Cuvée Fleur de Craie Brut

The colour is medium straw, with very fine, long-lasting bubbles. On the nose grapefruits and pears, accompanied by buttery notes. In the mouth fresh and tasty. The aftertaste is medium long.

The Cuvée Fleur de Craie is a champagne made by Bolieu with 100% Chardonnay grapes from vineyards planted in 1972 and 1973, the year I was born. The vineyards are located in Bassuet at the edge of the Côte des Blancs. Continue reading “Cuvée Fleur de Craie Brut”

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”

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”

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

Sur le Grand Marais

The colour is pale gold, with medium fine, short-lasting bubbles. On the nose cream, melon honeydew and pears. All very subtle. In the mouth not very tasty. A bit flat. The aftertaste is fresh, but short.

This Blanc de Noirs is made by Liébart-Régniet with 100% Petit Meunier grapes. All grapes come from a single parcel, 60% from the 2017 vintage and 40% from the 2018 harvest. Continue reading “Sur le Grand Marais”

Cuvée Cyril Premier Cru Millésimé 2012

The colour is medium gold, with very fine, short-lasting bubbles. On the nose cream, apricot, lime and almonds. In the mouth tasty and filling, with sensations consistent with the nose. The aftertaste is fresh and medium long.

This wine is made with equal parts of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by a cooperative in Ambonnay, with grapes grown by Cyril Beaufort in Trépail. Continue reading “Cuvée Cyril Premier Cru Millésimé 2012”

Gaston Cheq Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2015

The colour is pale gold, with fine, medium-lasting bubbles. On the nose citrusy and floral, with notes of bread. In the mouth similar citrusy and bakery aromas, with a medium long, fragrant finish.

This vintage champagne is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes from the Côte des Bar subregion of Champagne, located at the very south of the AOC. Continue reading “Gaston Cheq Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2015”

Malvirà Renesio Riserva 2009

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose prune, cherries under spirit, orange marmalade and tobacco. Although still enjoyable, in the mouth this wine has passed its best. The sensations are subtle, the flavours are fading and the aftertaste rather short.

Malvirà Renesio Riserva is made with 100% Nebbiolo grapes under the Roero DOCG. Continue reading “Malvirà Renesio Riserva 2009”

Buttafuoco 2017

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose cherries, blackberries and some toasted notes. In the mouth rather light and thin, but refreshing. The alcohol is a bit too high. The aftertaste is pleasantly fruity, but fades away quickly.

This wine is made under the Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC. It is a blend of Croatina, Barbera and Uva Rara. Continue reading “Buttafuoco 2017”

Vagabondo Bianco 2020

The colour is pale yellow. On the nose tangerine, ananas, banana, jasmine. In the mouth fresh, but without much flavour. The aftertaste is watery and short.

This white wine is made with Solaris and other fungus resistant varieties (PIWI). PIWI is an acronym for the German word pilzwiderstandfähig (fungus resistant). Continue reading “Vagabondo Bianco 2020”