Sei Solo 2012

The colour is deep garnet. On the nose cherries, blueberries, caramel, coffee. In the mouth smooth with a chocolate and toffee flavour. The aftertaste is medium long.

Sei Solo is the results of a project started in 2007 by Javier Zaccagnini, a well-known name of the Ribera del Duero wine scene. After heading the Consejo Regulador of the Apellation, he co-founded AALTO with Mariano Garcia, the winemaker at Vega Sicilia for over 30 years. Continue reading “Sei Solo 2012”

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”

Emilio Moro 2018

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose cherries, plumbs, marzipan. In the mouth elegant, soft tannins and medium acidity. The aftertaste is fruity, while at the same time reminding of cocoa. It last for quite a while.

This wine is made with 100% tempranillo grapes by Bodegas Emilio Moro under the Ribera del Duero DO. It is the flagship wine of the winery. It is aged in 50% in French and 50% in American oak. Continue reading “Emilio Moro 2018”

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”

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”

Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva 2007

The colour is deep garnet. The nose is very intense, with a mix of red and dark berries, tomato sauce, leather and roasted meat. In the mouth very filling, elegant and balanced. The aftertaste is tasty and last for a long while.

Vega Sicilia Unico has been one of my favourite wines since I first tasted it a few years ago. This bottle confirms my enthusiasm. Continue reading “Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva 2007”

Spain

Last month I organized a wine tasting focused on the main wine producing regions of Spain.

In the last few years, I travelled extensively to the different wine regions of Europe and I covered all the major denominations of Spain. Continue reading “Spain”

AALTO PS 2013

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose woody sensations and chocolate dominate the experience. With some air tomato and hot pepper also come on stage. In the mouth the wine is far from delivering the opulent experience you would expect. In the long aftertaste the woody sensations first perceived on the nose come back, as well as the chocolate. For my taste, this wine got too much exposure to oak. Continue reading “AALTO PS 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”