Aragonia Selección Especial 2017

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose fruity: raspberries, strawberries and cherries. In the mouth fruity and a bit sweet. The fruity sensation continues in the aftertaste. Overall, very pleasant, but for my taste a bit too fruity.

Campo de Borja is a DO wine zone in Aragon, situated just south of the Ebro River and north of La Huecha River, not far from Zaragoza. Continue reading “Aragonia Selección Especial 2017”

Clairette de Die Clairdie Tradition

The perlage is delicate. On the nose very aromatic, with notes of melon, peach, pear, and mandarin. In the mouth delicate and refreshing, with some residual sweetness.

Clairette de Die Tradition wines are sparkling wines made under the Clairette de Die appellation of the eastern part of the Rhône Valley wine region. Continue reading “Clairette de Die Clairdie Tradition”

1000 Stories Zinfandel 2017

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose strong aroma of dark fruits jam, accompanied by some spices. In the mouth smooth tannins and a sweet sensation created by the high (14.5%) alcohol content. The aftertaste is fruity and last for quite a while.

Zinfandel is a dark-skinned red wine grape variety widely cultivated in California, where it arrived from Europe in the early years of the 19th Century. It is identical to Italy’s Primitivo. Continue reading “1000 Stories Zinfandel 2017”

Cleos Anfora 2016

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose cherries and bay leaves. In the mouth fresh and easy to drink. With air exposure it evolves in the glass. The aftertaste is medium long. Overall an interesting wine and a pleasant drinking experience.

This wine is made in limited quantity (only 2’200 bottles are produced) by Agriloro, with Merlot grapes, and vinified in 1’700 litre Cocciopesto amphora. Continue reading “Cleos Anfora 2016”

Rocca Guicciarda 2017

The colour is medium red. On the nose aroma of cherries, with light oaky notes. In the mouth good acidity and well-integrated tannins. The finish recalls the fruit perceived on the nose. The aftertaste is subtle, but medium long.

Rocca Guicciarda is produced by Barone Ricasoli, whose Castello di Brolio is one of the most important and historic Chianti Classico’s producing estates. Broglio Castle has been in the family’s ownership since 1141, but it was Bettino Ricasoli, who made it prominent. Continue reading “Rocca Guicciarda 2017”

Pingus 2013

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose plums, cranberries and mocha. In the mouth elegant and well balanced. The aftertaste is shorter than you would expect.

Pingus is a Tempranillo varietal wine made by Peter Sisseck, a Danish winemaker, who began his Spanish wine career in 1991 at Hacienda Monasterio, where he still works as a senior oenologist. Continue reading “Pingus 2013”

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”

El Nido 2008

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose dark berries and prunes under spirit. In the mouth fresh, with well-integrated tannins. The aftertaste is tasty and very, very long.

The 2008 El Nido is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Monastrell, aged for 24 months in new French and American oak. Continue reading “El Nido 2008”

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