Last week I hosted a wine tasting event at my home. Three other wine enthusiasts joined me to taste blindly four Syrah/Shiraz based wines.
Since everyone brought a bottle of his choice, we ended up without any Syrah from the Rhône Valley. Continue reading “Syrah/Shiraz”
The colour is medium ruby. On the nose woody sensations and chocolate dominate the experience. With some air tomato and hot pepper also come on stage. In the mouth the wine is far from delivering the opulent experience you would expect. In the long aftertaste the woody sensations first perceived on the nose come back, as well as the chocolate. For my taste, this wine got too much exposure to oak.
The colour is medium garnet. On the nose blackberry jam, prunes and some balsamic notes. In the mouth smooth, with well-integrated tannins and a pleasant freshness. At first the aftertaste lacks the fruitiness perceived on the nose, but after some exposure to air the prunes show up.
The colour is deep garnet. Slightly cloudy. On the nose dark cherries and blackberries. The 14.5% alcohol is clearly perceived on the nose as well as in the mouth. The firm tannins characteristic of a Barolo wine dominates the sensations in the mouth and leave it clean and dry.
Château Nine Peaks stands alone on a hill surrounded by its vineyards. Not very different from any upscale wine property you would find in the West, except that this winery is located in the Far East.
I never had such a disappointing experience visiting a winery. Having some knowledge of the Chinese wine world, my expectations were already low before getting to the property, but Chateau Changyu-Castel managed nevertheless to delude me.
The colour is medium yellow. On the nose very intense, with a sweet sensation of peach and honey, accompanied by toasty elements. In the mouth very tasty and interesting, reminding of a crème brûlée, with a long lasting aftertaste that recalls tawny Port.
On the eyes the wine has a deep garnet colour. On the nose the flavour is very intense and, despite the 13 years, surprisingly fruity, with prune, black cherry and some cocoa. In the mouth very dry and raw. The finish is bitter and short. An interesting contrast to the opulence displayed to the eyes and to the nose.
On the nose woody, with resin and a touch of burnt. In the mouth austere, but well balanced, with soft tannins and a fresh aftertaste, which sadly is a bit short. This is a wine that growths in the glass and with time shows more complexity. Overall, a good classic Bordeaux from Pessac-Léognan.
The nose is rich of plums and dark cherries. Inviting, but devoid of any complexity, a feature that I would expect from a 10 years old Bordeaux. In the mouth and in the finish not much, beside a hint to the fruits perceived on the nose, the drying sensation of the tannins and some burning from the 14.5% alcohol. Overall a fine wine, but not much to enjoy for the 55 CHF I paid four years ago at Chiodi Ascona.