UNIQUE Fattoria Fibbiano 2017 Sanforte (Italy)

Years of painstaking DNA testing and replanting brings us a bottle of unique and delicious wine from 

Fattoria Fibbiano 2017 Sanforte, Costa Toscana

AMAZING Domaine des Ruaults 2021 Les Deux Croix (France)

I'm giving away a big secret this week - 

Saumur Puy Notre Dame is a region to watch if you are a Cabernet Franc fan

Domaine des Ruaults 2021 Les Deux Croix

OUTSTANDING - CADISOPRA 2019 Vigna Ca' Del Rosso - Marzeno Romagna Riser...

It has been a long time since I've had a stunning bottle of wine from Romagna; 

but this one qualifies, BIG TIME: 

CADISOPRA 2019 Vigna Ca' Del Rosso - Marzeno Romagna Riserva

MARVELOUS Avignonesi 2018 Vino Nobile (Tuscany)

Nobile gets "red-headed-step-child"-like respect - 

but there are lots of things to like about these wines, 

especially when a great producer has their say: 

Avignonesi 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

TEXTBOOK 2027 Cellars 2021 Cabernet Franc, King Street Vineyard (Ontario...

This is the tale of two vintages, check out my 2020 review of this wine (linked below) - 

and now here's the next vintage : 

2027 Cellars 2021 Cabernet Franc, King Street Vineyard

 

here is a link to the video of the 2020 vintage wine:

https://youtu.be/czRg1Rks5X8

ALLURING Rodney Strong 2020 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Califor...

California Cabernet is more than just Napa Valley, 

as this delicious Rodney Strong proves: 

Rodney Strong 2020 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

FULFILLING Ornellaia 2021 Le Volte (Italy)

From an iconic producer comes an entry level wine that absolutely delivers: 

Ornellaia 2021 Le Volte

REFRESHING : Concha y Toro 2020 Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is getting all the hype, 

but there is room for others to step in too. Here's one from 

Concha y Toro in Chile: 2020 Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc

TREMENDOUS Neil Ellis 2021 Syrah (South Africa)

The great South African wines rarely reach our shores, 

but this one must have escaped, and I am so glad it did: 

Neil Ellis 2021 Syrah

YUMMY Monpezat 2020 Gouleyant, Malbec de Cahors (France)

Cahors Malbec can be structured and long lived. 

This one is made a little differently, but still ... today it's the 

Comte Jean Baptiste de Monpezat 2020 Gouleyant, Malbec de Cahors

SUPERB Tenuta di Nozzole 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (Italy)

"Riserva" wines can see too much wood and take too long to iron out the rough spots; 

but then there is the 

Tenuta di Nozzole 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva

IMPRESSIVE - Ravine Vineyard 2020 Cabernet Franc Lonna's Block (Canada)

Let's talk about a single vineyard, single block version of Cabernet Franc 

from Ontario, Canada: 

Ravine Vineyard 

2020 Cabernet Franc - Lonna's Block

 

 

Written Review ... This is one of two single named blocks Cabernet Franc wines from Ravine in 2020- I know we're not allowed to use the words masculine and feminine to describe wines anymore; but this would be the y chromosome wine... It has the defining qualities that one would give to a person of that ilk. It's starts earthy, smoky and tobacco laced on the nose; but the pallet delivers on dark fruit, black raspberry and black cherry along with firm tannins, and a waitier firm structured length of finish. This is a punch in the mouth of flavor.

STUNNING Chateau Montus 2017 Madiran (France)

You want to get to know the Tannat grape? 

Start with a bottle of Chateau Montus - the OG of Tannat : 

Chateau Montus 2017 Madiran

 

The Written Part ...

An 80% Tannat with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon – taking up a 35 hectares of the 37 hectare Montus vineyard. Vine age is about 27 years. Fermentation and maceration follow what happens at Boucassé (see above). Here 50% of the wine sees new oak for 12 months. Then 24 months in 80 hectoliter foudre (large barrels). 36 months of aging the wine rests in bottle 2 years before release.

The note … Weighty wine with lots of smoky, gritty tannin grip. Floral with good acidity; the fruit either lingers or has decided to hide within the oak – each sip holds a different outcome. It'll take time to emerge, but this oak will always be there. It's an intense wine where food needs to be involved. (****)

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

EYE-POPPING Martin's Lane 2020 Simes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Canada)

After tasting through the 2020 Martin's Lane Pinots, 

this was my favourite - by a long shot : 

Martin's Lane 2020 Simes Vineyard Pinot Noir

 

 The Written Review

This is the last vineyard to be picked completely, it north facing, is slower to ripen allowing the fruit to mature at at even pace. Then it is 70% whole bunch pressed and fermented in concrete ... Kicks at the nose like a sniff of Chanel no. 5 ... This is a pretty Pinot, with lots of floral notes with a nice cherry strawberry spiced-rhubarb. Tannins are silky by comparison to the other Pinots in this line-up.  (**** ½)