A summer evening of five wines of Italy and Chile. We are enticed and charmed!
The WineAndLeisure.com tasting panel was joined today by wildlife artist Chris Bacon (www.chrisbacon.com) as guest panelist. We set about to do an unrushed quality tasting of 3 Italian wines and two Chileans in one sitting. Following were our impressions on this warm and beautiful summer night on the patio.
Montressor Valpolicella Classico DOC 2010, (Italy) $12.99
Classically light in colour and body, this is a charmer. Cracked pepper notes with minerality, black cherry, and dusty dryness in a warm and inviting package. This complex and enjoyable wine has a long finish. Will pair well with roast beef and a wide variety of fare.
Montressor Valpolicella Ripasso 2009 DOC (Italy) 19.99
Light to medium in colour and body, it presents significant notes of spices and ripe fruit, with cedar chest and firm dry tannins. It is fragrant, flavourful and exotic. Pair it with beef stew and root vegetables or salmon pepper steak.
Cantine Ippolito Liber Pater Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore 2009 (Italy) 16.99
From Calabria. Galglioppo grape variety. This wine enticed us to be its soul-mate. And it won! A port-like nose started the process of friendship as it continued to win us with its medium-dark colour and juicy character. Hints of floral give way to black tea, wildberries and toasty spice. According to Chris, "the flavours dance in your mouth." Thoroughly satisfying, dry finish.
Valdivieso Malbec, Old Vines, Single Vineyard 2008 (Chile) 22.99
An inky dark big wine with savoury notes of black currants, red pepper, blackberries, plums and dark chocolate in a dry yet sweet fruity, juicy package. Very firm tannins.
Valdivieso Syrah Reserve 2009 (Chile) 17.99
Deep dark red. Complex and incredible. As we delved into it, we starting listing so many aromas and flavours we called this wine "crazy." In a very good way! It exudes a big bouquet of ripe red fruit, ripe strawberries, a myriad of herbs and spices, particularly rosemary, cardamom and eucalyptus. A very aromatic and beautiful big wine.
There was also one wine we wanted to taste again, but it's still on its way here. Following are my previous tasting notes of the VB Vizana Tempranillo:
Vizana Tempranillo Crianza 2008: Ribera del Guadiano (Spain) 15.99
A blockbuster affordable tempranillo crianza with minerality, spice, liqueur cherries, blackberries, currants, liquorice and a hint of dark cocoa. Firm tannins, full body, long finish. Big and powerful. It matches perfectly with New York Sirloin.
If you are a licensee establishment or a private buyer, you may contact us here to acquire any of these wines. paul (at) wineandleisure.com
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