“What’s it like to work with such a big personality in the wine world?”

“She’s actually fantastic and listens to input and gives some flexibility in the cellar,” answered Ettore Rizzi. He’s a fiery ambitious man who is deeply involved with the production at Fattoria le Pupille. Ettore also happens to be the son of Elisabetta Geppetti.

Elisabetta is often credited for putting the DOCG Morellino di Scansano on the map. Her estate, Fattoria le Pupille produces around 500,000 bottles of wine in Southern Tuscany from 75 hectares of vineyards. Their range spans from a value-driven Morellino di Scansano all the way to their ambitious Super Tuscan known as ‘Saffredi’.

Her son Ettore is now working in the cellar and is crucial in the final blending and overall production.

Fattoria le Pupille

The first time I came across Fattoria le Pupille was during a small, intimate trade tasting in Belgrade, Serbia. Elisabetta Geppetti walked me through several of her wines including her staple Morellino di Scansano Riserva and classy Poggio Valente. The wines smelled of Tuscany and really spoke to me.

Fast forward a few years later and I found myself on a casual Zoom tasting with wine lovers and sommeliers from around the world. It just so happened that Ettore Rizzi was on the call too. I immediately appreciated his passion, understanding, and curiosity towards wine. After several calls, Ettore chose to send me the current releases from the estate.

Tasting through the latest vintages of Fattoria le Pupille was one good thing that came out of the dreaded year of 2020. The entry-level Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano offers tremendous value for money while the reserve wines can compete with the best of Tuscany. The biggest surprise for me is the new Poggio Argentato, a wine that breaks the stereotype that all Tuscan whites are boring.

Here’s a look at the latest vintages from Fattoria le Pupille.

• Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Argentato 2019

The Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Argentato is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Traminer, and Sémillon. Most of the wine is kept in stainless steel while part of the cuvée is aged in oak. Notes of white pear, honey, white peach, yogurt, and a touch of white flower. This is a white that is full of flavor and is fun to drink. The Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t dominate in the blend, which is a good thing. Score: 91/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano 2019

The Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Alicante Bouchet and Ciliegiolo. This is the backbone of the estate. This is a fun red with notes of sour cherry, strawberry, mineral, and a touch of tangerine-peel. It’s not just a boring, simple red – it has earthiness and complexity. The sour cherry notes dominate, which I love. There are some chewy tannins here along with the juicy acidity. For an inexpensive red, this could improve with some time in the bottle. Pick this up by the case! Score: 89/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2017

The Fattoria le Pupille, Morellino di Scansano Riserva is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon aged in large cask for 15 months. This just screams Tuscany in the glass. Brilliant nose of sour cherry, cedar, tobacco, earthy, and even a touch of capsicum. There is so much sweet and sour cherry fruit on the front palate that it engulfs your palate. Earth and tobacco nuances come around on the end and there’s a tangerine-peel acidity on the long finish. Tannins are chewy and this can be enjoyed right away but it should keep in the cellar in the medium term. Very good, warmer climate Sangiovese. Score: 93/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Valente 2018

The Fattoria le Pupille, Poggio Valente is 100% Sangiovese aged for 18 months in large casks. Very impressive Sangiovese from Maremma. Notes of dried cherry, raspberry, blueberry mint, and tobacco. Ripe and chewy on the palate, there is plenty of fruit here and it’s sweet red fruits. It’s a wine with plenty of structure, great oak integration, and just a touch of wildness. A ripe, concentrated, and structured Sangiovese with length and a spicy finish. This is a great Sangiovese that can stack up to the best of Brunello, Nobile, and Chianti Classico. Score: 94+/100

• Fattoria le Pupille, Saffredi 2018

The Fattoria le Pupille, Saffredi is an Italian icon and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It’s not big and rich, it’s got ripeness with some finesse. Notes of black cherry, black plum, hazelnut, sweet cedar, and a touch of earth. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. This is a baby now but should age into something spectacular. Fine-grained tannins.

This is just starting to hit the shelves now. If you pick it up, plan on cellaring it for another five to ten years. At that point, it should blossom and deserve a high uptick in the score. Score: 94/100

Fattoria le Pupille provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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 Fattoria le Pupille: More Than Morellino appeared first on Wine Travel.

Unique wines at great price points produced/served by wonderful people. Couple that with a diverse range of growing conditions and there are real reasons to champion Portuguese wine.

Portuguese Wine Distributor: Wine Concept

During the Fall of 2019, I did a whirlwind two-week trip through Portugal. The trip started with the Douro Boys Auction followed by stints in the Dão, Bairrada, Lisbon, and Alentejo. During my visit with Esporão, head winemaker David Baverstock told me he had his own project in Alentejo called Howard’s Folly. I wasn’t able to visit the estate but David directed me to his distributor Wine Concept in Lisbon.

Upon arriving in Lisbon from Alentejo, I headed straight to Wine Concept. During the course of an afternoon, the opened bottles from Howard’s Folly and other producers in their portfolio. After a few hours of tasting, I packed up and left their office.

Once out the door, I got a call. Wine Concept owner, Nuno Neves de Sousa invited me out to lunch with the team. Another few hours went by filled with laughter, food, and wine. When I finally left it occurred to me. This is everything that I adore about Portugal.

When the world went into lockdown in March 2020, I found myself stuck in Croatia. Wine Concept was kind enough to send me a case of wines to sample. In the pack, 11 of the 12 wines were good to very good (one bottle was a faulty bottle, which happens). The selection was a great representation os Portuguese wine and all are available in Portugal for 15 Euros or less. Did I mention that I love Portuguese wine?

Wine Recommendations:

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

White Portuguese Wine

• Casa de Saima, Bairrada Vinhas Velhas 2018 – Bairrada

The Casa de Saima, Bairrada Vinhas Velhas (old vines) 2018 is a blend of Maria Gomes, Bical, and Cercial. It’s a wine that doesn’t see oak but remains on the lees for a year. It has an oily mouthfeel with notes of pine, green guava, lemon, mineral, and gas. Rich concentration with a slightly flinty finish. For a wine that can be found under 10 Euros in Portugal, this is a steal. Score: 90+/100

 

• Dona Paterna, Alvarinho 2019 – Monção e Melgaço

The Dona Paterna, Alvarinho 2019 is a zesty and fresh white. There are notes of lemon, curd, cumin, and minerals. The nose is quite subtle but the wine shoots through your palate like a laser. Focused fruit with a steely finish. Pair this with oysters and watch the magic happen, very well done at this price. Score: 90/100

 

• Pico Wines, Frei Gigante 2018 – Pico

I tasted the Pico Wines, Frei Gigante 2018 on several occasions. The first time was was the GoVolcanic Tasting 2019 in Budapest. This bottle didn’t show as well as previous encounters. Chalk it up to a bad bottle. Check out my first review of the wine HERE.

 

• Quinta Varzea da Pedra, Fernão Pires 2017 – Óbidos

The biggest surprise in this selection is the Quinta Varzea da Pedra, Fernão Pires 2017. This grape is also known as Maria Gomes. Beautiful notes of pine, gas, white pear, lemon, and seawater. It’s full of white fruit on the palate, yet finishes with a mineral edge. This is everything I like about Portuguese white wines, there’s enough fruit but the sharp, salty edge is what makes the wine interesting. Score: 91/100

 

• Quinta Vale de Fornos, Arinto Chardonnay Gewürstraminer Reserva 2018 – Tejo

The Quinta Vale de Fornos, Arinto Chardonnay Gewürstraminer Reserva 2018 is aged in French oak. Unusual blend that was aged in oak. It has the aromatic Gewürtztraminer in the blend but it’s still neutral on the nose. Notes of white pear, white flower, chalk, and citrus emerge from the glass. The palate is surprisingly bright and full. It’s not an uber complex white wine but there is body, flavor, and plenty of tangy acidity making it more than a simple poolside sipper. Score: 89/100

• Amareleza, ‘José Piteiro’ Vinho de Talha Branco 2015 – Alentejo 

This is a real gem. The Amareleza, ‘José Piteiro’ Vinho de Talha Branco 2015 consists of Diagalves and Roupeiro fermented in talha (amphora). Brown in color, almost like a tawny port. This is a highly oxidized style of wine with notes of caramel, fall leaves, nuts, apricot, and toffee. Not a lot of fruit here, it’s more nutty and savory. Fine texture and a small amount of tannins. This is yummy, complex stuff but buyer beware, it’s not a fruity white wine. Almost like a dry tawny port. Score: 92/100

 

Red Portuguese Wine

• Amareleza, ‘José Piteiro’ Vinho de Talha Tinto 2017 – Alentejo 

The Amareleza, ‘José Piteiro’ Vinho de Talha Tinto 2017 is made from the grape Moreto and fermented in talha (amphora). Moreto is not a well-known grape but it is praised by winemakers in Alentejo because of its ability to retain acidity. There are notes of stem, black cherry, red plum, and a touch of white pepper. It smells like a cool weather red but has the lusciousness and mouthfeel of a warm climate red. The finish is exceptionally fruity with ripe, sweet tannins. Very delicious for a red wine made in amphora. Score: 89/100

 

• Casa de Saima, Pinot Noir 2017 – Bairrada

The Casa de Saima, Pinot Noir 2017 is not a typical Pinot Noir but a nice take on the grape. Made by a minimal intervention producer. Notes of cherry, rubber, sea salt, and clay. It’s silky on the palate with bright acidity. This is an interesting take on Pinot Noir, it’s definitely in the category of a “natural wine” but it’s well done. Plenty of juicy red berry fruits with low amount of tannin. Handled lightly and it’s clean for a natural wine, which is a big plus. Score: 90/100

 

• Quinta Vale de Fornos, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2016 – Tejo

The Quinta Vale de Fornos, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2016 is made from old vines and aged in French oak for 12 months. It has a unique nose for Cabernet Sauvignon. There are notes of thyme, tar, black currant, and earth. There’s plenty of dark fruit upfront on the palate. It’s full-bodied and round on the palate but finishes with grippy tannins. Very good Cab considering the price point, where else can you get solid Cabernet Sauvignon for around 11 Euros? Score: 89/100

• Casa Américo, Jaen 2015 – Dão

The Casa Américo, Jaen 2015 is a deep red from the Dão. This grape is also known as Mencia in Spain. Notes of pine, blackberry, black cherry, and crushed rocks. It’s full on the palate without being too broad or fat. There is plenty of acidity here and a thyme-like vintage. It’s a wonderful interpretation of the Dão. Score: 90+/100

• Quinta do Pinto, Petit Verdot & Alfrocheiro 2015 – Lisboa

The Quinta do Pinto Petit Verdot & Alfrocheiro 2015 has a French red grape in the blend but this is a Portuguese red through and through. This is dark and inky in color. There are notes of red plum, cherry, leather, and soy sauce. It’s full in body but not massive. There’s a savory note to the wine but the fruit is still the highlight here. Firm tannins. It’s not typical Petit Verdot, which isn’t a bad thing. Score: 88/100

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Thanks to Wine Concept 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 Why I Love Portuguese Wine appeared first on Wine Travel.

Visiting an old friend. That’s what if felt like to revisit the Fruška Gora region and the Vojvodina Wine Show 2019 in Serbia. Fruška Gora was the first region Charine and I visited in the Balkans.

You can get a glimpse of our first visit below (thank goodness our videos have gotten better).

Fruška Gora is an 80 km long, low-lying mountain range that sticks out in pancake-flat Vojvodina, Serbia. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus ordered vines to be planted on Fruška Gora in the 3rd century AD. Despite the long history of grape growing, Serbia’s winemaking suffered during the socialist times of Yugoslavia. All growers were forced to send their grapes to the state cooperative, where quantity (not quality) was emphasized.

Modern winemaking began to take shape on Fruška Gora in the late 1990s. The region is the most experimental in Serbia. There are white, red, orange, and sparkling wines being made on Fruška Gora. Everything from garage wineries to large-scale production to biodynamic farming can be found.

“Fruška Gora is not a huge region, but it does have a lot of different climates and soils”, says Igor Luković, editor in chief on the Serbian wine magazine Vino & Fino. “Fruśka Goa it is the wine district with the highest number of registered wineries in Serbia”, Igor adds. “There you can find crispy whites alongside juicy international blends, some exceptional orange wines, and rare indigenous grapes like Seduša.”

Fruška Gora is an east-to-west mountain range that hugs the Danube. Because of this, there is real potential for excellent wine growing. However, it’s still a young region (in the modern sense). Many producers are still figuring out who they are and where they want to go.

Unfortunately, all of this potential is not fully realized yet. Many producers still have to work on improving the quality of their wines, especially so they can command the relatively high-prices in a tough Serbian market. On the positive side, there is a handful of brands that keep raising the bar every vintage. Some of these producers are crafting brilliant wines.

Serbia has fantastic terroir and real potential for fine wine (especially with the local grape Prokupac and Chardonnay). Let’s see if Fruška Gora can lead the way. I look forward to continually follow their progress.

Wine Recommendations:

• Bjelica, ‘Babaroga’ Chardonnay 2018 

The Bjelica Babaroga Chardonnay is a barrel-fermented white with excellent oak integration. Bacon fat, melon, yellow peach, and yogurt. It’s creamy and rich in the mouth. This is structured and should improve with bottle age. The use of oak keeps getting better vintage after vintage with this producer. The Barbaroga shows the high potential of Chardonnay in Serbia. Score: 91+/100

• Zvonko Bogdan Cuvée No. 1 2017

New winemaker and a new level of quality for Zvonko Bogdan. This vintage of the Zvonko Bogdan Cuvée No. 1 eschews Frankovka. The 2017 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Lots of cherry, spice, fall leaves, and earthy notes. Full-bodied with a rich texture and fine tannins. This has length and depth and should improve even more in the bottle. Score: 90/100 

• Vista Hill, White Reserve 2012

Vista Hill wines available here.

Vista Hill was formerly known as Molovin winery. The Vista Hill White Reserve is made from 100% Grašac (Welschriesling/Graševina). It’s a developed white and smells almost sweet. Notes of honey, marigold, baked apple, white apricot. Impressive length and texture thanks to the bottle age and a gingery finish. Score: 90+/100 

• Belo Brdo Marselan 2015

The Belo Brdo Marselan is aged in oak for 18 months. There are notes of strawberry, black raspberry, pepper, and earth. It has a velvety and seductive nose. This is tart and medium-bodied. It’s a food-friendly, peppery red. For a wine that is listed at 15% abv, the alcohol is not felt. Score: 89/100 

• Šijački, Seduša 2017

Šijački single-handedly revived the grape Seduša and are currently the only producer working with it. The Šijački is a cool and quirky wine aged in oak for six months. There are notes of black plum, mulberry, twigs, and pepper. It smells big and ripe but is surprisingly medium-bodied and elegant. Fine mouthfeel with slightly grippy tannins. Put this wine on the dinner table and watch the conversations start flowing. Score: 89/100

• Vinum, Frankovka 2017 

The Vinum Frankovka is made in small quantities but is worth seeking out. It’s aged for six months in used oak. The flavors include black cherry, fall leaves, pepper, and mushroom. Full-bodied and delicious, it is rich and elegant at the same time. Chewy tannins and a persistent and subtly complex finish. Score: 90/100

• Kovačević, Morava Amfora 2017

The Kovačević Morava Amfora is an orange wine, macerated for six months in Georgian qvevri (amphora) and aged in oak for one year. Bright orange peel flavors. Notes of yellow apricot, marigold, tangerine peel, and dried flowers. Very clean and well done. Full-bodied and tangy, the tannins are firm but not over-aggressive. It has a sensual texture and long finish. Clean and well done. Score: 91/100

• Bikicki, Uncensored 2017

Bikicki wines available here.

The Bikicki Uncensored 2018 won a gold medal for “Best Orange Wine” at the 2019 Balkans International Wine Competition. It’s made from Röter Traminer and spends seven days on the skins. It has notes of orange peel, peach, dried apricot, and yellow flower. It’s full-bodied and chewy. The tannins are a bit drying at the end. But it’s clean and well-done stuff. Score: 90/100 

• Quet, Italijanski Rizling 2012

Quet is the brand name of Fruškogorski Vinogradi. The Quet Italijanksi Rizling is made from Grašac (Welschriesling). This is a fresh wine, not made to age but it has come along well. There are notes of almond, apricot, dried lemon peel, and a touch of honey. Full and developed body, it has tingling acidity and hides the 14.5% alcohol well. Spicy finish. Score: 90/100

• Deurić, Aksiom 2016

The Deurić Aksiom is a blend of Probus (cross of Kadarka and Cabernet Sauvignon), Marselan, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It’s a big-bodied red with fine tannins and notes of dark fruit, cherry, stems, tobacco, and graphite. It’s very much like an Alentejo red blend, unique yet familiar at the same time. Score: 89/100

• Tri Međe i Oblak, Vagabundo White 2018

This winery keeps improving vintage after vintage. The Tri Međe i Oblak Vagabundo White is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Bland and 40% Grašac. The Sauvignon Blanc is barrel fermented and the Grašac is made in stainless steel. There’s oak on the nose but it is handled really well. There are also notes of winter melon, white peach, yogurt, and lemon peel. Relatively full bodied white with texture. Long and spicy finish. Score: 90+/100

• Dukay-Sagmeister, ‘Kew’ Kadarka 2016

The Dukay-Sagmeister ‘Kew’ Kadarka is an elegant and pretty wine. Small plot, less than 1 hectare on Fruška Gora. This is a lighter colored red wine with notes of dried strawberry, red raspberry, soil, and pepper. The nose is strikingly similar to good Pinot Noir. Silky mouthfeel, almost Pinot Noir-like at first. The flavors fill the palate and the high acidity keeps this wine juicy and soft. Long and spicy finish. Score: 92/100

• Chichateau, Fabula Mala 2017

Find or buy at wineandmore.com

This is a fabulous vintage of this entry-level red from Chichateau. The Chichateau Fabula Mala is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a rich and unfiltered red that overdelivers in its price category. Notes of black cherry, bacon fat, capsicum, tobacco, and pepper. Full bodied and rich with several layers of texture and a big spike of fruit before the long finish. Score: 90+/100

• Trivanović, Optimus 2018

The Trivanović Optimus is a fresh, single-vineyard white wine made from Grašac Beli. This isn’t overly complex but it is clean, well-made, and delicious. It should be the standard for fresh Grašac wines. Notes of melon, white pear, lime, and a touch of yogurt. Crisp and juicy, this is simply a pleasure to drink. Score:88/100

• Erdevik, ‘Ex Cathedra’ Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Find or buy at wineandmore.com

I prefer the Erdevik ‘Omnibus Lector’ Chardonnay a tad more, but the Erdevik ‘Ex Cathedra’ Sauvignon Blanc is also worth noting. This is a barrel-fermented white wine that has fantastic oak integration. This is a riper (but not obnoxious) Sauvignon Blanc with notes of peach, kiwi, and apricot with a touch of grass & yogurt. Full-bodied without the sharp acidity that can bother many drinkers. Score: 89+/100

Our travel and accommodation were provided by Udruzenjevinara-Srem/Fruška Gora. 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 Serbian Wine: Fruška Gora Terroir appeared first on Wine Travel.

In December of 2018, we attended James Suckling Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong, an event that we had been looking forward to for a long time. The Hong Kong event was the second stop on the James Suckling Great Wines of Italy Tour Asia 2018, which also included Beijing (China), Bangkok & Phuket (Thailand). It’s one of four themed events by James Suckling which includes Great Wines of the World, Great Wines of the Andes, and Bordeaux Confidential.

James Suckling Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong

James Suckling is quite a polarizing figure in the wine industry. He was at the Wine Spectator for nearly thirty years and now runs his own platform www.jamessuckling.com. Some people trust his tasting notes while many dislike him. Regardless of what you think of him, he churns out a massive amount of reviews, videos, and live events.

Like him or loathe him, Suckling gets many outstanding producers together in one room, pouring great wines to the crowd. The Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong saw 97 producers pouring nearly 200 wines over three hours. There were giants present like Antinori all the way down to smaller producers like Bruno Giacosa.

James Sucking Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong 2018 was well presented and impeccably organized. We were amazed by the layout and handouts. All the wineries were organized by appellation and numbered appropriately The handout listed each wine poured by producer including vintage and the score by James Suckling.

Because of the crowd, we didn’t get a chance to taste every wine (although we definitely tried). Here were our favorites from the event.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

You can find out more about our scoring system on the Wine Rating page.

CT = Charine Tan’s Scores, MH = Matthew Horkey’s Scores

• Cantina Terlano, Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2015 – Alto Adige

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

We’re no strangers to Cantina Terlano, they may be our favorite cooperative winery in the world. They produce stellar wines at every price point and their mid-range and reserve labels are incredible. Charine found herself wowed by the newest release of the Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva with it’s big body and rich stone fruit flavors.  CT: 95/100

• Casanova di Neri, Tenuta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino 2013 – Tuscany

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova is a single-vineyard Brunello di Montalcino. It is made of 100% Sangiovese. This classic is an old-school, rustic style, which I love. The wine is full of leather, cherry, and tobacco flavors with a touch of brett. What separates this wine from many run of the mill Brunellos is the fine texture and grainy tannins. The acidity combines with the tannins and guides a long finish. MH: 93/100

• Brancaia, Ilatraia 2015 – Tuscany

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Before we were in wine full-time, we had a soft spot for Brancaia. The Brancaia Tre is a go-to, value for money red that we’ve had many times. It was even featured in an early episode of our YouTube channel which is titled, “Sangiovese Made Simple.”

The Brancaia Ilatraia 2015 is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Petit Verdot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. This is one of the top wines in Brancaia’s portfolio. It’s a dark wine with leafy notes along with dark cherry and leather. It’s full-bodied and rich with a long finish and soft tannins. There is a lot to like about this big, smooth Tuscan red.  MH: 93/100

• Vinosia, Rajamagra Taurasi Riserva 2011 – Campania

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

We’ve never been huge on the grape Aglianico. We’ve tasted many examples of Taurasi & Aglianico del Vulture in addition to judging a flight of Aglianico at the Radici del Sud in 2018. Still, we always walk away disappointed and wondering what we missed about this grape that allegedly creates the “Barolo of the South.”

The Vinosia Rajamagra Taurasi Riserva shows off the potential of Aglianico. It’s enough to change our minds. Dark cherry and leather with a touch of smoke dominate make up the flavor profile. The wine has a touch of greens and sweet tobacco on the finish. It’s a big wine with developed tannins. MH: 91/100

• Pio Cesare, Il Bricco de Treiso Barbaresco 2013 – Piedmont

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Pio Cesare is one of the big names in Piedmont and their Il Bricco de Treiso Barbaresco is a killer single vineyard effort. It’s another fine example of what makes Nebbiolo so special.

CT: 94/100

• Riecine, Rosso Toscana 2014 – Tuscany

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Riecine is a renowned producer of Chianti Classico but it was their Rosso Toscana that got Charine really excited. It’s a fine wine from a tough and rainy vintage. Her notes are as follows:

“100% Sangiovese from a certified-organic vineyard at 500 meters above sea level. The soil types are a mix of limestone and clay, and the average age of the vines is 45 years old. The grapes are crushed by foot and fermented in a mix of open-top bins and cement tanks. There was a bit of stem inclusion used in fermentation, and the wine was aged in barriques for more than 2 years before bottling.

Why we love this wine? It’s ridiculously pure, light-footed, and pretty. The light color and easy-going tannins belie the rich flavors and pliant texture. An elegant Sangiovese that delivers great flavors and a long, fresh finish.” CT: 91/100

• Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia 2015 – Tuscany

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is an iconic Italian wine and was one of the original Super Tuscans. In the past, I haven’t been huge on this wine. I respect that quality, but it just hasn’t got me that excited. The 2015 Sassicaia was named Wine Spectator’s top wine of 2018, which only adds to the hype.

Our palates worked extra hard to dissect this wine and we came to one conclusion – it’s an outstanding effort. The 2015 Sassicaia is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that is very approachable now. Full of bright cherry, tar, leather, mineral and violet flavors. It’s plush and rich on the mouth with fine tannins. The drinkability of this wine is off the charts, especially at the young age. MH: 97/100

• Franz Haas, Manna 2016 – Alto Adige

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Franz Haas is known for his cool climate Pinot Nero(Pinot Noir) grown in Alto Adige, Italy. During this event, we couldn’t get enough of his Manna white wine. It’s a cool blend of Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a late-harvest Traminer. Full of white apple, lychee, white peach, and diesel fuel notes. It has confusing flavors that take you all over the place before somehow coming back to balance.  It’s a crazy, unique white that is sure to intrigue. MH: 91/100

• Argiano, Brunello di Montalcino 2013 – Tuscany

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Charine is a huge fan of Brunello di Montalcino and we made sure to taste as many as possible. This Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2013 was our favorite of the event. It’s not the Brunello producer with the biggest name or the highest price point, but it’s a fantastic wine.

The Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2013 has lots of sour cherry, sweet tobacco, cedar, and mineral notes. It’s a smooth wine with fine tannins that glide seamlessly across the palate. The wine is expressive yet subtle with a complex finish. MH: 94/100

• Schiopetto, M 2016 – Friuli Venezia-Giulia

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

We spend a lot of time in Friuli-Venezia Giulia but have yet to visit Schiopetto. Mario Schiopetto is one of the pioneers in the region, introducing temperature control to create precise white wines. The winery has changed ownership and has decided to create an ode to Mario.

The Schiopetto M is made from old vines of Friulano. Full of yellow flower, pineapple, and mineral flavors, it’s rich and concentrated on the palate. It’s a full white wine without high acidity which means it doesn’t have sharp edges. Friulano ages surprisingly well and we would expect no less from this beauty. MH: 93/100

• Argentiera, Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015 – Tuscany

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Another overachiever is the Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore. It doesn’t have the brand equity like Ornellaia, Sassicaia, or Guado al Tasso but can certainly stand toe to toe with them in terms of quality. It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. This is a concentrated yet delicate wine. Full of dark fruit, licorice, greens, graphite, and mineral notes, it’s super complex on the palate. The wine is full-bodied yet feels impeccably elegant on the palate. Fine tannins guide the long finish. MH & CT: 95/100

• Bruno Giacosa, Barbaresco Santo Stefano 2007 – Piedmont

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Bruno Giacosa is a legend in Barolo and Barbaresco. Unfortunately, he passed away last January. By the time we got to the table, all of the bottles were empty. Just a few nights later, Charine met up with a friend in Hong Kong who ironically brought a Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano 2007.

It’s incredibly aromatic and forthcoming with fruit. The bouquet offers an enchanting freshness that shows no sign of aging or slowing down. The tannins are rather firm for its age and demand more bottle aging. A fantastic wine that delivers ripeness, structure, elegance, and notes of red cherry, rose, and spice. CT: 94/100

• Il Borro, Petruna Anfora 2015 – Tuscany

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The village of Il Borro was purchased by the Ferragamo family, which transformed it into a five-star hotel and a winery. The Il Borro Petruna Anfora 2015 was made and aged on the skins for one year in Amphora. It’s made from 100% Sangiovese which is lighter in color and full of sour cherry and mineral notes. The tannins have a fine, grainy texture to them. MH & CT: 93/100

• Antinori, Tignanello 2015 – Tuscany

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Another knockout vintage of the Antinori Tignanello. Like other vintages, it stays truer to the red fruit spectrum of Sangiovese. Notes of mineral, sweet cedar, fall leaves, and pure yumminess. It might not be the trendy wine now, but it is fantastic year in and year out. While this is an age-worthy classic, the 2015 is so approachable and easy to drink now. It would be hard to hold on to this for another 10-15 + years, where it should show its best. MH: 95/100

Thanks to the team at James Suckling for providing us with trade passes for Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong. 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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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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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!

Kabaj Cuvée Morel 2010

Jean Michel Morel is a Frenchman producing wine in Goriška Brda, Slovenia. He married his wife Katja and together in the 1990’s they decided to start bottling Slovenian wines from her family estate. They produce mostly varietal wines and the whites are macerated for at least a few days and then aged in oak for two years. There are no “fresh” wines produced at Kabaj.

We first visited the estate in the summer of 2017 and walked away impressed with the wines. During the summer of 2018, we were in the area and decided to stop by for a second visit. Jean opened a combination of new vintages and archive wines. Three wines impressed us during this visit: the Kabaj Rebula 2009, Kabaj Rebula 2002, and a Bordeaux blend.

 

It’s been a great 5-day #winetrip in #Slovenia. While we respect many producers of fresh #Rebula wine, the macerated and more oxidative style of Rebula is certainly more exciting to us. #slovenianwine #orangewine #kabaj #amberwine #ribollagialla #wino #goriskabrda #ifeelslovenia

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Aug 21, 2018 at 11:47am PDT

Kabaj produces two reds, a varietal Merlot and a blend called Cuvée Morel. As far as Slovenian wine is concerned, Merlot is usually more exciting than Bordeaux blends. At Kabaj this often holds true, the Merlot is always juicy and delicious while the Cuvée Morel is more tannic and structured. We’re not fans of the Cuvée Morel every vintage but this new release is something special.

The Kabaj Cuvée Morel is a Bordeaux blend dominated by Merlot. It also contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot which is aged in oak for at least three years before being bottled. It’s full of black cherry, violets, black olive, and tobacco notes. It’s medium bodied and rich fruit and firm tannins. This is has a slight lavender finish which adds to the complexity. This wine would cost a helluva lot more if it was a Bordeaux. Fantastic effort by Jean.  

90/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the Wine Rating page.)

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The Kabaj Cuvée Morel was a sample. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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.

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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!

Dona Maria (Júlio Bastos) Grand Reserva 2013

We’re huge fans of Portuguese wines. When it comes to Portuguese reds, our preferences are toward examples from Douro, Dão, Lisboa, and Bairrada. The wines we previously tasted from Alentejo didn’t blow us away… until now.

Charine discovered this producer while we were on a Port-centered press trip in Porto, Portugal. She visited the caves of Taylor’s (Taylor, Fladgate, & Yeatman) on the second day of the trip. During lunch, Taylor’s served a selection of dry wines from other producers (since their production is dedicated only to Port). When we met again later that day, she kept going on and on about a delicious Petit Verdot she tasted from the Alentejo region.

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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!

Harlan Estate 2014

I am not a huge fan of trophy wines. As a consumer first, I purchase wines that are intended to be enjoyed and drunk with friends and loved ones. But as a wine geek, it’s exciting to get a chance to taste iconic and rare wines. Charine and I work hard to taste benchmark wines so that you as a reader have confidence in the more “exotic” wines we write about.

Charine and I were present for the week of Premiere Napa Valley 2018. Prior to the auction, there were several tasting parties throughout the valley. The Oakville AVA tasting had some heavy hitting wines including big names like B Cellars, BOND, O’Shaughnessy,  Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Vine Hill Ranch, and Harlan Estate.

Harlan Estate was established in 1984 although the first commercial release wasn’t until 1990. When Bill Harlan founded the estate, he wanted to create a Californian “First Growth” type of wine. The 40 acres of vineyards that make up the wine are within the Oakville AVA. They are planted with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, in addition to some small plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

Harlan Estate is one of California’s “Cult Cabernets”. It’s not uncommon to find bottles of Harlan Estate on the secondary market fetching over 1000 USD a bottle. For most people, it’s far from an everyday wine (or even a special occasion wine at that).

I have to admit that I didn’t want to like this wine. I wanted it to be all hype, all marketing. I was hoping that it was too big, too extracted, and clumsy. I was wrong, this is a head turner.

What a wine! The Harlan Estate 2014 is massive and elegant at the same time. Like most of the Napa reds from 2014, it’s approachable right out of the gate. This Cabernet-dominated Bordeaux blend has tight, delineated flavors. It is floral with notes of black fruit, tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla. The Harlan Estate 2014 is silky on the palate with firm tannins. The long and citrusy finish let you know this is a masterful effort. Charine says. “it’s like a ball full of flavors massaging the palate”. 

Expensive? Yes, but it’s a helluva wine.

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

4.9/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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. 

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In 1976, Englishman Steven Spurrier organized a blind tasting, pitting Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay against top-notch Red Bordeaux and White Burgundy. When the final scores were tallied, a Californian wine came out on top in both the red and white categories. The tasting became known as the Judgement of Paris and was depicted in the Hollywood film Bottleshock.

During the Wine Writer’s Symposium Meadowood 2018, we experienced a semi-recreation of that tasting (at 5:26 in the above video). Mr. Spurrier, the Napa Valley Vintners, and the Wine Writer’s Symposium organized a tasting that included young and mature vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon (and one Chardonnay) from the producers who were represented in that monumental 1976 tasting.

The panel that led the discussion consisted of Steven Spurrier, Lettie Teague (Wall Street Journal), Amy Wislocki (Decanter), Jim Gordon (Wines & Vines, Wine Enthusiast). Needless to say, everyone, including the panel and other participants, were impressed with the wines. Mr. Spurrier and Charine came away really impressed with both of the Cabernets Mayacamas. I was a big fan of both of the wines from Heitz Cellars. Both Charine and I were impressed with how well the 1979 Clos Du Val had aged. 

Napa strives to create wines that are approachable young, yet age gracefully. It was an eye-opening experience for us to do this comparative tasting. All the young wines were approachable and the mature ones still had life left. A common theme we saw during the week was that 2014 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is plush and very drinkable now while the 2013s are firm and highly structured wines that need more time in the bottle.

Here are the wines in the order we tasted them.

You can find out more about our scoring system on the Wine Rating page.

The Lone Napa Chardonnay

• Chateau Montelena, Chardonnay 2011

This barrel fermented Chardonnay tastes a lot younger than it actually is. The Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is oaky and full yet very well made. Full of honey and bright pineapple flavors with a touch of salinity. This has a subtly powerful finish which makes it a thinking wine. I would prefer a little more acidity but this is very good nonetheless.   4.3/5

The Young Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

• Clos Du Val, Hirondelle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap District 2014

This single vineyard wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Clos Du Val Hirondelle Vineayrd Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Districti is medium bodied and very sleek. It has flavors of violets, blackberry, and graphite. It has a tight mouthfeel and a long, spicy finish. Balanced and delicious to drink now but built for some serious aging.   4.6/5

• Freemark Abbey, Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2014

This single vineyard wine has a small amount of Merlot in the blend. The Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford is medium bodied with bright acidity. For a soft vintage like 2014, this has firm, mouth-coating tannins. Full of violets, dark plum, and a lot of oak.   4.3/5

• Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Red Wine Blend 2014

Majority of this wine is Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Red Wine Blend is full of violets, rose, chalk, black fruit, and herbal flavors. It feels lean at first sip but spreads its wings on the palate. Firm tannins and tight structure.   4.4/5

• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard. The Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon is full of violets, herbs, and black cherry. It has dusty tannins and a firm finish. The end palate has a touch of orange peel and green herbs. Velvety mouthfeel.   4.6/5

• Heitz Wine Cellars, Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

This is the first release from the Linda Falls Vineyard located in the Howell Mountain AVA. The Heitz Wine Cellars Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a knockout. Full of black fruit with a savory soy sauce component. It’s full and round with powerful fruit intensity. The wine is impeccably balanced with a spicy finish.   4.8/5 

• Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 2013 * Charine’s Pick

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon is elegant and big at the same time. It’s full of cherry pie, capsicum, and graphite flavors. The tannins are firm and the fruit is bright. European in style with a tangy finish.   4.5/5

The Mature Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

• Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Red Wine Blend 2005

Majority of this wine contains Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The Spring Mountain Vineyard Elivette Red Wine Blend shows a lot of tertiary notes. It’s full of tomato leaf, capsicum, and dark fruit. It’s medium bodied with a hickory smoke finish. The tannins are firm and may not ever soften but it’s delicious.   4.3/5

• Chateau Montelena, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Calistoga AVA. Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense nose. It’s a big wine with flavors of graphite, herbs, tobacco, and stewed cherry flavors. It’s rich and ripe with an orange peel finish. For fans of massive reds.  4.4/5

• Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 2004

The 2004 vintage of this staple from Mayacamas has a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Merlot added to the blend. This has very old world flavors of leafy greens, graphite, and dark fruit. This is bright and vibrant for an older wine. The tangy acidity stretches out the long finish.   4.6/5

• Freemark Abbey, Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2002

This vintage consists of 15% Merlot in addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford has a tight nose which is not as expressive as the palate. It’s full of tomato leaf, tobacco, and red licorice. The nose feels tired but the palate brings you back with intense dark fruit flavors. Citrus finish.   4.4/5

• Heitz Wine Cellars, Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 * Matt’s Pick

Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this famous Oakville AVA vineyard, the Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 is a spectacular wine. It’s intense and explosive on the nose with herb soy sauce, rubber, and black fruit flavors. It’s creamy on the palate with developed tannins and a sweet tobacco finish. The structure and finish remind me of a great Rioja Gran Reserva. This wine had the most pronounced tertiary (aging) notes among the mature wines.  4.8/5 

• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

The 1994 SLV has a microscopic amount (0.1%) of Petit Verdot in the blend. This beauty from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is still drinking well now and has more life ahead of it. There are flavors here of black cherry, baking spice, and graphite. It’s medium bodied with lively acidity. The acid, tannins, fruit, and tertiary notes are in balance.   4.5/5

• Clos Du Val, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979

Tasting this wine was a real treat, it has a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The Clus Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve drinks extremely well and has a lot of life left in it. Flavors of Mediterranean herbs, rubber, tobacco, and stewed cherry accompany the smooth mouthfeel. This has subtly powerful flavors with a lingering finish.   4.7/5

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited 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.

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In February 2018, Charine and I attended the Wine Writer’s Symposium Meadowood in Napa Valley. The symposium coincided with the week of Premiere Napa Valley. The biggest reason I wanted to attend the events was to check off a few wish-list wines that are hard to get outside of California. We drove from Michigan to California in February, there was some brutal weather on Interstate 80 but we made it without any major problems.

After tasting lots for the Premiere Napa Valley live auction, we sat down for lunch. The Napa Valley Vintners laid out an impressive spread of food matched by big-time wines. We were shocked to see the variety of wines available over lunch. I quickly grabbed a few glasses of wines that have been on my to-try list.

• Continuum 2014 

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Continuum is a label launched by Tim Mondavi (son of Robert Mondavi). The vineyards of Continuum are hillside sites within the Oakville AVA. The 2014 Continuum is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot aged 21 months in oak.

This is a dense, massive effort. Full of cassis, tobacco, black cherry, and soy sauce. It’s very silky and round on the palate. It has a lot of wood but it works well. It is a big bodied with a silky smooth mouthfeel. The firm tannins guide the long finish. Out of these four wines, this felt the heaviest on the palate.   4.5/5

• Shafer, Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

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What a wine! The Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon comes from hillside vineyards located in the Stag’s Leap District. This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 32 months in French oak. 

It smells like it should be a dense wine yet it feels extremely elegant on the palate. It smells more like dark fruit while the palate has more red fruit. A very interesting drinking experience It has a savory note to it with cherry flavors, vanilla, and tobacco flavors. Medium bodied and fun to drink with fine-grained tannins. It’s not over the top Cab while being subtly powerful. Fantastic fruit and masterful winemaking.   4.8/5

• Staglin Family Vineyard, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

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The fruit for this Staglin Family Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the estate vineyards which are farmed organically. The vineyard is located within the Rutherford AVA. This vintage has 13% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot in the blend and is aged 20 months in French oak. 

The wine is dark and dense with tobacco, black cherry, and soy sauce notes. It’s round on the palate with a small tannin level. It tastes developed for such a young wine. Big yet not overly loud. with a long finish.   4.6/5

• Paul Hobbs, Nathan Coombs Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

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The Paul Hobbs Nathan Coombs Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is from Hobb’s estate vineyard in the Coombsville AVA. It’s one of the reserve wines from Paul Hobbs. The 2013 vintage has 3% Cabernet Franc and 1 % of Petit Verdot in the blend and is aged for 20 months in French oak. 

It has very Tuscan-like flavors – similar to the wines of Bolgheri, Italy. Full of black and red cherry, chestnut, and vanilla flavors. It’s full-bodied but not massive. Fresh acidity with a round mouthfeel and chewy tannins and a long finish.   4.7/5 

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

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