Moir, Exel Wines Shop

Pinot Bianco - Lots of fruit on the nose and mouth, lovely taste of ripe pears, not much on follow through though. Best served well chilled. Great for a sunny afternoon though perhaps a little bit on the expensive side. Score 15.5/20

Pinot Grigio - Not quite so fruity as the Bianco – in fact a little bit creamy with hints of vanilla. Again a bit light on finish and equally as good on a sunny day, also slightly on the expensive side. Score 15/20

Pinot Nero -  I’m a big fan of Pinot Noir and was therefore looking forward to this - it didn’t disappoint. Initially there’s a taste of strawberries and what to me was like white pepper – I loved it (my wife didn’t). From here things got even better as I matched it with a creamy blue cheese – the effect was excellent all of the flavours enhanced and morphed in to an overall depth of fruit cream and just enough light tannin to make you want more. Score 18/20