Les Terasses d’Aurelia 2018

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose mainly game. In the mouth balanced, with an aftertaste that last quite a while. A simple but enjoyable wine.

This red wine is made by Henri Bonnaud under the Palette AOC, the smallest Appellation of the Provence region in southern France. It was established in 1948 and is located near Aix-en-Provence.

The first vineyards of Provence, a region better known for rosé wines, were planted by the Romans around 100 BC. Continue reading “Les Terasses d’Aurelia 2018”

Resi 2021

The colour is pale straw. On the nose citrus, green apple, resin. In the mouth light, fresh and mineral. The aftertaste is rather short.

The Rèze is an ancient indigenous grape of Valais that has become a rarity. It is considered a par excellence high-Alpine grape variety. Around 1920, almost all vineyards of Valais fell victim to the American phylloxera pest. Prior to the phylloxera pandemic, Rèze was very common. Today, only 1.5 hectares are still cultivated in Valais as a local speciality. Continue reading “Resi 2021”

Koonunga Hill 2019

The colour is deep purple, almost black. On the nose very fruity, fruit berries, with a dominance of cassis. In the mouth smooth and fruity, with some chocolate. The aftertaste is pleasant, but rather short.

Koonunga Hill is an Australian blend of 65-75% Shiraz and 35-25% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (depending on the year), produced by Penfolds since 1976. Continue reading “Koonunga Hill 2019”

Kizakura Bijito

The colour is (very) pale straw. On the nose aromas of green apples, white grapes, almond milk and rice pudding. In the mouth soft, with a taste of pears and bananas. The aftertaste has a slight bitterness and is long.

Sake is an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. Continue reading “Kizakura Bijito”

Contado de Haza Crianza 2018

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose blackberries and black cherries (from the grapes), and vanilla and spices (from the oak). In the mouth grippy tannins that leave the mouth dry. The aftertaste is rather short.

Condado de Haza Crianza is a red wine from the Ribera del Duero region. It is made with Tempranillo grapes by a winery that belongs to Familia Fernández Rivera. Continue reading “Contado de Haza Crianza 2018”

Jema 2015

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose mocha, chocolate, cinnamon. In the mouth edgy and light-body, with a drying finish. The aftertaste is rather short.

This wine is made by Cesari under the Veronese IGT denomination with 100% Corvina grapes.

Corvina is famous as a key constituent of Valpolicella DOC(G) wines, notably Amarone. When it is bottled on its own, it’s relegated to lowly IGT status. Continue reading “Jema 2015”

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