Macchiona 2006

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose leather, earth, chocolate and baby diapers. In the mouth simple, but pleasant. The aftertaste is rather short.

Macchiona is a biodynamic/natural red wine made with 50% Barbera and 50% Bonarda (Croatina) grapes by Elena Pantaleoni at La Stoppa winery in Rivergado, under the wide Emilia IGT appellation. Continue reading “Macchiona 2006”

Marcperler

The colour is pale straw, with fine, but rather short-lasting bubbles. On the nose subtle aromas of mandarin, grapefruits and candied fruits. In the mouth pleasantly fruity and refreshing. The aftertaste is also discreet, but pleasant and medium lasting.

This sparkling wine is made in Ticino by Agriloro assembling Sémillon (more than 50% of the blend), Arinarnoa, Tannat, Egiodola and Carmenere grapes. Continue reading “Marcperler”

Sono Montenidoli 2015

The colour is deep garnet. On the nose black cherries, plum, tobacco and game. In the mouth elegant and well balanced, with a drying long aftertaste.

Sono Montenidoli is made with 100% Sangiovese grape by Montenidoli winery. Before release the wine refines for 24 months in barriques and ages for 3 years in bottle. Continue reading “Sono Montenidoli 2015”

Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé

The colour is medium salmon, with very fine, medium-lasting bubbles. On the nose strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth elegant and well balanced. Very smooth. The aftertaste is medium long.

This prestigious champagne is made by Laurent-Perrier with 100% Pinot Noir grapes. It is a Brut with 9g of sugar per litre.

The base wines come from ten of the best vineyards in Champagne, in particular Ambonnay, Bouzy, Louvois and Tours-sur-Marne. Continue reading “Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé”

Synodos 2016

The colour is deep ruby and cloudy. The nose reveals some of the imperfections typical of natural wines. In the mouth acidic and drying. The aftertaste is rather short. With some air, both aroma and taste improve, but overall this is not a very pleasant wine, as it is often the case with red natural wines (according to my experience so far). Continue reading “Synodos 2016”

Teran 2018

The colour is medium purple. On the nose fruity, blueberries and cherries, with some rhubarb. In the mouth light, with a pronounced acidity. Both, aroma and taste, are surprisingly clean for a natural wine. The aftertaste is medium long.

This natural wine is made with 100% Teran grapes by Skerk under the Venezia Giulia IGT. Continue reading “Teran 2018”

Malcantone Bianco di Cademario 2018

The colour is medium yellow. On the nose mirabelles, white peaches, banana, grapefruit, almonds. In the mouth very smooth and tasty, but less opulent than on the nose. The aftertaste is not very long, but pleasantly fruity.

This white wine is made by Cantina Monti. It is a blend of white grapes: more than 50% Müller-Thurgau, with Chardonnay and a bit of Pinot Gris. The pressed must is fermented and aged in barrique. Continue reading “Malcantone Bianco di Cademario 2018”

Compleo Cuvée Noire 2021

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose black cherries and raspberries. In the mouth soft, sweet and fruity. The aftertaste is very inviting and last for some time.

This wine is made by Staatskellerei Zürich under the Vin de Pays Suisse denomination. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 36% Gamaret and 4% Syrah.

Gamaret is a red grape variety from Switzerland, bred in 1970 at the Federal Research Institute of Changins through the crossing of Gamay and Reichensteiner. Continue reading “Compleo Cuvée Noire 2021”

Cuvée 1858 Blanc 2019

The colour is medium gold. On the nose honey, almonds, dried apricots, banana, ginger. In the mouth filling, elegant and tasty. The aftertaste is savoury and last for quite a while.

This top of the range Valais white wine is made by Bonvin with Petite Arvine, Heida and Amigne grapes. All three grapes are peculiar to Valais. The fermentation and the maturation on lees are carried out in new oak barrels. Continue reading “Cuvée 1858 Blanc 2019”

Terre Alte 2020

The colour is pale straw. On the nose pears, white peaches, orange peels and white flowers. In the mouth grapey and refreshing. The aftertaste is medium long.

This wine is made with 100% Merlot grapes vinified off the skins.

White Merlot del Ticino was born in 1986, when a local Cooperative, faced with chronic grapes’ oversupply, decided to produce a white wine. Other producers followed suit. Nowadays the share of Merlot grapes vinified in white in Ticino is more than 30% of the total production.

Merlot is the main grape of Canton Ticino, where it has been imported from France for experimental purposes at the beginning of the 20th century, during the post-phylloxera period.

Currently Merlot covers about 80% of the planted area in a Canton with some 3’600 grape growers and 200 or so winemakers. Approximately 1’000 hectares are devoted to viticulture.

White Merlot is not my kind of wine. Nevertheless, I find this exemplar made by Gialdi a pleasant Apero wine.

I bought this bottle at the winery for 16 CHF.

Country: Switzerland
Region: Ticino
Grapes: Merlot
Type: White
Vintage: 2020
Producer: Gialdi
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5