Château Phélan Ségur 2009

The colour is deep ruby. Not showing any sign of ageing yet. On the nose dark cherries, plums, forest, and some chocolatey and smokey notes. In the mouth very elegant, with well-integrated tannins and a good acidity. The aftertaste is delicious and last for quite a while.

Château Phélan Ségur is located in the Saint-Estèphe region of Bordeaux. Continue reading “Château Phélan Ségur 2009”

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”

Edizione Cinque Autoctoni 2017

The colour is deep purple. On the nose dark cherries, blackberries, pepper, leather and some menthol. In the mouth very filling, with a drying finish. The aftertaste is fruity and very long.

This is a big and powerful wine, which doesn’t surprise given the provenience and the blend. Edizione is made with Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro and Malvasia grapes from two regions of southern Italy: Puglia and Abruzzo.

This wine was inspired by Hugh Johnson, one of the most famous wine journalists in the world, and produced by Farnese Vini, a leading wine export company in the South of Italy, with a production of over 24 million bottles.

Edizione 2017 has been awarded 99 points by Luca Maroni, an Italian wine critic, who I never heard about before (unlike Robert Parker, James Suckling or Jancis Robinson).

For this bottle I paid 17.40 CHF at LIDL, 38% off the original price of CHF 28.50. I have the impression that this wine is on sale most of the time, meaning that the real price is closer to 18 CHF than 28 CHF. At 18 CHF I find it delivers a very good price/quality ratio for consumers that like fruit bombs. For my taste this wine is a bit “tiring”. A kind of wine of which I enjoy the first glass much more than the third.

Country: Italy
Region: Puglia, Abruzzo
Grapes: Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro, Malvasia
Type: Red
Vintage: 2017
Producer: Farnese Vini
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5

Le Difese 2018

The colour is deep ruby. Not much neither on the nose, where I barely detect some sour cherries, nor in the mouth, where I feel drying tannins and a bitter finish. The aftertaste is short.

Le Difese is made by Tenuta San Guido, the producer of the famous Sassicaia, first produced with the 1968 vintage. Le Difese is the third wine of the estate, first produced with the 2002 vintage. In between, the winery produces a second wine, labelled Guidalberto, first produced with the 2000 vintage. Continue reading “Le Difese 2018”

Plantscher 2016

The colour is medium gold. On the nose notes of apple, apricot, honey and chamomile. In the mouth very fresh. It stimulates salivation and overall gives a silky sensation. The aftertaste is very dry and not very tasty, but it last for a fairly long time.

This unique wine is produced by Chanton, a winery at the center of rare grape preservation in Valais. Continue reading “Plantscher 2016”

Chateau Haut-Lavignere 2016

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose charmingly fruity. Prunes, cherries and the ever-present blackberries come to mind. In the mouth not much of a body, with a unpleasantly bitter and drying finish. The aftertaste is medium long. When you start eating, the flaws in the mouth disappear and the appealing sensations on the nose make the overall experience with this wine very enjoyable. Continue reading “Chateau Haut-Lavignere 2016”

Charmes-Chambertin Joseph Drouhin 2011

The colour is pale ruby/garnet. On the nose mushrooms, eucalyptus and pepper. In the mouth elegant, with some strawberries flavour. The aftertaste is discreet, but medium long.

Charmes-Chambertin is an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) and one of the 24 Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy. It is made with Pinot Noir grapes. Continue reading “Charmes-Chambertin Joseph Drouhin 2011”

Johannisberg de Chamoson 2019

The colour is medium straw. On the nose melon, pear and almond. In the mouth velvety, with a pleasantly slightly bitter finish. Very enjoyable, with a medium long aftertaste.

This wine is made with Sylvaner grapes, known as Johannisberg in Valais. The second most widely planted white grape variety in Valais; although it lags far behind the first, which is Chasselas, called Fendant in Valais. Continue reading “Johannisberg de Chamoson 2019”

ARUMA 2017

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose herbs, green tea and menthol. In the mouth well balanced, but with a rather abrupt and tasteless finish.

This wine is made by Bodegas CARO. A joint venture between Nicolás CAtena and Domaines Barons de ROthschild (Lafite). An alliance between two wine cultures (French and Argentine), two noble grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec), and two renowned wine families. Continue reading “ARUMA 2017”