Mendoza, Argentina
30 % Malbec Vistaflores, 30 % Malbec Altamira, 40 % Malbec Chacras de Coria
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-07-30 & 2016-07-31
Medium and clear ruby red. Intensive blackberry notes paired with chocolate aromas. At the beginning very earthy but after some hours pure black fruits. On the palate the fruit character is clearly dominating. Besides the blackberries also some cherry impression arises. Together with a nice and charming acidity this Malbec provides a fresh attitude. Summer feeling. The perfect wine - perhaps a little bit cooler served as usual - for a "BBQ on the Lawn" experience. The people from Rancho Nicasio in California know exactly what I am talking about.
rebelión, Rebellion. The name was given by the Maal people because it was the first time that they prepared a Malbec blend from grapes coming from different vineards. So an act of rebellion. A successful act for my opinion.
The wines from Maal are the latest newcomers on the list of one of my German wine merchants, Lucky Wines. The owner of Lucky Wines made a very good avertising for the wines and so I became curious. I ordered a bottle of all six wines from Maal; starting with the entry level blend "rebelión" up to the high-end "paciencia". During the next weeks I will taste and describe all six of them to give a short overview of this winery with the wonderful credo: "We don't just make Malbec. We only make Malbec."
Drink this beauty during the next five years. And all the time during summer time and with burgers from the grill. Then life is - really - good.
Tuesday, July 26. 2016
2002 Weingut Allmendinger Cabernet Mitos (91/100)
Horrheimer Klosterberg, Württemberg, Germany
Cabernet Mitos
13.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-07-17 & 2016-07-19
Medium dark cherry red. Some light rims are demonstrating first signs of maturity. Sour cherries, black pepper, freshly smoked bacon and a touch of dark chocolate. On the palate still fresh with some mint aromas. Then some slight but pleasant bitterness which flows into a long, lemony finish. Still young but very well drinkable at the moment. Waiting another five years no problem. The wine was 36 months in barriques. So this excellent backbone does not come really surprising.
But what on earth is Cabernet Mitos? No problem. Wikipedia knows everything:
Two days later. Of course I used the wine saver . Now the bitter notes are totally gone. Very smooth and more similarities to a classical Cab. Indeed it would be interesting to smuggle the wine into a Heitz Cab tasting - after three hours decanting.
Concerning food we paired the Mitos the first day with a classical Chili Mac. Wonderful. The freshness of the wine harmonizes perfectly with the spicyness of this comfort food. Two days later we prepared a special kind of burger - with low carb buns ("Oopsies") made mainly of quark. Works also very well. According to my opinion you should pair this wine directly after opening with spicy Mexican food. Fantastic cross-over.
Cabernet Mitos
13.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-07-17 & 2016-07-19
Medium dark cherry red. Some light rims are demonstrating first signs of maturity. Sour cherries, black pepper, freshly smoked bacon and a touch of dark chocolate. On the palate still fresh with some mint aromas. Then some slight but pleasant bitterness which flows into a long, lemony finish. Still young but very well drinkable at the moment. Waiting another five years no problem. The wine was 36 months in barriques. So this excellent backbone does not come really surprising.
But what on earth is Cabernet Mitos? No problem. Wikipedia knows everything:
Cabernet Mitos is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. It was created at a grape breeding institute in Weinsberg in the Württemberg wine region, Germany in 1970 by crossing Blaufränkisch and Teinturier du Cher. The previous belief that it was a cross between Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Sauvignon, which even the breeders themselves stated, was corrected in 2013 through a DNA analysis. "Mitos" is the German word for mitosis, a stage in the cell cycle. Cabernet Mitos received varietal protection and was released for general cultivation on January 24, 2001. The vines of Cabernet Mitos show good winter hardiness. ... Cabernet Mitos wines are full bodied and rich in tannin, and are well suited for oak barrel aging. The wines show similarities in aromas to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Two days later. Of course I used the wine saver . Now the bitter notes are totally gone. Very smooth and more similarities to a classical Cab. Indeed it would be interesting to smuggle the wine into a Heitz Cab tasting - after three hours decanting.
Concerning food we paired the Mitos the first day with a classical Chili Mac. Wonderful. The freshness of the wine harmonizes perfectly with the spicyness of this comfort food. Two days later we prepared a special kind of burger - with low carb buns ("Oopsies") made mainly of quark. Works also very well. According to my opinion you should pair this wine directly after opening with spicy Mexican food. Fantastic cross-over.
Monday, July 18. 2016
2008 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes (99/100)
Châteauneuf du Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Roussanne
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-06-25
Golden yellow. Lots of ripe tropical fruits, beeswax and kumquat. On the palate fresh and very intensive. Extremely strong with a tart, challenging acidity. Neverending finish. Far to the end more fruity.
The white Beaucastel "Vieilles Vignes" consists to 100 % of Roussane grapes. The vines are 70 years old on average. Half of the wine is fermented in steel tanks; the other in 225 l oak barrels. Total production 500 cases per year. Only to provide some facts about this outstanding wine.
Sometimes it is not necessary (and not possible) to write too much about a wine and the corresponding wine experience. This was the case here. No food pairing recommendation. This wine would dominate any kind of food due to its complexity. Also no statement to the aging capability - even if I believe that another ten years would not be a problem. It is quite simple: At this special day during this special moment it was definitely one of the best wines I drunk in my life.
Roussanne
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-06-25
A real Wine Monument - the 2008 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes
Golden yellow. Lots of ripe tropical fruits, beeswax and kumquat. On the palate fresh and very intensive. Extremely strong with a tart, challenging acidity. Neverending finish. Far to the end more fruity.
The white Beaucastel "Vieilles Vignes" consists to 100 % of Roussane grapes. The vines are 70 years old on average. Half of the wine is fermented in steel tanks; the other in 225 l oak barrels. Total production 500 cases per year. Only to provide some facts about this outstanding wine.
Sometimes it is not necessary (and not possible) to write too much about a wine and the corresponding wine experience. This was the case here. No food pairing recommendation. This wine would dominate any kind of food due to its complexity. Also no statement to the aging capability - even if I believe that another ten years would not be a problem. It is quite simple: At this special day during this special moment it was definitely one of the best wines I drunk in my life.
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