Rare grapes from Italy

There are so many rare grapes in Italy and it will take a very long time to try them all. But two rare grapes that I have tasted are Minutolo and Erbaluce from northern Italy.

First are the producer I Pastini with the wine Rampone made from 100% Minutolo grapes. I Pastine are situated in Puglia and Minutolo are a rare grape variety from Puglia. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV 12,5%. How is the taste? This wine has an aromatic and tropical taste. I can feel tropical fruits with some citrus. Almost feels like a southerns Gewürztraminer. A very good wine.

Next up is the wine Erbavoglio from producer Torracia Del Piantavigna in Piemonte. It uses the grape Erbaluce but they are not allowed to write the grape name on the label due to certain Italian rules regarding the DOC Colline Novaresi. The vintage is 2017 and the ABV 13,5%. The taste is quite strong with grassy notes with minerals, pears and some citrus. An interesting wine from a rare grape.

Vermentino Nero from Terenzuola

Vermentino Nero is a rare Italian grape that is mostly grown in the north-western parts of Tuscany. It almost became extinct at one time but has received some renaissance in later time. Terenzuola is a producer in Tuscany that makes a wine made from Vermentino Nero. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 12,5%. In the taste I get raspberries and some blackberries with some softer tannins and spices, There is some acidity in this wine. A very good softer style of red. I quite like the wines that I have tasted from Vermentino Nero so far.

Sparkling red wine from Piemonte, Duchessa Lia

It is not often that I drink sparkling red wine. Once in Bologna a couple of years ago and once yet again in Bassano del Grappa this year. Once good experience and one neutral experience.

So now what is this red sparling wine. It is called Duchessa Lia and it is a Barbera del Monferato from Piemonte. The grape is 100% Barbera. The ABV is 12,5% and the vintage is 2012. It is not heavily sparkling but a lightly sparkling red wine. So it should be like the lightly sparkling red wine I had earlier this year in Bassano del Grappa. The taste is of red fruits and a hint of black peppar and
then some bubbles in the back. Interesting and quite nice table wine.

Etna Rosso and Valpolicella Ripasso

From the south to the north. I start in Sicily with a red wine from Etna. It is an Etna Rosso from Tornatore of the vintage 2016. The ABV is 13,5%. The grapes used are 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio. Due to the height of the volcano Etna and how the lava streams has flowed there are several interesting areas on Etna where grapes are grown. For this wine I get strawberries, cherries and some acidity in the taste. A bit lighter than I thought it would be but a very good wine.

Next up is a Ripasso from Valpolicella. It is from producer Ca' Vendri and of the vintage 2015. The ABV is 13,5%. This wine has a hint of sweetness with some dry tannins, dark cherries and plums. Yet another good Ripasso.

Cremant du Jura and Prosecco

Soon it is time for new year so let us try some sparkling wine. First up is is a Cremant du Jura from Jura in France. The name is Tissot-Maire Cuvee Lapiaz. It is an extra brut sparkling wine with and ABV of 12%. It is a non vintage wine. The taste is of citrus and some bready tones with a very little fruit. Not a long aftertaste. Simple but nice.

Next up is a Valdobbiadene Prosecco superiore, which is a higher quality Prosecco. The producer i Ca'Val and it is a brut of vintage 2017. It is a light procecco with some bready tones with pears, citrus and some minerals. Very nice.

La Grotta Di Vegneron

La Grotta Di Vegneron is a producer in the fantastic Valle D'Aosta in north western corner of Italy on the border to France. It is the smallest wine growing region in Italy and this region has many interesting grapes. Due to its small size, wine from Valle D'Aosta is very hard to find as the production is so limited. And don't forget the beautiful nature of Valle D'Aosta also.

 

But going back to La Grotta Di Vegneron I have tried two of their wines. A red and a white wine. First up is a dry wine from 2010 called Attente. It is made of Muscat grapes from the village of Chambave. Normally Muscat grapes are used for sweet wines so this dry aged white wine is quite interesting. This wine is aged for 40 months in steel tanks which is a long time for a dry white wine. The taste is dry but the smell confuses my mind as I expect a sweet wine. taste of apricots, dried fruits but with a clear dryness. Not for everyone but I find it good and interesting but I find it hard to categorize.

Next up is the red wine Esprit Follet made from the ancient grape Fumin from Valle D'Aosta. In the taste I get complex red fruits, black currants, viols, dark chocolate and some spices. A very good wine. Love it and Fumin have become one of my favourite grapes.

Three Sangiovese based red wines from Italy

Sangiovese is a fabulous grape and I had the chance to try three red wines that uses the Dangiovese grapes from Tuscany, Umbria and Emila-Romagna.

First out is the Spezieri wine from producer Col d'Orcia in Tuscany. It is a blend of mostly Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo. The ABV is 14% and the vintage is 2016. From 2013 this wine is organically made. I get red fruits on the nose which is typically for a Sangiovese wine. I get a taste of cherries, black currants and some spiciness. Some tannins in the finish. A good wine.

Next we go to Tuscanys neighbour, namely Umbria. The green heart of Italy. Here we find a Montefalco Rosso from producer Lungarotti. For this wine the grapes Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino is used. Here at least 60-70% Sangiovese must be used and between 10-15% Sagrantino and the rest other grapes. The ABV is 14% and the vintage is 2014. This is a big and powerful wine. Dry and strong tannins with dark sour cherries and earthy notes. Definitely some tobacco in the back. This wine needs food. After tasting it I would give it 2-3 more years of ageing before drinking it. Good now but with a couple of more years of storage I think it will be even better.

Finally we go to Tuscany and Umbrias northern neighbour Emilia-Romagna. Here we find the wine Ora from producer San Patrignano. It is a Romagna Sangiovese superiore from 2015 with and ABV of 14%. This wine contains only 100% Sangiovese. The taste is of dark cherries and black currants with some harsher tannins. This needs more time in storage before it gains it full potential. Like the Montefalco Rosso wine above, good now but will be even better in two years time.

White wine from Tuscany and Piemonte

Col 'D'Orcia in Tuscany produces many good wines and especially Brunello di Montalcino. But this time it is not a Brunello that I am tasting but a Vermentino from Col D'Orcia. Vermentino is a grape that it is used to make white wines from. The vintage is 2017 and the ABV is 13,5%. This white wine is dry and has  taste of apples, citrus and some gooseberries. A very nice wine.

The producer Enzo Bartoli is a new acquaintance for me. It is a producer from Piemonte in the north of Italy. This wine is made from 100% of Cortese grapes and this is the first time I have tasted a wine made from Cortese grapes. These grapes are mostly found in southern Piemonte. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 12%. This white wine feels very fresh, It is quite mineralic with citrus in the taste. A wine which is very good right now and should be drunk young.

Balblair 1999, 1st release

Balblair is probably the only distillery that still sells their whiskies as vintages. The 1999 vintage 1st edition has been a mainstay of the travel retail. It was bottled in 2016 which makes the whisky approximately 17 years old. It has been aged in ex bourbon barrels and some ex spanish oaksherry butts. So how does it taste?

Smell: A nice complex smell. With vanilla, spices, fruits and some apples and some citrus
Taste: Spicy and some toffee and some vanilla and sweetness.
Aftertaste: Long spicy sweet finish.

A highly recommended whisky. One of the best whiskies in the travel retail range.

Sparkling rose from Monte Rossa

Monte Rossa  is a a sparkling wine producer in Franciacorta in Lombardy in Italy. This firm was founded in 1972 by Paolo Roveto. Monte Rossa wines is produced by the method of second fermentation in the bottle. The grapes used for the Monte Rossa Flamingo wine are 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, So this wine is produced like how Rose Champagne is done. Before being sold the wine is stored for 24 months on the bottle.

The nose of the wine is very nice and feels very fresh. The taste is light and good with wild strawberries, citrus and raspberries. Very good however the aftertaste could have been a bit longer. A very good rose sparkling wine.

Tempranillo from Spain and Nero di Troia

This time I go from Spain to the south of Italy. I don't drink so much wine from Spain but it is interesting to try out new stuff. Anciano is a Gran Reserva 2006 made by Tempranillo grapes. It is from producer Bodegas Navalo. The wine is stored in oak barrels for 18 months before being bottled and then they store it 8,5 years longer before selling the wine. So it is as least ten years old. The vintage is 2006 and the ABV is 13% Since it is ten years old it is quite smooth. The wine has hints of vanilla with red currants and some liquorice. Just lacking a bit in the after taste. A good price for the value.

Now going to the south of Italy and the region of Puglia. In this region they have several interesting grape varieties and one of them is Nero di Troia. producer Poderere 20 produces a 100% Nero di Troia wine called Gelso Nero and the vintage that I have tried is the 2017, so it is quite a young wine. The ABV is 13%. It has a taste of plums,, dark cherries, viols and some tannins. Not an older elegant wine but a more younger wild wine which I quite like.

Tola Grillo vs Tola Catarratto

I have tried both of these wine before but different intages and never together so tat I can compare the, The wines are from producer Azienda Tola in Sicily and the grapes Grillo and Catarratto which are very common is Sicily. Both vintages is 2016 and the ABV is 13%.

The grillo has a taste of pears, grapefruits and some gooseberries. While the Catarratto has citrus, pears and some minerals. I found the Catarratto 2016 to be a bit lighter than the vintage 2015. I find them both to be good and both goes very well with seafood or a lighter pasta dish. The quality over the years are consistent.

Susumaniello, a rare grape from Puglia

Susumaniello is a rare grape from Puglia in Italy. It is only grown on the heel of Italy and not much wine made from this grape reaches Sweden. It is only in the last ten years that this grape has become more popular in  Puglia. Earlier on it was used as a blending grape but nowadays it can also be found as a single grape wine.

I Pastini is a producer in Puglia. It is a small family owned vineyard near Locorotondo in Puglia. Never seen these products in Sweden before before a friend told me that a small wine importer called Solo Io imported their wines. I pastini also makes other wines with some rare grapes.

The wine made by 100% Susumaniello grapes is called Verso Sud. The vintage is 13,5% and the vintage 2016. The grapes were grown at a heigh of 50-100 meters above sea level. it has been aged four months in a steel container, barrel for six months and finally four months in the bottle before being sold.
The colour is deep ruby red. It is a dry spicy wine with a taste of dark cherries and black currants. A long after taste with softer tannins.I think that this wine will gain by two more years of ageing but it is very good right now.

Col D'Orcia Brunello Di Montalcino 2010

I have tasted the Col D'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino but I have never tasted their Brunello before. Col D'Orcia is one of the biggest producers of Brunello but is still family owned. The vintage is 2010 and it is not that old for a Brunello wine. The ABV is 14,5% and the colour is red with some brownish tints. The growing of the grapes have been done at an average height of 300 meters. The grape is Sangiovese and this clone used has been specialy selcted by Col D'Orcia. The wine is stored in oak casks for three years before being bottled and let it rest for one year before being sold to the public.

So how is the taste? I get cherries, currants, some oak and hints of tobacco. It is elegant and complex and with a good nose. The soft tannins are in a perfect balance with the wine. A wonderful Brunello which showcases the Sangiovese grapes perfectly. 

Montalcino in Spring.

Two red wines from Alba and Aosta

Let us go and start with A. With wines from Alba and Aosta. First up is a Barbera D'Alba from producer Camerano who I visited in 2017. It is made of 100% Barbera grapes and the ABV is 14%. the vintage is 2013. This wine has soft tannins with red and black currants and hints of cherries. A good Barbera which is quite easy drinking.

Next wine is from Valle D'Aosta next to the border of France. It is from producer Grosjean and when I was in Aosta earlier on this year I tasted several of their wines but not this red wine made of the grape Cornalin. It is called Cornalin Vigne Rovettaz 2014 with an ABV of 13%. Not a complex one but in the taste I get raspberry, some acidity followed by cherries. Some tannins later on followed by black currants. I like the Grosjeans wine Fumin better but this is a good red wine also. Good quality by Grosjean.

Two white wines from Langhe

Langhe in Piemonte produces several good white wines, some based on local grape varieties and others on international varieties. This time I will focus on two white wines with international varieties.

First up is a favourite producer of mine called Fontanafredda, they are one of the biggest private producers in Langhe. The grape is Chardonnay and the vintage is 2017. The ABV is 12,5%. This wine a quite varied taste with some apples, gooseberries, minerals and some citrus. A good wine.

The last wine is a Riesling wine from producer Saracco also located in Langhe. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 13,5%. I get some apples, minerals and some citrus. A bit different from a German Riesling. Also a good wine.

Soave and Alsace

The first wine is a white wine from Soave in the Veneto region of Italy. It is called Farina and is a Soave classico wine. The ABV is 12,5% and the vintage 2016. It has a taste of green apples and a lot of grapefruit. Definitely a food wine and goes very well with fish which balances the grapefruit flavour.

The next wine is a white wine from Alsace in France The producer is Leon Beyer and the wine is called Fruits De Mer. The grapes being used are of the Pinot Blanc variety and the vintage is 016. the taste is fresh and fruity with apples, honey and some citrus. Lacking some acidity to raise to another level. A decent wine.

Lagavulin Distillers edition 2000/2016

The whisky Lagavulin 16 years old in one of the classic whiskies around the world. The Lagavulin distillers edition is released every years and it is  vintage whiksy that is 16 years old but that has been finished in PX sherry casks. So what is PX sherry? It is a very sweet sherry wine and it is normally used as a dessert wine. So how will the classic Lagavulin handle a finishing with PX sherry casks? The Lagavulin DE that I have tried was made in 2000 and bottled in 2016.

Smell: In the beginning the normal Lagavulin smoke with tar and medicine and very far in the back some sweetness.
Taste: Very rich taste. Smoke with tar and some medicinal notes. After some time a bit of sweetness come out.
Aftertaste: Smoke with some sweetness

For me the PX sherry is hidden in the smoke. I prefer the normal 16 yo because it is more austere and luckily for me the normal Lagavulin is cheaper than the Lagavulin DE.

A round up of recent wines

First up is something I barely drink and it is a Sherry which is a fortified wine from Spain. It is the Real Tesoro del Principe Amontillado from producer Marques Real tesoro. It is an Amontillado sherry which has been ages for at least 15 years in oak casks. The ABV is 18.5%. The smell is strong of oxidized sherry. The taste is bonedry and it is a good sherry.

The Wine A Elisabeth if a Dolcetto wine from Alba in Piemonte. I have tried the 2015 vintage before and now the 2016 vintage is out. It is from producer Cascina delle Rose and the ABV is 13%. It has red fruits on the nose. Dark cherries, viols and liquorice with soft tannins and spices in the back. This vintage for me is better than the 2015. An excellent foodwine.

Now over to three white wines. First is a Vermentino wine from Tuscany. The producer is Aja Vecchia, the ABV is 13,5% and the vintage is 2016. I get a fresh nose with green fruits. The taste is citrus, green apples and some grapefruits. A great wine with seafood.

Next up is a white wine from Umbria. It is the wine Villa Monte Vibiano which is a white wine which contains the grapes Viogner, Grechetto and Trebbiano. The taste is a bit dissapointing with some pears and a lot of grapefruits. Works much better if drank with food.

The last wine is a French white wine from Loire. it is the Clisson 2013 wth an ABV of 12%. The grape used is Muscadet. It is a fresh wine despite the age. The taste is of citrus, peaches and minerals.

Three white wines from Central and Northern Italy

The wine Lunae Etichetta Grigia I have tried the previous vintage but 2017 is the new vintage on sale now. It is a Vermentino wine from producer Paolo Bosoni in Liguria. The ABV is 12,5% and the vintage is 2017.  The taste is smooth fresh and aromatic with pears and citrus. yet another very good vintage yet again.

Next up is a white wine from producer Lungarotti in Umbria. I have tried several red wines from Lungarotti but never a white wine from them. The wine is Torre Di Giano from 2017. It is made of the grapes Vermentino, Grechetto and Trebbiano, the ABV is 12,5%. The taste is of pears and citrus. It is young and a fresh wine, perfect for warm summerdays.

The last wine is a wine from South Tyrol or Alto Adige. It is a Pinot Grigio wine from producer Santa Margherita in the DOC Valadige. The vintage is 2016 and ABV is 12,5%. The taste is fresh slightly mineralic apples and citrus. A good pinot Grigio and it has been years since I drank this wine from this producer.

Three Sangiovese from Italy

Three different Sangiovese blends from three different regions in the central Italy wine growing regions. Let's start with the northern most region which is Emilia-Romagna. Here the producer Nespoli makes a Romagna Sangiovse Superiore Riserva wine made of 100% Sangiovese grapes. The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 13,5%. I find this wine to be very full bodied oaky wine with a taste of tobacco and dark cherries. A very good wine which will become better with a couple of years storage.

Next we move south to Tuscany and the wine la Bestia Governo which are made from the grapes Sangiovese and Colorino. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 14%. I get red fruits on the nose and the taste is of red cherries, vanilla and some coffee. A nice rich fruity wine. Almost ripasso like in the style.

The last wine we find in Tuscany's south eastern neighbour Umbria. The Montefalco Rosso from producer Arnaldo Caprai I have tried before but this time it is their new vintage from 2016. It consists of 70% Sangiovese grapes, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon. It is strong with cherries with spice and tannins. Almost tastes like the 2015 vintage but I think that this vintage won't get much better with storage, very good to drink right now.

Two wines from north eastern Italy

Time for a sparkling wine. First up is the prosecco wine from the producer Corte Real called Lupi Reali. I find it to be a good prosecco with notes of pear and apples in the taste with some citrus in the back. Not as dry as I thought it would be.

Next up is a white wine from the Veneto region in Italy. It is from the producer Zenato and it is a Pinot Grigio delle Venezie from 2016. The ABV is 12,5%. The taste is of white peaches, citrus and a little grapefruit. A nice wine.

Umbria, the region of good red wines

Umbria in Italy may not be that known but it is a very good wine producing wine region. Beautiful landscapes and the rolling green hills and not so many tourists.

Several of the wines I review here I have tried earlier but there are some new vintages for sale.

First up is a lighter red wine from the producer Lungarotti in Torgiano. It is a Rosso di Torgiano DOC wine consisting of Sangiovese and Colorino grapes. The vintage is 2012 and the ABV is 13,5%.  I get red fruits on the nose. Cherries and black currants in the taste with soft smooth tannins that linger in the mouth. This one is better than the 2015 vintage that I have tried. This is a wine that gains by storing it for a couple of years. A wine that is very good year from year.

Next up is Arnaldo Caprais Rosso di Montefalco of the vintage 2015. Now it has been stored for another year so let's see how it is. The ABV is 2015 it is a combination of Sagrantino, Sangiovese and some Merlot grapes. This wine is strong with cherries, tannins and spices. It could be stored for several more years before drinking. A good wine now and will last for several more years in the cellar. The vintage 2016 is now available to buy.

The third wine is from producer Sportoletti and this wine focuses on the international grape varieties merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. the grape blend is as the following: Merlot 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Cabernet Franc 10%. The name is Villa Fidelia Rosso and the grapes are grown on the Spello and Assisi hills. The ABV is 15%. This is quite a heavy wine. Strong taste with tobacco, dark cherries and black currants. Should be stored a couple of more years before drinking.  After aerating the wine it got smoother and more black currants. This confirms that this wine should be stored for a longer time. A good wine today and will be even better in a few years time.

A cheap Beaujolais

I have never tried Beaujolais in my life. So this will be interesting. From what I have hard a Beaujolais is quite light wine and the grape used is the Gamay grape. The wine I tried is Beaujolais Royal from producer Dufouleur Freres which is produced straight for the Swedish market.

This wine is quite easy drinking with some acidity, nothing bad but nothing good either. Just easy drinking.

Bruichladdich Islay barley 2009

Bruichladdich is a whisky distillery on the isle of Islay which was founded in 1881. Bruichladdich, who describe themselves as ‘progressive Hebridean distillers’ can be quite innovative but also quite traditional as they tend to use a lot of old equipment and no computers when making the whisky.

The whisky Bruichladdich Islay barley 2009 is made was distilled from barley grown in 2008 by Gilbie McCormick of Claggan, Hunter Jackson at Cruach, Ian McKerrell of Island and Alastair Torrance from Mulindry. It is non chill filtered and non-coloured. The barley varieties that was used were Publican & Oxbridge barley varieties. Only americn oak casks were used for maturation as they impart less flavour than European oak and in this Islay barley release are all about the terroir of central Islay. The ABV is 50%.

Normally one could not get this much information about any whisky but Bruichladdich is quite transparent about what they put into their whisky. So how does this whisky taste?

Nose: Some tropical fruits
Taste: Malty with some citrus and almost coastal sea water taste
Aftertaste: Citrus and some sea water

For the age of this whisky it is a very god whisky. Only seven years old but feels like a 10-12 year old whisky, very good.

Brunello Di Montalcino and onwards to Umbria

It is always good to taste a Brunello di Montalcino and I do it too seldom. This bottle from producer Bartoli Giusti I bought myself when I was in Montalcino in 2016.

It is a Brunello di Montalcino from 2011 and the ABV is 14%. The grape is 100% Sangiovese which is grown on a height of 300 meters. In the taste I get cherries, some black currants and liquorice with well structured tannins. The taste lingers in the mouth afterwards. A well structured wine and a bit lighter than I expected.

From Tuscany I go to the green neighbour Umbria. Here the producer Cantina Monte Vibiano is a new acquaintance. They are situated near Perugia and they are also have eliminated greenhouse gas emission in their production of wine. Their red wine Villa Monte Vibiano is a younger Sangiovese majority blend which are produced from the younger Sangiovese grapes in their vineyard. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 13,5%. This wine has a good red fruity nose. In the taste I get red cherries, red currants and some soft tannins. A younger wine but a good Sangiovese based blend.

Two sparkling wines from Italy, Cesarini and Dalfiume

Today I review two sparkling wines from Italy which I have some family connections to them.

First up is the wine Cesarini Sforza Le Millesime of vintage 2014. It has an ABV 12,5% and the production method is Metodo Classico which is the same technique as Champagne production. The producer Cesarini Sforza is situated in Trento in Italy. The grapes used are Chardonnay and Pinot nero. The taste is a dry bready taste with some citrus and pears. A very good sparkling wine.

Next up is a sparkling wine from near Bologna, namely the wine Pignoletto Vino Frizzante from producer Dalfiume. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 11,5%. From my experience these sparking Pignoletto wins are usually only lightly sparkling. When opening the bottle I only get a small pop and the wine is just slightly sparkling. The taste is light and quite easy drinking. Made for a warm summer day. For those who loves a lot of bubbles in their wine stay away.

Three is the number of red and white

Time for a catch up of the tasted wine. First up is three red wines from Italy followed by three white wine of two is from Italy and one is from France.

One region that I don't try so much wine from is from Molise. I have tried one biferno Rosso Riserva earlier but this one is from producer Cantina Manzini. The grapes are Aglianico and Montepulciano. The vintage is 2011 and ABV is 14%. In the taste I get red fruits and a berry like feeling. Black currants and soft tannins in the aftertaste. A nice one yet again from Molise.

The next one is a Sangiovese from Tuscany. It is the producer Poggio Nero and earlier on I have tried their Montalicino wines. The vintage is 2014 and the is ABV 13%. In the taste I get red cherries and some black peppar. A nice wine with some smooth tannins.

The third red wine is a Dolcetta D'Alba from Piemonte. I am glad that I found this wine as Dolcettos are hard to find in Sweden as most people go with the Barbera or Barolos. The producer is Bruno Giacosa from Neiva in Piemonte. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 14%. I get a lot red fruits on the noose. Black currants and smooth dry tannins in the first taste. In the after taste I get red cherries. Some viols comes out a bit later. A very good wine.

Now over to the white wines. First up is the Zecci Colleione Classico from producer Piersanti. It is a Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi. No it is time for the vintage 2016. The ABV is 14%. Apples and pears in the taste with some citrus in the end. Quite a strong white wine and very good with food.

The producer Lunae I have tried some wines earlier from and this time it is their Vermentino wine called Etichetta Nera. It is called so since the thing that differs from the other bottle I tried is the label colour. The other I tried is called Etichetta grigia and that label is is gray. The black label is the more prestige label as it is older than the grey label. The vintage is 2016 and ABV is 13%. The Etichetta Nera is very fresh and hits of citrus and grapefruits. Lovely wine.

Last wine is a white wine from France and the region Loire. It is a Vouvray wine from producer Lacheteau and the grape is Chenin Blanc. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 11,5%. A veru good nose and tropical fruits in the taste. Mango, melon and some apples with a lingering citrus. A good white wine.

White wine of Valle d'Aosta

I had the chance to travel to Valle d'Aosta in the northwester corner to try some of their wine and also to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains.

For the white wines of Valle d'Aosta I mostly focused on the grape Petit Arvine. This grape was introduced into Valle d'Aosta in the seventies by the Institut Agricole of Valle d'Aosta.
First up the producer Chateau Feuillet and their vintage 2017. I find this wine to be dry and mineralic with fresh green apples. Absolutely lovely taste.

Next is a Petit Arvine wine from Grosjean, it is called Petit Arvine Vigne Rovettaz of vintage 2016 and ABV 13,5%. Thi swine is produced from grapes growing at 550m at the Rovettaz vineyard. It is very fresh with minerals, apples and some grapefruit. Yet another lovely wine.

The we have the producer Les Cretes which I have visited earlier and tasted several of their wines. This time their Petit Arvine wine is from 2013. Here I find peaches and minerals with some acidity. Losing some freshness due to age but gaining some complexity instead. The Petit Arvine grape showing their ageing potential.

These Petit Arvine wines are defintaly something to look for if you can find them. Since Valle d'Aosta has a small wine production.

Three white wines from Italy

From the south to the north. First up is a white wine from Sicily called Blu Profondo.  It has the ABV 13% and is of the vintage 2017. The grapes used for this wine is zibibbo and catarratto.  The taste is aromatic and is an easy drinking wine for a warm summer day.

Next wine is from the the Emilio-Romagna region in Italy. It the sparkling wine Camlet from producer Valle delle Lepri which is situated southwest of Rimini. They make several different sparkling wines and the Camlet one is made of 100% Chardonnay grapes. It is very nice and fesh with apples in the taste. Reminds me of a good prosecco.

The last wine is from Veneto region and it is called Lenotti Bianco Del Veneto. It is made of the grape Cortese and Garganega. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 12,5%. It has a fresh clear taste with some citrus, grapefruits and flowers. A very good wine.

Two red wines with very commercial labels

Time for two red wines with some commercial labels. First up is the wine Villa valentina which is a Sangiovese wine from Puglia in Italy. The vintage is 2017 and ABV is 13%. This organically wine has a taste of red fruits and berries with some sharpness. Nice wine but uncomplicated.

Next wine is the red wine Quentaurus from Abruzzo. It is made from the grape Montepulciano. The vintage is 2014 and the ABV is 14%. This is quite strong with red currants, some viols and tannins. Definately a food wine.

Poderi dal Nespoli and Anselmi

Time to try Poderi dal Nespoli and one other white wine.

First up is the Poderi dal Nespoli which is situated in Romagna in Italy on the hills of Forli. I have tasted their wine Dogheria. This wine is from the IGT Rubicone IGT Pinot Bianco. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 12,5%. The colour is a straw yellow colour. The taste is of stone fruits and is aromatic. A good wine.

Next wine is also a white wine from Italy. It is the wine San Vincenzo from producer Anselmi. I have tasted this wine before but this is vintage 2017 and the one I had tasted was the vintage 2015. This wine is from Soave in Veneto in Italy. This wine is made from Garganega grapes. I get melons, some grass, grapefruit in the taste. It has a long aftertaste and is this is yet another good vintage.

Older red wines from Italy and Spain

It is quite interesting to try older red wines and this time I have tasted two older red wines and also a younger red wine.

The first older red wine is the Marques De Arienzo Reserva from 2004. This I found at a lower shelf and I had forgotten about it. I think I bought it in 2010 and had been forgotten. It is a rioja wine and it is made of the Temopranillo (85%) and Graciano and Mazuelo (15%). The colour is dark red with a brownish tint indication an older wine.In the nose I get a smell of red and black currants. In the taste if get dark cherries, black currants and some tannins. I think that it has reached maximum maturity and it should be drank right now. As I don't feel that it will increase in complexity. A very good wine but I don't think that it increases so much in complexity by this long aging. 2-4 years of aging is recommended.

The net older wine is a wine that I have tasted before. It is the Les Cretes wine Fumin from Valle D'Aosta. The vintage is 2009 and the ABV is 13%. In the taste I get a dark fruity taste with red sour cherries and some black currants. In the aftertaste I get some viols and oak. I like this wine and it ages very nicely. I think that this wine can be stored maybe for 5 more years.

To finish it off I go with a younger wine from Veneto and it is a Castelforte Appassimento from 2014. The ABV is 14%. In the taste I get red fruits with some spices. A quite easy drinking wine.

Gulietta from Verona

How will a white wine called Guiletta from Verona taste? Since the producer is Tomassi there has to be certain quality to it. The ABV is 12% and that is all I know of this wine except for the words Together, Love, Eternity, Kiss. Romeo and Verona written on the label. In the nose I get fresh herbs. The taste is aromatic peaches with some citrus. A good summer wine for those warm summer days.

Next up is a is a Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi from producer Ciu Ciu and the wine's names is Arbinus. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 13,5%. It is an easydrinking wine with light flavours and some strong apples. Not bad but I have drank more exciting Verdicchios.

White wine from Portugal and France

I usually stay with wines from Italy with occasional forays into Germany and France. This time I have a wine from Portugal. It is a white wine made from the grape Verdelho, this grape is often used for Madeira wine.  The producer is Herdade Do Esporao and the vintage is 2014. this wine is simply called V. In the taste I get apples and acidity with an almost buttery feel. A nice wine.

Next wine is a French white wine from Provence. It is by producer Paul Jaboulet Aine and it is called Parallele 45 Cotes Du Rhone Black 2014. here I get flowers on the nose. The taste is flowers and some fruits with a light tinge of grapefruit in the taste. A decent wine.

Two recommended wines from Italy

Italian sparkling wines especially Prosecco can be quite light but easy-drinking. The sparkling wine Agata Cuvee Millesimato from 2016 is more complex but still easy to drink. The producer is Ardenghi from the Veneto region in Italy. The taste is quite fresh with citrus and bread tones. A very nice sparkling wine perfect for a warm day.

Next wine is a white wine from Friuli in the northern eastern part in Italy. The grape is Pinot Grigio and the name of the wine is Ciani. The producer is Azienda Agricola Ciani Valter and the vintage is 2016. On the nose I get a lot of white fruits. The taste is of melons, grapefruit and some pears. This is an excellent expression of a Pinot Grigio which I highly recommend. One producer that knows how to make good wines.

A Glenmorangie vertical

If you have the chance buy the Glenmorangie tasting set, It consists four 10cl bottles of their standard range. The Original 10yo, Quinta Rubin, Nectar d'Or and Lassanta. So what is special about the various products. First the Glenmorangie has one of the tallest necks on their stills so their spirit is quite smooth. The distillery is located quite north in Scotland far up in the highlands.

The Glenmorangie Original 10 yo has been matured for ten year in ex-Bourbon casks.
Colour: Quite light
Nose: Lemon, toffee and a slight vanilla
Taste: A bit weak, malt and some toffee
After taste: Very short, just some light spices
A very easy drinking whisky, good for newcomers.

The Glenorangie Lasanta is a whisky that has been matured ten years in ex Bourbon casks and then finished for two years in Oloroso and PX sherry casks.
Colour: Amber
Smell: Orange and fruits with some toffee
Taste: Sherry, orange and some spices
Aftertaste: Normal finish with oranges and spices and some bitterness
A decent sherry finished whisky.

The Glenmorangie Quinta Rubin is a whisky that has been matured ten years in ex Bourbon casks and then finished for two years in port pipes from Portugal.
Colour: Some pink notes in the colour
Smell: Quite a complex nose. Some orange and spices such as pepper and then red cherries.
Taste: Oak, dark chocolate, some red fruits and oranges.
This is a good whisky.

The Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or is a whisky that has been matured for ten years in ex Bourbon casks and then finished for two years in Sauternes casks.
Colour: White wine
Nose: A bit of fruit and some vanilla, not that strong
Taste: A bit of sharpness, some fruits and sweetness
Aftertaste: Some spices
I feek quite disappointed in this whisky. it could be a bad batch as i know that other Sauternes finished whiskies are much better.

All in all, the Quinta Rubin is the one I would go for in a bar or pub.

Red wine from Camerano and Orlando Contuccio Ponno

I visited Camerano which is a producer in Barolo last year. They produce many different red wines. One of them are of the variety Dolcetto D'Alba. Dolcetto is a grape that is common in Piemonte and is made as a table wine but I find this grape to be under appreciated. I bought a bottle of this wine in Barolo as it was quite cheap compared to the Barolos. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 13%. I gets herbs on the nose. The taste is sour cherries with some herbs and with some tannins in the back. A good wine that showcase the quality of Dolcetto and worth all the money I spent on it.

Next up is yet a wine from producer Orlandi Contucci Ponno from Abruzzo. I have tasted several other wine from this producer before. This wine is called La Regia Specula and is a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Colline Teramane. The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 14%. This wine has been aged for 10 months in a barrel and the six months in the bottle before being sold. It consists of 100% Montepulciano grapes. The taste is of dark sour cherries with some herbs with some big hits of tannins. A good wine.

Veuve Lafontan et Ses Enfants XO 12 year old Armagnac

Veuve Lafontan et Ses Enfants XO  is a 12 year old Armagnac which is the standard Armagnac being sold in Sweden. Unfortunately there is a not a big range of Armagnacs in Sweden. An XO Armagnac must have a minimum ageing of 6 years old, although the Veuve Lafontan et Ses Enfants XO is 12 years old. I have also seen 20 year old XO Armagnacs so a much older age is very common. I don't know much abut this producer as their home page didn't say so much. Armagnac is a wine brandy from the district of Armagnac in France.

The colour goes in amber. The smell is very strong, some would say a slight glue smell. I would say cinnamon and extremely dried fruits in alcohol. The taste is dried fruits, oak, cinnamon and chocolate. The aftertaste is a slight burn of alcohol with oak and dried figs.

It is a decent Armagnac at a good price. Well worth starting out when trying Armagnacs for the first time.

Two Italian red wines

In this review I will visit Tuscany and Umbria.

Tenute Lunelli is an Italian wine producer in Italy and they have estates in Tuscany, Trentino and Umbria. Their Umbria estate is called Tenuta Castelbuono and is near Montefalco. Their wine Ziggurat is a Montefalco Rosso and contains 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and the rest 15% is Cabernet and Merlot. The ABV is 15% and the vintage is 2015.There is a strong smell of dark fruits In the taste I get dark currants, spices and dark chocolate with strong tannins that integrates well. A good wine that will become better with a few more years of aging.

The last wine is Vernaiolo from producer Rocca della Macie from Tuscany. It is a Chianti wine and contains 85% Sangiovese, 10% Caniola Nero and 5% Merlot. The ABV is 13% and the vintage is 2015. I find it to be a light fruity Chianti with some red fruits and some tannins in the end. The wine for for food when you want an easy drinking wine.

Calabria to Umbria

Calabria at the tip of the Italian boot is a place I have never visited and also have not drank so much wine from. The wine Korone rosso from producer Poderi Marini is a new eperience. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 14%. The grapes used are mainly Aglianico and Sangiovese with some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  I get red fruits on the nose. In the taste I get dark cherries, black currants and some soft tannins and vanilla in the end.

Next wine if from producer Lungarotti in Umbria. Their Rubesco wine I have tried before but then it was the 2012 vintage and now I have tried their 2015 vintage. The ABV is 14,5% and the grapes used are Sangiovese and Colorino. In this wine I get red fruits on the nose. I get black currants and dark cherries in the taste with some tannins in the back that lingers for some time. A good wine that I think gets better with one or two years of storage.

Tomatin aged 18 years

A while ago I tasted Tomatins 12 year old and now it is time for their 18 year old. The 18 year old had been finished in Oloroso sherry butts and it is non chill filtered and no colouring has been added. The ABV is 46%. Tomatin call themselves the softer side of the Highland so let us see if that is true.

On the nose I get some soft sherry and honey. In the taste I get some sherry with some soft spices and some dark chocolate. The finish is some spices and oak. Quite true, a softer side of the higlands but still with some character. Better than their 12 year old.