Wine-dinner cu vinuri italiene pe 3 Aprilie 2013

Cel mai mare targ de vinuri din Italia – Vinitaly – isi deschide portile in primul weekend din Aprilie. Ne-am gandit la o degustare de vinuri italiene emblematice care sa va pregateasca pentru acest eveniment. Am ales o verticala de 3 ani diferiti pentru unul dintre cele mai celebre super toscane: Tignanello, si o mini verticala de 2 ani de Amarone de la un alt producator cu istorie de sute de ani: Masi. Vom face de asemenea un popas si in Piedmont cu vin de la Antinori si Luciano Sandrone. Am ales de asemenea ca vinuri albe cele mai bune vinuri albe produse de Antinori.

Asadar:

Vinuri albe

• 2010 Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala Conte della Vipera Umbria IGT (Sauvignon Blanc 100%)
• 2009 Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala ‘Cervaro della Sala’ Umbria IGT (Chardonnay 85%, Grechetto 15%) (JS 94, CT 91)

Vinuri rosii

• 2005 Luciano Sandrone Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont (ST 91, WE 90, WS 90, CT 89)
• 2004 Luciano Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore, Piedmont (WS 90, CT 90)
• 2008 Prunotto Barolo Antinori, Piedmont (WE 91, JS 90, ST 90, CT 90)

• 2004 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany (WE 95, WS 95, CT 93, ST 93, RP 93, W&S 93)
• 2005 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany (WS 92, RP 92, CT 92)
• 2008 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany (WE 94, RP 94, JS 93, WS 92, CT 91)

• 2003 Masi Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron, Amarone della Valpolicella (WE 93, CT 91)
• 2005 Masi Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron, Amarone della Valpolicella (WS 93, CT 90)

(Legendă: WS – Wine Spectator, WE – Wine Enthusiast, RP – Robert Parker, ST – Stephen Tanzer, JG – Jamie Goode, CT – Cellartracker.com)

Cum v-am obisnuit deja, o gustare va fi inclusa, din partea gazdelor de la Restaurantul Dada, iar, daca doriti, felul principal il puteti comanda a la carte.

Degustarea va avea loc miercuri, 3 aprilie 2013, de la ora 19:00, la restaurantul Dada (Str. Matei Voievod nr. 94bis). Sunt 12 locuri disponibile și fiecare costă 270 lei, sumă care include vinurile, aperitivele și prezența noastră agreabilă.
Rezervări la +40 722 141 879 (Nicușor Cazan) sau +40 723 240 102 (Cosmin Grozea)

A bunch of wines from the weekend

SUN was a very good day for wine. I had lunch at home with a friend and cooked fresh fish from the new wildfish.ro shop opened in Pta Dorobanti, but also received an invitation from a different friend to pay him a visit later on. There was a very important event to be celebrated and he uncorked some special wines. Knowing my passion for old vintages he thought about me when he opened Vega Sicilia Valbuena from the late ’70s.

At home I had 2011 Serve Cuvee Amaury that sports a fresh and floral nose, with clean and enticing aromas that shift from white and yellow flowers , to citrus and pear. Lively and rich in the mouth, it is a great success. (88/100)

It took a lot of effort to uncork the 1969 Chateau Nenin Pomerol that had a mid-shoulder level. So far it proved to be the most demanding experience to uncork an old bottle of wine. As much preparation and care I took, the cork did not want to get out. I had to take it out piece by piece, but fortunately there was limited amount of cork that fell in the bottle.

The wine has a good saturated ruby red color with brick rim. It also had an oxidized appearance as soon as it was poured in the glass. I am not sure if it was because I moved the bottle a lot during my efforts to uncork it or was the contact with air. What is certain is the wine was absolutely clean and transparent in the bottle prior to my efforts to uncorking it.

The bouquet is very nice, clean and still preserves discreet primary aromas of red and black currant. As it breathes the fruity aromas increase their intensity and get more nuanced. There are intense aromas of new leather, truffles, tobacco and cedar. Medium bodied, fully resolved tannins, outstanding acidity and balanced, it offers good drinking pleasure. Medium finish and fresh. It is a maturing wine and now on a downside slope, but the wine is surprisingly good considering its age and the quality of the 1969 vintage. (88-89/100)

After lunch I accepted my friend’s invitation and paid him a visit. Over there a merry group was waiting and challenged me to a blind tasting contest which I accepted. They had 5 wines opened for a couple of hours: 4 reds and a white. I did manage to impress:

– I guessed the first red by country, region and grape variety: 2007 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino. This had the sunny and warm nose that I find in Tuscany wines. Intense on the nose, sweet, with plenty of red fruits and toast. (91/100)

– the second as being the oldest on the table based on its color and cloudy appearance: Vega Sicilia Valbuena from the late ’70s. This is Non vintage Valbuena (it does exist yes !) bottled in 1979. It was a bit cooked and smelled like a Madeira. Such a pity. Not rated.

– the third had the most intriguing nose with pronounced aromas of earth and dill. Somebody said dirty socks. 🙂 I would call it earthy, with a little bit of brett. I thought initially old Rioja, but then the purity of its flavors and its medium body made me think about Pinot Noir from Germany. Managed to recognize the wine down to its producer and vintage: 2007 Philip Kuhn Steinbuckel Pinot Noir Grosses Gewachs Pfalz. At this moment the group was deeply impressed. This was one of the wines of the evening. It is a wine with such a great personality, intensity and focus that you cannot remain unimpressed. (93/100)

– fourth wine was more challenging. Due to some signs of oxidation, it initially sported dry fruits similar to an Amarone. In the mouth it was still good and eliminated the suspicions of an Amarone. I said initially Italy based on the nose, but based on the taste I said South Africa. It was indeed SA. Could not guess more but it was quite close. Hanneli R 2005 has some problems on the nose, but it is clean and intense on the palate. A very good wine if it would have not been the signs of oxidation on the nose.

– the fifth wine was the white. The moment I smelled the glass I said German Riesling Auslese or Spatlese. The wine had strong and sweet aromas of pineapple, peach and apricot, ripe citrus fruit and very discreet signs of petrol. Based on the nose it was an Auslese. In the mouth it fooled me because the outstanding acidity made it taste less sweet than an Auslese. I said Spatlese from Germany. It was 2001 Weingut Dr Crusius Riesling Auslese. Such a beautiful wine. It has amazing purity, richness, intensity and mouthwatering acidity. (94/100)

The evening was still young so 2 more red wines followed but not blind this time. I suggested to try 2007 Meerlust Rubicon which I absolutely loved. It strongly resembles a red wine from Medoc. Youthful, well developed and intense on the nose, it has rich aromas of green bell pepper, cedar, violets, black currant and a distinguishing peppery aroma. Fresh, powerful, balanced, seamless texture and great tannins structure, the wine is very convincing. It has deep and intense flavors of blackberries, dark chocolate and spices, and the structure to last. Long finish, with long aging potential. I was seduced immediately. (92/100)

2006 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino Campo de Drago is a huge, concentrated and well structured wine. Not very expressive on the nose for now, but the wine has all the attributes of becoming very interesting in time. It has depth, richness and huge amounts of tannins in the mouth, but it also has balance and layers of flavors. Long chocolatey finish. (91/100)

Great day for wine.

(Video) Degustare de Prince Matei 2000 si 2008 de la Vinarte

In episodul de azi al seriei “Aventuri in lumea vinului” apare unul dintre vinurile importante din Romania intr-o mini verticala alcatuita din doi ani diferiti: 2000 si 2008.

Episod transmis in data de 20.03. 2013 pe http://www.gandul.info/gandul-live/

Vizionare placuta !

(Video) Aventuri in lumea vinului – 15 Martie 2013

In acest episod mergem mai departe cu discutiile despre vin ca plasament financiar si dam cateva exemple punctuale despre performanta unor vinuri in ultimii trei ani.

Ornellaia 2008

The wine was open one day in advance, 2 glasses were consumed and then sealed back with a vacuum.

Ornellaia 2008

Dark red garnet color with purple hues. An intense, rich and developing nose, breathing youthfulness. A bit oaky, kaleidoscopic, the aromas shift from really ripe black fruits: blackberry, mulberry and blackcurrant to spices: cinnamon and anise, toasty oak and bits of eau de vie. It has depth and flesh in the mouth, smooth and ripe tannins, well balanced considering the high 15% alcohol, showing richness of flavors on the palate. Long finish, showing toast and ripe fruits. A wine that needs to spend more time in the bottle, made in a modern style. (93/100)

(Video) Degustare Crama Oprisor: Smerenie Magnum, Eticheta Rosie si Rosemount Traditional

In episodul de azi apar 3 vinuri de la Crama Oprisor – 2 dintre etichetele consacrate produse in Romania si un vin de import:
– 2010 Smerenie Magnum
– 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Eticheta Rosie
– 2002 Rosemount Traditional (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot)

Episodul a fost filmat in pivnita proprie.

Episod transmis pe 06.03.2013 pe http://www.gandul.info/gandul-live/

Despre vin ca si investitie (Video)

In acest episod vorbim despre ce inseamna tezaurizarea vinurilor, care sunt criteriile de selectie, cum si ce cumparam, cand vindem.

Emisiune transmisa pe gandul.info in data de 13.02.13 (Un Vin Pe Zi)

Degustare de vinuri Davino in premiera

Daca vreti sa va faceti o parere asupra noilor vinuri Davino la doar cateva zile dupa ce au devenit disponibile pe piata, aceasta este cea mai buna ocazie. Nicusor Cazan (Wine Events) & Cosmin Grozea (From Grapes to Wine) va ofera la degustare in premiera trei dintre noile vinuri albe Davino din recolta 2012 si doua dintre vinurile rosii deja consacrate:

• Alba Valahica (Feteasca Alba) 2012
• Sauvignon Blanc Edition Limitee 2012
• Revelatio (Sauvignon Blanc & Feteasca Alba) 2012
• Ceptura Feteasca Neagra 2010
• Domaine Ceptura Rouge 2009

Vinuri la inaltime savurate la inaltime

Degustarea va avea loc in salonul privat de la ultimul etaj al restaurantului Dada (Strada Matei Voievod 94bis colt cu Str. Agricultori). O gustare va fi inclusa in pretul rotund al participarii, de 99 lei, iar cine este curios sa incerce si alte asocieri gastronomice, poate comanda separat din meniul a la carte al restaurantului.

Si, desigur foarte important, evenimentul l-am stabilit pentru joi, 14 martie de la ora 19:00 si sunt 15 locuri disponibile. Pentru rezervari ne puteti contacta pe cosmin.grozea@gmail.com sau pe nicusor.cazan@gmail.com . De asemenea la numerele 0723 240 102 (Cosmin) sau 0722 141 879 (Nicusor).

Ne vedem sus.

Interview with Francois Bannier from Hecht&Bannier (Video in English)

Francois Bannier, one of the partners and winemakers of Hecht&Bannier, was present at the end of February 2013 in Bucharest, Romania. He was kind enough to accept an interview and we tasted several of his wines labelled as “Les Crus”. Each wine from this range comes from a single Appellation (ex: Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Bandol, Cotes du Roussillion Villages, etc) and is aged for 24 months in demi-muids.

On this episode we tasted:
2009 H&B Minervois
2009 H&B Saint Chinian
2009 H&B Bandol

Enjoy the video !