Sparkling wine from France and Italy

Three sparkling wines in different styles and countries and regions. First up is a sparkling wine from Champagne. It is a Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose from 2006. It has an ABV of 12,5%. Vintage champagne is not made every year. Year 2006 had a hot July followed by a cool and rainy August. But when the harvest started it was hot and dry. Then the wine rested seven years on the yeast before being degorged. I let it rest for four more years before opening the bottle. In the taste I get raspberry, spicy bread with good acidity and body. A lovely rose wine which could probably been resting for many more years.

Then going south to Italy we find the producer Ciu Ciu and the wine Altamarea which is a Vino Spumante Brut. The ABV is 12% an it is a non vintage sparkling wine. On the nose I get some pear. The taste is light and slightly bready. Could work as an alternative to Prosecco.

Last is the sparkling wine Spumante brut from producer I Pastini in Puglia in Italy. The vintage is 2017 and the ABV 12%. The grape used for this wine is Verdeca. The taste is of melon, apple and some bread notes. Quite nice and light. Short to medium finish. A nice sparkling wine.

Two red wines from Adanti in Montefalco

Cantina Adanti is a family owned winery near Montefalco in Umbria, Italy. This winery started in the sixties and nowadays they own 40 hectars of land of which 30 is used for vineyards. They make several wines, both red and white wines. When I visited Umbria in 2016 I bought several of their wines typical of the region. One each of their Montefalco Rosso, and Montefalco Rosso Riserva. Both of these winetypes must contain 60-70% Sangiovese, 10-15% Sagrantino and the rest of the grapes can be any red grape variety. For the Montefalco Rosso it must be aged for 18 months before being sold, while for the riserva it has to be stored for 30 months being sold with at least 12 months in wood.

First up is the Montefalco Rosso from 2011. It has an ABV of 14,5%. It has the following grape composition: 70% sangiovese, 15% sagrantino, 5% barbera, 5% merlot, 5% cabernet. This is a rich red wine with some strong tannins. In the taste I have cherries, some earthy notes and rich black currants. Very good but you need some strong food with it.

Next up is the Montefalco Rosso Riserva from 2011 with an ABV of 14,5%. It has the following grapes: 70% sangiovese, 15% sagrantino, 15% merlot. On the nose a lot of cherry. The taste is of dark cherry and some black currant with some plum and some lingering tannins. Very good and feels very elegant. I could have mistaken this for a very good Brunello in a blind tasting. This is a wine which would have been fun to have 12 bottles of and drink one each year just to follow the progress of the wine.

Two very good wines from Cantina Adanti. Both highly recommended.

Three wines from Cantina Lavis

Cantina Lavis is a producer in the region of Trentino in the the northern part of Italy. The first wine is a Riesling wine from 2017 with and ABV of 12,5%. It has a lovely tropical fruit smell on the nose. The taste is of pineapple, citrus and some more tropical fruits. A nice wine.

Next up is a Müller Thurgau from 2017 with an ABV of 12,5% also. The nose on this one is great, with pears and flowers. The taste is of pear, citrus and floral notes. Very nice and a good drinking wine.

The last wine is a red wine made from Lagrein grapes and the vintage is 2017. The wine has a very dark ruby colour. Almost an earthy smell on the nose. On the taste I get blueberries and some plums with some leathery notes and viols. A very good young red wine.

Ciu Ciu, four wines from Ciu Ciu

Ciu Ciu is a big producer fro Marche in Italy and I have tried four of their wines. Two white wines and two red ones. Let us start with the red wines of which the first is a Sangiovese based wine called Ciu Ciu Limitato Sangiovese. In the taste I get red fruit with some coffee and some black currant. A nice red but nothing special.
Next one is called Piceno Bachus. This is from 2016 and has an ABV of 13,5%. This wine consists of the grapes Sangiovese and Montepulciano. It is a very good mix of these grapes. I get dark cherries with some plums and some earthy notes and with some oak in the back. Much better than the Limitato.

Next up is two different white wines from Ciu Ciu. First one is the wine Merlettaie Offida from 2016 with an ABV of 13,5%. This consists of 100% Pecorino grapes. This is quite an austere white wine and the taste if of apple and some minerals. It is very dry and I would say that this is a food wine.

The last wine is the the white wine Falerio Oris from 2016 and the ABV 13%. The grapes are Pecorino and Passerina with some Trebbiano. In the taste I get some pear, acidity (citrus) and some minerals. A very good white wine. The best wine of this tasting.