Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne La Grande Dame 1998

It is the cuvée de prestige, created in 1972, to solemnize 200 years since the founding of the Maison and, above all, is the ultimate tribute to Madame Barbe Nicole Clicquot, whose masterful work was essential for the expansion and reputation of this brand.

La Grande Dame, drawn only in exceptional vintages, is an assemblage dominated by the Pinot Noir - usually 65%-70% - and Chardonnay. Only grapes from its own vineyards, of 8 Grand Cru villages: Le Mesnil, Avize, Oger for Chardonnay; Bouzy, Verzenay, Verzy, Aÿ and Ambonnay for Pinot Noir. Between seven and ten years sur lattes and manual remuage. My bottle was disgorged 6 years ago.

A thin perlage, with the nose, elegant and lively, but not too complex, taking straight a refined and oriental road, - white pepper, cinnamon and saffron - while enter, with oxygenation, butter and quince, citrus fragrances and toasted almonds, with the mineral profile just basted and a little hidden.

A fresh mouth and almost symmetrical, continues the journey to the east, with a fine spicy texture - so much saffron - which is accompanied by malt, with clear hints of apricot and candied citrus, while the mineral aspect remains stalled. Tirelessly velvety and vibrant palate, for great tension sips and a really spicy and long finish.

An excellent drink and a bottle still growing, that could become overwhelming, in a few years.

 Best wishes

Merry Xmas and happy new year

Damiano Ciolli Cesanese Silene 2011

My first time with this grape variety (Cesanese), thanks to the advice of my wine shop’s friend. We are in the province of Frosinone and Damiano Ciolli, here, is a very serious winemaker.

Steel and cement for a ruby red, slightly discharged.

The nose, fresh and quite expressive encompasses as the floral profile - aromatic herbs and purple - as that fruity - plums and cherries, blackberries and wild berries - as well as a beautiful mineral and spicy texture.

The taste is pleasantly sincere and consistent with the olfactory properties.

A lot of red fruit - blackcurrant, strawberry and blackberry - with clean salty and mineral strokes, integrated tannins, for a very agile sip.

Agility and pleasure even thanks to a formidable alcohol control (14 °), which triggers an addictive drink.

Medium persistence, takes leave with subtle notes of red berries and black pepper.

Fleury Champagne Cépages Blancs Extra Brut 2006

No more than five thousand bottles for this 100% Chardonnay.

Not less than six years on the lees, bouchon liège, over 1 year of disgorgement.

Here we are in the south of Champagne land, in the Aube.

The perlage is very elegant, with a nose at once expressive and brilliant: lots of fresh fruit - exotic, citrus, plum and quince - and dry - almond and hazelnut - herbs and light tones rusks.

It is initially closed about the mineral and spicing, but it will demonstrate all its value and its size, right released the neck of the bottle.

Fine effervescence and a lot of stuff, chisel and clarity, even in the mouth.

Harmonies of fruit and spicy gusts, verticality, fine texture and freshness, are the expression of a balance beyond expectations.

Sip continuously straight and dynamic, very long, with final bitter notes, spice and flint.

Porta Del Vento Catarratto 2013

One of the few companies, which I "follow", scrupulously, and one of my stainless certainties about Sicilian wines.

The Marco Sferlazzo’s wines are in constant qualitative progress and this Catarratto vinified dry, no exception.

I've already written it before and it's up to repeat myself, however I do it with great pleasure.

It 'a wine screaming Sicily, such as the nose as the palate, beginning from the island's fruit - grapefruit, orange, pomegranate, fig, apricot - herbs and white flowers, and so much iodine salinity.

The nose and the mouth twins, for a drink that is primarily balanced and measured. So much flab, for a draft, very dry and degreaser, very persistent and irresistible drinking.

You could not resist.

Le Grand Tasting 2015 | Paris

Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December, in Paris, the Carrousel du Louvre will host the tenth edition of “Le Grand Tasting”, organized by Mr. Michel Bettane and Mr. Thierry Desseauve, founders of the homonymous wine-guide.

Yet another, and unmissable opportunity to discover and taste the excellence of French wine - personally selected by Bettane & Dessauve - with a strong presence of Italian companies - over 40 - and others coming from all over the world.

They called “Le festival des meilleurs vins” and there was no better title. Simply browsing the list of participants, to realize what you will taste.

Finally, exclusive Ateliers Gourmets, Master Class and Master Class Prestige, which will allow, by reservation, to participate in special tastings, illustrated by experts and/or producers.

Chateau La Canorgue Rosé 2014

Here we are in Bonnieux, north side of the Luberon, in Provence, and most likely, you will have seen the movie by Ridley Scott – A good year - with the "Gladiator" Crowe, who plays the role of a broker in the City.

Well, many scenes were filmed right in this estate, organic since over 30 years.

Given the success of the movie, of course, to us simple mortals, the estate closed to the visits, even though many people tried - and they are still going on today, undeterred - to climb over the high wall.

Instead the visits are much appreciated, at the nearby wine shop.

The wine is not that of the movie, but a successful mariage rosé between Syrah (70%) and Grenache (30%).

The nose, intense and elegant, with tangerine and peach, always inevitable red berries - currants, strawberries and raspberries - with floral puffs, while the spice is a little hidden.

The first impression on the palate is a Big Babol sour - not consider it reprehensible, but the exact opposite – having a lascivious drink. In addition, the other fine qualities of a good rosé: freshness, not too much fruit, right vinosity. Three elements of a sip really balanced.

The end is floral and slightly spicy, not very persistent, coming from a bottle that, in four persons, lasted a blink!

Ah, those French, they make good rosés.

Nominé-Renard Champagne Special Club Brut 2004

A small and young maison de récoltant, born in 1960, cultivating 20 hectares of vineyard – 50% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier - divided between Côte de Sézanne and the Valley of the Marne.

This is the jewel of the company – 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir - from old vineyard, "Special Club" version, only in the best years. Steel only, performed malolactic and at least 42 months on the lees.

Both the nose and the palate, have finesse and delicacy. Notes of pastry and peach, are mixed with a touch of grilled almond and hazelnut, tied with delicious minerality, while the freshness is more nuanced. 

The sip, fairly tense, reveals a round size, yet slender, whose light weight structure, makes it preferable during the aperò-time.

Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico 2011

Radda in Chianti village, one of the best areas for the production of Chianti. Here, hard to go wrong.

This is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and Syrah.

The olfactory attack is Sangiovese race, with that spicy elegance - dark spice - which enhances the pattern fruity, rich in orange and red cherry, blueberry and wild strawberry. Touches of violet and rose, climbing the nostrils, while strong balsamic and minerals waves complete an articulated plot.

In the mouth it vibrates for freshness and aromatic cleanliness, with the confirmation of the total olfactory feedback and the aromas growing with oxygenation.

The drink is juicy and stringy, with the spice accompanying the draft, very fruity, until the end. A good balance, it closes, with effective extension, mineral and very spicy.

Radda in Chianti, you don’t go wrong.

Vini di Vignaioli Vins de Vignerons 2015 | Fornovo di Taro (Parma)

Sunday 1 and Monday 2, November, back to the appointment, in the Fornovo di Taro, near Parma (North Italy), with the unmissable event of Vini di Vignaioli, Vins de Vignerons 2015 (winegrowers wines), this year celebrating the fourteenth edition.

Not only tasting, not only buying, but also to know directly the winegrowers and tune into their modus, to understand their working philosophy.

This edition will present more than 130 winemakers, and there will be also a large group of high quality food, and publishing, companies.

As usual, you can find the list of winegrowers, and other useful information, consulting their website and fb page.

vinidivignaioli

Piacere Barbaresco 2015 | Barbaresco

This weekend - 17 saturday and 18 sunday october - I recommend the appointment with the ninth edition of Piacere Barbaresco, organized by the Enoteca Regionale of Barbaresco, in Barbaresco.

This year the focus will be on the vintages 2010, 2011 and 2012 and will be attended more than fifty producers, over a hundred tasting labels, with possibility to purchase 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.

Finally, not to be missed, this year, a magnificent view on the vineyards of Barbaresco, visible from the Tower.

enoteca del barbaresco

Wine in Sanremo 2015 | Sanremo (Imperia)

From Saturday 10 to Monday 12, October, will take place at the Palafiori Sanremo (Imperia), the first edition of Wine in Sanremo. It is a tasting show about italian wine, where you will discover more than 600 wines, representing over 100 italian wine producers.

The program is very rich because, alongside the event, there are many tasting "themes" ranging from a vertical of Brunello di Montalcino Col d'Orcia, to different vintages of Solare by Capannelle, from tastings of Barolo and Barbaresco Pio Cesare, to 4 vintages of Barbera Bricco Uccellone, from a focus on Barolo vintage 2011, with some prominent companies, to a tasting of Rossese of Dolceacqua and the rediscovery of the Moscatello of Taggia (an old native grape), to finish with two tasting about grappa.

For program details, schedules, a list of participating companies, as well as the calendar of themed tastings, visit the website and keep in touch with their social pages.

 wineinsanremo