I liked Nicola Thornton within five seconds of chatting with her.

The wine industry can be tough. Selling wine in this climate is challenging with so many restaurants closed. Writing about wine can be even tougher thanks to shrinking budgets and limited paying outlets. It’s easy to find people that are beaten down. Meeting optimistic people feels like a breath of fresh air.

That’s exactly the type of person that Nicola is. She left the UK and fell in love with sunny Spain. After years of working in cooperatives and private wineries, she founded the Spanish Palate in 2016. Her team looks after several small producers and helps them market and export to over 40 countries worldwide.

From our first call to tasting the wines, I was impressed with her energy and enthusiasm. Her lineup of wines named “Spanish Palate Creations” is inspiring. They consist of two lines. The Botas de Barro (muddy boots) lineup are wines that see a little oak aging, while the Mi Tractor Azul (my blue tractor) wines are fresh and fruity. Nicola and her team designed the labels and market them as inexpensive wines that overdeliver in their price points.

These wines are produced by cooperatives in different regions of Spain that work with old vines. “The idea of the cooperative is perfect (to me), you get all of the small farmers pulling their resources together to defend a dignified way to live,” Nicola says. “It gives these guys power in numbers.”

I think all of the wines in the Spanish Palate Creations line are good to very good. These are the types of wines that will be fine house pours in restaurants around the world. Purchasing a bottle also helps bring communities together and supports the little guy.

Wine Recommendations:

Spanish Palate Creations

• Botas de Barro, Old Vine Garnacha Almansa 2017

The Botas de Barro, Old Vine Garnacha Almansa is my favorite wine in the Spanish Palate creations. This has a wonderful, complex nose with notes of strawberry, black raspberry, parched earth, meat, and pepper. There’s plenty of fruit here with a hint of complexity. There is meatiness and earthiness on the palate and the tannins are supple and ripe. It doesn’t have great length but it is very fun and pleasurable to drink. Score: 88+/100

• Botas de Barro, Toro 2018

The Botas de Barro, Toro is Tempranillo aged for 5 months in oak. This is a nice, slimmer Toro. There’s complexity here for such a young wine. Notes of cherry, raspberry, pepper, and earth. There’s a pleasant streak of tangy acidity on the mid-palate. Tannins are chewy but not overly drying. Very good, entry-level Toro. Score: 87/100

• Mi Tractor Azul, Garnacha Tintorera 2017

Mi Tractor Azul, Garnacha Tintorera is Alicante Bouchet unoaked. Very dark wine. There are notes of raspberry, violets, cherry, pepper, and stems. It’s full-bodied and generous on the palate with some bright acidity. The wine is fruity and big but there’s a slight green streak to it, which I like a lot. A delicious bistro red with some tannins. Score: 87/100

• Mi Tractor Azul, Toro 2018

The Mi Tractor Azul, Toro is made from 100% Tempranillo that doesn’t see oak. Shows decent complexity for an unoaked wine. Notes of black cherry, cassis, and pepper. Fruity and easy-going with low level of tannins. This is a young wine but the spike of flavor on the mid-palate is surprising. It’s not built to go the distance but another year in the bottle would do it wonders. Score: 87/100

• La Baldosa. Macabeo 2019

The La Baldosa, Macabeo is from the Manchuela DO. This is 100% Macabeo. It’s a nice crisp white wine with notes of pineapple, white flower, and flint. This grape is one of the components of Cava and you can definitely pick it up here. It’s crisp and fresh, not complex but very well done. This is a summer sipper for those who want something different than a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. Score: 87/100

Estate Grown Spanish Wines

The Spanish Palate also markets a number of small producers from all over Spain. All of the wines below are available in Spain for under 20 Euros, with the majority of them around 10. All of these offer fantastic value for money and are worth seeking out.

• Hacienda Albae, Viognier 2019

The Hacienda Albae, Viognier stays on the lees in steel for four months. Notes of dandelion, sweet yellow peach, honey, and clay. The floral and yellow stone fruit notes are what really stand out. This is a solid, full-bodied Viognier. Don’t expect an ultra-crisp white wine but do expect something with some significant body. It is very similar to the wines of the Southern Rhône. For a wine that retails around 8 Euros in Spain, this is a steal. Score: 89/100

• Hacienda Albae, Chardonnay Barrica 2017

This Chardonnay Barrica from Hacienda Albae is fermented and aged in oak for six months. It’s deeper in color thanks to 24 months on the skins. There are unmistakeable Chardonnay notes here such as melon, sweet peach, and a touch of toast. The wood is laid down remarkably well, it’s negligible on the nose and pleasant on the mouth. Sweet and long yellow fruit finish. There’s a lot to like here. Score: 89/100

• Loess, ‘Inspiration’ Ribera del Duero 2018

Many mid-range Spanish reds tend to be too oaky for my palate. The Loess, ‘Inspiration’ Ribera del Duero is not one of those wines. This is 100% Tempranillo aged in oak for nine months. This is made from estate-grown fruit. The oak isn’t overbearing here and this is a pleasure to drink. Notes of dark cherry, mocha, and tobacco come together on a full-bodied frame. There’s intense, ripe fruit here but the wine is burdened by oak, which I love. Chewy tannins. This gets an uptick in score thanks to its affordability (11-15 Euros in Spain). Score: 90+/100

• Loess, ‘Collection’ Ribera del Duero 2015

For those that like bigger, oakier reds, the Loess ‘Collection’ Ribera del Duero is for you. This is 100% Tempranillo aged in oak for 24-30 months. This is a big, dark red with notes of cherry, baking spice, tobacco, and bacon fat. It enters the mouth with a ton of dark fruit. It’s a structured red. There is a spicy finish along with plenty of acidity. The woody tannins are a bit strong but with a big piece of meat, they shouldn’t be a problem. Score: 90/100

• Coral Duero, Los Lastros 2017

The Coral Duero, Los Lastros is simply fun to drink. It’s a single-vineyard Toro aged for 8 months in oak. Notes of bright cherry, earth, and tobacco. The interplay between fruit and oak here is fantastic. It’s more of a medium-bodied Toro, there’s enough fruit here to overpower the oak. Ripe tannins and a luxurious finish. Score: 90+/100

• Coral Duero, Rompesedas 2017

The Coral Duero, Rompesedas is higher up on this producer’s portfolio. It is a single-vineyard Toro aged for 18 months in oak. The specs suggested that this could be too oaky but that’s not the truth. There are oaky aromas but they are far from distracting. Notes of black cherry, crushed rose petal, and earth also emerge from the glass. This is rich and looks to be more age-worthy of the four wines. There’s a lot of structure from the barrel but this should fade with time. This might be the best wine out of the four but to drink, I prefer the Los Lastros. Score: 90/100

• Casa do Sol, ’10 Meses Sobre Lías’ Albariño 2016

The Casa do Sol, ’10 Meses Sobre Lías’ Albariño is brilliant. It is barrel-fermented and aged on the lees for 10 months. It’s a beauty and shows bottle development. Notes of caramel, dried peach, dried pineapple, yogurt, lemon, and flint. It’s very complex on the nose and in the mouth. Full-bodied with a gritty texture and a long finish. Spine-tingling acidity that is typical of the grape. It’s in a great place now so drink it up. Score: 91+/100

• Casa do Sol, ‘Braiña de Casa do Sol’ Albariño 2018

The ‘Braiña de Casa do Sol’ Albariño is the entry-level wine from this estate is beautiful. It’s an electric, high-acid white. There are notes of kefir lime, lemon, and seawater. It has a sandy texture on the palate with a long finish guided by citrusy acidity. The perfect wine for shellfish. Score: 89/100

• Válgame Dios, Toro Crianza 2017

The Válgame Dios, Toro Crianza is the only wine in this small producer’s lineup. This is 100% Tempranillo aged in French oak for 12 months. It’s a full-bodied, rich Toro. There are notes of black cherry, pepper, earth, and mocha from the wood. The wine has generous fruit and acidity with a subtle graphite note. The tannins are tough but not excessively drying. There’s a rustic charm to this wine but in a good way. Score: 89/100 

• El Regajal, Selección Especial 2018

El Regajal has created a fun red wine with their Selección Especial. It is a blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Petit Verdot aged in oak for 12 months. This is a big step up from their Las Retamas and doesn’t show the oaky flavors. Notes of red cherry, cassis, thyme, and pepper. Very complex and elegant nose. Full of fruit and flavors on the palate. Chewy tannins. The grape combination would be hard to guess if this was tasted blind but that doesn’t matter. It’s a delicious red that should develop nicely over the next few years in the bottle. Score: 90+/100

• Bigardo, Vino Tinto Experimental 2018

The Bigardo, Vino Tinto Experimental is a minimal intervention red made from Toro de Tinto (Tempranillo) aged in oak for about six months. Lots of soil, earth, cardamon, black cherry, and fall leaves flavors emerge from the glass. In the glass, it doesn’t act like a normal red from Toro. It’s medium-bodied and more earthy than fruity with bracing acidity and a low level of tannins. Fans of natural reds are going to find a lot to like here. Score: 90/100

• Leyenda del Paramo, ‘El Aprendiz’ Albarín Blanco 2018

The Leyenda del Paramo, ‘El Aprendiz’ is made from rare grape Albarín Blanco. It has bright notes of pineapple, almond, white peach, and clay. It is a fresh white but far from boring. The flavors come on strong and hit you with a blast of white and citrus fruits. The slight, bitter finish on the backend adds to the complexity. High, It’s got the aromas and punch of a Southern Rhône white with Riesling-like, citrusy acidity. Score: 89/100

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Thanks to the Spanish Palate for providing tasting samples. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Spanish Palate: Bringing Communities Together appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated.

Surrau, ‘Sincaru’ Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2016

Sardinia is home to one of the world’s “blue zones”. These are regions on the planet with a high concentration of centenarians, people over the age of 100. In Sardinia, many people credit wine made from Cannanau as a contributor to this longevity.

The grape Cannonau is also known as Grenache in Franch and Garnacha in Spain (it’s believed that the Aragonese brought the grape to the island when they invaded in the 14th century). It’s the most widely planted red grape on the island. The appellation known as Cannonau di Sardegna DOC may be Sardinia’s most famous wine (along with Vermentino).

There are swathes of Cannonau di Sardegnas available that are overripe and high in alcohol. The appellation rules allow Cannonau di Sardegna to be made from fruit grown all over the island. The DOC doesn’t take into account all of Sardinia’s microclimates. However, several producers are working on making site-specific Cannonau di Sardegna.

I first tasted the Surrau, ‘Sincaru’ Cannanau di Sardegna Riserva over lunch in Cagliari and was hooked immediately. It’s a wine with alcohol that is under control and shows ripe (not overripe) fruit. During that lunch, there were a lot of great wines on the table but I found myself returning to the Surrau.

The Surrau, ‘Sincaru’ Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2016 is 100% Cannonau aged in oak casks for 18 months and 6 months in concrete before being bottled. It’s light in color, so it’s safe to assume that no other varieties were blended into it. This is fresher and brighter than the basic Sincaru bottling. This has notes of dried strawberry, garrigue, and peppered meat. The mouth has tons of fruit with a slight savory note and fine-grained tannins. Long finish.

Score: 91+/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

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If you like our articles and videos, we’d love for you to be a part of our community on Patreon. The support from Patreon helps keep the content coming and you access to behind the scenes content. It also gives us the chance to get to know you better. Check out the Exotic Wine Travel Patreon page by clicking the photo below.

Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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When you walk into a local wine shop, do you ever wonder how the bottles were selected? In 2018, the OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine) reported that 293 million hectoliters of wine were produced – that’s equivalent to nearly 40 billion bottles of wine! Out of all that wine, how do wines get selected for the store shelf?

It’s by the work of importers, distributors, and shop owners who travel around the world. They swish around countless numbers of wines in their mouth before settling on just one to import and/or sell. I don’t know the official statistics, but probably only a handful of wines out of every hundred tasted are selected by merchants.

Business to Business Tasting Pollenzo

We got another chance to see this process firsthand at the Pollenzo Business to Business (B2B) Tasting in Piemonte, Italy. Over the three days we were in attendance, there were 50 wineries pouring over 200 wines. We were joined by buyers from Europe, Russia, USA, and Hong Kong.

Our days were packed with face to face meetings with producers. Each producer had their own table. The meeting/tasting appointment lasted thirty minutes, from there we had to move onto the next table. It was an intense three days of tasting on a tight schedule.

Events like the Pollenzo B2B give us real insight into the retail side of the wine business. Most of the buyers present selected just a handful of wines as possible ‘candidates’ for their respective markets. That means they need to crunch the numbers even further, taste the wine again at home, and test their markets more before the wine ever sees the shelf.

Know Your Wine Merchant

It’s worth getting to know your local wine merchant.

Tasting with merchants/buyers is a totally different experience than tasting with writers. Wine writers look for the quality of the wine and what they prefer. Wine buyers and merchants look for what will sell in their given market, regardless of their own preferences.

Next time you stop by your wine shop to pick up a bottle, think about the meticulous selection process. There’s a lot of work allows that bottle to be in front of your face. If you like the wine, try to find out who chose the wine, he/she probably have selected a number of wines to your liking.

We really enjoyed our time at Pollenzo and welcome the chance to attend more business to business tastings. Events like the Pollenzo B2B are a good look into the reality of selling wine. Here are thirteen wines from the Pollenzo B2B that we enjoyed.

Wine Recommendations:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Paolo Berta, ‘La Berta’ Nizza 2016 – Piemonte, Italy

This charming little estate produces wines with real character and a hint of rusticity. The Paolo Berta ‘La Berta’ Nizza is made from 100% Barbera, it has notes of hazelnut, cherry, cranberry, and mineral notes. Tangy acidity with layers of texture on the palate, good bite, and a long finish. This has the classic Barbera flavors. Score: 91/100

• La Gironda, ‘Soul’ Monferrato Rosso 2014 – Piemonte, Italy

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Monferrato isn’t as well known for Nebbiolo as Langhe (and to a lesser extent Alto Piemonte). That makes the La Gironda ‘Soul’ Monferrato Rosso all the more interesting. It’s made from 100% Nebbiolo. Proper Nebbiolo in color with an orange tinge on the rim of the glass. Rose petal, cranberry, and a touch of perfume dominate the flavor profile. The wine is round and energetic. This has nervy acidity with firm but not over-the-top tannins. Score: 90/100

• Villa Giada, ‘The English Winemaker’ Piemonte Barbera 2018 – Piemonte, Italy

The Villa Giada ‘The English Winemaker’ Piemonte Barbera is a totally different wine than others in the Villa Giada portfolio. Villa Giada usually makes big and bold reds from Barbera. This wine is made with 25% whole cluster fermentation and indigenous yeasts. No additional sulfur is added. There are notes of stems, ripe red fruit, and pepper. This is a hardcore natural wine with gorgeous fruit. Score: 90/100

• Vinchio-Vaglio Serra, ‘Vigne Vecchie 50’ Barbera d’Asti 2016 – Piemonte, Italy

This is a brilliant, complex red from a cooperative winery. The Vinchio-Vaglio Serra ‘ Vigne Vecchie 50’ Barbera d’Asti is made from old vines and is aged in concrete. Dried strawberry, cherry, cranberry, and tobacco flavors emerge from the glass. It has a round mouthfeel with crunchy acidity. Smooth fruity-chocolate finish and grippy tannins. Score: 90/100 

• Grasso Fratelli, ‘Söri’ Valgrande’ Barbaresco 2005 – Piemonte, Italy

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The latest vintage of this wine is very good (2015) but the older vintage is stellar. The Grasso Fratelli ‘Söri’ Valgrande’ Barbaresco 2005 opens with an intriguing and sexy nose. There are notes of leather, tomato, tobacco, tar, and cherry flavors. Slim and sexy on the palate with tannins that hit like a NFL linebacker. This is what aged Nebbiolo is all about – complexity with sensuality. Score: 93/100

• Massimo Rettalino, ‘Novantuno 91’ Barolo 2014 – Piemonte, Italy

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Massimo Rettalino is fairly young estate producing Barolo and Barbaresco. The Massimo Rettalino ‘Novantuno 91’ Barolo is made with fruit sourced from the commune of Serralunga d’Alba. It has complex flavors of cranberry, leather, perfume, mahogany, and spice. The wine has round mouthfeel and tangy acidity. For a Barolo from Serralunga d’Alba, the tannins are surprisingly accessible for a young wine. Score: 92/100 

• Valde Lacierva, Rioja Reserva 2014 – Rioja, Spain

The Valde Lacierva Rioja Reserva is a fantastic wine and good representation of Rioja. It has notes of sweet cherry, pepper, cedar, and tobacco. The wine is big bodied with a lot of complexity and just the right amount of wood flavor. It’s spicy and true Rioja with chewy tannins. Score: 91/100

• Ignacio Marin, Ballard Old Vine Garnacha 2015 – Cariñena, Spain

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Cariñena DO is one of Spain’s oldest, yet unheralded wine regions. The Ignacio Marin Ballard Old Vine Garnacha is an affordable and delicious rendition of Garnacha. It is made from vines over 55 years in age. It has notes of dried strawberry, chocolate, brown herbs, and pepper. Balanced and unfussy red that is fantastic for the money. Score: 90+/100

• I Sabbioni, ‘I Voli Dei Gruccioni’ Sangiovese Superiore 2016 – Emilia-Romagna, Italy

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The wines of Emilia-Romagna get overlooked in the world of Italian wine. We’ve long been fans of the Sangiovese from the region like the I Sabbioni ‘I Voli Dei Gruccioni’ Sangiovese Superiore. It is a delicious, juicy red wine. Crunchy acidity and soft tannins create the structure of this entry-level Sangiovese. Aged in stainless steel and concrete, this is inexpensive and delicious. Score: 88/100

• Demarie, Roero Riserva 2015 – Piemonte, Italy

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Barolo and Barbaresco are iconic Nebbiolo-based wines but across the Tanaro river, there are some lovely examples in Roero. The Demarie Roero Riserva has notes of cherry, cranberry, hazelnuts, and rose petal. The wine spent 18 months in barrique. It’s medium-bodied and silky at first and then the tannins hit hard. The long finish and chewy tannins suggest that this is cellar-worthy. Score: 90/100

• Livia Fontana, Barolo Villero 2015 – Piemonte, Italy

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The Villero vineyard is a well-renowned site located in the commune of Castiglione Falleto. There are many beautiful Barolos made from this vineyard, add the Livia Fontana Barolo Villero to the list. It has a pretty nose of violet, perfume, cranberry, and rose petal. Round and smooth on the palate with notes of black herbs. The tannins are small and grippy but not overly drying. The wine is elegant and graceful with a long finish. Score: 92/100 

• Villa Canestrari, ‘i Lasi’ Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2016 – Vento, Italy

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Valpolicella Ripasso wines make a great alternative to more costly Amarones. This vintage of Villa Canestrari ‘i Lasi’ Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore is a flat-out delicious and food-friendly red. There are notes of capsicum, cherry, pepper, and a touch of raisin. The wine is medium-bodied and juicy with some grip. Long and smoky finish. Score: 90+/100 

• Palazzona di Maggio, Dracone Riserva 2011 – Emilia-Romagna, Italy

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The Colli d’Imola is a generic DOC located in Emilia-Romagna. However, this Palazzona di Maggio Dracone Riserva is anything but ordinary. It’s a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot aged two years in oak. This is big and ripe. There are flavors of black plum, capsicum, pepper, stems, and a touch of tobacco. Full weighted on the palate with a chewy texture and ripe tannins. Score: 91/100 

You May Also Enjoy These Videos

• Wine Review: Palazzona di Maggio Dracone Riserva
• Navigating Valpolicella
• Beyond Nebbiolo: The Other Grapes of Piemonte

Cover photo for the article is by Eunice Brovida Foto. Our travel and accommodation were provided by Elledue. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post A Glimpse into the World of Wine Merchants appeared first on Wine Travel.

*The photo depicts the 2015 vintage but the article refers to the 2016 vintage. 

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Domaine de la Solitude,’Cornelia Constanza’Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Domaine de la Solitude is one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Winemaker Florent Lançon represents the eighth generation of winemakers at the estate, all from one family. They own 37 hectares of vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which are currently undergoing the process to receive organic certification.

Florent Lançon, winemaker at Domaine de la Solitude.

We came across their wines during the Les Printemps des Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After tasting some of their wines, we had to visit the estate – which is just outside the main village. We spent more time with the winemaker Florent and did a thorough tasting of their portfolio. These wines are modern and fruit forward with round tannins. Thankfully, they are not complete fruit bombs. There is a sense of traditional craftsmanship in the wines that keep them from tasting over the top.

Their whole portfolio comes highly recommended, from the entry level Côte du Rhône all the way to their high-end bottlings like La Reserve Secret and Vin de Solitude. The Domaine de la Solitude ‘Cornelia Constanza’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is what caught our attention. It is a cuvée that Florent introduced when he took over the winemaking duties from his father in 2007. 

The 2015 vintage is in the photo but the article is about the 2016. 

The Domaine de la Solitude ‘Cornelia Constanza ‘Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 is made from old-vine Grenache grown in sandy soils. The cuvée consists of 90% Grenache and 10% from other varieties that are co-fermented. It has notes of strawberry, raspberry, sour cherry, fall leaves, and earth. The wine is full-bodied and rich with a certain elegance on the palate. It has crunchy fruit, grippy tannins, and a long finish. The Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cornelia Constanza 2016 is a flat-out sexy wine and should do great in the cellar for decades to come. 

Score: 95/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

You might also enjoy:

Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cornelia Constanza 2016 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Domaine Bois de Boursan, ‘Cuvée des Félix’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Most modern Châteauneuf-du-Papes are full-bodied, plush wines with alcohol levels approaching 16% abv. That’s not the goal of Jean-Paul Versino, the second generation winemaker at Domaine Bois de Boursan. Jean-Paul aims to create elegant wines that do well in the bottle for many decades.

Winemaker Jean-Paul Versino. 

Jean-Paul isn’t about chasing high scores and points. He wants to produce wines that are beloved by a particular audience. Those who value nuances, finesse, and tradition over jammy fruit. We definitely could see that in his flagship Châteauneuf-du-Pape. That wine is a little austere when young but ages beautifully. With his special cuvée, the Domaine Bois de Boursan ‘Cuvée des Félix’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Jean-Paul has struck a fine balance that will keep traditional and modern palates happy. 

The Domaine Bois de Boursan ‘Cuvée des Félix’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 is made from a vineyard selection of the best grapes. It’s named after Jean-Paul’s grandfather, who started the estate after being a woodcutter all his life. The cuvée is mostly Grenache and Mourvedre with Syrah and other permitted varieties. It’s aged in used oak. This is more opulent and complex than the standard Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Bois de Boursan but it’s by no means an alcoholic beast.

It has a great nose with leather, strawberry, blueberry, stewed cherry, and beef jerky. The wine is very traditional and “Frenchie” in style. The palate is round, full-bodied and leathery, with a snappy, peppery finish. While this wine has a long life ahead of it, the round and chewy tannins allow it to be enjoyed now. If you like more elegant Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is for you. 

Score: 94/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Domaine Bois de Boursan Cuvée des Félix Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 appeared first on Wine Travel.

The nearby city of Avignon is where several popes resided in the early 14th century. A castle was constructed in a nearby village for Pope John Pape XXII. Hence the modern name Châteauneuf-du-Pape or ‘New Castle of the Pope’.

The village is the source of robust reds and unique whites made from grapes like Roussanne, Marsanne, and Clairette. Wine lovers adore the wines from the Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape is no exception. Because of the high demand, it can be difficult to track some producers down.

We’ve long been fans of the wines, that’s why we jumped at the chance to attend Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It was a great opportunity to taste most of the wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape in one sitting. Many legendary producers and hard to find wines are present at the event, which makes it a can’t miss for Rhône lovers.

Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an annual event held in the village to showcase the current vintages. We attended the event this year, which was the 10th edition and saw 90 producers pouring over 250 cuvées. All of the producers were selling wines at prices lower than ex-cellar, so we saw many visitors walking out with cases of wine.

Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape took place over a Saturday and Sunday (6 & 7 April 2019). The room was packed during both days. So much so, that we didn’t get the chance to taste from every single producer, which is something we aim to do at events we attend. Regardless, we tasted a number of breathtaking wines and widdling down a list was difficult to do.

Impressions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The Good

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape benefited from two recent extraordinary vintages, 2015 and 2016.
• The reds from 2015 generally are more dense with concentrated fruit. The reds from 2016 tend to have higher acidity and are very approachable young.
• There continues to be an increased focus on producing quality Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blancs. We were especially fond of those that were dominated by Roussanne.
• The top whites and reds of Châteauneuf-du-Pape can be extraordinary, ranking among the best wines in the world.

The Not-So-Good

• Alcohol levels continue to be high in the reds, many wines approached 16% abv.
• We attended an in-depth masterclass of the 2009 vintage and found the reds did not age as gracefully as we had hoped. Our preference is to drink the reds of Châteauneuf-du-Pape on the younger side.
• The prices of the special cuvées continue to rise, which cut out many consumers.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

• Chante Cigale, ‘Extrait’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

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The Chante Cigale Extrait Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. Nice bite on the finish with flavors of lime, stoniness, white peach. Highly phenolic with a grippy and long finish. Full-bodied white. Score: 92/100

• Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

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The Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is lighter in style for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc. It’s not a special cuvée, it’s an entry-level white done well. Lime, white peach, tangerine, and baked stone flavors. The lightness, mid-palate intensity, and vibrant acidity make this wine stand out. Score: 90/100

• Domaine du Pegau, ‘Cuvée A Tempo’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

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The Domaine du Pegau Cuvée A Tempo Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is matured in a concrete egg. A blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne. Has a lime element with white peach, yogurt, and mineral notes. A full-bodied white with mid-palate presence and a long finish. Score: 94/100

• Château La Nerthe, ‘Clos de Beauvenir’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2016

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The texture of the Château La Nerthe Clos de Beauvenir Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc steals the show here. Full of oak, stone fruit, melon, lime, and minerals. Full bodied and it acts a little bit like ripe white Burgundy. Long finish. Score: 93/100

• Château de la Gardine, ‘Cuvée Des Générations Marie Leoncie Vielles Vignes’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2016

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The Château de la Gardine, Cuvée Des Générations Marie Leoncie Vielles Vignes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2016 is barrel fermented 100% Roussanne. It has notes of lime peel, white peach, slate, and yogurt. Round on the palate with firm structure from the barrel. The concentration and length of the finish make this a special wine. This is built to age. Score: 93/100

• Domaine la Barroche, ‘Pure’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

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The Domaine la Barroche Pure Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a stunning wine made from 100% Clairette. It was such an exciting wine that I didn’t gather myself to take a photo of the label. This is a unique Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc. Notes of apricot, tangerine, white peach, and yogurt make up the flavor profile. It’s a full-bodied white with vibrant acidity and a long finish. Spectacular stuff. Score: 94/100

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

• Domaine Serguier, ‘Revelation’ Châteaneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2016

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The Domaine Serguier Revelation Châteaneuf-du-Pape is a special cuvée made with old vine Grenache. Notes of strawberry, violets, pepper, and garrigue. Medium bodied with chewy tannins and a long finish. Spectacular wine that has a long life ahead of it in the cellar. Score: 94/100

• Domaine du Pegau, ‘Cuvée da Capo’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2016

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The Domaine du Pegau Cuvée da Capo Châteauneuf-du-Pape is big, rich, and ripe. It’s concentrated and round on the palate. A complex wine with notes of black cherry, plum, stewed strawberry, pepper, and meat. Full bodied with tough tannins. This is built for big-time meats and has a long cellar life ahead of it. Score: 95/100

• Paul Autard, ‘Juline’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

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The Paul Autard Juline Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a big and rich wine done right. Full of sweet strawberry, sweet cherry, and Jamaican jerk spice. It’s chewy and crunchy at the same time. Tannins are well integrated. It’s full-bodied but not jammy or overly raisinated. Score: 94/100

• Domaine de la Charbonnière, ‘Mourre de Perdrix’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge  2016

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The Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Mourre de Perdrix is full of stewed strawberry, chocolate, tobacco, and mineral. Silky smooth on the palate with grippy tannins. Long finish and tons of complexity with the ability to age. Score: 94/100

*Check out a video comparison between the entry-level Cháteuneuf-du-Pape Rouge from Domaine del Charbonnière and a Washington State GSM from Tenet on our YouTube channel.

• Domaine de la Janasse, ‘Chaupin’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2017

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The Janasse Chaupin Châteaneuf-du-Pape 2017 is made from old vine, 100% Grenache. It tastes like a stewed strawberry, beef jerky, and pepper rolled up into one. Round mouthfeel with sweet tannins. Full-bodied red that is mouth-filling with a long finish, you have to be patient with this beast. Score: 96/100

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Exotic Wine Travel: Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Articles

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Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Château Mont-Redon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015 & 2016

Château Mont-Redon is one of the largest estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They have over 100 hectares of vineyards in a large block within the appellation. The subregion is so large and significant that it’s named after the winery.

These days the alcohol levels and prices of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are rising steadily. It’s common to see alcohol levels in the 15.5%-16% range. It’s easy to find special cuvées of Châteauneuf-du-Pape priced over 500 USD. Château Mont-Redon has a different approach.

Old vine of Grenache in Château Mont-Redon’s galet-laden vineyard. 

We recently visited the estate and were impressed with the vineyards and the two latest vintages of the red, 2015 & 2016 – which are both stellar vintages in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I preferred the 2016 while Charine fancied the 2015 vintage. The Château Mont-Redon flagship red blend is primarily Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with small amounts of Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, and Vaccarèse.

The Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 is a little tight now but is built for the long haul. It clocks in at 14.5% ABV but feels much more balanced and nuanced than that number would suggest. It tastes like a strawberry wrapped in bacon and topped with black pepper. The wine is full bodied with a spicy finish and tough tannins. The wine is elegant, polished and worthy of cellaring.

Score MKH: 92/100  

Charine says – The Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015 is more developed on the palate than the bouquet—sweet red cherry and blackcurrant bursting through a light veil of leather. Amazing tannins that enter silkily then turn velvety towards the mid-to-end palate.

It leans towards the more modern, clean, and polished style plus more elegant, too, as the alcohol and body get dialed back consistently in every vintage. It’s drinking beautifully now and will probably enter a more-tertiary-than-primary window in 6-10 year then hang in there for some time. For those who like a more medium-plus body, no-brett, and red-fruit-lift kind of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is a great choice.

Score CT: 93/100

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We tasted over 5,000 wines from 30 countries this year, and it was an arduous task to narrow the list to 18 wines. Our trip back to the USA alone could have filled this list with wines from Napa Valley and Santa Barbara County and other classics that we tasted in New York City. So here it is, Exotic Wine Travel’s list of 18 memorable wines. As usual: while sensory merits are important, there are other factors that went into selecting these wines. Did the wine pique curiosity as well as satisfy it? Did it make us re-examine our assumptions and teach us something new? Did it humanize wine and mean something special to us? Ultimately, it’s an imperfect methodology but good enough to get the gist of our year measured out in wines. There’s a mix of classics and lesser-known wines on the list, which we hope reveals the ever-expanding choices that are available to wine lovers. We highly recommend you to seek out these wines and “drink adventurously” (our tagline). Note: The wines are listed in chronological order based on when we tasted them.

Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder – Napa Valley, 2004 (California, USA)

The first notable event we attended in 2018 was the Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood in Napa Valley. It was an invite-only event that we both received fellowships to attend. We flew from Croatia to visit Matt’s family in Michigan. After visiting the family, we drove 4,000 kilometers (2,400 miles) across the country to California—during the winter no less.

On the second day of the symposium, we attended the “Master tasting with Steven Spurrier and Friends“, which featured current release and library wines from the Napa Valley producers that participated in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. During our tasting, we had several outstanding wines including a Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, a Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979, and this Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Why we love it: It was a tough choice to pick one ‘best wine’ from a strong 14-pour line-up. However, the 2004 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was unequivocally the top choice for Charine (Matt preferred the 1997 Heitz a little more because of the aged tobacco and menthol notes). Here’s Charine’s notes: “The 2004 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder illustrates a vivid image of its birthplace—all the signs of mountaintop and fresh breeze! The fruit is exceptionally vibrant and fresh for its age, lined by freshly tilled soil and amber. The sure-footed finish is backed by long-drawn, sweet spice-tinted, fine-grained tannins.”

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, 2014 (California, USA)

After the Wine Writers Symposium, we attended several AVA tastings in Napa Valley. There are 16 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in Napa Valley, and each area produces distinctly different styles of wine. At the Oakville AVA tasting, there was no wine that we scored below 91 points. All the wines expressed ripe fruit flavors with a sense of freshness, rich texture, and a firm structure. Two wines that stood out above the rest were the 2014 Harlan Estate and 2014 Screaming Eagle, two of the most famous Napa cult wines. Why we love it: One taste of the 2014 Harlan Estate left us speechless. It’s a magnificent wine, and it claims the highest score that we’ve ever published on this site (4.9/5 or 99/100). The wine glides across the tongue as if it’s a ball of flavors giving the palate a deep-tissue massage. Everything is in place, in the right order and amount. Everything is complete.

Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District – Napa Valley, 2013 (California, USA)

After the Wine Writers Symposium and AVA tastings, we attended the 2018 Premiere Napa Valley auction. It’s an annual event where members of the Napa Valley Vintners auction off micro lots, between 60 to 240 bottles, of one-off creations that are still in the barrels. The money raised from the en primeur auction helps fund the operation of the Napa Valley Vintners, including the promotion and protection of Napa Valley. Prior to the wine futures auction, attendees had a chance to attend a walk-around tasting of barrel samples from the lots before bidding on them hours later and receiving them in a few years when they’re bottled. We tasted through the lots in the morning and then went to lunch before the live auction started. One participant told us to get to the lunch venue as early as possible because the wine selection would be remarkable; we heeded his advice. Over lunch, we had four hedonistic Napa Cabernets in front of us: The Continuum 2014, Staglin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paul Hobbs Nathan Coomb’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, and this Shafer Hillside Select 2013.

Why we love it: The Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 surpasses the rest in this instance. It’s nuanced, structured, generous in aromas, yet focussed and elegant on the palate.

The Ojai Vineyard, Syrah, John Sebastiano Vineyard – Santa Barbara County, 2014 (California, USA)

After our week in Napa Valley, we drove back to Michigan to shoot our series about the wines of Santa Barbara County. It’s our favorite wine region in the USA, and we wrote an e-guide entitled Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers to help first-time visitors navigate the wine region. To support our efforts, producers had graciously sent us over 100 wines to use for our video series. The single-vineyard wines from John Sebastiano Vineyard are some of our favorites. The John Sebastiano Vineyard sits on the northeastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, which is slightly warmer than other parts of Sta. Rita Hills. The vines are planted on steep hill slopes facing west and enjoy blustery winds from the Pacific Ocean. The soil contains clay-loam underlaid by limestone. The berries ripen relatively late here so the single-vineyard wines of John Sebastiano Vineyard tend to show marked concentration.

Why we love it: This is quite a benchmark of cool-climate Syrah. It’s concentrated yet remains approachable and soft. Floral, savory, earthy, and fruity, we can’t ask for more from a Syrah.

An Approach to Relaxation, Sucette, 2014 (Barossa Valley, Australia)

After a few weeks of shooting about Santa Barbara wines, we were on the road again. This time, we drove east from Michigan to New York, where we were scheduled to do a masterclass about Croatian wines. Along the way, we met up with our long-time virtual friend Drew DiMatteo and spent a couple of days with him in New Jersey and New York. Needless to say, many wines were shared and An Approach to Relaxation Sucette 2014 topped the list of memorable wines. Why we love it: Old-vine Grenache grown in sandy soil, plus vinified with some stem inclusion—that alone says a lot about this wine. It’s light on the feet and color, yet it punches with surprising intensity. It’s a wine that I won’t mind wearing on my wrists and licking myself ever so occasionally. There’s definitely deft winemaking (the makers are Richard Betts MS and Carla Rzeszewski) here as well.

Giacomo Conterno, Barolo Cascina Francia, 1998 (Piedmont, Italy)

After our time in New Jersey, Drew came with us to New York. We had a special evening scheduled with another wine enthusiast that we had previously known only in the virtual world. Croat-born American Leopold Frokic invited us to his home. The evening started off with a line-up of Nebbiolos from Bartolo Mascarello, Brovia, GD Vajra, and Marcarini, and the standout wine was this Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 1998. Why we love it: Barolo and Barbaresco are near and dear to our hearts—they were wines that we discovered together at the beginning of our relationship seven years ago, and they were the first wine regions we visited when our full-time travel began in 2015. This was a wine that had eluded us until that night.

Philippe Pacalet, Cornas, 2015 (Rhône, France)

After New York, Drew wanted to show us more of the Philly’s food and wine scene, so we hopped across the bridge for some Philly Cheesesteaks at John’s Roast Pork and drinks at the Walnut Street Café. Walnut’s sommelier Kaitlyn Caruke (named ‘Best New Sommelier by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2018) opened a bottle of Philippe Pascalet Cornas 2015. Why we love it: Matt loves Syrah; Charine loves Philippe Pacalet and Cornas but tends to find Philippe Pacalet to have severe bottle variation and Cornas to be too young for consumption. This is an all-stars-aligned Rhône red that’s best when savored, not tasted.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Père & Fils, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Clos de Ruchottes, 2006 (Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France)

After our time in the USA, we returned to Europe to start a series of press trips. Charine was off to the VinNatur event in Vicenza, Italy. One night, the event organizer shared this bottle of Clos des Ruchottes with her. This wine had been on her vision board for several years. Why we love it: It was surreal to see this bottle walked out of the wishlist onto the dining table. Better yet, the wine was in its peak window. 2006 was not a great year for Clos des Ruchottes, but the wine had come around with sustained depth and poise.

Éric Texier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vielles Vignes, 2015 (Rhône, France)

At the three-day Villa Favorita event organized by VinNatur, Charine had a chance to discover many new wine producers. But the one that left the deepest impression was Éric Texier, whose wines we were already familiar with. It was Charine’s first taste of his Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Why we love it: Charine appreciates every wine in Éric Texier’s portfolio, including the basic ‘Chat Fou’, but his Châteauneuf-du-Pape was in a league of its own: it caused her to stop in awe, then compelled her to create quite a commotion because she couldn’t contain my excitement. She has since become a vocal and enthusiastic supporter of Éric Texier.

Cave L’Étoile, Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Réservée, 1995 (Roussillon, France)

While Charine was enjoying the wonders of Vinnatur, Matt participated in Languedoc-Roussillon Week in the south of France. The week was jam-packed with tastings, workshops, field trips, and food. Matt tasted a number of delicious wines from many different appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon, but it was the fortified wines of Banyuls that captured his attention. One afternoon, we visited the steep terraces where those wines are born. What a site it was.

While Charine is in a never-ending love affair with Port, Matt was never into fortified wines until he met Banyuls. These wines are lower in alcohol (14.5%-16%) than Port and are a little easier to drink. The Cave L’Étoile Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Réservée 1995 was served during the last dinner of the the Languedoc-Roussillon trip. It was a special seven-course dinner featuring two fortified wines per course. This was the wine took nearly everyone’s breath away.  Why we love it: This sweet wine is a smorgasbord of flavors. Think dried raspberries mixed with coffee, toffee, pepper, and leather flavors. If you like Port, it’s time to give vintage Banyuls a try.

Clai, Bastovica, 2007 (Istria, Croatia)

After the Languedoc-Roussillon trip and VinNatur event , we met back in Croatia and set out to shoot a 12-part video series, entitled Cracking Croatian Wine, to support our book of the same name. On the third day of our shoot, we arrived at Clai winery in the evening (click on the video below).

Giorgio Clai and his co-winemaker Dimitri Brečević were having drinks after a long day in the vineyards. We joined them and tasted through the new vintage. Giorgio’s mood got progressively jovial as the evening darkened. He began pulling out archive wines from his small, personal stash (he drinks a lot of his own wine), including this Clai Bastovica Teran 2007. Why we love it: This wine isn’t in production anymore as all the vines in the Bastovica vineyard have been pulled. So this is quite a unicorn wine, which—admittedly—makes it even more special. But it’s not just merely novelty; the 2007 Clai Bastovica Teran had gained the necessary complexity through aging and it was showing great class that night. A sublime wine with larger-than-life quality that reminded us of the maker Giorgio Clai.

Kiridžija, Dingač, 2008 (Dalmatia, Croatia)

Our eighth episode of Cracking Croatian Wine focused on the wines of the Pelješac Peninsula. This slender piece of land is the spiritual home to Plavac Mali. The peninsula contains Croatia’s first two appellations, Postup and Dingač.

One of Plavac Mali’s old guards is Vedran Kiridžija, who produces about 15,000 bottles of wine (one-third are Dingač) in a humble cellar behind his house. When we stopped by to shoot our episode, Vedran was kind enough to share a bottle of Dingač from his favorite vintage, 2008. Why we love it: The wine had such a beautiful quiet intensity and harmony that we never thought we could find in Dingač. Who would have thought that the tannic monster Dingač has the ability to walk on tip-toe? Charine loved the wine so much that she teared up. We were also delighted that Vedran Kiridžija enjoyed the moment and the wine as much as we did.

Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, 2008 (Bordeaux, France)

After wrapping up our Cracking Croatian Wine video series, we had an intense few months of travel and started the second half of the year with a trip to Puglia (Italy) to judge at Radici del Sud, then moved on to more press trips in Hungary and Romania, and then back to Italy to judge at the Cagliari International Wine & Food Festival. After Sardinia, we went on a two-week re-tour of the Slovak wine regions. After Slovakia, we settled down in Oradea, Romania where we visited a friend and caught up on desktop work. During our time in Oradea, our friend Șerban organized two blind tastings, mixing in Romanian wines with international wines. The first tasting had quite a few surprises in it, including several impressive Romanian wines, a Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003, and this Château Montrose 2008. On first taste, Charine immediately identified it as a classified Bordeaux. This was the first bottle that was finished that night—the most practical identifier of ‘the best wine’. Why we love it: Château Montrose is one of Charine’s all-time favorite Bordeaux as it’s one of the most value-for-money cellar-worthy wines. This wine shows brightness and gossamer texture.

Crama Oprişor, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011 (Oltenia, Romania)

We did a second blind tasting in Oradea a few days later. Șerban mixed in lots of international wines including Rioja, Barolo, and Amarone. We brought along a Liber Pater 2009 (Bordeaux), which showed well. The most memorable wines were the Liber Pater, Château Porto Carras (Greece), and this lone Romanian wine in the flight.

Why we love it: The Crama Oprişor Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 changed our impressions of Romanian reds. We were in Romania three times in 2018 and tasted many wines from the top Romanian wine producers. In general, Romanian reds tend to be heavily extracted, finished with a landslide of oak. This wine is nothing of that sort; it’s powerful yet elegant, and it sings Old-World restraint.

Château Pajzos, Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, 2006 (Tokaj, Hungary)

After Oradea, Romania, we went back to Hungary for the Hungarianwines.eu study trip, which covered four Hungarian regions in four days. The study trip was a prize we received for winning the Hungarian Web Wine Writing contest with first place in the category of red wine and runner-up in Hungarian food and wine pairing. We were joined on the trip by other winners of the contest and a group of Cava producers from Catalunya, Spain.

This trip marked our third visit to Tokaj in 2018. It’s a region that fascinates us endlessly, and we’re always happy to return to Tokaj. This time around, we visited Château Pajzos. The managing director of Château Pajzos, Laurent Comas, guided us through the old cellars and a tasting of current releases and archive wines. While the Château Pajzos Eszencia 2000 was ethereal, it was the Château Pajzos Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2006 that unanimously impressed our whole group. Why we love it: The wine was beautiful: stewy notes with primary fruit dialed back; good balance of acid and sugar that paved the way for current drinkability. But what captivated us was the overall beauty of that moment: drinking the wine in the Tokaji cellar (drinking Tokaji wine in a traditional Tokaji cellar should be on the bucket list of every wine lover) with a group of like-minded people.

Mlečnik, Rebula, 2009 (Vipava, Slovenia)

Immediately after the Hungarian wine study trip, we had to attend another press trip in Slovenia. The schedule almost seemed improbable until a virtual friend came to our rescue—coincidently, Sašo Papp of Vinoo.co was attending the same wine event that we were attending in Hungary, and he graciously offered to drive us from the Etyek wine region in Hungary to Vipava Valley in Slovenia.

The Vipavska Rebula event was a sensory explosion. The press trip was sponsored by six quality-minded producers Burja, Batič, Slavček, Guerilla, Mlečnik, and Svetlik along with the Slovenian Tourist Board. We visited Mlečnik in 2017, so we were already familiar with their wines. However, nothing prepared us for the wines they pulled from the archive at the event. Valter Mlečnik and his son Klemen Mlečnik presented their Mlečnik Rebula 2009 and Mlečnik Ana Cuvée 2011. We sampled the Mlečnik Rebula 2009 twice during the trip. It was the best wine of the trip. Hold on, it was the best amber wine we tasted in 2018. Why we love it: Mlečnik Rebula 2009 is the epitome of harmony in a bottle. Nothing sticks out, nothing is left behind. It hits every point on the palate with concentration and focus. A true masterpiece. If this wine is indicative of where Vipavska Rebula (Rebula/Ribolla Gialla wine from Vipava Valley) is heading, then we are in for an enormous treat.

Ramos Pinto, Vintage Port, 1982 (Douro, Portugal)

Shortly after our time in Slovenia, we were on the road again, this time to Portugal. The AEVP (Association of Port Wine Companies, also known as Caves do Vinho do Porto) had invited us to Port Wine Day and the declaration ceremony of the 2016 Vintage Port.

Charine is resolutely partial to Port because her first sip of wine at a tender age was a Tawny Port. We were assigned to visit and stay a night at Ramos Pinto in the Douro. Jorge Rosas, Export Director and heir of the family winery, took us through the Ramos Pinto portfolio including a few older vintage Ports. When Charine tasted the Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1982, she instantly knew it would be on this list. Why we love it: It’s Matt’s birth year wine, so that gives it an extra sheen. Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1982 has absolutely the most divine bouquet of walnut cookie and meringue. Medium-bodied palate with resolved tannins. The finish is so long that it can keep one company for the whole evening.

Argentiera, Bolgheri Superiore, 2015 (Tuscany, Italy)

After Portugal, we returned to Croatia for a press tour to all four major wine regions, made a short trip to Vienna for the Orange Wine Festival 2018, and judged at the IWCB wine competition in Romania. As winter approached, we headed back to Charine’s home country Singapore to escape the cold. Along the way, we made a convenient detour to Hong Kong, where we shared a number of memorable wines with our friends including a Ridge Monte Bello 1998 and a Bruno Giacosa Santo Stefano Barbaresco 2007. We also attended Pinot Palooza and James Suckling’s Great Wines of Italy; the latter was where we tasted the final wine on our list. Why we love it: We tasted Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015 next to Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015. Wine Spectator named the Sassicaia 2015 the number one wine of the year; it’s a stellar wine but the Argentiera is equally impressive and comes at a fraction of the price.

Honorable Mentions:

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Brkić Greda Žilavka 2015 (Mostar), Čitluk Blatina Grand Cru 2011 (Mostar), Nuić Trnjnak 2015 (Mostar) Croatia: Bire Grk Defora 2016 (Dalmatia), Krajančič Statute 2015 (Dalmatia), Benvenuti Muškat San Salvatore 2013 (Istria), Enjingi Venje Bijelo 1998 (Slavonia) France: Château Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre Margaux 2004 (Bordeaux), Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2005 (Bordeaux), Liber Pater 2009 (Bordeaux), Damoy Gevrey Chambertin Clos Tamisot 2014 (Burgundy), Tarlant Cuvee Louis NV (Champagne), Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Cuvée Aimé Cazes 1978 (Roussillon) Greece: Château Porto Carras 2008 (Meliton Slopes), Markovitis Xinomavro 2012 (Naoussa) Hungary: Erzsebét Pince Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2003 (Tokaj), Lenkey Úrágya Furmint 2006 (Tokaj), Oremus Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 1999 (Tokaj) Moldova: Chateau Vartely Ice Wine Riesling 2017  New Zealand: Craggy Range Aroha Te Muna 2016 (Martinborough) Portugal: Bulas Porto Colheita 1996, Churchill’s Vintage Port 2016, Ramos Pinto 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Quinta do Vale Meão Vintage Port 2016, Quinta do Vallado Vintage Port 2016, Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 2015, Vasques de Carvalho 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Vallado Vintage Port 2016, Vieira de Sousa Agua Alta Vintage Port 2016 Italy: Terlan Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2015 (Alto-Adige), Fratelli Serra Vernaccia di Oristano 2002 (Sardinia), Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (Tuscany), Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2015 (Tuscany), Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015 (Tuscany), Antinori Tignanello 2015 (Tuscany), Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 (Tuscany), Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003 (Veneto) Romania: Davino Flamboyant 2012 (Dealu Mare) Slovakia: J&J Ostrožović Tokajské Výber 6 Putñový 2003 (Tokaj), Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus Exclusive Biele Suché 2015 (Strekov, Južnoslovenskà/South Slovakia) Slovenia: Batič Angel Pinela 2015 (Vipava Valley), Movia Veliko Rdeće 1998 (Goriška Brda) Spain: R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1995 (Rioja), Remelluri Rioja Blanco 2012 (Rioja) USA: Christian Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon 1974 (Napa Valley), Cliff Lede Poetry 2005 (Napa Valley), Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979 (Napa Valley), Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Napa Valley), Schramsberg Reserve Late Disgorged 1997 (Napa Valley), VHR Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2015 (Napa Valley), Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard 2014 (Santa Barbara), Liquid Farm Golden Slope 2015 (Santa Barbara), Samsara Pinot Noir Las Hermanas 2013 (Santa Barbara), Ridge Monte Bello 1998 (Santa Cruz)  Dishes of the Year: Baby squid ink barley with sheep cheese (Hotel Ola, Croatia), Pag lamb on grill (Boškinac Restaurant, Croatia), pasta with blue crab from Croatia’s Neretva river (Hotel Merlot, Croatia), fresh aoli with escargot from Vallée de l’Agly (Roussillon, France), Burrata cheese from Puglia (Italy), Pasticciotti (1489 Food Pop Gallipoli in Italy), raw seafood at Ristorante Al Pescatore (Bari, Puglia, Italy), Idrijski Žlikrofi (Gostilna pri Škafarju, Slovenia) Food and Wine Pairing of the Year: Meadowood Napa Valley’s roasted squab with smooked cranberry, salted clementine and parsip paired with Chase Cellars ‘Hayne Vineyard’ Zinfandel 2015 (Napa Valley)–wine selected by Gillian Ballance MS Restaurant of the Year: Boškinac (Novalja, Pag Island, Croatia) Sommelier of the Year: Tihomir Purišić (Dubravkin Put Restaurant in Zagreb, Croatia) Wine Event of the Year: Premiere Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA Tasting Winery Visit of the Year: Ramos Pinto (Douro, Portugal)

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The opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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Samsara Wine Co. is one of our favorite producers in Santa Barbara County. Upon first visitng the tasting room in Los Olivos, we (especially Charine) were hooked. When Charine loves a wine, she knows it after the first sip.

When we wrote our book Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers, including Samsara Wine Co. was a no-brainer. When it comes to Californian Pinot Noir, Samsara tops the list for Charine. You can see her enthusiasm while we taste through some of Samsara’s single vineyard Pinot Noir bottlings (video below).

New Beginnings At Samsara

The winery was started by Chad Melville. He believed in making handcrafted wines with as little intervention as possible. Which means he used native yeasts to ferment and utilized long barrel aging. Chad also believed in using as little sulfur as possible.

A few years ago, Chad returned to his family’s estate (Melville) and sold Samsara to longtime mailing list customers Joan and Dave Szkutak. Together with Chad, the Szkutaks decided on bringing on winemaker Matt Brady. He was formerly the head winemaker at Jaffurs, another iconic producer in Santa Barbara County.

Joan & Dave Szkutak (photo courtesy of Samsara Wine Co. Website)

With the change of ownership, we were worried the direction of the winery might change. Would these remain some of our favorite cool-climate Pinots and Syrahs in Santa Barbara? Matt took some time out of busy schedule to answer our questions.

• Matt, you’re a young guy with an impressive resumé. Could you tell us about your professional history?

I got bit by the wine bug while attending UCSB and started at Jaffurs as a ‘tasting room, cellar rat’ while I was finishing up my senior year.  The 2005 harvest rolled around and I was asked to take on an increased role in wine production. I’ve had a variety of job titles over 12 vintages at Jaffurs, eventually landing as co-winemaker, and then head winemaker. My 2009 sabbatical to Barossa Valley with Two Hands was a valuable experience too, but I drank enough Shiraz for a lifetime.

• You were crafting some beautiful wines at Jaffurs before, what made you decide to take on this new challenge at Samsara? 

Thank you! I’ve always admired and respected the Samsara wines and the way they are made: native ferments, high stem inclusion, savory, and texturally driven wines. Making wine at Samsara allows me to pursue the stylistic directions I’m most passionate about. The Samsara brand really represents the ‘groove’ I want to be in right now – vineyard driven wines, in balance with nature, and complexity over power.

Matt Brady (photo courtesy of Samsara Wine Co. Website)

• What vintage of Samsara will be your first?

It will be the 2017 vintage. We’ll also have a 2016 Grenache from Larner vineyard that I made which will be bottled as a Samsara wine.

• Samsara wines were known for stem inclusion and utilizing natural yeasts during fermentation, very minimal intervention so-to-speak. Will that be the direction moving forward as well? Or do you see a change in the style of Samsara wines? 

There will be no change in the winemaking approach. Chad Melville and I worked together before harvest began to ensure there would be stylistic continuity. Things will remain the same, native ferments, high stem inclusion, long macerations, minimal handling/gentle pressing, minimal SO2, and extended barrel aging – all things I believe in!

• Are you looking to source grapes from any new sites? If so, where?

Yes, a couple new vineyards…

We started a Chardonnay program in 2017, working with some top Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay vineyard sites (Zotovich, John Sebastiano Vineyard, Kessler-Haak, Donnachadh). We’ll most likely have a vineyard-designated bottling in addition to an appellation bottling.

I’m really excited about the Chardonnay! Currently, the barrels are tasting great and it’s exciting to have some white wine in our lineup. The Chardonnay will be bottled in late 2018, it is barrel fermented with neutral oak and picked on the early side with lots of natural acidity and fresh aromatics.

I’m also really pleased to be working with both Grenache and Syrah at Joey Tensley’s Colson Canyon Vineyard. Colson is a special site and it’s impeccably farmed by Joey and his team.  The 2017 Syrah and Grenache are both qualitative standouts for the vintage. While Samsara’s Syrah program is better known for the spicy cool climate Sta. Rita Hill wines, the Colson provides a riper and richer style, which makes for a good stylistic range within our Syrah lineup.

I’m really excited about the Chardonnay! Currently, the barrels are tasting great and it’s exciting to have some white wine in our lineup.

 

• What do you like working with more, Rhône grapes or Pinot Noir? Which is most challenging to work with?

Tough question… Pinot is less forgiving, which makes it more challenging. The Samsara Syrahs from past vintages are so good, which sets the bar high.

• Do you have any favorite vineyard sites in Santa Barbara County?

After spending so many years in some sites they become really special. Larner and Stolpman vineyards in Ballard Canyon and Bien Nacido in Santa Maria. I really fell in love with Rancho La Vina on Santa Rosa Rd last year. Colson Canyon is so remote it feels like an adventure every time you’re out there.

• What’s your vision for Samsara looking forward?

To continue putting quality above everything else. Winemaking style will remain consistent, although I foot-stomped a lot of grapes last year, I might need some help in 2018. I’m hopeful that increased time spent in our vineyards, working with our vineyard managers and crews will pay off with fruit quality. I’ll keep playing around new things here and there and will build on the stuff that works.

I deeply believe in our winemaking style, the few vintages we have in the bottle are tasting great and the 2017’s are showing great promise too. I’m optimistic about the future.

Find or buy Samsara Pinot Noir and other bottlings on Wine-Searcher.

You can also visit the Samsara tasting room in Los Olivos or check out or buy their current releases directly from their website.

You May Also Enjoy:

Review of Samsara Syrah Zotovich Vineyard

Review of Samsara Grenache Larner Vineyard

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Cover photo courtesy of Samsara Wine Co. Website. Additional thanks to Samsara for contributing samples for the tasting video. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Samsara: New Beginnings With Winemaker Matt Brady appeared first on Wine Travel.

The Cagliari International Wine & Food Festival takes place each summer in Sardinia. This last summer, we were invited by the organizers, APS Promo Eventi. This rendition of the event included the two-day festival and a one-day excursion to the village of Mamoiada – which is famous for its Cannonau.

Before the festival, the day trip to Mamoiada stole the show. We spent the day visiting cellars, vineyards, and small producers – some producing around only 3000 bottles per year. In the afternoon, a group of five producers organized a feast of slow-roasted Sheep and Sheep’s blood. It took place at the home of a local shepherd. While the food isn’t something we would crave every day, it was still a unique and eye-opening experience.

Sardinian Wine

When it comes to wine, Sardinia (Sardegna in Italian) is mostly known for its whites made from Vermentino and its reds made from Cannonau (Grenache) and Carignano (Carignan). All three of these grapes make beautiful wines, both for immediate drinking and cellaring. For hardcore wine geeks, two unique specialties that you shouldn’t miss are Vernaccia di Oristano and Malvasia di Bosa. Both of them are oxidative style wines that age under a film of yeast called Flor. On this last trip, we got a taste of them all.

Last Fall, APS Promo Eventi invited us to judge at The Vermentino Competition (you can read about some of our favorite Vermentinos there). That trip focused on Vermentino, this trip focused mostly on Cannonau. Here are eleven wines that stood out to us during the event and day excursion.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks.

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Cantina Gungui, Berteru Cannonau di Sardegna 2016

• Vike Vike, Cannonau di Sardegna 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Cantina Vike Vike is founded by the grandson of Guiseppe Sedilesu. The wines are produced in the village of Mamoiada. This is a minimal intervention style of wine and a well-executed one at that. There is a touch of volatile acidity which works in the wine, it is accompanied by pure red fruit flavors. The Vike Vike Cannonau di Sardegna is chewy, fresh, and fruity. This may turn off some, but fans of this style of wine will be in love.   4.1/5

• Cantina Sannas, Bobatti Cannonau di Sardegna 2017

Cantina Sannaz is a tiny producer in Mamoiada and this is only their second vintage of the Bobatti Cannonau di Sardegna. The wine is made in a small garage within Mamoiada. It’s a minimal intervention, unfiltered wine. It’s raw, rustic, and delicious. Notes of Mediterranean herb, rubber, and white pepper accompany the red fruit. Round with chewy tannins.   4.0/5

• Marco Canneddu, Zibbo Cannonau di Sardegna 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Marco Canneddu Cannonau di Sardegna is a big bodied and high alcohol Cannonau. In fact, we love that they own the 16% alcohol by clearly stating it on the label. It has notes of strawberry, red cherry, licorice, Mediterranean herbs, and a touch of oak. The wine has a round mouthfeel and chewy tannins. This has the structure to age well in at least the medium term.   4.0/5

• Giuseppe Sedilesu, Perda Pintà 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Guiseppe Sedilesu is one of the prominent producers in Sardinia. The Perda Pintà is made from Granazza – which is the same grape as Vernaccia di Oristano. Aged for one year in oak. Full of apricot, nuts, toffee, and orange peel notes. This has palate presence and a touch of residual sugar, one might get the impression that it is fortified because of its high alcohol (16%). Very oxidative style of wine, Sherry-like. Long spicy finish.   4.3/5

• Fratelli Serra, Vernaccia di Oristano 2002

Tasting Vernaccia di Oristano is always a treat. It’s a wine that undergoes long aging in barrel under a film of yeast called Flor. The Fratelli Serra Vernaccia di Oristano 2002 is aged in chestnut casks under the Flor.

It has notes of almond, hazelnut, dried apricot, and orange peel. It’s similar to a dry Sherry. This has beautiful acidity and the alcohol is well managed. Long finish tells you it’s a masterful execution of this style.   4.4/5

• Emidio Oggianu, Malvasia di Bosa Riserva 2011

Like Vernaccia di Oristano, Malvasia di Bosa is made with long oak aging under the Flor. The Emidio Oggianu Malvasia di Bosa Riserva is a fantastic wine in this style. Barrel fermented and oxidized like a Sherry, the wine is huge at 17% ABV but the flavors are concentrated enough to carry the alcohol. Nutty, apricot, lime, cognac, and other savory flavors emerge from the glass. It’s a full-bodied wine with a chewy texture. It’s a wine to be drunk next to a fireplace, deep in meditation. 4.3/5

• Argei, Pranu Mariga Isola dei Nuraghi IGT 2013

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Argei is a co-operative winery and the Pranu Mariga is the reserve red wine. It is a blend of Bovale, Cannonau, and Monica aged in barriques. It’s a rich red wine with flavors of cherry, Mediterranean herb, meat, and sweet cedar. This has a brilliant tartness that is not typical for this part of the Mediterranean. It’s big-bodied, round, and enjoyable that shows potential to improve with more time in the bottle.   4.0/5

• I Garagisti di Sorgono, Manca 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The I Garagisti di Sorgono, Manca 2015 is Cannonau aged for one year in used oak. It’s a minimal intervention wine. This is light-handed Cannonau with red fruit, white pepper, and Mediterranean herb flavors. It’s medium bodied with a juicy finish and is well balanced despite the high alcohol (15.5 %). The tannins are easy going and more importantly, the wine has soul.   4.1/5

• Gebelias, Gebel Isola dei Nuraghi IGT 2013

The Gebelias Gebel is a unique blend of Cannonau, Carignano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese aged in oak for one year. It has notes of wood, sweet cedar, cherries and Mediterranean herbs. This is full-bodied with round tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese give some juicy acidity to the wine, making it a perfect companion with meats.    4.0/5

You May Also Enjoy
The Vermentino Wine Competition in Sardinia

We were guests of the Cagliari International Food & Wine Festival, who paid for our travel and accommodation. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post 11 Sardinian Wines From The Cagliari Wine & Food Festival appeared first on Wine Travel.