Northern Rhône Syrah

Mid October I organised a tasting of Northern Rhône Syrah wines. I visited the region with my wife in Mai 2015. Back then I bought wines from the best denominations: Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas. I let the bottles age in my cellar for six years and now I’ve decided to taste a couple with some friends. Continue reading “Northern Rhône Syrah”

Culdrée 2012

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.

Culdrée is made with Merlot grapes by Enrico Trapletti, who founded his winery in 1992. Continue reading “Culdrée 2012”

Chateau Margaux 2012

I tasted the Grand Vin of Chateau Margaux along its two second wines: Pavillon Blanc & Pavillon Rouge.

Pavillon Rouge 2012 is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Chateau Margaux 2012 is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and a bit of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Continue reading “Chateau Margaux 2012”

La Croix de Beaucaillou 2012

The colour is deep ruby. The nose has a spicy and minty character, with green and smoky notes. In the mouth smooth, but not much of an aftertaste worth mentioning.

The 2012 Bordeaux vintage has been a challenging one, due to lousy weather that caused major problems for the ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon. The resulting wines are very variable. Continue reading “La Croix de Beaucaillou 2012”

Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux 2012

Not everybody may be aware of the fact that this well-known Château also produce a white wine. The only one among the four Médoc’s Premier Crus.

When I first tasted the wine in early April 2013, directly at Château Margaux during the annual En Primeur Barrel Tasting, Continue reading “Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux 2012”

Chateau de Vaudieu 2012

5 November 2017

On the nose a bit closed. Elegant and silky texture in the mouth. Discrete and well-rounded tannins. A little disappointing on the final, due to a slightly harsh finish. Not much persistence beside the alcohol’s feeling, that, despite being a high 15%, surprisingly show up only in the aftertaste. Continue reading “Chateau de Vaudieu 2012”

Domaine Laougué 2012

3 September 2017

A red wine made with Tannat and Cabernet Franc grapes cultivated in a AOC situated around the town of Madiran in Guascony (southeast of Bordeaux).

A rustic wine with a good natural acidity and rich in tannins, which in this modern version are already pleasantly soft, thanks to micro-oxygenation. Continue reading “Domaine Laougué 2012”