La Turque 2006

The colour is medium garnet. On the nose spices, smoke, meat, leather, wet ground, dark fruits, cocoa, black olives. A nose that is constantly changing and that is fun to keep revisiting. In the mouth smooth and powerful, with a good acidity. The tannins come through on the finish. There is only one thing holding this wine back from greatness: a mild vegetative note mild palate. The aftertaste is long.

La Turque is made by Guigal with 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier grapes under the Côte-Rôtie appellation of the northern Rhône. Continue reading “La Turque 2006”

Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde de Guigal 2009

The colour is deep garnet. Complex nose of raw meat, plumbs, rosemary, burned wood, baking spices. In the mouth fresh, fine tannins, well balanced and savoury. The aftertaste last for quite a while.

It is a wine that with time keeps evolving: a delight to drink!

This wine is made by Guigal, a domain founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Continue reading “Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde de Guigal 2009”

Domain de Thalabert 2017

The colour is deep purple. On the nose blueberries, black olives, meat and liquorice. In the mouth it is full-bodied and rich, with fruit and ripe tannins on the lingering finish.

Produced entirely from Syrah grapes, Thalabert’s Crozes-Hermitage is vinified from 40-60-year-old vines. It is made by Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné, which in 2006 was bought by the Frey Group, which also owns vineyards in Champagne and Bordeaux (Château la Lagune). Continue reading “Domain de Thalabert 2017”

Northern Rhône Syrah

Mid October I organised a tasting of Northern Rhône Syrah wines. I visited the region with my wife in Mai 2015. Back then I bought wines from the best denominations: Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas. I let the bottles age in my cellar for six years and now I’ve decided to taste a couple with some friends. Continue reading “Northern Rhône Syrah”

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”

Marie-Gabrielle 2019

The colour is deep purple. On the nose prunes and over-ripe blackberries, combined with wood and a hint of tobacco. In the mouth smooth, with drying fruity finish. The aftertaste is medium long.

This wine is produced by Domain Cazes under the Côtes du Roussillon denomination of southern France. Continue reading “Marie-Gabrielle 2019”

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”

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”

Juan Gil Blue Label 2018

The colour is dark ruby. On the nose dark cherries, dark berries and dark chocolate, accompanied by balsamic and spicy notes. In the mouth smooth, with a marked sensation of dark chocolate that last in the long aftertaste. With air the sensations change and become more subtle, which makes tasting this wine interesting.

This wine is a blend of 60% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. It ages for 18 months in French and American oak barrels. Continue reading “Juan Gil Blue Label 2018”