Dominio Alto Rioja Gran Reserva 2013

Dominio Alto Rioja Gran Reserva 2013 is a spanish wine from the Rioja appellation. Gran Reserva says that the wine needs to be aged two years in a barrel and three years in the bottle before being sold.The name Dominio Alto is a Swedish Brand name and the real producer is Bodegas La Eralta. The taste is of violet, plum, tobacco and oak. Very dry finish with oak in it. This is definitely a food wine. Just a bit to much oak for my taste.

Fontanafredda and their wines Barrbaresco, Pradalupo and Raimonda

Fontanafredda is a big producer in Piemonte who produces many different wines. They have 122 ha of land of which 100 hectares is vineyards. Fontanafredda produces many different wine but here I have only tried three.

Pradalupo is a white wine made from 100% Arneis grapes with an ABV of 13,5% and the vintage 2017. Arneis is the grape and for this bottling all the grapes has come from the Roero hills in Piemonte and therefore the wine is a Roero Arneis DOGC. Unfortunately the grape Arneis production areas continues to decrease but hopefully the world will see what a good wine this grape can give. The Pradalupo wine has a taste of apple, grapefruit, minerals and some citrus. Quite a sharp wine but goes excellent with spicy food.

Next up the the wine Raimonda which is a Barbera D'Alba wine with an ABV of 13,5% and the vintage 2016. This is made from 100% Barbera grapes. Part of the wine is matured in larger oak casks while the remaining wine is matured in smaller barrels (225 l) of medium tosted French and American barrels. Before bottling these two parts are the blended. In the taste I get black currant, plums and then some oak and soft tannins with some bitter almonds at the end. Quite an interesting Barbera and a very good food wine.

The last wine is Barbaresco of vintage 2013 with an ABV of 13,5%. Despite being a famous wine I have drunk very little Barbaresco. As with the more famous Barolo a Barbaresco is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. This wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels and then 12 months in the bottle before being sold. One thing I noticed with this wine was that this Barbaresco gained a lot by having air contact. So I would suggest to open the bottle one or two hours before being served or to decant it. In the taste I get  black currants, leather and some tobacco with tannins at the end. This is a wine that is still developing and is quite strong. Good now and will gain a bit extra with two-three more years of ageing.

Two older white wines from Peter Zemmer

This tasting is of two white wines from the producer Peter Zemmer in South Tyrol or Alto Adige/Südtirol as it is also know as. This time it is a bit special as it is two older white wines that I am tasting are from 2013 and the recommended storage age is 2-3 years. So how have they aged during these years and how do they taste?

First up is a Chardonnay from 2013 with ABV of 13,5%. The taste is of melon, citrus and some apricot. I can feel that it is starting to change from a young fresh wine to a more aged wine. Not for everyone but quite good.

Next up is a Pinot Grigio from 2013 with an ABV of 13,5%. After six years this wine has still freshness but shows some signs of maturity. In the taste I get pear, citrus and some gooseberry. Very good.

I have tried younger versions of this wine and it is interesting to try older versions.

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.

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.

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.

Wine from Croatia, Erdut Grasevina

For the first time ever I have tried a wine from Croatia. The producer is Erdut  and the grape is Grasevina also know as Welschriesling.  The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 12,5. This wine feels like a dry sweet wine. Some grapefruit, apples and honey but not ripe apple but unripe apples. The aftertaste is not that good and there is something lacking in this wine. Could it be a bad bottle or maybe it should have been drunk over three years ago? I am not impressed.

Torlasco Barbaresco versus Umbrian red wine

For the second time in my life I tried a Barbaresco. It is the wine Torlasco of the vintage 2011 and the ABV is 14%. When trying to find information about this wine I find the following: "Torlasco is a line of wines born to satisfy the most exclusive markets and customers." This does not sound so good but in the end it is the taste that matters. The grape is 100% Nebbiolo and the grapes have been grown in the Barbaresco area of Piemonte. I find a lot of red berries on the nose. The taste is of black currants, tobacco and some violets. Some harsh tannins in the aftertaste. It is a decent wine but I expect more from a Barbaresco. I think this has been made for American tastes.

Next up is a wine from Umbria in Italy. It is from producer Cantina Roccafiore and the wine is called Rosso Melograno. The grapes is Sangiovese and Montepulciano and the vintage is 2013. ABV is 12,5%. The nose is full of light red berries. The taste is of red currants, raspberry with some herbs like sage. Nice easy wine, not so complex but clear flavours.

Tasting two Sangiovese in Bologna

Bologna, the beautiful red city of the fat and learning.

In my last visit to Bologna I had the chance to sample some of the region Emilia-Romagna wines made from the grape Sangiovese. I had the chance to try two different Sangiovese Superiore di Romagna DOC. The first one is from producer Montaia and the vintage is 2015. ABV is 13%. The taste is of strong red fruits with some sharpness and acidity. Definitely a food wine due to the acidity.

Next wine is a  Sangiovese Supeirore di Romagna DOC Riserva by producer Campo del Sol.  The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 13,5%. The taste is of liquorice and black currants. The nose is amazing on this wine, very strong, Goes very well together with traditional bolognese food.

Three reds from Italy

Italy produces much good red wine. Some of it are made with indeginous grapes while other are made from international grapes.

The wine Syrah Maroccoli from producer Planeta is made using 100% Syrah from the vineyard Maroccoli situated at 400 meters height near Menfi in south western Sicily. The winery is Cantina Ulmo. The wine is matured in oak barriques of which 30% is new. The ABV is 14% while the vintage is 2010. The taste is rich and spicy, some black pepper. I think that this wine would go very well together with Oriental spicy food.

The wine Un Poco is a red wine from Puglia. It is made of the primitivo grape, in USA it is known as Zinfandel. This wine comes from producer Cantine San Marzano, however this is not written on the label. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 13,5%. The nose is very good on this wine. The taste is spicy and cherries with some soft tannins.A good wine.

The last wine comes from the one of the most famous wine districts in Italy, namely Chianti. Terreno Chainto classico from 2013 has and ABV of 13,5%. The grapes used for this wine is Sangiovese and Merlot.  The fields are located at a height of 350 meters above sea level. The smell is of red fruits. The taste is of cherries with some violets, a bit softer than expected. Some mild tannins. A nice wine.

Passito wine from Marche and then to Etna

I don't drink so much sweet wine nowadays unfortunately as some sweet wine is the best wine that can be drunk. The Dorato is a passito wine from Marche and it is produced by Garfoli. It is made 100% Moscato grapes and has the vintage 2013. To make a passito wine the grapes are dried before making the wine. This wine is then matured in wood for six months before bottling. The colour is golden yellow, not as amber as many passito wines has. The smell is very aromatic with fruits and dried fruits. The taste is intense, full of dried apricots and tropical fruits. A very good wine. Not as good as the Pantelleria passitos but it is much cheaper.

Nerello Mascalese is a red grape that is grown in Sicily. For the wine Ciure it has been used to produce a white wine. Terrazze Dell'Etna is the producer and the vintage is 2014. The taste is very good. Minerals, citrus and some apples. I thought I was drinking a Carricante. Highly recommended.

Ciampolete Rosso Di Montalcino

From Montalcino in Tuscany comes some of the worlds best wine. Rosso di Montalcino is the cheaper compared to the Brunello di Montalcino. Some years the producers don't feel that the Brunello is good enough to name it Brunello and then they can declassify it and sell it as Rosso di Montalcno. Usually a Rosso di Montalcino is a bit lighter than the Brunellos but can be equally good depending on what one like.

Ciampoleto 2013 is a Rosso di Montalcino from producer San Giorgio. As the rules states it is made from 100% Sangiovese. The ABV is 13,5%. The colour is ruby. The nose is of spices. The taste is very good. I can feel spices, black currants and cacao. Elegant and with complexity. An excellent wine.

Montalcino is an excellent place to visit. From the town one has a good view of the outlying Tuscan countryside. Very beautiful. From the castello one can see the town very well and the castle is also very nice with a winebar/store inside.

White wine from Alsace and Umbria

I like white wine from the Alsace region in France. They are usually very good. A producer that I have tried some wine from is Cave de Turckheim. Now it is time for their Riesling from 2013 which is organically made. The smell is quite nice but for me the taste is lacking a bit. A bit to light for me with citrus notes. Not a Riesling I would buy again.

White wine from Umbria is not that common here in Sweden. I found a bottle Conte della Vipera from 2014 from producer Marchesi Antinori. This vintage contains 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillion. So it is international grape varieties in this bottle. The wineyards for this wine is at 250-350meters of height. The taste is of pears and grapefruit and is very nice. I like this wine.

From one volcano to another

There is many good wine in Italy produced near Volcanoes. Etna is a volcano in Sicily and a grape that is grown there is the grape Carricante. The wine from this grape reminds me of Riesling wines. The wine Le Sabbie Dell'Etna from producer Firriato contains the grapes Carricante and Catarratto. It seem that Caricante gives that wine structure and minerality while the Catarratto gives it freshness. A very good wine and I like very much.

The wine Falanghina Del Sanno is produced by Lorenzo Nifo Sarrapochiello. This area is situated approximately 30 km from the volcano Vesuvio. It is made 100% of the grape Falanghina and this grape is mostly grown in the Campania region in Italy. It is quite strong with a taste of of tropical fruits, nectarines and citrus. It has a quite long finish. I like it and it would go very well with seafood.

Magliocco, a rare grape from Italy

Magliocco is a red wine grape that grows almost only in Calabria in Italy. I had the chance to try the wine Magliocco from the producer Cantine Lento which is run by the Lento family. The wine Magliocco from 2010 is made by magliocco grapes which is grown on soils at 500 meters of height. The aging is done one year in French oak. The color is dark red and the taste is quite strong with a taste of cherries and some black berries. For me it would have tasted better with two-three years of storage. Quite interesting grape and one worth checking out.

The producer Falchini is situated in San Gimignano, Tuscany, which is famous for the many towers of the town. Their wine Falchini Chianti Colli Senesi is made of 100% Sangiovese grapes. It is a bit lighter than the Magliocco. The taste is of red currants, light cherries and is very nice. I have earlier tried their 2012 vintage and their 2013 vintage keep up the quality but I think tat the 2013 vintage is a bit lighter than the 2012.

Two rosso di Montalcino

I have had the chance to try two Rosso Di Montalcino from 2013 by producers Col D'Orcia and Castelli Martinozzi. Rosso Di Montalcino is a wine made of 100% sangiovese grown in the same region as the Brunello Di Montalcino. However it only need one year of aging before being sold, compared to the brunellos the Rosso Di Montalcino is lighter and more fresh.

I tasted the Col D'Orcia when I were down on Montalcino and this time I had time I make tasting notes. The colour is like a lighter red ruby. The taste is very good, some tannins, black currants, black pepper and cacao. I like this wine.

The Rosso Di Montalcino from Castelli Martinozzi is a new experience. It also has a lighter red ruby colour. For this wine I feel some soft tannins, black currants but also some coffee notes. Also a very good wine.

In the future it will be fun to try these producers Brunellos also.

Wine from south to the north of Italy

From Sicily comes the white wine Adenzia of the vintage 2015 from producer Baglio Del Cristo Di Campobello. It contains the grapes Grillo and Insolia. The taste is citrus and tropical friut. Nice and good.

From Sardinia comes the wine Monteoro of the vintage 2013 from producer Sella E Mosca. It is made with the grape Vermentino which is one of my favourite grapes. Good taste with some nice acidity.

Finally from the north comes the wine I Frati lugana. This wine is from the area near Lago Garda and is made of the local variant grape of Verdicchio. The taste is of pear, tropical fruits, a good acidity and a bit aromatic. Very good. So good I went and bought another bottle of this wine.

Some fine wines from Italy and France

Wine from France I usually don't drink so much of except the Alsace region. Alsace produces may good white wines. Domaine Rieflé produces several different white wines and the one I had the chance to try is their Gewurztraminer Bonheur Convivial from 2013 is made from 100% of Gewurztraminer. The taste is of Elderberries and is very aromatic. Very good.

Italy has many different grapes and wine regions. One that produces good white wine is the Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi. Fattoria San Lorenzo has a wine called Di Gini which is made of 100% Verdicchio. It has a taste of apples and some citrus. A sharp taste so not for everyone but I quite like it.

Bacio Della Luna is a prosecco from Italy. It has a good apple and citrus taste and is quite light. Your typical good prosecco.

When in Tucany I drove by Castello Banfi which is situated in a beautiful area of southern Tuscany. For the first time I had the chance to try their wine, namely a Rosso Di Montalcino from 2013. The taste is rich and of black currant and plums and many soft tannins. This wine could probably be stored for several years before drinking. Very good.

Radikon, natural wine from Italy

For the first time I have tried what it is called a natural wine. it is the wine Radikon Slatnik 2013 by producer Azienda Agricola Radikon.This is what is also called orange wine because of the colour of the wine. This wine if from the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. There is no temperature controlled fermentation for this wine for example only what the producer called "natural" methods.

So how does it taste. First the colour is very deep orange. One can almost believe that it is a cider in the glass. The smell is strong and goes towards apples. Now the taste is like a weak cider. A lot of apples and sharpness but without the freshness of a very good cider from Normandy. It is drinkable but all the time I wonder why shall I drink it since I can get a cider that tastes much better than this wine. One thing I don't usually mention is the price. This wine is very expensive and I can get many bottles of cider for the same price. This is not for me but may be interesting for some people.

Three white wines from Itay

I have always liked the white wine from the town of San Gimignano called Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The town of San Gimignano is known for the many towers that the town has. The wine I have tasted is from Fattoria di fugnano e Bomberto and is from 2014. The taste is nice and fresh and surprisingly no aftertaste of bitter almond.

The next wine is from the island of Ischia outside of Napoli, the wine is from producer Azienda Agricola Fratelli Muratori and the wine is called Pietra Brox and is from 2012. The wine consists of the local grapes Biancolella and Forastera with some addition of the grape Fiano. It is from the Ischia Bianco DOC. The color goes a bit towards orange and the taste is strong with notes of grapefruit and citrus. Coupled with seafood this wine is a delight.

Going over to the east coast of Italy is Abruzzo and the wine Trebbiano d'Abruzzo. The producer Barone di Volforte  produces the wine Villa Ambrosia and the vintage is from 2013. It consists of 100% of the grape Trebbiano. The taste is strong and has notes of pears, citrus and peaches. Very good and an excellent food wine.