Category Archives: Tasting Notes

Château de Parenchère Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge, Bordeaux, France

Chateau de Parenchere Bordeaux Superieur Red

Appellation: Bordeaux Supérieur Red

 

Blend: 50% Merlot

40% Cabernet Sauvignon

9% Cabernet Franc

1% Malbec

Tasting note: With its equal proportions of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Château de Parenchère Bordeaux Supérieur Red is half-way between a Médoc and a Saint-Emilion.

Merlot gives it its supple, fruity fleshiness; Cabernet-Sauvignon provides structure and additional tannic density.

This traditional Parenchère blend is generally very fleshy, with a very deeply coloured robe. Characterized by a good balance between fruit and tannin, it displays distinct red fruit aromas with a long, sustained finish.

Tommasi Trebbiano di Lugana, Lugana DOC, Veneto, Italy

Tommasi Trebbiano di Lugana

Origin

Zone of Lugana, south of the Lake Garda.

Grapes

Trebbiano di Lugana 100%

Alcohol

12% vol.

Vinification

Short maceration (24 hours maximum), with grape skins in stainless steel tanks; 4 months maturation in stainless steel tanks, 7 days fermentation in stainless steel tanks; 4 months maturation in stainless steel tanks.

Tasting Notes

Moon yellow in color, with clean and spicy smell, highlighted by delicious hints of tropical fruit. The taste is medium-bodied with a clean, crisp finish.

Recommended with

Excellent with sea food and cold white meats, light appetizers, soups and fish.

Service Temperature

10°-12° C

Zenato Chardonnay Garda DOC, Veneto, Italy

Zenato Chardonnay Garda

Chardonnay is a varietal vine cultivated to the south of Lake Garda in the natural amphitheatre formed by glacial hills.

Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay

Geographical location and characteristics of the vineyard: to the south of Lake Garda in the municipality of Peschiera.

Average age of the vines: 30 years

Period of the harvest: first ten days of September

Vinification: fermentation for 15/20 days in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 16/18 degrees. Refinement for 4-5 months in stainless steel tanks followed by 2-3 months in bottles before sale.

Colour: straw yellow with greenish highlights.

Bouquet: intense with pleasing floral and fruity notes.

Taste: dry, fresh, well-structured body, balanced with remarkable softness.

Serving temperature: 9-10°C

Cavalchina Bianco di Custoza DOC, Veneto, Italy

Cavalchina Bianco di CustozaThe four different grape varieties mature at different times: Trebbianello in early September, Fernanda in mid-September and Trebbiano and Gargenega at the beginning of October; this means that we vinify each variety separately.

The manually harvested grapes are destemmed and pressed. Only Fernanda, with its semi aromatic qualities, is macerated for a few hours before pressing. Each must, after being clarified, is fermented for 10-15 days at 180C. There is no regular malolactic fermentation and the yeasts, which are regularly stirred, are not removed until January/February when the final cuvée takes shape.

A straw yellow shines through the glass with some green tones; slightly aromatic to the nose, it unfolds generously in the mouth with great balance and flavour. It is a versatile wine, perfect with aperitif, fish, white meats and, at the top, with the “Tortellino of Valeggio”.

40% Garganega, 30% Fernanda (clone di Custoza), 15% Trebbiano, 15% Trebbianello (clone di Tocai)

Bottega Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Spumante Extra Dry, Veneto, Italy

Valdobbiadene prosecco superioire Bottega

Il Vino dei Poeti Valdobbiadene Superiore is a Prosecco  DOCG, obtained by the vinification in white of grapes grown  on the hills near Treviso, between the towns of Conegliano  and Valdobbiadene. Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco  has been recognised as a DOCG wine in 2009 and embodies  Prosecco quality excellence.

Organoleptic Characteristics

Color and Appearance

Brilliant, straw yellow. Fine and persistent perlage.

Bouquet

Typical and refined, with fruity (green apples, pear, citrus fruits) and floral (wisteria, acacia and lily of the valley) notes.

Taste

Harmonious, elegant and balanced; on the palate, it is made soft by sugar residues, while also being dry thanks to its lively acidity.

Serving Temperature    

4-5 °C

Serving Suggestions

Excellent as an aperitif and in cocktails, it is also an ideal all-around wine. It goes particularly well with radicchio or asparagus dishes, with pasta, risotto, fish courses or white meat.

Recommended glass     

Flute

Bottega Prosecco DOC Spumante Brut, Veneto, Italy

Bottega Prosecco DOC

Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco DOC is a Brut sparkling wine,  obtained by Glera grapes grown according to classic,  traditional techniques in the province of Treviso. Over the  years, typicality and quality, the distinctive traits of these  grapes, have remained unchanged, making Prosecco the  most famous and best-selling Italian wine all over the world.

Organoleptic Characteristics

Color and Appearance

Straw yellow with gold reflexes, fine and persistent perlage.

Bouquet

Fruity (apple, white peach, citrus fruits) and delicate floral (acacia, wisteria) notes.

Taste

Fresh, delicate, balanced, with an harmonious blend of acidity and softness.

Serving Temperature

4-5 °C

Serving Suggestions

Excellent as an aperitif and in cocktails, it is also an ideal all-around wine. It goes particularly well with pasta, risotto, fish or meat courses and vegetables, as well as with pizza.

Recommended glass

Tulip

Monte del Fra Bardolino DOC, Veneto, Italy

Bardolino Monte del fra

Grape varieties: 65% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese

Vinification: Gentle crushing and destemming, and a brief period of maceration of the grapes prior to fermentation. This is followed by a long, delicate fermentation (with skin contact) in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.

Organoleptic description: A dry red wine.

Colour: Bright ruby red.

Nose: Delicately fruity and fragrant with notes of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and red currants as well as hints of spices on the nose (cinnamon, cloves, black pepper).

Flavour: Rounded and dry, with the same sensations of crunchy red fruits and berries perceptible on the nose. Lightly spicy with well-balanced, fresh, and easy-drinking style.

Serving temperature: 12-15 degrees Celsius

ABV: 12.5%

Conte Loredan Gasparini Venegazzu Capo di Stato Colli Trevigiani IGT, Veneto, Italy

Conte Loredan Capo di Stato

Created by Count Loredan as a “Venegazzù Superiore” in the “Riserva della Casa”, this wine was often used for special occasions in the city of Venice. Indeed, during the 1960s, this wine numbered many heads of state among its admirers – a fact which, of course, has led to the name it bears: ‘Head of State’. Our Capo di Stato starts life in a selection of grapes, in particular those from an old vineyard planted in 1946 and known fondly as “the 100 Plants”. This vineyard is located in Venegazzù (40km north of Venice in the province of Treviso), where the Montello terroir confers its truly unique character. The grape varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec from old clones. The wine is always original, profound, with a warm colour, intense boquet and rich aromas of soft fruits and spices. Through its body and fabric and its sweet tannins, it persuades the palate of an infinite silkiness. This wine has, then, a strong personality: never flattened, never fitting into the humdrum variations of fruit combed with oak: it will always express itself with aromatic originality, bringing a fighting spirit to its tasting.

Famiglia Pasqua Romeo & Juliet “Passione Sentimento” Veneto IGT, Italy

 

Pasqua Passione Sentimento

Grape Varieties

Dried grapes of Merlot 40%, Corvina 30%, Croatina 30%

Vinification

The Merlot and Corvina grapes, selected and hand harvested with great care, are then left to dry for 1 month into wooden trays in the Fruttaio. Here, thanks to the dry and well ventilated environment where the humidity level is carefully controlled, the grapes loses around 30% of their water content and gain high sugars concentration. The vinification process takes place in separate steel tanks at controlled temperature of 25-28°C for 20 days. Maturation in large cherry barrels (at second use) for 3 months. Afterwards the grapes are blended and malolactic fermentation follows to harmonize and soften the wine.

Style

Deep ruby red in colour. The nose has intense aromas of red berries with hints of spices. The palate is balanced with velvety tannins, and it has a soft and round finish.

Bolla Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Veneto IGT, Italy

Bolla Pinot grigio delle venezie

Production Area: Delle Venezie, Northeast Italy.

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio.

Description: Pale straw in color, Bolla Pinot Grigio is well balanced with crisp acidity and delicate flavors with hints of peach, melon, pear and lime.

Skins and stalks are immediately separated from juice and fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel to preserve all typical varietal characteristics: freshness, crispness, and beautiful fruit aromas of Pinot Grigio.

Food: Bolla Pinot Grigio is a fine match for fresh seafood, white meat, creamed sauced pastas and grilled vegetables. It also makes an ideal aperitif.