Huon Hooke takes a look at a handful of imports.
Villa Bel Air 2010
Medium to deep red colour with a purple tinge. The aromas are clean and fresh and inviting, invoking raspberry, blackberry and subtle hints of dried herbs. In the mouth it is medium-bodied and elegantly structured, taut and firm to finish. Long finish. A very stylish merlot-driven Bordeaux. (A 50:40:10% blend from the Cazes family of Lynch Bages)
92 points
Chanson Viré Clessé 2012
Light yellow hue and a smoky, struck-flint type of mineral bouquet, the palate is delicate and restrained, fine and subtle, not showing overt oak, but the same minerally flinty character as the bouquet. A very good example of a lighter, more subtle style of Burgundy – and very well priced.
90 points
Terrebrune rosé 2013
Very pale, smoked-salmon pink hue. The aromas are of straw, smoke and strawberry, a hint of pot-pourri, while the palate is very delicate and fine. It’s a subtle, restrained rose, clean and dry, yet soft and rounded and easy to drink. A subtle trace of tannin helps cleanse and firm the finish. It has quaffability.
90 points
Ceretto Nebbiolo D’alba 2011
Corked. 2nd bottle: medium to deep red/brick colour. Maraschino cherry and dry grass and straw aromas. The palate is very firm and almost hard, with alcohol warmth and pointed tannins. Good length and grip, just a trifle firm and demands food. Serious potential.
92 points