2012 CIRAMI ESTATE MONTEPULCIANO - LAYS DOWN A MARKER

South Australia’s Riverland has long been a source of inexpensive generic wine of modest quality. Large brands have drawn on the region’s extensive irrigated vineyards for bulk wine production. In the past decade or so, it seems that the both the Riverland and Riverina (across the border in New South Wales/Victoria) are in the midst of a quiet revolution.

Cirami Estate, associated with the Riverland Vine Improvement Committee, has performed extensive trials with alternative varietals, a number of which have been commercially bottled. These include Georgia’s Saperavi, Italy’s Fiano, Vermentino and Lagrein and Spain’s Graciano. This particular example, from the Montepulciano grape, shows considerable promise.

Originating from Abbruzzo on the Italy’s eastern coast, Montepulciano typically produces deeply coloured wines with a distinctive dark cherry character. The 2012 Cirami Estate Montepulciano is bang on in terms of varietal character; deep crimson in colour with a brooding nose of morello cherry. Unlike many wines from Australia’s warm inland regions (which are perhaps made to suit a particular flavour profile), the palate is dry, savoury and medium bodied.

This is a stylish, food friendly wine that is more than a match to similarly priced imports from Italy. As such, it lays down a very positive marker, demonstrating that there could be much to look forward to from the oft derided Riverland and Riverina regions.

2012 MONTEPULCIANO
Producer: Cirami Estate
Variety: Montepulciano
Vintage: 2012
Region: Riverland
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $20.00
Date tasted: 21 June 2013

Tasting Note:
Deep crimson. Attractive nose of raspberry and morello cherry, touch of ground pepper. Dry, savoury, medium bodied, excellent fruit intensity, very varietal – Montepulciano-esque! Good depth of flavour. Although not particularly complex, the wine definitely deserves plaudits for typicity.
Score: 16+/20