Alter Ego de Palmer 2009

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose ripe black fruits, chocolate and mocha. In the mouth well integrated tannins and balanced. The aftertaste is elegant and last for very long. Very good wine, although I find this bottle less exciting than the one I tasted one year ago.

Alter Ego de Palmer is a second label (not a second wine) produced by Château Palmer since 1998. Continue reading “Alter Ego de Palmer 2009”

Gagliasso Rocche dell’Annunziata 2015

The colour is pale garnet. On the nose very ripe fruits, plum and cappuccino. It reminds of a Tawny Port. In the mouth well integrated but still gripping tannins. The aftertaste is disappointingly short.

Rocche dell’Annunziata is one of the most historic and renowned Nebbiolo vineyards in La Morra. Its importance is also shown by the fact that many great producers have vines in this cru. Continue reading “Gagliasso Rocche dell’Annunziata 2015”

Bricco dell’Uccellone 2009 vs. Bricco della Bigotta 2009

Bricco dell’Uccellone has a medium garnet colour. On the nose at first an unpleasant smell of fish and cabbage. With some air, a more pleasant plumb and cinnamon aroma. In the mouth very rounded and smooth, with a medium long aftertaste.

Bricco della Bigotta also has a medium garnet colour. On the nose a much more pleasant aroma that reminds of chocolate, gingerbread, tiramisu and panettone. In the mouth a bit less rounded and smooth than Bricco dell’Uccellone, with a slightly less long aftertaste. Continue reading “Bricco dell’Uccellone 2009 vs. Bricco della Bigotta 2009”

Osar 2006

The colour is very dark ruby, almost black. On the nose ripe blackberries and cola. In the mouth plenty of tannins. The slightly fruity and mainly drying aftertaste is pretty long.

Osar is made with 100% Oseleta grapes, an extremely rare red wine variety grown in the northwestern region of Veneto in Italy. The earliest documentation relating to Oseleta dates back only 150 years or so, but oral tradition in the region holds that the variety has been used there for many centuries. Continue reading “Osar 2006”

Spain

Last month I organized a wine tasting focused on the main wine producing regions of Spain.

In the last few years, I travelled extensively to the different wine regions of Europe and I covered all the major denominations of Spain. Continue reading “Spain”

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Fèlsina 2008

The colour is medium amber. On the nose nuts, dried fruits and honey. In the mouth rich and velvety. The aftertaste is subtle, but very long.

This Vin Santo is produced by Fèlsina, a winery dedicated to the production of good quality mono-varietals wines, made mainly with the indigenous Sangiovese grape, but also with international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. The winery is located at the border between the Chianti Classico DOCG and the Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG. Continue reading “Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Fèlsina 2008”

Sfursat 5 Stelle 2009

The colour is deep garnet. The nose is dominated by mushrooms, accompanied by dried fruits and some liquorice. In the mouth good acidity and well integrated tannins. The aftertaste is very long and savoury.

Sfursat 5 Stelle is produced by Nino Negri and is the most prestigious wine of Valtellina, a district in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Continue reading “Sfursat 5 Stelle 2009”

Nebbiolo

Last month I hosted another wine tasting event at my home. Four friends joined me to taste blindly six Nebbiolo based wines. What we found was much to our surprise.

Nebbiolo is one of the most prestigious grape varieties of Italy. Continue reading “Nebbiolo”

La Petite Chapelle 2009

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose corked. With time it only gets worst. Very unfortunate, but it happens.

A “corked” wine, which smells like wet newspaper/cardboard, is the result of the presence of a chemical called TCA (2,4,6 trichloranisole). While unpleasant, cork taint is not in any way harmful to humans. Today several procedures and treatments are in place to render cork less susceptible to developing cork taint, but it can still happen. As it has been the case with this bottle. Continue reading “La Petite Chapelle 2009”