Acrux 2015

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose red berries jam. In the mouth drying tannins and a bitter finish. The aftertaste is rather short.

Acrux 2015 is made by Viña Sutil winery by blending 37% Carménère, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot. These are the original six red grapes of Bordeaux. Continue reading “Acrux 2015”

Kairós 2016

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose very fruity (well matured dark fruits), with some herbs. In the mouth rich and savoury, with a lot of sensations, probably the result of using a wide variety of grapes. The aftertaste is medium long.

Kairos is made by blending an astonishing 16 grapes. Continue reading “Kairós 2016”

Alter Ego de Palmer 2009

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose ripe black fruits, chocolate and mocha. In the mouth well integrated tannins and balanced. The aftertaste is elegant and last for very long. Very good wine, although I find this bottle less exciting than the one I tasted one year ago.

Alter Ego de Palmer is a second label (not a second wine) produced by Château Palmer since 1998. Continue reading “Alter Ego de Palmer 2009”

Terre More dell’Ammiraglia Cabernet 2018

The colour is deep ruby. The nose is very appealing, with notes of currant, dried figs, and coffee, among others. In the mouth smooth and slightly fruity. At first the finish is a bit rough, but the aftertaste is pleasant and last for a while.

Terre More is produced by Frescobaldi under the Maremma Toscana DOC. Continue reading “Terre More dell’Ammiraglia Cabernet 2018”

Le Dix de Los Vascos 2016

The colour is deep ruby. The nose is dominated by tobacco leafs, cinnamon and nutmeg, with notes of saffron, cedar, and coffee. In the mouth the tannins are pleasant, but with a bitter finish. The aftertaste is not very long.

This wine was created in 1999 to commemorate the 10 years of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)’s work in Chile. Le Dix de Los Vascos originates from 70-year-old vines located in the terroir known as “El Fraile” of Colchagua Valley in Chile. Continue reading “Le Dix de Los Vascos 2016”

Wines >100 CHF

Wines >100 CHF: Last month I organised a blind tasting of wines that sells between 100 CHF and 150 CHF.

The six wines we tasted were freely picked by the participants to the event. We usually taste completely blind, without even knowing the wines we are tasting. This time we decided to announce the wines beforehand. Continue reading “Wines >100 CHF”

Black Stallion Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose sumptuous and fruity, with plums, blackberries, and dark chocolate. In the mouth enjoyable, but without the structure you would expect from a single-varietal Cab. The finish is pleasantly fruity, although the aftertaste doesn’t last long.

Black Stallion Estate Winery is located on Silverado Trail in Napa Valley. Continue reading “Black Stallion Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon 2018”

Il Bianco di Chiara 2019 e Il Rosso di Chiara 2017

The colour is pale straw for the first and medium ruby for the second. On the nose Il Bianco di Chiara gives very discreet mineral and citrusy sensations, Il Rosso di Chiara displays mainly oak aromas, with some blackberries. In the mouth the white is dominated by the oak, but in an elegant way. The aftertaste is pleasant, but not very long. The red has less structure than you would expect and seems fading, although it is only 4 years old. The aftertaste is not very long. Continue reading “Il Bianco di Chiara 2019 e Il Rosso di Chiara 2017”

Tenuta Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose sour cherries and some animal notes. In the mouth a pronounced acidity, with a gently tannic “tea-leaf” finish. The aftertaste is rather short.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of several classic Tuscan red wines based on the Sangiovese grape variety. It comes from the vineyards that surround the town of Montepulciano. Sangiovese (known locally as Prugnolo Gentile) must make up at least 70% of the final wine. In this case, the blend is 90% Prugnolo Gentile, 5% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Continue reading “Tenuta Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016”

The Chocolate Block 2016

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose at first closed. With some air, dark berries and smoky notes show up. Despite the name, no chocolate whatsoever. In the mouth velvety and fruity, with an enjoyable drying finish. The aftertaste is pleasant, but short.

The Chocolate Block is a barrel-aged red wine made by Boekenhoutskloof winery in the Franschhoek Valley (“French corner” in Dutch), a broad vineyard-lined valley that has been producing wine since the 17th Century, when exiled French Huguenots brought their viticultural know-how to their new home in South Africa. Continue reading “The Chocolate Block 2016”