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8 hours 19 min agoNovember 20, 2008
11:13
Pio Cesare Barolo 2004
Pio Cesare Barolo 2004
Pio Cesare Barolo 2004 is the 6th place wine and top placing Italian effort for Wine Spectator's annual Top 100 wines of the year awards. Pio Cesare Barolo 2004, remarkably, despite having drank it on 3 occasions this year has not made its way onto the blog. Only the 2004 Barbaresco has been mentioned so far but I have a back note to share with you. I must admit to being confused on what criteria these awards are given. Of all the Barolo releases from 2004 for Pio Cesare to be taking the top wine is a mystery. Looking down the full top 10 list, you can see these wines do seem to fall into a QPR and their availability to US consumers relationship that must be influencing the decisions on which wines win out.
Disappointingly only 1 Italian wine made the top 10 but the plethora of wines in the top 100 backs up my recent findings here in London that wine in the £15-£25 price range from Italy is some of the worlds best value.
Top 10 Wines of 2008:
1. Casa Lapostolle - Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley 2005
2. Chateau Rauzan-Segla - Margeaux 2005
3. Quinta do Crasto - Douro Reserva Old Vines 2005
4. Chateau Guiraud - Sauternes 2005
5. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe - Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2005
6. Pio Cesare - Barolo 2004
7. Château Pontet - Canet Pauillac 2005
8. Château de Beaucastel - Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005
9. Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale - Carnival of Love 2007
10. Seghesio - Zinfandel Sonoma County 2007
Top placing Italian wines:
6. Pio Cesare - Barolo 2004
14. Aldo & Riccardo Seghesio - Barolo Vigneto La Villa 2004
15. Sette Ponti - Toscana Oreno 2006
22. Avignonesi - Vino Nobile di MontepulcianoGrandi Annate Riserva 2004
31. La Massa - Toscana 2006
45. Jermann - Venezia-Giulia Vintage Tunina 2006
50. Firriato - Nero d’Avola-Syrah Sicilia Santagostino Baglio Soria 2006
51. Fattoria di Felsina - Chianti Classico Berardenga 2006
59. Terredora - Falanghina Irpinia 2007
70. Attems - Pinot Grigio Collio 2007
75. Suavia - Soave Classico 2007
76. Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi - Chianti Rufina Castello di Nipozzano Riserva 2005
81. Querciabella - Chianti Classico 2006
84. Stefano Farina - Barolo 2004
96. Cabreo - Toscana Il Borgo 2006
However, I am pleased to see Pio Cesare in the top 10 I recommend going for this producers Barolo and Barberesco wines and as they are so well exposed over here and the USA they will likely be the only Barolo and Barbaresco wines you'll come across in the fine wine sections of your local supermarket. Or maybe that's just me.
So onto what I really want to talk about today and that is Decanter magazines "Fine Wine encounter" that I'll be attending this Sunday (so if you see me say hello!). Every year Decanter hire out a venue, this year the Landmark Hotel in central London and some of the worlds finest producers come along and show case their wines. This year there are around 100 producers from around the world and whilst I will give it my best shot to get around as many as possible and naturally all of the Italian producers I would like you guys to give me some inspiration about which of these producers I should make a bee line for and which wines I should be tasting.
Recognise any of these:
Argentina
Finca Sophenia
Australia
Grant Burge
Peter Lehmann
Voyager Estate
Wakefield
Yalumba
Yering Station
Chile
Amayna
Casa Lapostolle
Errazuriz
Montes
France
Baronne Philippine de Rothschild GFA
Château Beychevelle
Bollinger
Château Brown
Château Corbin
Château Coutet
Château de Campuget
Château d'Issan
Château Faugères
Château Larmande/ Soutard
Château La Nerthe
Château L'Arrosée
Château Lagrange
Château Marquis d'Alesme
Château Miraval
Piper Heidsieck
Château Phélan-Ségur
Château Prieuré-Lichine
Château Rauzan Segla / Canon
Château Saint-Jacques d'Albas
Château Vray Croix de Gay
Domaine de la Bégude
Domaine D'En Ségur
Domaines Faiveley
Domaine Ott
Domaine Paul Mas
Domaines Schlumberger
Lanson
Les Vins Skalli
Louis Jadot
Louis Latour
Maison Chapoutier
Vignobles Brumont
Germany
Weingut Martin Wassmer
Weingut Ziereisen
Italy
Baglio di Pianetto
Benanti
Barone Ricasoli
Batasiolo
Braida
Cantina Terlano
Castello Banfi
Castello della Paneretta
Fattoria Nittardi
Feudi di San Gregorio
Il Molino di Grace
Petrolo
Planeta
Tenuta di Valgiano
Tenute Silvio Nardi
Lebanon
Château Ksara
New Zealand
Auntsfield
Craggy Range Vineyards
Mud House
Paritua
Villa Maria
Portugal
Cockburn's
Fonseca Port
Graham's
J Portugal Ramos
Quinta do Noval
South Africa
Kaapzicht Estate
Ken Forrester Wines
La Motte
Meerlust
Moregenster
Rupert &Rothschild
Spain
Abadia Retuerta
Bodegas Alto Moncayo
Bodegas Baigorri
Bodegas Frontaura
Bodegas Muga
Bodegas Ordoñez
CVNE
Faustino
González Byass
Marqués de Caceres
O. Fournier
Pago de Cirsus
Pago de los Capellanes
USA
Diamond Creek Vineyards
Heitz Wine Cellars
J Jacaman Wines
Peter Michael Winery
Sonoma Cutrer
Stags Leap Wine Cellars
Yeah, I thought you might! If you have any favourites there then I will be your ambassador and take down some notes for you. I am nothing, if not a public servant.
So camera and note book at the ready for Sunday. Full report to follow on Monday (or Tuesday depending on the thickness of my head). Ciao for now.
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Um. Tell me which wines to taste!Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
November 12, 2008
09:44
Rhone by Roger Sabon
Rhone by Roger Sabon
Rhone by Roger Sabon: is it a wine or the latest eau de toilette? I suppose it could be used for either, the nose is good enough although dabbing this number behind your ears will attract passing wasps in summertime but as its as cold as a snowmans cold bits outside you could certainly opt for this. At €5 its cheaper than Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker and provides more kudos than Intimate by Victoria Beckham. I think it may also work as a natural mosquito repellent too. Everyones a winner. Forgetting the pros and cons of this wine as a perfume lets try to focus instead on what this product was really made for, that being getting slightly tiddly. Rhone by Roger Sabon is one of the wines I picked up two weeks ago whilst on my tour of Chateauneuf du Pape. The cave of Roger Sabon was given a rubber stamp recently by Mr Parker as being one of the must visit vineyards in the world and I was lucky enough to try their latest top CNdPs along with their less expensive Rhone wine, this, the Cotes du Rhone. So impressed was I by the QPR here that I picked up a bottle and at €5 there was no chance I could pass. Be aware though, these are Chateau prices and you're looking at double these rates on the high street. The Rhone by Roger Sabon is your baby CnDP using some of the same grapes. This wine is composed of mostly Grenache with Syrah and Cinsault playing back up in varying amounts depending on the success of the vintage and the choice decisions of Mr Sabon. As a Roger Sabon CNdP will set you back around €30 the credit crunch thing to do is to stock up on 6 of these bottles instead. Cotes du Rhone wines, especially from top producers in good vintages like we have here, will benefit from a little ageing but who has the patience for that with a €5 bottle of wine? Not me. The 2007 is drinking just lovely today and as seems to be customary on this blog - I've decided to write a tasting note for y'all. Rhone by Roger Sabon - BUY - £8.99Deep purple in the glass from centre to rim. On the nose a sweet cherried character with some accompanying raspberry and hints of cinnamon. Super silky tannins and a filling generous mouth feel with a snap of heat on the finish. Good value. 89 Points Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. This wine goes perfectly with Orange Roast Chicken, a meal I prepared all by myself with no help whatsoever and to break with tradition I will post the recipe too. Where can I buy this wine?Europeans - Quaffit - €11Americans - Finest Wine - $32Brits - Quaffit - £8.99 Leave a CommentI am hugely proud of my culinary masterpiece and can now make at least 6 or 7 home made meals *beam* As successful as it was, Lasagna is my signature dish. What is your "never fails" number 1 best meal you like to make to impress a date, the mother in law, anniversary type dish?
Orange roast chicken
Ingredients
2 oranges
4 garlic cloves
1 oven-ready chicken, about 1.35kg
3 cinnamon sticks
4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
Honey
450ml chicken stock or water
3 sweet potatoes
2 corn cobs
2 red onions
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Cut each orange into 8 wedges and tuck half of them and an unpeeled garlic clove into the cavity of the chicken.
Place the cinnamon sticks, rosemary, bay leaf and remaining garlic in a large roasting pan and set the chicken on top. Pour half the stock or water into the pan and add honey. Place in the oven and roast for 1 hour, basting the chicken with the pan juices after 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 3–4cm chunks. Cut each corn cob across into 4 pieces. Peel the onions and cut each into 4 wedges. Remove the pan from the oven and add the vegetables and remaining orange wedges, turning them in the pan juices to coat evenly.
Add the remaining stock or water to the pan and return to the oven to roast for a further 50–60 minutes until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender. Baste with the pan juices halfway through the roasting time.
Remove the chicken from the pan and place on a warmed serving dish. Lift out the vegetables with a draining spoon and arrange around the chicken. Discard the cinnamon, rosemary, bay leaf and garlic cloves. Skim any excess fat from the juices and heat until boiling, then serve with the chicken.
Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
November 4, 2008
16:58
Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi 2005
Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi 2005Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi, at around £10, is the threshold Zin crossing over from Pap Zin to Good Zin. It's the Audi TT of Zinfandel, not quite in the super car range, or the cool car range but it's saying, "hey, I have some cash, I'm appealing, I'm doing alright for myself". Ravenswood is possibly the worlds most famous Zinfandel producer and as such is available pretty much everywhere (except Italy of course) so the poor bashed Zin fans won't have to carry their brown paper bag too far home, their cheeks burning red with shame.
"No Wimpy Wines" is the tag line of the Ravenswood winery in Sonoma, California and it's an apt claim indeed. Having sampled around half of the Ravenswood range over the last year all the wines, all Zinfandel, have punched me square in the mush. These are big fruity wines, not about finesse and/or balance, the wines are fruit bombs that are guaranteed to please anyone who loves heaps of fruit and sugar. Think of a thick alcoholic Ribena and you're really close to a Ravenswood Zinfandel. Not a match for my Salmon dinner last night, not even close, but it is a wine you can drink very easily at a party and at 15% alcohol it's no wonder my head is a touch sore while I type this.
I liked it. Actually. I really did. There's a time and a place for classic wines and there is also room in my wine world for a jammy, one dimensional Zinfandel hit and this Ravenswood number is not going to disappoint anyone who likes it a bit sweet now and again.
Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi 2005 - BUY - £9
Deep purple in the glass, good intensity. Fast and furious with the nose, heaps of vanilla, cherry and strawberry. Huge, mouth filling, jammy palate with acres of cherry flavours. Nothing delicate about this offering. Fruit bomb. 88 PointsMany people enjoy this international fruit bomb style, many do not. Personally I get a kick out of all wines. There is no bad varietal, just bad timing. So shushy.
Where can I buy this wine?
Don't be lazy! Everywhere.Leave a comment
Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
I'm pretty sure loads of you have tried one Zinfandel from the Ravenswood range. Are you down with the Ravenswood?
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 28, 2008
11:12
Chateauneuf du Paped
Chateauneuf du Paped
You know when you've been Chateauneuf du Paped! This weekend I spent a fabulous time in the capital of the Southern Rhone, Avignon. A beautiful town, once home to the pope and just bursting with French flair, above average cuisine and saturated with CNdP, Gigondas, Hermitage, Tavel, Beaumes-de-Venise, Vacqueyras and all the other fabulous wines of this region.
I visited the region exclusively to tour the appellation of Chateaneuf du Pape and took a tour with Francois from Avignon Wine Tour. Going behind the scenes at the Domaine de Beaurenard vineyards and tasting a variety of wines here and at the excellent Brotte museum, Roger Sabon winery and also with Domaine de Nalys, some of the most well established producers of Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes du Rhone wines.
The Chateauneuf du Pape area is best known for its red wines and this year got an extra bit of critical acclaim when one of its top producers, Clos du Papes, was awarded with the Wine Spectator "wine of the year" award. However, there are some very enjoyable white CndP wines though they make up only 5% of the output of the appellation. Speaking of "appellations", another enjoyable fact about the CndP area is that it is from here, CndP, that the AOC was created with local producer (and qualified lawyer) Baron Pierre Le Roy putting together the rules and regulations for Cotes du Rhone wines that would eventually be adopted for all the wine growing regions of France. This structure was later copied by countries the world over preventing an American company from calling their sparkling wine "champagne" for example.
Although I had the privilege of trying the latest releases in both CndP and Cotes du Rhone wines from many fine producers the highlight of the tour was certainly the Brotte museum. An extremely informative and well thought out history of the region as well as an explanation of wine production. The tour ends with a tasting of wines from all over the Southern Rhone with the sommelier asking if there are any specific wines you want to try and then fishing them out for you. I'd like to think this is because I am very special and/or attractive but I think everyone gets the same treatment. At the Brotte museum you can try Gigondas, Tavel and Muscat de Beaumes de Venise which of course are not wines produced within CndP. So if you do tour CndP, which you definitely should, here is the best place to get a more rounded view of the Southern Rhone. Avignon itself is a very attractive town, very expensive on the main avenue but with zero litter and filled with wine and souvenir shops. Never in my life have I been approached more often for money and cigarettes though. Avignon has a serious hobo problem that the town council really should be striving to clean up. Avignon is a tourist town and the sheer amount of drunks and people sleeping rough on the street casts a shadow over one of the gems in the French tourist crown. My advise if to stay outside of the walls and try not to walk around alone after dark! Try to stay off the Rue de la Republique for your restaurants. Not only are these hiked up tourist prices but they're not the cleanest either with a cockroach joining myself and my dining partner on Saturday night. Avignon, beautiful but grubby.Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 20, 2008
16:45
Château La Variere Anjou Villages Brissac Caberner Franc
Château La Variere Anjou Villages Brissac Cabernet Franc 2005
After all the Sainsburys bashing recently I decided I'd better switch supermarkets and found this, the Château La Variere Anjou Villages Brissac Cabernet Franc 2005 at my local Waitrose. Having had mixed experience of Cabernet Franc from North East Italy I thought it was time to get some French Franc but, always loving to go with the kooky, this is left field Loire. It worked out well. A wine suitable to bring to parties (as I did for my flatmates partner this Friday) and a wine I can see going great with some Ardennes pate and harder cheeses the wine is total value at £8 and not your stinking vegetal Cab Franc but your smooth, subtle raspberry number that will get your house mates taking down the name on the label. Brava Waitrose. This was the best value from a mixed bag on the night that included a promising showing from the Chiarlo Barolo Tortoniano '03 and a corked Stroblhof Blauburgunder Riserva. At £8 the Château La Variere Anjou Villages Brissac has got me looking at other wines from the Anjou area. As high quality red is not something the area is known for real bargains can be found. If you have had some exposure to the wines of Anjou then you'll certainly know the area is awesome in their Chenin Blanc based sweet whites (Coteaux du Layon) but to have a red wine of this standard from the area is a little special so I highly recommend you keep your eyes peeled for this. It may not be £8 for much longer (especially after my review! Haw Haw) Château La Variere Anjou Villages Brissac Cabernet Franc 2005 - BUY - £8High intensity ruby red the wine opens up quickly giving off a generous nose of ripe berries and vanilla. On the palate an amazing initial attack, the wine is smooth and well balanced, some serious tannins but a good acidity keeping everything in check, 14.5% alcohol shows a little hot on the end. Enjoyable finish with fruit all the way through the tasting experience. Thoroughly enjoyable as a stand alone wine. 90 Points Michele Chiarlo Barolo Tortoniano 2003 - BUY - £25Ruby red with orange hues. A typical Barolo nose with obvious flowers, tar and truffles as well as a sweet strawberry note and touches of cinnamon. On the palate the wine is drinking well today though still quite tannic, good flavourful wine with a long finish though still a few years from a decent level of maturity. 91 Points Expecting the Tortoniano to take off in a couple of years but for a lower end Barolo this is good value. For drinking today, buy 3 bottles of the Château La Variere Anjou Villages Brissac Cabernet Franc. Where can I buy this Wine?Just Waitrose - £8 Leave a CommentI went to see Sarah Silverman at the Hammersmith Apollo last night and she bombed in a similar fashion to the Stroblhof Blauburgunder Riserva. Question is: Which wine makes you want to curl up in a ball, start rocking back and forth, and hope the ground swallows Sarah Silverman up? Or anything else wine related :DItalian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 16, 2008
15:39
Chinese Red Wine
Chinese Red Wine
Chinese red wine. That is, red wine from China. No, really. On Tuesday night whilst perusing the aisles of Morrisons supermarket I found one bottle of very dusty and rather trendy labelled Chinese Red Wine. It appears, from the inch thick layer of dust covering these bottles, that Chinese wines are not all the rage in deepest darkest Sutton but, as a Brit who will routinely cheer for the under dog, I took pity on it and took it home to accompany my low fat dinner. Chinese red wine and low fat dinners - Livin la Vida Loca!
Now, whilst trying to find out a little bit about the producer, the area the wine was produced etc etc, I found that no one else in the world, excluding myself has ever tried this wine. FACT. I can't find it to buy anywhere, I can't find another geeks notes, not on cellar tracker, not on the interweb, this wine is my own personal Narnia. In fact I'm really not sure it's called Silkroad anymore so I'm going to have to re buy and then edit this post! Apart from the review there is little more to say about Silkroad Cabernet Sauvignon. No photos or nuffink!
So instead I will tell you what we all know, in every situation in life and that is, that the Chinese are coming. China is one of the fastest growing markets for wine, with white wine a symbol of femininity and class for women and red wine a symbol of power and wealth for men. Whilst the fashion is for European and American top name wines the Chinese themselves are starting to produce better wines, and with their economy can produce wine extremely cheaply with both land and labour insanely cheap. That factor didn't pass itself onto "Silkroad", the wine was £5.99, and for such an unknown quantity this is quite a price.
China doesn't naturally lend itself to grape growing so the fact this wine tasted under ripe and at times, plain bizarre isn't a surprise. Knock £2 off this wine though and we're starting to get into a decent, quaffable price range.
Silk Road Carbernet Sauvignon 2005 - PASS - £5.99
Sitting dark purple in the glass the wine is aromatically forward with a chocolate/cherry nose but also a touch of fake sweetness. On the palate the wine is less interesting and a touch over acidic and under ripe. Pleasant to drink but not with the tell tale signs of classic Cabernet, disappeared fast on the finish. Despite all these drawbacks the wine was more than drinkable though I wouldn't buy it again for £6. 83 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Morrisons. Supermarkets worldwide are embracing Chinese wines, probably because there is a massive mark up on it!
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Where is the most "left field" country from which you've sampled a bottle of wine? Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 14, 2008
15:21
Braida Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone
Braida Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 2003
Braida Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone was another of those Italian wines that I'm really meant to be holding onto but had to break out in order to wash down the muck I've been tasting this week. I'm beginning to think there can only be two possible factors at work,
a) Italian wines are just the best value in the world FACT or
b) My taste buds are so attuned to Italian wines that no others are getting a fair crack of the whip
Over the past 4 days I've had a terrible run. A 2005 Morgon Beaujolais, an 2004 Pouilly Fumé, a 2006 New Zealand Pinot Noir and the Salisbury's SO Organic (Cecchi) Chianti all, in varying quantities, made it down my kitchen sink. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not that hard to please but all these wines didn't just pale in comparison to the Braida, they out and out stunk.
And then there was Braida. I'd forgotten how much I love Braida, the producer, the bottles, the taste of top quality Barbera. Along with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Barbera is providing the best quality QPR in all of Italy and the advantage of Braida's top end Barbera (this one), is the ageing potential. Sadly, every bottle of Bricco dell'Uccellone I've ever had (there's a 2001 note on here too somewhere) never reaches it's Christmas destiny. It's just too damned GOWJUS.
I'll tell you what's not GOWJUS, Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2006. £15 and smells like cabbage.
Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2006 - PASS - £15
Brooding dark purple in the glass to the rim. Total vegetable nose, cabbage water, mud, some minerality, no fruit. On the palate the wine picks up, well balanced, good integrated tannins, a little spice and smoke but still there with the veggies. Good finish, a well made wine, just not to my tastes. If you like your vegetable style wines, you may like it, never a Pinot, would have called it Cabernet Franc all the way down the line. 85 Points
Sainsburys SO Organic (Cecchi) Chianti 2006 - PASS - £8
Pretty ruby red with good intensity. Pretty nose, dark cherry and vanilla, little raspberry too but aromatically closed. Hugely tannic on the palate, thick mouth feel, flavour profile is overwhelming currants, tastes under ripe. 83 Points
Braida Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 2003 - BUY - £21
Deep purple in the glass. Aromatically opens up after an hour to develop a characterful strawberry nose accompanied by some coffee beans. A standout palate with luscious mouth-feel, good balance of acidity and tannins and a continuation of fruit to the finish which lasts a good 30 seconds. Nice job. 90 Points
Where can I buy this Wine?
Europeans - Enoteca Ronchi - €30
Americans - Wine Exhange - $45
Brits - Telegraph Wines - £21
Leave a Comment
I'm trying to think of a great name for a dog. I have been told that "Beaujolais" (even though Beau for short is cute I reckon) is ridiculous. Name ideas for my dog please.Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 9, 2008
10:08
Dr Loosen Graacher Himmelreich
Dr Loosen Graacher Himmelreich
Dr Loosen Graacher Himmelreich comes in a variety of sweetness styles (Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese) and for around £10 is one of the more reliable Rieslings around that price point. Dr Loosen's range of Rieslings is phenomenal and for those of you, like myself, getting into Riesling this producer is a good place to start to get well acquainted with the grape. They also produce an award winning Eiswein for those of you who like it super sweet. As one of the major Mosel producers you shouldn't have any problem at all sourcing this wine, readily available in many wine shops as well as supermarkets and down my local Sainsburys too. Last night I went Mexican, and despite forgetting both the Salsa and the Guacamole managed to produce some very edible Fajitas! Spicy Mexican food and wine is always a tough combo but the Kabinett Riesling was not a bad match at all though probably more suited to shellfish and blue cheeses. Actually, I went a bit crazy yesterday picking up a New Zealand Pinot Noir but more interestingly, Sainsburys BOB SO Organic Chianti (actually a Cecchi production) and will be interested to see what Cecchi are doing for Sainsburys for the £7 price tag. These notes will follow next week as will an interesting announcement about Wine90. Oooooooohhhhhh. *drumroll* Yes, there is a reason I've been a bit quiet lately, all will be revealed, be patient! Dr Loosen Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2007 - BUY - £10Sitting straw yellow in the glass the wine gives off generous amount of honeysuckle, pears and minerals. On the palate the wines initial attack is obvious fruit, continuation of pears (in syrup), creamy and fresh. Striking balance but shocking sweetness that had me check the label on two separate occasions. Easy drinking, simple finish, but lively and very enjoyable. 89 Points. Where can I buy this wine?Europeans - Vivavin - €8Americans - Dee Vine - $21Brits - Sainsburys - £10 Leave a CommentFajitas and............... ? Is this a time where a cold beer is required? Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 7, 2008
13:29
Bovio Barolo
Bovio Barolo
Bovio Barolo was my party saving wine this weekend as the mega brands, Concha Y Toro and Penfolds faded into the bland background of wine obscurity against the mighty (if unheard of) Bovio. Cracking open the reserves clearly I am missing the mighty Italian wines. As much fun as trying the international varieties is sometimes you just have to come home to old steady and drink what you know you'll enjoy. That being said, on Sunday night myself and two friends shared a fantastic Chilean Carmenere (Adobe) at the Willie Gunn restaurant in London's, Earlsfield. We paid £19 but obviously these are restaurant prices and hiked up x3. You can find, what I'd consider a 89 point wine, for around £5-6 in many of the high street stores.
Back to the Bovio, this was sadly my final of a 12 case I purchased back in Christmas. The Bovio Barolo is a really good value wine, most quality Barolos start at the £30 mark, this wine comes in underneath that and the 2003 vintage can happily be awarded 91 points to my palate. The wine is fruit forward but extremely tannic, really shouldn't be drinking today but there are foods, like my partners "Lemony chicken" that the huge tannic base seemed to compliment quite strangely ... and against the textbook. When I say Lemony, I'm talking obscene Lemony. 5 Lemons on one chicken, Is that even legal?
Penfolds Rawsons Retreat 2007 - PASS - £6
Shiraz/Cabernet blend sits purple in the glass. Uninspiring nose, candied fruit, sugary but not too bad, some good fruit too. Fruit on the palate, a hollow and unsatisfying finish. Serviceable but not great. 84 Points
Sainsburys Taste The Difference Gewurztraminer 2006 - BUY - £7
Dark golden yellow. Explosive spicy nose, petrol and melon. Great mouth feel, good balance, fruit continuing to the finish, seems off-dry but is not. Exceptional value from Sainsbury's. Highly recommend. 90 Points
Bovio Rocchettevino Barolo 2003 - BUY - £24
Dark ruby red to the rim. Exceptionally forward nose, wine not decanted, mineral, vanilla and dark fruits show quickly in a beautiful mixed general aroma. The palate is hugely tannic but bright acidity and lively fruit contribute to the best Bovio Barolo I've tasted. If I had 3 thumbs, they'd all be up. 91 Points.
As you can probably guess where to purchase the Sainsburys wine (which is a BOB in the UK, non UK residents seek out "Cave de Turckheim" - same wine, different label, then It's the Barolo displayed below.
Where can I buy this wine?
Only a handful of stockists sell the Bovio label - Barolobrunello.com, Handford Fine Wines, and Decorum Vintners. All European.
Leave a Comment
Surely you folks must have tried a Penfolds? Which supermarket is your favourite for buying wine (the Waitrose/Sainsburys debate continues) and for you in the USA too, which superstore is selling the best wines? As always, any other comments or feedback are appreciated. Ciao for now!
Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 3, 2008
13:12
Terza Volta Malbec
Terza Volta Malbec
Terza Volta Malbec - Everyone who's anyone is drinking Malbec these days. Taking over the groovy grape mantle from Aussie Syrah I was interested to see what the hullabaloo was about. You can never judge a grape from one bottle and that's a jolly good job because this wine is dullsville. In yet another case of my head being turned by a funky name and a pretty bottle I reached out for this Malbec (along with a Tokaji and Gevrey Chambertin) on Wednesday night at a very interesting local shop Wines of the World. In this wine store there are no Penfolds or Gallo wines, nor even the top producers I would recognise from Italy but an interesting selection of lesser known producers yet still covering all the main regions and grape varieties. If you make it over to Earlsfield, hook a left out of the station, walk 100 meters and there you have it. So where does Malbec come from? Well Malbec is actually a Bordeaux grape that has a lot of business in Cahors, it's a grape that has been embraced by the Argentinian growers and does especially well in the most famous region of Argentinian wine, Mendoza. The Mendoza Malbec wines are apparently less tannic than the Malbecs of Cahors which, given this wine, must be like swilling your mouth with mud (or Greek coffee). So, if it's not this Malbec that's setting the wine set on fire which Malbec is it? Achaval Ferrer? Vina Cobos? Impossible to find in the UK thus far and incredibly pricey. Who is producing quality Malbec in the £20 region? Comments purlease below! :D So onto the review Terza Volta Malbec 2006 - PASS - £9Intense deep purple in the glass to the rim. A very interesting sour and spicey nose with detectable sour cherry. On the palate the initial attack is strong and under ripe, detectable tannins with some fruit on the mid palate turning watery and uninteresting on the finish. 86 Points £9 and 86 points. Yep that's a pass. We're in pounds now, did you notice? Where can I buy this wine?Why would you? Leave a commentMalbec recommendations? Was 2006 a good Argentinian vintage? Are you part of the Malbec Mob?Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
October 1, 2008
12:39
Home
Home
Welcome to the same look, same style, old and unimproved version of the wine90 blog, London edition. I'm back, I'm home and I'm absolutely cream crackered (dats Cockney for Knackered innit). That being said it's good to be in Blighty. The sun is shining, the chicken shops are a plenty and the range of wine and wine shops in my little corner of SW London is plain OFF THE HOOK. I'm talking big major wine shop FACING specialist vintage wine shop just past the station and if walking in that direction bores me, I can about turn and hot foot it down to Sainsburys. What a world we live in eh? For those in the know, (well actually a recap for those not in the know) I have spent the last few days travelling from Venice, via Milan, Mont Blanc, Geneva, Gex, Reims to make my way back home to London after 3 years in Italy. During that time this blog was 98.4% dedicated to Italian wines. From today it'll be more like 33.3%, as I continue to bring wines from all over the world into my tasting history.
The original idea was to get a few shots while on the road. Sadly, all I managed to get were shots of the road.
While in Gex I found myself amongst the pressing throng of the Gex Bleu cheese festival. All roads into Gex, bar one, were shut down for the benefit of the 2 table exhibition of one of, as it turned out, my least favourite blue cheeses EVA. If you do ever find yourself in Gex, you're probably lost.
So through the twisty terrain of the alpine foothills in Jura I began thinking about the next wines to appear on the blog, and after careful consideration opted for wines I already owned that were pretty similarly priced. Photo above... Not Gex neither.
So here they are. The truly honoured first wines of the same old Wine90 London Edition. Chateau Gloria 1995, Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2003, Chateau Doisy-Vedrines 2003 and from the new world (fan fare, toot toot toooooooot) Ridge California Lytton Springs 2005 a mostly Zinfandel wine with some Petit Sirah and Carignane playing wing men.For those with concerns for my personal health, this was something of a party and not just a regular Sunday's drinking sesh. Chateau Gloria 1995 - PASS - £25Still very dark purple. On the nose notes of cherry, but heavy on the earth. Smooth texture with both lower tannins and acidity levels than expected, not giving off a lot of fruit, it felt closed down. Finish was average. Clear quality but the lack of fruit on the nose and the palate is telling. 86 Points Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2003 - BUY - £30Light ruby and transparent in the glass, the nose was an all Piedmont affair with a real Barolo nose plus a smattering of floral notes. On the palate the wine is still quite tannic but balances ok with the acidity. Superb mid palate of violets and sweet spices. Long pleasing finish that was a tad too hot but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the wine. 91 Points Chateau Doisy-Vedrines Sauternes 2003 - BUY - £20Golden yellow in the glass with a sweet (and I mean SWEET) nose of honey, creme brulee and custard. A mid bodied wine with good acidity and extreme sweetness, nice length to the finish. Good bargain Sauternes. Turned to sickly quickly but that is a 75cl you see above. 90 Points Ridge California Lytton Springs 2005 - BUY - £20Sitting deep purple and hue-less the Ridge California Lytton Spring would fool no one in a blind contest, maybe we have some Petite Sirah and Carignane here but this is true blue Zinfandel USA. Blackcurrant, Ribena Berry nose for weeks with a touch of spice too. Mouth filling and big on the palate, heavy blackcurrant on the mid palate the wine is super well structured, 14% alcohol not a problem. 92 Points Passing the Chateau Gloria only for drinking today, I'm sure this wine needs another 10 years in bottle and if you can wait that long, then £25 investment for a 1995 Bordeaux from such a respected producer is actually a BUY situation. For drinking today? The worst wine of the 4.
Lastly, for anyone else who drinks their wines with Jelly Babies, I can say, with no shadow of a doubt, that by mixing the black and red Jelly Babies together you get a perfectly complimentary food match for Pio Cesare Barbaresco. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy Jaffa Cakes and Sauternes. That's it Gals and Pals and by jove, it's good to be home. Where can I buy this wine? (Ridge California Lytton Springs)Europeans - Weingarten Eden - €26Americans - Vingo Wine - $26.99Brits - AG WINES - £20Australians - Stephen McHendry - AUS$64 Leave a CommentWhat's the best thing about your town? Tried any of these wines? Blue cheese - nectar of the gods or food of the devil?Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 25, 2008
11:25
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye...
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye...
Well, the time has finally come for me to bid a fond farewell to Italy and turn my back on exclusively reviewing Italian wines. It's time to spread my wings, broaden my horizons, put myself about a bit and enjoy the variety that London has to offer. Will I miss being woken at ungodly hours by construction work? Eating pasta and pizza for each and every meal? Being charged for things I didn't buy? Not so much. I will miss the people, I will miss the sun and scenery and I will miss the fabulous prices you get on Italian wine which I will not enjoy in Blighty. We get stuffed on every import and unless I can attune my taste buds to Chapel Down and Camel Valley *stifles the bile* then I will just have to embrace the variety even if it comes at a cost. So hello to French wine, Greek wine, German wine, English turpentine and all the other pleasures that await on that fair isle I'm growing increasingly proud to call home. My first love is, and will remain, Italian wine and I shall represent the Italian wines most frequently on the blog. So tomorrow I start my journey, leaving Venice, past Milan, up through Switzerland, past Geneva and stopping in Gex. On Saturday we make our way through a twisty and frightfully dangerous piece of Alpine terrain and through to a hotel outside Reims and then Sunday morning I take the cinder line Eurotunnel to Folkestone and wind up in London about 11am. So anyone wishing to take me out has the full gen. Monday I'll be back blogging my celebratory Sunday wines so be sure to stay tuned.
As promised today I'm going to dig out the "best and worst" wines of my 3 years in Italy. They might not be the highest scoring but they are wines that, for whatever reasons, have stuck fondly in my memory bank. For Jill, the Petite Verdot I was telling you about last week.
Castello di Verduno Barbera d'Alba Bricco del Cuculo 2006 - PASS - €14
Nice colour, hues were lighter than expected for a 2006 Barbera. The nose, was giving me very little of anything, not the merest hint of fruit, just a very sugary winey artificial nose that did nothing for me. The mouth feel was ok, uninteresting tannins, extremely acidic, I can't think of anything positive to say, I wouldn't use it in a cooking sauce. 73 Points
Casale del Giglio Petit Verdot 2004 - BUY - €10
Dark purple in the glass, very deep intensity. A little timid on the nose but aromas of spice, berries and cherries with the most intense smell profile being blackberries. Shockingly refined and balanced on the palate denoting a classier wine that the price, some nice fruit on the mid palate. A really enjoyable and easy drinking wine. The lack of intensity on the nose is the reason this missed 90 points. Perfect for dinner parties. 89 Points
Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba 2006 - €10 - BUYA dull dark purple/violet with interesting ruby reflection, full bodied to the eye. Knockout nose, so strong that the glass had to be left for 30 mins. Characteristic nose of cherries and vanilla, very clean and with just a hint of spices and pepper. Full out attack on the palate, medium body, good acidity and balance with a mid length finish of berries and a touch of plum. Smooth with balanced tannins. Decant for a minimum of 1 hour. 89 Points
Ceretto Barolo Bricco Rocche 2000 - BUY - €49Mid ruby red in the glass with slight change in tonality at the edges. An opulent and feminine wine whose nose and palate flow perfectly, great balance. Aromas of strawberries and walnuts, really impressive nose with a second wave nose profile of vanilla. The palate is a joy, mid bodied with super rich and silky tannins. The wine is not forceful, its a truly beautiful, seductive wine with a good 30 second finish. 95 Points
Villa von Steiner Lagrein 2004 - PASS - €9Fantastic penetrating dark purple, all the way thru, what hues? ink black vino. The nose just stinks, wet rocks mixed with onions, soil, even horse manure, I mean this nose is seriously unpleasant and here is where the wine can play mind games with you. The immediate mouth feel is gorgeous, black fruits and such a soft silky mouth feel, you begin to forgive the manure, and then it comes back in the mid palate and you lose all fruit, it turns acidic and very plain and uninteresting and then it gives you a really long finish of this foulness, and you think, "what the hell happened". A confusing wine, but for that I have to give it some kudos for being so interesting. 82 Points
Arnaldo Caprai Rosso Outsider 2005 - BUY - €30
Sits ruby red in the glass and colour consistent on the tilt. Another stand out nose, really an occasion where words can´t describe the intensity of the aroma. Sensational nose, make a kebab out of a wet pencil, blackberries, cherries and strawberries and wear it as a mustache for a week, you´ll get close to a quick sniff of this wine. Majorly exciting for nosehounds. The palate is also knockout, still very tannic, needs time but super potent, super soft a really intense wine experience. 95 Points So that's a wrap. All that's left to say is goodbye to all my ex-pat friends who read this blog, my poor old parents whom I dragged to Italy and then deserted and a fond farewell to the bureaucracy, bills and speeding tickets that financially crippled me. That's ungrateful, I'm kidding, Rome is still my favourite city in the world, I still want to retire to Todi and no city offers as much "seat of your pants" fun as Naples. It's been a blast!
So long Silvio and thanks for all the fish. *wipes away tear*
Leave a Comment
What do you love (or hate) about Italy? Will you still read this blog when the dirty foreign wines creep in?Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 24, 2008
14:27
Allegrini La Grola 2004
Allegrini La Grola 2004
Allegrini La Grola 2004 is the note I chose to dig out for ya'll on this freezing Wednesday in the Veneto two days before I go back to London. Readers of yesterdays entry will know that all my wines are packed and ready to make the trip home with me to SW London so I'm senza vini for the next couple of days. To help fight the craving for quality wine I have been frantically searching on the interweb for wine bars and shops in the overnight locations of my mammoth 1200 mile drive back to London.
First stop will be Gex (France), coincidentally home to a huge wine shop stocking great Burgs and Alsace wines so don't feel too sorry for me, I have been throwing out my clothes and dvd's in order to make more room in the back of the car for an obscene amount of wine bottles. Gex wine shop. Gex is a town world famous for its cheese so on Saturday morning I'll be taking a trip to the Gex farmers market to sample the delights of this region. I'm a touch excited! If I don't throw out my camera I'll take some shots of Gex to upload on Monday.
Alrighty then. Allegrini's La Grola actually makes its second appearance this year on Wine90. Way back in March I wrote a couple of entries on Allegrini. One of the most famous producers in the Veneto, Allegrini are world famous for their Amarone and Valpolicella wines. La Grola is a serious QPR alert, all singing, all dancing, slap you in the face with a wet fish BUY. The La Grola won't break the bank, retailing at around €14 the 2004 vintage is sheer class and another easy 90 point effort. We all like 90 pointers under €15 after all. A blended wine containing the Corvina and Rondinella you love from your Valpolicella but also with a splash of Syrah (makes me very happy) and even a splosh of Sangiovese. Allegrini La Grola 2004 - BUY - €14Deep dark brooding purple in the glass. Aromatically forward, notes of spices, baked plums, blackberries and chocolate. On the palate the wine is big and luscious with rounded tannins and a mid palate raisin inspired flavour profile, nice length on the finish if a little "hot". 90 Points As you're all whipping me for recommending too many wines tomorrow, my final blog entry in Italy, I will dig out a note of sheer horror to accompany my note of my favourite Italian wine of 2008. Balance is everything after all. Where can I buy this wine?Europeans - Enoteca Lucantoni - €14Americans - Stirling Fine Wines - $17.99Brits - Andrew Chapmans - £13.99Australians - Discount Wines - AU$49 Leave a CommentEver been to Gex? Do you digg farmer's markets? Ever tried this wine? Ever thrown out all your belongings to make way for more wine? Thanks for all the Brunello recommendations, across all formats Twitter and emails over 40 recommendations so... CHEERS PALS!Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 23, 2008
14:56
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso wins the award of longest wine name ever on Wine90 that much is fact but does it bring any other unique qualities? It do! It's also the first wine I've written about without actually having drunk it in the past few days. It's also the best Brunello di Montalcino I've ever had. My tasting note is from the 1997 vintage and is a couple of years old now.
Why am I bringing you such old news?
Well, because all my wines are packed, boxed and ready to by heaved into the back on my brothers car. I'm leaving the urban hub of Mestre in 3 days for sunny London town and as such I simply didn't drink any wine last night, nor the night before! Is it a coincidence that this morning I wake up to find two mosquito bites on my face?! I don't believe so. We all knew red wine was good for you but I didn't realise it was a mosquito repellent too, which clearly it must be. Another reason for a daily tipple if one were needed.
So Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona eh? These are serious players in Montalcino, seriously slick image and top quality wines. Anyone interested in both wine and the female form should check out their website which should carry some kind of 18 certificate. When Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona make good... they really make good and Brunello is what they do best. That being said, the Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blended "Ateo" is a very fair priced Super Tuscan and the 100% Syrah "Fabius" can bring very good value (personally I prefer the Syrah). Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona produce 3 Brunello wines that seem to take turns in being the best of the vineyard but in 1997 this wine, the Vigna di Pianrosso was the star turn. 36 months in Slavonian oak and low yields do not a cheap wine make, you can pick up the 1997 Vigna di Pianrosso today for about €120 a bottle. This is why we buy wine on release grape pickers :D Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso 1997 - BUY - €120Brooding dark red in the glass. After several hours decanting eventually brought around intense aromas of toast, smoke and black cherries. On the palate the wine really comes into its own with the most full bodied, velvet attack of fruit with a nice mineral quality there too. The wine is perfectly structured the tannins well integrated and the finish is long and elegant with the fruit continuing on the palate from start to finish. Super balance. 95 Points No need for the OCD panic, the title fits. Where can I buy this wine?Europeans - Bracali - €120Americans - K&L Wine Merchants - $149Brits - Fine and Rare - £74Australians - Um Leave a CommentOctober is going to be Brunello month. I don't drink enough of the stuff and I need your recommendations on Brunello di Montalcino wines that you've tried and loved. Recommend Brunellos for me for Brunello month and the best recommendation will get a special round of applause from my good self. Bring it on!Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 22, 2008
14:45
Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva
Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva
Bruno Giacosa's Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva is one of the most revered and collectible bottles of wine in the whole of Italy. This weekend I was packing up all my wines ready to make the bottle shocking trip back to London via Switzerland and France and decided to save this bottle the journey and drink the famous Red Label Barbaresco from Giacosa at my leaving meal in Venice. What a chore! Aside from some heartbreaking cork taint there wasn't going to be any question of disliking the Giacosa. 1998 has been my personal favourite Barolo and Barbaresco vintage to drink in 2008 and this bottle showed exceptionally well offering up all the traditional Piedmont notes as well as a huge dose of marzipan. Garnet red and still needing to disperse its share of tannins the wine is emphatically the best Barbaresco I've had this year and can happily be awarded 95 points. Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva - BUY - €100Ruby red, garnet hues. The nose on this wine is explosive with tar and roses coming at you but after an hours decanting the wine gave off marzipan notes most strongly. On the palate the wine is full bodied and smooth though still quite tannic. Perfect balance, touches of sweetness on the super-long finish and sweet spices and fruit throughout the tasting experience. Opulent and refined and in a great stage of its drinking window. 95 Points BUY. BUY? Buy a wine that costs €100? Of course this wine isn't QPR, when we are talking about €100 bottles of wine we are talking about another experience completely. This is not every day drinking wine but rather wine for a special occasion, a very special occasion! Everyone spends money on something that someone else thinks is insane. Whilst 99% of the population would gawk at €100 for a bottle of wine, others would gladly hand money like this over for a pair of jeans or a haircut... and that would make me gawk. What might make fellow winos gawk however, is the fact I had this wine with a seafood risotto. Tasted great though! Not the ideal wine for risotto but on this occasion both the wine and the food were so good that they matched in greatness! Not weight, not flavour, but greatness! Now for some terribly sad new. Blog entries this week may be a little clipped, it's my last 4 days in Venice and I'm really busy sorting out my move so apologies to you if you read wine90 with a cup of coffee because this weeks entries will be espresso sized. American readers! Please leave your comments, I can see from analytics that this blog has more US readers than UK readers so come forth, show yourselves, don't skulk in the corners. Americans drink more Italian wine than any other nation so let me know what Italian wines you're drinking! I'll throw in a "please" :D Where can I buy this wine?Europeans - Pedrelli - €100Americans - Anconas Wine - $199Brits - Fine and Rare - £131Australians - This Aussie section really isn't working out for me! Suggestions??? Leave a CommentIs there a country, area or vineyard that constantly disappoints you rather than pleases you? A country's wines that you just don't see what the hoo haa is about? Where it be?! And of course... have you had the Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva in any vintage?Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 19, 2008
15:03
Prunotto Barolo Bussia
Prunotto Barolo Bussia
Prunotto Barolo Bussia is a wine that has managed to evade me over the last 3 years. Prunotto is a highly respected company, the Barolo Bussia is a Tre Bicchiere super star of Italian wine and yet I have never tasted this wine. Even though the great grandpappys of Italian wine own Prunotto (Antinori) it has still managed to pass me by. I've seen it, I've picked it up, I've played with it but only this week did I actually purchase a bottle. So last night I thought it was about time to break my Prunotto duck and see what all the hoo haa is about.
Prunotto Barolo is always talked about in terms of value. These Barolos are steady 90-94 point efforts year on year but the prices, even in the best vintage, even in this magnificent 2004 vintage, rarely go over the €50 mark. Like all Barolo wines this comes from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, this particular Barolo comes from the Bussia vineyards in Monforte. The 2004 vintage saw the wines aged in majority new french oak with some second year barrels for a smaller proportion of the wine. Fancy!
Yadda Yadda Yipp - Did it make me happy?
Yes actually it was pretty lively but I was reminded once again to stop popping young Barolo. Even though the Vajra of last Friday was 2001, just those 3 years make a difference but clearly both should be left far longer than this. However, like any crime, if you have to commit infanticide at least do it with some gusto. This wine is no where near its potential but still it's a great bottle of wine and if I do feel the need to rob a Barolo of its wine destiny I will probably pick on Prunotto again!
Prunotto Barolo Bussia 2004 - BUY - €45
Brick red colour in the glass flowing to the rim. A generous aromatic nose, lots of cherry, floral notes, plum and a hint of chocolate. Full bodied yet soft and luscious mouth feel, exceptional acidity, clearly present but soft tannins and a very long finish. Drinking really well today but don't do it. 93 Points
Bargainous! This is another case of a wine that you will get the most enjoyment from if you buy 12 and open one year on year. Wine evolves like nothing else, this is what makes it so interesting, so debatable and at times, so frustrating. It's great fun to taste through the same vintage year on year, however, I'd still wait till 2012 before you even begin your experiment! Someone has to do this for me, I want to know that one person will buy 12 bottles of this wine and every year come back to me and tell me all about it. Of course I could do it myself but I'm already in danger of serious picklization*
Where can I buy this wine?
Europeans - Enoteca Lucantoni - €46
Americans - No 2004 Vintage showing yet. Loads of 2001 options
Brits - Everywine - £37
Australians - Stephen McHenry carries the 94! - AU$110
Leave a Comment
Words and wine have always had a strained marriage. What words are in your wine vocabulary that are not exactly textbook? Show me your super freaky side.
*Picklization is not a real word. Pixelization is though, very soon I will be in real danger of that too but more on that next month.Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 18, 2008
14:41
Poggio Argentiera Fonte 40
Poggio Argentiera Fonte 40
Poggio Argentiera Fonte 40 was the stand-out wine from the final two wines I was asked to try by Poggio Argentiera. So today I am obviously very sad that my Poggio experiment is over but extremely happy to be bringing to the whole wine world this screaming value white wine that appealed directly to my palate (and wallet) and will be the white I'm bringing to all my parties this year. High praise indeed? Well, I don't get that many party invites but sure, this wine is a QPR bargain, it's aromatically explosive, fruit on the nose, fruit on the palate, fruit every which way you want it and some good old minerality and length in there for good measure.
I like my whites fruity and balanced and I love it when my whites throw in something I really wasn't expecting and with this 40% Ansonica/40% Vermentino and 20% Fiano blend it was bringing me a bunch of ripe bananas. No word of a lie. Total Bananas. The Fiano in this wine seemed to feature very prominently as my tasting note is all about the tropical fruits, creamy edge and mineral quality which is all Fiano.
Poggio Argentiera Fonte 40 - BUY - €11.50Dark golden colour. Hugely aromatic, pears, tropical fruits, alcoholic on the nose, seriously detecting banana peel. Refreshing, nice acidity on the palate, fruity from the initial attack all the way to the finish, as expected a little alcoholic on the end but pleasingly so. This is a brilliant white wine, perfectly attuned to my taste in white, full of character. 90 Points
I might seem crazy with the 90, especially with the notable presence of the alcohol but it did nothing to detract from these great creamy, citrus (and banana!) flavours. The only problem I have with this wine is finding it. I found only one online merchant supplying the wine. Both these white wines would kill in the Italian restaurants of London and by George we must do what needs to be done to let these bottles fulfill their wine destiny!
Last night I also sampled the Guazza. This is an 80% Ansonica - 20% Vermentino blend that is a little more subtle and lighter but still a good value white that I can give a big fat BUY to. Poggio Argentiera Guazza - BUY - €7
Light golden colour. Nice tropical fruits on the nose, quite creamy also with hints of peach. Mid bodied, very fruity on the mid palate with a mineral note too, excellent balance and mouth feel, complete, not too hot, very acceptable and refreshing. Finish is clipped and a tad watery - 86 Points This is a wine I can go for when I don't want a white to dominate the food but still want a fruity character, the clipped finish doesn't allow this wine to stand alone in my humble.Well, that's it. Now I have to go back to buying my own wines like a schmuck! :D Where can I buy this wine? (Fonte 40)Only one stockist online - Italian Wine Selection - €11.50 Leave a commentYou know how food tastes better when someone else cooks it? So then, does wine taste better when it's gratis? :D Favourite white wines under £10 ($20)?Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 17, 2008
14:33
Poggio Argentiera Finisterre
Poggio Argentiera Finisterre
Poggio Argentiera Finisterre 2006 and Poggio Argentiera Principio 2007 are the 2nd of 3 sets of wines I'm reviewing for Poggio Argentiera. If you read yesterdays blog you'll have seen that I was blown away by one of Morellino di Scansanos of Poggio Argentiera and kinda "h'okay" about the other. If you didn't read it, curious sorts can do so by click here.
First off the bat, these wines are nothing like the MdS wines, we are talking chalk and substance quite a lot less like chalk. These are Italian wines from the same vineyard so we still have some Italian characteristics, high acidity for example, but really these wines are no place close to Morellino or even each other. I had my Riedel in hand, my hard Italian cheeses getting softer by the second and the wines decanting nicely so lets settle into the story of these two vinos.
The Poggio Argentiera Principio 2007 is a wine made from 100% Ciliegiolo, a Tuscan grape pretty much unknown to all except Italian wine fans. Grown close to the town of Manciano the 2007 production was 13,000 bottles. Poggio Argentiera Principio 2007 - BUY - €15Deep purple in the glass, beautiful cherried nose, hints of vanilla and raspberries, sweet to the smell. Mid-full bodied, silky smooth mouth feel, well balanced tannins, good structure, a little more acidic than expected, loyal to type, decent finish. 88 Points
This is a really enjoyable wine that I imagine would appeal to all my girlfriends. It comes across as feminine in the flavour profile yet the mouth feel was more masculine. It's a wine that can be drunk by itself which isn't something I can say of the second wine, the Finisterre. Poggio Argentiera Finisterreis a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Alicante (Grenache) grapes, fermented in french oak, coming from low yields I was prepared for a torrid love affair. However, this wine is a real puzzler. I am not sure where I stand with it. On the one hand it has a good balance and structure and on the other it wasn't packed with flavours I enjoy. It gave me the impression of that class mate at school who you didn't really like but was a favourite of the teachers. The teacher would always be throwing him questions and nods like they had some kind of secret understanding between them. 10 years later you look him up on Facebook and he is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Wirral South*. This wine clearly has something to say, I'm just not sure what it is, or if it's profound or interesting yet it's giving off hints that it could be destined for greatness.... or maybe not. I need to make a date with this wine on the 16th September 2018. Poggio Argentiera Finisterre 2006 - PASS - €35Deep purple in the glass, vibrant. Aromatically a little tight then comes a chocolate nose, some blackcurrant too. Really quite tannic with a full bodied mouth feel, complex, nice structure, lacking fruit on the mid palate also quite bitter, backward, get the feeling I'm drinking this wine far too young. 89 Points Given a little more time to breath and pairing it up with the Italian cheeses the wine took on a softer character and was much more enjoyable. My final word on this wine - if you want to buy it and drink it today pair it up with some chunky meats or hard cheeses and give it several hours breathing space. I do believe this wine will show something more subtle and refined in 10 years time. I must PASS the wine for drinking today at that price point though. What I would like is an older vintage as this simply doesn't feel like a wine you should be judging today. *hint hint* Where can I buy this wine? (Principio)Only one retailer I can find "Vinmonopolet" from Denmark. - €15 Leave a CommentAny experience of the Ciliegiolo grape? Favourite wine out of Tuscany? Is the current financial climate giving you the wine worries? Favourite Italian cheese? Is it insulting that we English named a biscuit (the worlds most boring biscuit too) after Italys most celebrated hero? *This has not happened to me.Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 16, 2008
09:55
Poggio Argentiera Morellino di Scansano
Poggio Argentiera Morellino di Scansano
Poggio Argentiera are fast becoming the kings of Morellino di Scansano. Poggio Argentiera are pretty new in Tuscany, the project began in 1997 with just 6 Ha of vines in Morellino di Scansano, fast forward 10 years and you have one of the best producers in the region creating exciting Morellino di Scansano as well as top quality blends. Poggio Argentiera are a media savvy outfit who take full advantage of the league of bloggers and use the online medium to its full advantage, reporting on the harvests online, keeping video diaries and giving out media packs. While the wine making is an Italian affair, Justine Keeling, an english marketeer is responsible for the companies fresh image and funky designs in the heart of this most traditional of wine making regions.
Last week I was contacted by Poggio Argentiera to taste through their latest range of wines and as a huge fan of Morellino di Scansano and having heard so much about this producer I was naturally keen. There was no obligation to write a blog entry only simply to comment to the company themselves about their wines. Upon trying the first wine I was pretty sure this would be all I could do. However the quality of the second wine, the Capatosta 2006 was incredible, in fact the highest points I've ever personally awarded to a Morellino di Scansano that I felt it was valuable to mention. Secondly, these two Morellino di Scansanos were so different that it provides an insight into just how important vintage and vinification can be to a wine.
Poggio Argentiera produce a range of wines to accompany the traditional Morellino di Scansano, four of which I will have the pleasure (hopefully pleasure) of tasting tonight and tomorrow. Starting with the two remaining reds, the "Finistere" a 50/50 Syrah/Alicante blend and the "Principio", 100 % Ciliegiolo! Thursdays blog entry will review the two whites of the pack, the "Fonte40" a 40% Ansonica, 40% Vermentino and 20% Fiano wine and the "Guazza" a 80% Ansonica and 20% Vermentino.
Poggio Argentiera produce two Morellino di Scansano wines that are as different as two MdS from the same company can be. The first wine, the Bellamarsilia 2007 is a weaker effort than the Capatosta 2006 and just goes to show what an art vinification trully is. If you ever need an example of the importance of viticulture/vinification techniques (oak, ageing, yields, age of vines) use these two wines! I tasted these wines before I read about the processes the wine goes through and the tasting notes made marry directly to the processes these wines took. It's always nice when that happens!
Bellamarsilia is made from 85% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo and 5% Alicante from newly planted vines close to the coast in Marmerra. The wine goes through 4 months maturation in stainless steel vats.
Poggio Argentiera Bellamarsilia Morellino di Scansano 2007 - PASS - €10Very dark ruby red, purple-ish in the middle, vibrant, clear. Quickly aromatic of cherries, raspberry, mid-bodied wine, good acidity, a touch hollow but a pretty finish. 86 Points
Although this wine is bright and lively, it is not great QPR. Faced with a straight choice between the Bellamarsilia and Capatosta I would plump for the latter every time.
The Capatosta 2006 is fantastic. Morellino di Scansano wines rarely break through the 90 point barrier but in my opinion this is a definitely a worthy entry into that illustrious bracket.
The Capatosta is made up of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Alicante grapes from old vine clones with very low yields. The wine is fermented in small French barrels and aged for 12-13 months.
Poggio Argentiera Capatosta Morellino di Scansano 2006 - BUY - €21.50Deep purple in the glass, thick, deep purples to the edges. Explosive nose, super ripe, dark cherry, plums, vanilla, oak, very "chianti" on the nose, rich and impressive the best nose on a Scansano I can remember. Full bodied, mouth filling, loads of fruit on the mid palate, great structure and balance, finishes a little hot but super impressive length. 91 Points
Where can I buy this wine?Europeans - Italian Wine Selection - €21.50Americans - Sand Creek Wine - $29.99Brits - Everywine - £18Australians - Nope, Sorreeeee Leave a CommentMorellino di Scansano is the smart mans Chianti. Agree or disagree?Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
September 15, 2008
12:52
Italian wine weekend
Italian Wine Weekend
This weekend I went all to town for you peeps tasting through six different Italian wines and I have some QPR bargains for ya and some bottles that would be better used as some form of torture against an opposing army. On a weekend of the worst weather I have encountered in Mestre thus far we were forced indoors with little else to do but watch Italian TV or raid through my wine collection, we chose the vino.
On Friday night the weather held long enough for me to take what will probably be my last trip to the Lupo Nero restaurant in Mestre old town. Choosing from their decent wine list we ordered up an Alsatian Riesling (corked) and a GD Vajra Barolo 2001 which was exquisite, notes to follow.
Saturday was a wash out. I had meant to go to Lake Garda and sample some Soave and Amarones, instead we made it as far as McDonalds at Mestre station before being driven home by the wild weather. This weekend I had a friend from London visiting me who is keen to learn more about wine, so for educational reasons only we took a Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Syrah to talk about the different characteristics of the grapes. All these wines were Italian in origin apart from the Zinfandel (natch), which was Gallo and dearly appealed to my pal's pal.
Nothing turned out how you'd expect. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlots bombed, the nose of the Cabernet Franc was fruity and interesting, the Pinot from Italy was the wine of the night and my friend didn't go for the Planeta Syrah which has novice appeal written all over it. I was provided with my worst Italian wine of 2008, became a real fan of the Barolos of Varja and this morning walked in to find 6 bottle of Poggio Argentieras finest awaiting review this week. Instead of an Italian wine hangover I am pumped and ready for the trials and tribulations of another weeks strenuous wine blogging.
GD Varja Barolo 2001 - BUY - €30
Garnet red in the glass with lighter hues I feel I got this bottle at a nice stage of its evolution. The nose is beautiful with sweet spices and a gentle oak couples with a profile of definite almond characteristics. Still somewhat tannic but with good structure and fine length, very opulent and enjoyable. 92 Points
Le Due Terre Pinot Nero 2005 - BUY - €27
Garnet red with floral notes on the nose, lots of strawberry present and a slight butter biscuit whiff on the end. Smooth, mid bodied with a gentle mouth feel and well balanced tannins. Good effort. 90 Points
Planeta Syrah 2005 - BUY - €18
Dark ruby red in the glass. Huge nose of prunes, a little leather and animal notes too. Huge mouth feel, very tannic but pleasantly so, fruit on the mid palate and a big finish. 89-90 Points
Paesaggi Merlot 2005 - PASS - €6
Garnet red with a meaty, plum-esque nose, unbalanced wine, thin, acidic, bitter and extremely hollow on the mid palate with a watery unsatisfactory finish. Abysmal - 62 Points
Angoris Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - PASS - €5
Deep ruby red in the glass, wildly balsamic and vinegar like on the nose, no fruit here. Better on the palate, mid bodied with some length, still a weird experience. 76 Points
Santa Margherita Cabernet Franc 2007 - PASS - €5
Lovely colour, deep ruby red. The nose is vegetal but more fruit here than you'd expect plus a little fake sugar. Mid bodied with some rounded tannins and a decent balance, good length on the finish. A "just" pass for the price. Liveable. 82 Points
The Santa Margherita was a close call, I personally wouldn't buy it again but for the money it's a drinkable wine.
Where can I buy this wine? (the Barolo)
Europeans - le vitel etonne - €30
Americans - Primo Vino - $36
Brits - Cellar Brokers - £18
Australians - Cellar Brokers - AU$40
Leave a Comment
What did you drink at the weekend? Or anything at all. Did it rain, did you go shopping, see any friendly pigeons?
Italian Wine Blog - Wine90
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
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