LOVELY BUBBLE Henkell 2016 Cremant de Loire (France)

A surprising wine, from an unlikely source, until you know the whole story : 

Henkell 2016 Cremant de Loire

One of the most ICONIC wines: Torres 2016 Mas La Plana (Spain)

Today it's one of the most iconic wines in the world from Spain and the Family Torres : 

Familia Torres 2016 Mas La Plana

 

 

The Wine Note ... Lots of dark fruit like black cherry, kicks the wine off and continues to be at the heart of each sip – hits of mocha and spice also make an appearance with notes of violet on the finish. There's a nice purity and freshness to the wine with good acidity, while the cedar and tannins fight it out on the finish where a dichotomy of silky and gritty battle for supremacy.  Rating: ****

 

Terre de la Custodia 2016 Exubera (Umbria, Italy)

Do you have thoughts on what Sagrantino is all about? 

Let me introduce you to a wine that'll turn those notions on their head

Terre de la Custodia 2016 Exubera

 

 

Carpineto 2016 Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon (Tuscany, Italy)

Fantastic vintages make for fantastic wines - and this fits the bill perfectly

Carpineto 2016 Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon

 

>> WRITTEN REVIEW <<

 This beauty in the Farnito-line is from the "perfect" 2016 vintage. It's pure elegance in the glass, with notes of leather, chocolate, cherry, blackberry and even a hint of strawberry. The combination proves magical in the mouth.  (**** ½)

Badel 1862 2016 Mediterano (Croatian Wine)

Another from Badel, another from Croatia, another delicious wine

 

Badel 1862 2016 Mediterano

 

Fattoria dei Barbi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna del Fiore

Brunello is a special wine unto itself, add in a single plot or single vineyard and you just up the ante

 

Fattoria Barbi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna del Fiore

 

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

The first vintage of this single vineyard offering was in 1981 - it's a southeast facing vineyard that sits at 250 meters above sea level and the oldest vines within the vineyard are between 20 to 25 years old. The wine spends one year in older barriques of three to five years of age; then another two years in 500-liter Slavonian oak (aka tonneau) ... Only 5,000 bottles are produced - so quite a small lot. Nice concentration and depth, yet subtle in so many ways ... Red fruit: cherry, red currant, strawberries and that oak is hidden so well behind a wall of spice and red fruit; there's even a floral aspect to this wine. It totally delivers on what single vineyard wines should be.  (**** ½)

 

Gagliardo 2016 Barolo "La Morra" (The Wine Review - #328)

Gagliardo's "La Morra" Barolo is a real gem in the crown of this wineries portfolio

 

Gagliardo 2016 Barolo "La Morra"

 

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

 

 

The Written Review ...

 

Gianni Gagliardo 2016 Barolo - La Morra

This is their “village” Barolo that encompasses two parcels in the final blend. This very aromatic offering shows notes of cherry, blackberry and floral ... On the palate it's soft and gentle with a medium length finish. Key notes here are cherry blossoms, blackberry, spiced plum, and gentle tannins - such a pretty and elegant wine that, like so many of these wines, is so very drinkable right now.  (****+)

 

Subscribe to the video review 

 

Badel 1862 - Korlat 2016 Syrah (The Wine Review - #327)

Syrah? From Croatia? Yup, and here is a wonderful example to show it's a viability in Croatia

 

Badel 1862 - Korlat 2016 Syrah

 

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores).

 

 

 

The Written Review ...

 

Croatian Syrah, yep that's a thing - from vines planted between 2005 / 2006 from seeds acquired in France - because of the rocky terrain at 300 m above sea level. This is extreme vineyard growing and what makes these plants struggle is what makes them so interesting and the grapes so much better. The resulting pressed juice goes into barrique for " no less than 2 years " - 70% of it does at least - the wine produced is most definitely Syrah in character: blueberry, raspberry, cassis and pepper with good spice, great mouthfeel and a long finish. Croatian Syrah! Yeah I can go for that. (****+)  (****+) 

Gold Hill Winery 2016 Syrah (The Wine Review - #320)

British Columbia Syrah? Yes Please! And here's another great example : 

 

Gold Hill Winery 2016 Syrah

 

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

 

Lundy Manor 2016 Lundy Red (Ontario Wine Review #443)

A red blend that misses the mark being called a Meritage, but hits the mark as a really good wine

 

Lundy Manor 2016 Lundy Red 

 

($21.95 - available at the winery and online).

Speri 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano

Here's a single vineyard Amarone that shows some refined elegance

 

Speri 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sant'Urbano

 

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

 

Torres 2016 Gran Coronas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (The Wine Review - #...

Torres is back on the videos series, but this time with a more "value" priced wine, 

proving they make good wine at every level : 

 

Torres 2016 Gran Coronas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

 

available at the winery 

(and other fine wine stores)

 

Tenuta Monteti 2016 Toscana (The Wine Review - #314)

This wine came out of nowhere during a Zoom-Tasting and won me over - 

now I introduce it to you: 

 

Tenuta Monteti 2016 Toscana

 

 available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

 

Aurelio Settimo 2016 Langhe Nebbiolo (The Wine Review - #313)

Having just visited this winery I can tell you that this wine has a special place in their portfolio, here's why: 

Aurelio Settimo 2016 Langhe Nebbiolo

available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

Adamo 2016 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Lenko Vineyard Reserve (Ontario ...

Why do we search out and covet "Old Vines" fruit? 

For this very reason : 

 

Adamo 2016 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Lenko Vineyard Reserve 

 

($85.00 - available at the winery and online)

 

SunRock Vineyards 2016 Red Meritage (The Wine Review - #309)

Time to find out why it's called SunRock and when it became its own brand : 

 

SunRock Vineyards 2016 Red Meritage

 

 available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)

 

Pondview 2016 Bella Terra Cabernet Sauvignon (Ontario Wine Review #424)

Ever wonder how Pondview gets all that goodness into their Bella Terra wines? 

I'm about to tell you with this review of the 

 

Pondview 2016 Bella Terra Cabernet Sauvignon 

 

($44.95 - available at the winery and online)

Foreign Affair 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Ontario Wine Review #411)

Looking for a wine with some dried grapes involved? This one will do the trick : 

 

Foreign Affair 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon 

 

($39.95 each - available at the winery and online)

 

Massolino 2016 Barolo, Serralunga D'Alba (The Wine Review - #286)

A great vintage, a great wine - it's Piedmont in 2016 and it's a delight : 

 

Massolino 2016 Barolo, Serralunga D'Alba

 

Adamo Estate 2016 Petit Verdot Edgerock Vineyard (Ontario Wine Review #408)

The Grower's Series is not grown on the property, but it is made with the same tender love and care : 

 

Adamo Estate 2016 Petit Verdot Edgerock Vineyard 

($49.00 each - available at the winery and online).