Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico
Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico 2006 "Brolio" was the winner of my Saturday night Chianti Death match face off, roundly knocking out the same vintage bio dynamic effort from Badia a Coltibuono. This week I've received a few emails from folk watching the vlogs asking for a clear up on the rules in Chianti Classico and also requesting a Chianti Classico episode, as a natural people pleaser what else could I do? See Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico score a QPR busting 89 Points and impress my palate despite cutting myself somewhat ferociously with a butter knife just before the tasting.
This is on YOUTUBE today instead of Viddler. Press on the "HQ" on the player, its far better sound quality.
Very disappointing that the biodynamic wine did not fair better to my palate. This wine is lauded by the producer as a "true representative of Chianti Classico" well, perhaps I just like my sulphites but I found the Barone Ricasoli to represent my ideal of Chianti far more closely and at £7 less, please my pocket too.
Barone Ricasoli have a great website showcasing all their wines and a really interesting film intro that you can check out here - Barone Ricasoli.
Where can I buy this wine?
Americans - Laurenti Wines - $18
Europeans - Superiore - €12.40
Brits - AG Wines - £12.50
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Please leave a comment if you've tried either of these wines or have a favourite Chianti Classico to tell us about or indeed, one you'd like me to review. Favourite bio dynamic producer?
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007 is a perfect example of Valpolicella done right and at a fair price. A great example of its type, Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007 will be a terrific accompaniment to a summers picnic and saw me through an afternoon re-run of the Formula One GP, a perfect wine to relax with.
Allegrini are one of the top producers in the Veneto and one of my personal favourites (you'll notice them mentioned a few times on the blog). They are pioneers in the area and produce some exceptional wines including a blend "La Grola" (Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Syrah and Sangiovese) and a 100% Corvina wine "La Poja" that regularly scoop all the top scores and awards as well as a magnificent Amarone of which I like to keep a magnum or two in the house at all times.
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007 - BUY - £7.75
A striking ruby red in the glass the wine is hugely aromatic and attacks your nostrils as you uncork the wine. Lively notes of glazed cherry and herbs on the nose with a light-mid bodied palate with some cherry fruit on the mid-palate. The wine has good acidity and is a typical Valpolicella Classico with a bitter note on the finish. 86 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Americans - The Wine Buyer - $11.99
Europeans - Superiore - €7.90
Brits - AG Wines - £7.75
Leave a Comment
Your perfect summer wine?
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007 is a perfect example of Valpolicella done right and at a fair price. A great example of its type, Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007 will be a terrific accompaniment to a summers picnic and saw me through an afternoon re-run of the Formula One GP, a perfect wine to relax with.
Allegrini are one of the top producers in the Veneto and one of my personal favourites (you'll notice them mentioned a few times on the blog). They are pioneers in the area and produce some exceptional wines including a blend "La Grola" (Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Syrah and Sangiovese) and a 100% Corvina wine "La Poja" that regularly scoop all the top scores and awards as well as a magnificent Amarone of which I like to keep a magnum or two in the house at all times.
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2007 - BUY - £7.75
A striking ruby red in the glass the wine is hugely aromatic and attacks your nostrils as you uncork the wine. Lively notes of glazed cherry and herbs on the nose with a light-mid bodied palate with some cherry fruit on the mid-palate. The wine has good acidity and is a typical Valpolicella Classico with a bitter note on the finish. 86 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Americans - The Wine Buyer - $11.99
Europeans - Superiore - €7.90
Brits - AG Wines - £7.75
Leave a Comment
Your perfect summer wine?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Suavia Soave Classico
Suavia Soave Classico
Suavia have had a mega couple of years with their Soave Classicos scooping WineSpectator and Gambero Rosso awards. Suavia produce only Soave wines and with 4 very different Soaves (2 you can see in the episode below, a further oaked Soave Classico and a Recioto di Soave) they seem on the fast track to joining the other kings of Soave, Inama, Pieropan, Gini and Anselmi. Watch the video below to see how their entry level Soave Classico and Tre Bicchiere award winning "Monte Carbonare" faired.
Hows that for some crazy titles?
I really can't recommend these wines highly enough. This is real quality wine for £7 and £11 and represents the very best of Italian white wine value. Its common knowledge that the southern whites, the Fianos and Falanghinas have come on in great strides over the last 5-10 years but that you can get this level of quality from Soave for £10 is something worth shouting about. Please go out and try these wines. Then come back here and let me know what you thought. Do it now :)
Suavia Soave Classico 2008 - BUY - £7
A straw yellow colour with green hues the wine is generously aromatic with a strong note of nettles as well as wet rocks and grapefruit. On the palate the structure is elegant with great acidity and fruit balance producing a fresh and lively wine, really cutting acidity. A good length dry finish completes a brilliant example of Soave. 90 Points
Suavia Soave Classico "Monte Carbonare" 2007 - BUY - £11
A darker straw yellow with good intensity. On the nose the wine has a nutty character but the over-riding pineapple and apricot fruit shine through, earth and mineral notes combine to give this wine a multi-dimensional personality on the nose. The palate is luscious and full with a tropical flavour continuing with strong apricots on the mid palate and a fruity generous finish. Less cutting but still fresh and lively. Top quality Soave. 92 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Both Soaves can be bought at the UK retailer Bibendum
Both Soaves can be bought at European retailer Superiore
The Soave Classico can be bought at SuperwineWarehouse and the Monte Carbonare at Winerz in the USA.
Leave a Comment
Both these Soave wines come from 50 year old vines yet Suavia don't mention that fact. Most producers with old vines will make a point of letting their customers know this. Why is it that Suavia are not making a fuss over this? Are 50 year old vines par for the course in Soave? Does vine age matter less with Gargenega?
Any general comments about Soave or bullfrogs are welcome :)
Suavia have had a mega couple of years with their Soave Classicos scooping WineSpectator and Gambero Rosso awards. Suavia produce only Soave wines and with 4 very different Soaves (2 you can see in the episode below, a further oaked Soave Classico and a Recioto di Soave) they seem on the fast track to joining the other kings of Soave, Inama, Pieropan, Gini and Anselmi. Watch the video below to see how their entry level Soave Classico and Tre Bicchiere award winning "Monte Carbonare" faired.
Hows that for some crazy titles?
I really can't recommend these wines highly enough. This is real quality wine for £7 and £11 and represents the very best of Italian white wine value. Its common knowledge that the southern whites, the Fianos and Falanghinas have come on in great strides over the last 5-10 years but that you can get this level of quality from Soave for £10 is something worth shouting about. Please go out and try these wines. Then come back here and let me know what you thought. Do it now :)
Suavia Soave Classico 2008 - BUY - £7
A straw yellow colour with green hues the wine is generously aromatic with a strong note of nettles as well as wet rocks and grapefruit. On the palate the structure is elegant with great acidity and fruit balance producing a fresh and lively wine, really cutting acidity. A good length dry finish completes a brilliant example of Soave. 90 Points
Suavia Soave Classico "Monte Carbonare" 2007 - BUY - £11
A darker straw yellow with good intensity. On the nose the wine has a nutty character but the over-riding pineapple and apricot fruit shine through, earth and mineral notes combine to give this wine a multi-dimensional personality on the nose. The palate is luscious and full with a tropical flavour continuing with strong apricots on the mid palate and a fruity generous finish. Less cutting but still fresh and lively. Top quality Soave. 92 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Both Soaves can be bought at the UK retailer Bibendum
Both Soaves can be bought at European retailer Superiore
The Soave Classico can be bought at SuperwineWarehouse and the Monte Carbonare at Winerz in the USA.
Leave a Comment
Both these Soave wines come from 50 year old vines yet Suavia don't mention that fact. Most producers with old vines will make a point of letting their customers know this. Why is it that Suavia are not making a fuss over this? Are 50 year old vines par for the course in Soave? Does vine age matter less with Gargenega?
Any general comments about Soave or bullfrogs are welcome :)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Joachim Heger Spatburgunder Q 2005
Joachim Heger Spatburgunder Q 2005
Joachim Heger Spatburgunder Q (Baden) doesn't leap to mind as a wine for a dreary Good Friday in SW London for it really isn't a wine for that occasion but this was "Foreign Friday" and I'd just taken delivery of this interesting Spatburgunder!
This really is a wine for food suited perfectly to chinese foods like Peking Duck or Sweet and Sour Pork but not to drink on its own as its far too acidic and lacking in character on the palate.
Joachim Heger Spatburgunder Q 2005 - PASS - £11
Light garnet red colour with a beautifully perfumed nose of roses, cinnamon, cherry stones and cranberries. On the palate the wine is light bodied with very high acidity, no real fruit but is soft and easy drinking, lack complexity. 80 Points
80 Points is really low for a wine of this price but this is a food wine, with food, this wine could score considerably higher.
Where can I buy this Wine?
Americans - Winebuys - $20
Europeans - Chile Wein - €8
Brits - Virginwines - £11
Leave a Comment
Anything Spatburgunder? Like, don't like? Tried, never tried? Tell me about your Spatburgunder experiences.
Joachim Heger Spatburgunder Q (Baden) doesn't leap to mind as a wine for a dreary Good Friday in SW London for it really isn't a wine for that occasion but this was "Foreign Friday" and I'd just taken delivery of this interesting Spatburgunder!
This really is a wine for food suited perfectly to chinese foods like Peking Duck or Sweet and Sour Pork but not to drink on its own as its far too acidic and lacking in character on the palate.
Joachim Heger Spatburgunder Q 2005 - PASS - £11
Light garnet red colour with a beautifully perfumed nose of roses, cinnamon, cherry stones and cranberries. On the palate the wine is light bodied with very high acidity, no real fruit but is soft and easy drinking, lack complexity. 80 Points
80 Points is really low for a wine of this price but this is a food wine, with food, this wine could score considerably higher.
Where can I buy this Wine?
Americans - Winebuys - $20
Europeans - Chile Wein - €8
Brits - Virginwines - £11
Leave a Comment
Anything Spatburgunder? Like, don't like? Tried, never tried? Tell me about your Spatburgunder experiences.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Just a Quickie
Just a Quickie
Well, a quick blog entry post and not a quick video. Here I am with the winesleuth tasting two wines that are outside my usual Italian remit. Two 2005 Chardonnays, one from the Macon and one from California. Both these wines were really enjoyable and I'd buy both again. Click below to see what happens when USA meets the UK in wine bloggers world. Who doesn't know what a mini milk is! Tsk.
Leave a Comment
Cheese and wine. Which food combinations go best in your house?
Well, a quick blog entry post and not a quick video. Here I am with the winesleuth tasting two wines that are outside my usual Italian remit. Two 2005 Chardonnays, one from the Macon and one from California. Both these wines were really enjoyable and I'd buy both again. Click below to see what happens when USA meets the UK in wine bloggers world. Who doesn't know what a mini milk is! Tsk.
Leave a Comment
Cheese and wine. Which food combinations go best in your house?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Tusk N Red
Tusk N Red
You gotta love the name Tusk N Red, so called because its kinda 00's funky but also because its a Californian wine with a touch of Sangiovese. Tusk N Red is from Mendocino county, north of Sonoma, and has a bevvy of grapes in the blend including Zinfandel, Syrah, Petit Syrah, Carignane and Sangiovese. Check out the video below to see how Tusk N Red fared against a real Tuscan Red, the Fattoria il Pupille Morellino di Scansano.
Not really a fair fight as Fattoria il Pupille is a top class producer of Morellino di Scansano. Neither of these wines were bad for the price though the MdS is clearly the better made, better structured wine with the Tusk N Red being a very quaffable, fun, easy drinking effort and, actually doing a fairly good job in aping a Tuscan red.
Mendocino Wine Co. Tusk N Red 2004 - BORDERLINE - £9
A light purple colour in the glass with a forward nose of dark cherries, plums, chocolate and herbs. A soft supple palate with high acidity and low tannins, a food wine of medium body that is easy drinking and enjoyable but not special. Borderline Buy/Pass. 86 Points
Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano 2006 - BUY - £12
A dark red/light purple in the glass with typical notes of cherry with blackberry, plum and earthy notes playing back up. On the palate the wine carries good fruit through to a mid length finish on a well structured wine that could probably do with some time out of the bottle. Chewy tannins, but a rounded wine and a good priced example of MdS. 90 Points
Where can I buy this Wine? (MdS)
Americans - Fame Wines - $11 (half) or PlanetofWine - $17
Europeans - Enoteca Italia - €7.50
Brits - Classic Wine - £12
Leave a Comment
Any opinions on either of these wines or Morellino di Scansano welcome. Favourite fake accent ever? Daphne from Frasier? Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins? I gotta come close!
You gotta love the name Tusk N Red, so called because its kinda 00's funky but also because its a Californian wine with a touch of Sangiovese. Tusk N Red is from Mendocino county, north of Sonoma, and has a bevvy of grapes in the blend including Zinfandel, Syrah, Petit Syrah, Carignane and Sangiovese. Check out the video below to see how Tusk N Red fared against a real Tuscan Red, the Fattoria il Pupille Morellino di Scansano.
Not really a fair fight as Fattoria il Pupille is a top class producer of Morellino di Scansano. Neither of these wines were bad for the price though the MdS is clearly the better made, better structured wine with the Tusk N Red being a very quaffable, fun, easy drinking effort and, actually doing a fairly good job in aping a Tuscan red.
Mendocino Wine Co. Tusk N Red 2004 - BORDERLINE - £9
A light purple colour in the glass with a forward nose of dark cherries, plums, chocolate and herbs. A soft supple palate with high acidity and low tannins, a food wine of medium body that is easy drinking and enjoyable but not special. Borderline Buy/Pass. 86 Points
Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano 2006 - BUY - £12
A dark red/light purple in the glass with typical notes of cherry with blackberry, plum and earthy notes playing back up. On the palate the wine carries good fruit through to a mid length finish on a well structured wine that could probably do with some time out of the bottle. Chewy tannins, but a rounded wine and a good priced example of MdS. 90 Points
Where can I buy this Wine? (MdS)
Americans - Fame Wines - $11 (half) or PlanetofWine - $17
Europeans - Enoteca Italia - €7.50
Brits - Classic Wine - £12
Leave a Comment
Any opinions on either of these wines or Morellino di Scansano welcome. Favourite fake accent ever? Daphne from Frasier? Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins? I gotta come close!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Casa Catelli
Casa Catelli> Casa Catelli Vlog #1
Casa Catelli are a producer specialising in southern Italian wines. Casa Catelli have vineyards throughout the south and produce fair priced, youthful, entry level Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Negroamaro, Primitivo, Nero d'Avola and Aglianico wines.
So here it is. After 18 months of threatening to produce the Vlogs here is the very first one, no expense spared direct from my kitchen. No famous producers, nothing from the Piedmont and not even wines from the Cellar Door, I thought I'd start the Vlog with something new and affordable and both these wines turned out to be decent value for money and the Primitivo; actually rather good. If you ignore the sunlight streaming into my eyes and the cars beeping their horns outside you'd almost believe we were in BBC television centre and not one of the busiest roads in Wimbledon - home to the tennis, the wombles and me.
Casa Catelli Primitivo 2004 - BUY - £9
A dark and intense ruby red in the glass the wine is big on aromatics producing a knock out nose of plum jam, strawberries, spices and a floral note. On the palate the wine has good structure easily holding its 14% alcohol, is mid bodied with good fruit continuing throughout. The finish is of a good length, a very complete wine but an atypical example of the variety. 88 Points
Casa Catelli Nero d'Avola 2005 - PASS - £8
Vibrant ruby red colour with an interesting strawberry custard note on the nose. Mid bodied wine with a smooth and fruity initial attack, on the mid palate a bitter licorice note appears that continues through to the finish which is watery and uninspired. Not an unpleasant tasting wine, easy drinking and interesting but not a quality Nero d'Avola. Better examples out there for £8. 85 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Only available at Everywine.com
Leave a Comment?
What are you drinking out of southern Italy? How am I going to get the scratches out of my table from the aggressive swirling?
Casa Catelli are a producer specialising in southern Italian wines. Casa Catelli have vineyards throughout the south and produce fair priced, youthful, entry level Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Negroamaro, Primitivo, Nero d'Avola and Aglianico wines.
So here it is. After 18 months of threatening to produce the Vlogs here is the very first one, no expense spared direct from my kitchen. No famous producers, nothing from the Piedmont and not even wines from the Cellar Door, I thought I'd start the Vlog with something new and affordable and both these wines turned out to be decent value for money and the Primitivo; actually rather good. If you ignore the sunlight streaming into my eyes and the cars beeping their horns outside you'd almost believe we were in BBC television centre and not one of the busiest roads in Wimbledon - home to the tennis, the wombles and me.
Casa Catelli Primitivo 2004 - BUY - £9
A dark and intense ruby red in the glass the wine is big on aromatics producing a knock out nose of plum jam, strawberries, spices and a floral note. On the palate the wine has good structure easily holding its 14% alcohol, is mid bodied with good fruit continuing throughout. The finish is of a good length, a very complete wine but an atypical example of the variety. 88 Points
Casa Catelli Nero d'Avola 2005 - PASS - £8
Vibrant ruby red colour with an interesting strawberry custard note on the nose. Mid bodied wine with a smooth and fruity initial attack, on the mid palate a bitter licorice note appears that continues through to the finish which is watery and uninspired. Not an unpleasant tasting wine, easy drinking and interesting but not a quality Nero d'Avola. Better examples out there for £8. 85 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Only available at Everywine.com
Leave a Comment?
What are you drinking out of southern Italy? How am I going to get the scratches out of my table from the aggressive swirling?
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