Le Chiuse Rosso di Montalcino 2009

Here we are in Montalcino, Tuscany, and this is Sangiovese one hundred percent.

It’s clear and bright ruby red.

The plot smell is fragrant and fruity with hints of black cherry, blackberry and violet. A wonderful and convinced spiciness emerges slowly, but very straight.

On the mouth the attack is warm and dry and there is consistency with the nose to which is added a note of tobacco well-defined. Good freshness and lively acidity transform this bottle in pure pleasure. Beautiful closing tangy-spicy with good persistence.

In the presence of this quality the price is really small and inviting purchase.

Bruno Gottardi Pinot Nero “Mazzon” 2009

The cru Mazzon is located in the small village of Egna, Italy north-west (province of Bolzano), and this is a first order company for the quality of this cru.

The color is a transparent ruby red.

The aromas are very elegant: raspberry, cherry, red fruit, a pronounced spiciness, with a balsamic and herbaceous touch.

The palate is fine, persuasive. Meeting spices, first of all, and a precise correspondence nose-palate. Lively tannins with nice acidity and alcohol in balance. Savory final and quite persistent.

One of the best italian Pinot Noir.

Vini di Vignaioli 2014 | Fornovo di Taro

Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd of November, unmissable, in Fornovo di Taro, near Parma, the thirteenth edition of Vini di Vignaioli.

I recommend this event, in particular, to those who follow, carefully, the organic wine world. It’ a way to come into direct contact with the winegrowers.

Also this year over a hundred winegrowers and the possibility, as usual, to purchase the wines in tasting.

But Vini di Vignaioli is not only wine, in fact you will find a pavilion of food products, as well as a section about the publishing industry.

The list of the winegrowers attending, the event times and other information, by consulting the site.

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Michel Gonet Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2004

Michel Gonet is a winegrower - récoltant-manipulant - from Avize, a small village in the Côte des Blancs, cultivating about forty acres.

Today I’m writing about a blanc de blancs, made from only Chardonnay grapes coming from vineyards classified Grands Crus of Oger and Mesnil sur Oger, expression of a single vintage.

In the glass a rich and luminous yellow gold, with oxidized drifts. The perlage is quite dense and persistent, with a nice creamy effervescence.

The olfactory register is initially tight, but after half an hour starts to unfold.

I feel distinctly, honey, chamomile, coffee, dried fruit, lightly toasted, hints of iodine and chalky.

On the palate the entry is dry and pleasant, with nice freshness and a good correspondence nose-mouth. Minerality and chalk mainly, with oxidized nuances. A good balance, a good structure and just dosed. Tangy final  and slightly bitter.

A champagne throughout the meal.

Piacere Barbaresco 2014 | Barbaresco

This weekend - 18 saturday and 19 sunday october - I recommend the appointment with the eighth edition of Piacere Barbaresco, organized by the Enoteca Regionale of Barbaresco, in Barbaresco.

This year the focus will be on the vintages 2009, 2010 and 2011 and will be attended by more than fifty producers, over a hundred tasting labels, with possibility purchasing the wines tasted, at the adjoining Enoteca Regionale.

The event, as usual, will be held at the Hall of the Municipality of Barbaresco, from 10 to 19.

enotecaregionaledelbarbaresco

Bressan Mastri Vinai Verduzzo 2007

A bit late harvest and long maceration for an intense orange glass.

The nose is fresh, with a strong mineral incipit, which develops an avalanche of yellow fruits, including tropical - dried apricot, nectarine and citrus confit, figs and dates - a hint of honey, some dried grass field and a clean almond note.

The palate, of impressive freshness and aligned in all respects – as ordered by Fulvio! - amplifies the olfactory expression with the wide fruity connotation - also here a lot of apricot, dates and candied citron – that coexists, without trouble, with convincing and strong grains of savory minerality.

Very balanced bottle, and the long maceration having in no way affected the acidity and the vertical tasting. A pleasant tannins verve, helped propelling the sip - full, dry and smooth drink - that has been long persistent and ended with clear indications of almond, date and cigar.

Don’t worry, I did not smoke and I'm not laughing, on the table only an assortment of seasoned cheeses.

A not easy wine and not for everyone, a character wine, with balls, as the style of his father winemaker, Mr. Fulvio.

For me another trip, fulfilling and unforgettable in the Fulvio’s world of wine.

Giacomo Conterno Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia 2009

This winery is one of the icons of Langa, famous throughout the world for the highest quality of its products.

According to Roberto, this vintage is perfect for the Barbera grape and if he says so…

The robe is dark and intense ruby red.

The nose has richness and great complexity, which emerge hints of rose, cherry, raspberry and blackberry, with very noticeable watermelon, still releasing spices, licorice and herbs.

On the palate, very elegant and character, is the revival of the olfactory pathway. This Barbera is voluptuous, inviting and pierces you with its juice. The fruit is very generous, with pronounced minerality and the mouth is very convincing, engaging with acidity. A great freshness holds up an important alcohol content.

The finish is long, complex and refreshing with a hint of blackberries.

An aristocratic drink.

A glass leads to another and too soon you realize that the bowl is empty, sadly, desperately empty. The next time will be magnum size.

Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia 2005

Classic and variety, are the first two words, emblematic and significant, coming to my mind, if I would to synthesize the interpretation that gives Claudio Fenocchio of the cru Bussia.

Classic: thirty months big barrel. Varietal: it is Nebbiolo, without doubt.

A warm garnet, with clean and fresh aromas waiting for me.

Lots of red fruit, sometimes even in spirit - cherry and plum - a vivid rose and viola and a nice spicy.

The next wheeling gives a fresh breath balsamic, but it is the licorice, the unmistakable mark of the Bussia, which assumes high profile.

Palate with vibrant elegance and freshness and consistently aligned with the olfactory expression. There is an harmonious fusion between fruity and spicy, nice and dense tannins and an alcohol control ever hovering.

Sip very deep and balanced, in constant progression and very persistent, with an happy ending of tobacco, leather and licorice.

Enjoy it with roast.

Rizzi Barbaresco Boito 2004

Here we are in Treiso and this Barbaresco Boito comes from grapes selected in the cru "Rizzi".

The color is a brilliant garnet slightly discharged.

The framework olfactory is detailed, clean and elegant. There are ample aromas of dried flowers, licorice, geranium, china, underbrush and leather. There is a nice amount of rose with touches of raspberry, cherry, hints of minerals and spicy notes

The cup has great fresh taste, with fine tannins and tense. The sip, coherent and inviting, offering incisive fruity returns and repeats the complexity and the elegance already discovered in the nose, expanding them. The acidity is in the foreground with a graceful drink.

It’s a great structure wine, however well balanced in the relationship acid-tannic, with precise control of alcohol. The closing is dynamic, and characterized by freshness with great momentum and long lasting.

It can safely keep still in your cellar.

Excellent bottle, well done, Enrico.

Deutz Champagne Brut Classic n.v.

Deutz is an ancient Maison of Ay founded, in 1838, by two Prussian immigrants. Since 1993, it is owned by Roederer, however, that ensures full independence. The annual production is around two millions bottles.

The Brut Classic is the entry level cuvée. It is a blanc d'assemblage, where the proportion of the three varieties - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier - is equally represented. The reserve wines represent twenty percent usually.

It has a pale yellow, soft, with fairly fine bubbles and good persistence, with nice creaminess. A sweet note on the nose, followed by hints of citrus, apple and pastry.

The mouth is very similar to the olfactory expression. There remains this lovely creaminess supported by a balanced acidity. Meeting notes of citrus and bread, supported by a clear mineral vein. Ends long enough, with good persistence.

Recommended as an aperitif.