Tasting Notes of Wines around the World
The colour is medium ruby. On the nose red berries and sour cherries. Pleasantly fruity but sparing of complexity. In the mouth not particularly structured. The aftertaste doesn’t last long.
This Merlot del Ticino is a special edition made by Vinattieri as a selection for 13 prestigious Swiss restaurants and hotels, such as Giardino in Ascona, The Chedi in Andermatt and Le Grand Bellevue in Gstaad. Continue reading “Tanvell 2017”
The colour is deep ruby. On the nose sour-cherries, cinnamon, toffee and smoky notes. In the mouth fresh, with a good structure. The taste is mainly of chocolate and the aftertaste is medium long.
This wine is made by CAGI (Cantina Sociale di Giubiasco) under the IGT Svizzera Italiana denomination with a blend of Marselan, Arinarnoa, Carminoir and Cabernet Franc. Continue reading “Enigma 2018”
The colour is pale straw, with fine, but rather short-lasting bubbles. On the nose subtle aromas of mandarin, grapefruits and candied fruits. In the mouth pleasantly fruity and refreshing. The aftertaste is also discreet, but pleasant and medium lasting.
This sparkling wine is made in Ticino by Agriloro assembling Sémillon (more than 50% of the blend), Arinarnoa, Tannat, Egiodola and Carmenere grapes. Continue reading “Marcperler”
The colour is medium yellow. On the nose mirabelles, white peaches, banana, grapefruit, almonds. In the mouth very smooth and tasty, but less opulent than on the nose. The aftertaste is not very long, but pleasantly fruity.
This white wine is made by Cantina Monti. It is a blend of white grapes: more than 50% Müller-Thurgau, with Chardonnay and a bit of Pinot Gris. The pressed must is fermented and aged in barrique. Continue reading “Malcantone Bianco di Cademario 2018”
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
2010 has been a very good year for Ticino wines. Back then I was just starting to get an appreciation of wine and was curious to see how the best products of my region would age. I therefore bought a few bottles of wines produced by three friends: Sassi Grossi made by Alfred De Martin (12 bottles), Rompidée made by Andrea and Giada Arnaboldi (12 bottles), and San Giorgio made by Mattia Bianda (6 bottles). Continue reading “Merlot del Ticino 2010”
The colour is pale straw for the first and medium ruby for the second. On the nose Il Bianco di Chiara gives very discreet mineral and citrusy sensations, Il Rosso di Chiara displays mainly oak aromas, with some blackberries. In the mouth the white is dominated by the oak, but in an elegant way. The aftertaste is pleasant, but not very long. The red has less structure than you would expect and seems fading, although it is only 4 years old. The aftertaste is not very long. Continue reading “Il Bianco di Chiara 2019 e Il Rosso di Chiara 2017”
Last week I organised a wine tasting focused on some of the best Merlot based wines of my region: Ticino.
For this tasting we had seven wines lined up, which we tasted blind: Continue reading “Best of Ticino Merlot”
The colour is medium ruby. On the nose cherries and bay leaves. In the mouth fresh and easy to drink. With air exposure it evolves in the glass. The aftertaste is medium long. Overall an interesting wine and a pleasant drinking experience.
This wine is made in limited quantity (only 2’200 bottles are produced) by Agriloro, with Merlot grapes, and vinified in 1’700 litre Cocciopesto amphora. Continue reading “Cleos Anfora 2016”
Last week I hosted a wine tasting event at my home. Three other wine enthusiasts joined me to taste blindly four Syrah/Shiraz based wines.
Since everyone brought a bottle of his choice, we ended up without any Syrah from the Rhône Valley. Continue reading “Syrah/Shiraz”