Grace Vineyard 2007

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose antique furniture and leather, with mentholated notes. The bouquet is at first light, but it grows in the glass. In the mouth only the acidity and the by now very soft tannins are left. The most surprising characteristic is the long persistence.

Overall this wine has certainly passed its prime, but it still reveals signs of a noteworthy past, especially for a Chinese wine. Continue reading “Grace Vineyard 2007”

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”

Pacheca Grande Reserva Touriga National 2015

From the first sight this Portuguese wine gives the impression of being opulent. The deep purple color certainly contributes to this impression. In reality, on the nose the aroma is elegant, with violet, bergamot, blueberry and some mint. In the mouth the wine is still very young, although already enjoyable thanks to the pleasantly integrated tannins, which influence mainly the drying aftertaste. Continue reading “Pacheca Grande Reserva Touriga National 2015”

X

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose a bouquet of eucalyptus, tobacco, menthol and balsamic notes. In the mouth pleasantly lighter and fruitier than I was expecting, well balanced and with a savoury finish that let be enjoyed for quite a while.

This wine, named X, is as eclectic and unique as its producer. It is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Carminoir, Arinarnoa, Syrah and Merlot. Made out of three vintages: 2010, 2011 and 2013. Continue reading “X”

Weingut Haas-Lenz Zeller Schwarze Katz Riesling-Eiswein 2007

This very special sweet wine, produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine, presents itself with a brilliant amber color. The nose is dominated by hazelnuts. In the mouth it tastes very sweet, with a balancing high acidity. The aftertaste is fairly long but significantly less rich than I would have expected. Continue reading “Weingut Haas-Lenz Zeller Schwarze Katz Riesling-Eiswein 2007”

Vintage Tunina 2015

On the nose ananas mixed with grapefruit welcomes you, followed by some marzipan. In the mouth well balanced, but less tasty and complex than I expected. On the other side, I find the finish very interesting: at first very discreet, but the flavour soon comes back full of fruit and it last for a long time. Continue reading “Vintage Tunina 2015”

Mondeuse Lunatique 2016

On the nose meaty and herbal notes. In the mouth a light and raw texture, a beeswax finish and not much of an aftertaste. To complement its mediocrity, the wine displays a pale and cloudy appearance. At 10.5% the alcohol content is surprisingly low for a red wine.

As my wife said: “it tastes a bit like table wine from Italy”.  Continue reading “Mondeuse Lunatique 2016”

San Román 2013

Oak, oak and oak. This Toro DO wine is dominated by, you probably guessed it, oak. Not too surprising, given the fact that the wine spends 24 months in French and American oak. What is more astonishing is the fact that the wine lacks the matter necessary to keep up with the prolonged contact with the wood. Continue reading “San Román 2013”

Aalto 2012

Very tempting and opulent aroma of ripe fruits. Red fruits dominate: raspberries, strawberries and cherries, but some black berries are also clearly detectable. Surprisingly, given the 14.5% alcohol and the 20 months spent in oak, neither the wood nor the alcohol spoils the olfactory experience.

The bright, lively fruits shine through the mouth as well. Continue reading “Aalto 2012”

Serpico 2012

On the nose a nice aroma of ripe/under spirit fruits, complemented by herbs, liquorice and tobacco notes. In the mouth a bit rough, due to the prickly tannins. A nice contrast to the sweet olfactory sensations. The aftertaste is drying, a bit bitter and, considering the overall experience, a little anticlimactic.  Continue reading “Serpico 2012”