Tag Archive for: dans mon verre @en

Diamond Cabernet-Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace Napa 1996

Diamond Creek Cabernet-Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace Napa 1996

Diamond Creek Cabernet-Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace Napa 1996

The Californian Diamond Creek Vineyards, which name comes from the place where it stands, the Diamond Creek Canyon, is made of different types of soil vineyards, bottled separately, ranging for 3 to 4 different wines depending on the vintage. One more thing that makes Diamond Creek different from the others wineries of that area, especially when it was founded in the late 1960’s, is the fact that it’s planted only with Cabernet-Sauvignon, from vines coming from First Growth Bordeaux Château.

Having a great capacity to age, these wines fully shows themselves when mature at around 20 years of age while holding a lot more. It is always a Great moment to enjoy these wines in that stage of development, which I did again! I had the opportunity over the years to drink few “old” or mature wines from Diamond Creek, as the 1979 and the 1992 also noted on my blog.

Here is now my note on this 1996 Red Rock Terrace:

Very dark garnet color. Nose of berries, leather, tobacco with fine spices and oak, showing clearly what Cabernet-Sauvignon wines can do best, while having great resemblance with left bank Bordeaux wines. This had such a beautiful nose! Flavors of the same kind of what was on the nose with the additional minerality, still showing structure even if polished in a long silky, fine, balance and savory finish. Liked it a lot! Superb (92)

Made of Cabernet-Sauvignon from vines planted on steep hillside made of red clay mixed with iron deposits. Aged in new French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12,5%

The 2011 and 2012 vintages are currently available in some SAQ stores. For older vintages, some were previously sold through special release from the SAQ, so look for them of shop south of the border in US wine shops.

Diamond Creek Vineyards website: diamondcreekvineyards.com

They are represented in Québec by Réserve et Sélection / Trialto: trialto.com

Domaine Laurent Martray Brouilly Combiaty 2014

Domaine Laurent Martray Brouilly Combiaty 2014

Domaine Laurent Martray Brouilly Combiaty 2014 

Already the 3rd vintage to be reviewed on the blog! Looks like this is a wine I like year after year…

Ruby color with purple hue. Nose where red fruits blossoms with cherries, berries, then spices and earth. Chewy and tasty fruit folloewd by spices flavors, a good concentration while staying fresh and juicy. An other nice wine in a more expressive and savory style, true to my impressions on 2014 Beaujolais wine I had yet. Very good (89)

Made of Gamay from 40 years old vines. Partially destalked and aged in oak cask and barrels, partially new. Alcohol level of 12,5%

Available at the SAQ for 20,60$ (Code SAQ : 10837373)

Laurent Martray’s website : domainelaurentmartray.com

Represented in Québec by Le Maitre de Chai : maitredechai.ca

Vietti au M Mme

Vietti at M Mme wine bar

Vietti at M Mme wine bar

Having an history spreaded over five generations (from 1873), it’s only in 1919 that Mario Vietti produced the first wines under the name Vietti. He did have to change the farming they were doing on his family property, plant vines and buy more land.

Since his desire was to own his land, he did what he wanted and bought plot on as many areas possible in the Piedmonte. That explains why Vietti is one of the owners from the area that have the most vines on so many appellation, having vines on 15 different vineyards for a total of nearly 35ha.

Besides making wines from classic Piedmonte grapes varieties, they even started to make a white wine in the 1960s, the Roero Arneis.

Some of the wines currently available were previously made for their personal consumption as the Scarone Barbera, which reflects the fact that they do not produce huge amount of each wines.

That’s why one could consider their total production as small, especially when compared to some of their neighbours, even if they have 25 employees to take care of their vineyards on one of the 3 facility they have.

Here is the approximate amount of vines they have by region:

Dolcetto: 2,5ha

Barbera d’Alba: 6,25ha

Barbera d’Asti: 8ha

Barolo: 11ha

Moscato: 3,5ha

It’s Luca Currado, Luciana Vietti’s son that runs the place since 1990 as Chief Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, having previousy acquired experience in Bordeaux and California.

This event was leaded y Elena Currado, Luca’s wife, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for Vietti. She presented us some of their wines available here in SAQ stores or by private import.
Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2014

Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2014 (28,90$ – SAQ Code : 12098201)

Fine nose of flowers, it’s salty, have fruit and rocky notes. Finesse drives the wine again on the palate with flowers, pear and salty water. Very elegant and I liked that!

Made of 100% d’Arneis. Aged in stainless steel tanks. This grape variety used to be called White Nebbiolo.

Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d’Alba DOC 2014

Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d’Alba DOC 2014 (28,80$ – SAQ Code : 11863282)

Dark ruby color. Nose and flavors of red berries and floral notes. Slightly spicy with some earth, the fruit is shining!

Made of 100% de Barbera. Aged in a blend of Slovanian and French oak barrels and stainless tanks.

Vietti Vigna Scarrone Barbera d’Alba DOC 2013

Vietti Vigna  Scarrone Barbera d’Alba DOC 2013 (52,00$ – SAQ Code: 12900102)

Dark cherry color. Nose of spices, black berries and oak. More serious and showing depth on the palate, this as strenght and structure. Even if this is quite young, it can be enjoyed if paired with a dish that stands up the wine. Nice potential.

Made of 100% de Barbera. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. The vines for this wine are located on Barolo land.

Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo Langhe DOC 2013

Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo Langhe DOC 2013 (31,25$ – SAQ Code:  10861031)

Medium garnet color. Nose of dried flowers, earth cherries, citrus fruit peel and rocky-sandy-earthy soil! Good acidity and more serious and austere than the Barbera wines with its leather and dry fruits notes, it stays drinkable and quite good actually.

Made of 100% de Nebbiolo. Aged 4 months in oak barrels, then 20 months in oak cask. This wine is made of the barrels that will not go into the Castiglione Barolo.

Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2012

Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2012 (will be available in private import)

Medium brick garnet color. Pretty nose of fruit, flowers, fine spices and leather. Fine, fresh and typical of Nebbiolo wines. Charming on the palate with balance between finesse and rusticity. Flavors of wild berries, dried flowers, leather, sweet spices, all this in a long lasting finish! Will be a Grand vin for sure and is drinking beautifully from now. Can’t imagine this wine but coming from a better vintage! Tastedwith Elena Penna Currado from Vietti. Excellent!

Made of Nebbiolo. Aged 26 months in cask then 8 months in stainless tanks prior to bottling. Alcohol level of 13,5%

 

I liked these wine and they confirm why I was buying them long before this event. Won’t stop buying either!

 

Vietti’s website : vietti.com

These wines were tasted during an event hosted by Réserve et Sélection / Trialto : trialto.com

This event was held at M Mme, a very classy and pretty wine bar: mmme.ca

 

Note: At the moment to publish this blog post, the news just came out that Vietti waas sold to an American, Kyle Krause. What’s known for now is that the team in place will stay and that Luca Currado will keep his place of CEO and Chef Winemaker. Here is the article from Wine Spectator reporting the news: Barolo’s Vietti Winery Sold to American Businessman 

 

 

Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2015

Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2015

Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2015

Dense ruby color pith purple hue. Nose of earth, savory herbs, cherry pits, gooseberry and some flower notes. Wide and tasty on the palate, the wine feels juicy, sun loaded (fruit ripeness can be feeled), then spices and earth flavors on a present acidity, but far from being bright or sharp. A good Lapierre, but not the best I’ve had. Very good (89)

Made of Gamay. Aged 8 months in 216l oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5

Available at the SAQ for 32,25$ (Code SAQ : 11305344)

réZin Sélection is the agency representing Lapierre in Québec : rezin.com

Chevalier de Dyonis Pinot Noir Dealu Mare 2014

Chevalier de Dyonis Pinot Noir Dealu Mare 2014

Chevalier de Dyonis Pinot Noir Dealu Mare 2014

Very light ruby color. Subtle nose of cherries and strawberry fruit, then earth and spices notes. Very light on the palate on the first sips, it narrowed over time on a rustic finish, helping filling the mid-palate that was a little thin. Still, this is enjoyable and fresh. We have to remeber that 10$ Pinot is hard to find! Good (87)

Made of 70 % Pinot noir and 30 % Merlot. Alcohol level of 13% 

Available in SAQ stores for 10,95$ (Code SAQ : 00554139)

Made from purchase grapes in Romania by: serve.ro

Represented in Québec by Univins: univins.ca

Virgile Joly Le Joly Rouge Languedoc 2012

Virgile Joly Le Joly Rouge Languedoc 2012

Virgile Joly Le Joly Rouge Languedoc 2012

Bright cherry color. Nose of fruits and herbs with enough freshness and some spices notes. Lively on the palate with similar flavors as on the the nose with a little earth, then a long and fine finish. I need some sun and a bbq to enjoy this wine! Good+ (88)

Made of 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 10% Carignan. Aged 12 months in tanks. Ecocert certified – organic wine. Alcohol level of 13% 

Recently made available at the SAQ for 18,75$ (Code SAQ : 12879198)

Domaine Virgile Joly’s website: domainevirgilejoly.com

Agence Boires represents them in Québec: agenceboires.com

Virgile Joly Le Joli Rouge Languedoc 2012

Virgile Joly Le Joly Rouge Languedoc 2012

Brancaia Tre Rosso IGT Toscana 2013

Brancaia Tre Rosso IGT Toscana 2013

Brancaia Tre Rosso IGT Toscana 2013 

Medium garnet color. Nose of cherries, earth, old wood and spices. A little more dark and serious on the palate when compared to the nose, this wine still offers beautiful flavors of berries from which the cherry is the clear leader, then tobacco, spices and oak wich a classy and long finish. Please bring me a steak and then we will have a great pairing! Very good (89)

Made of 80% Sangiovese and a total of 20% of Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available at the SAQ for 22,55$ (Code SAQ : 10503963)

Brancaia’s website: brancaia.com

Sample proposed by Trialto / Réserve et Sélection: trialto.com

My tasting note on the 2012 vintage of this wine: Brancaia Tre Rosso IGT Toscana 2012

Tenuta San Leonardo San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2010

San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2010

Tenuta San Leonardo San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2010

Located in a valley trapped between mountains in the Trentino region and wine is produced there since the 1700’s. The Estate also have a church built at the end of the 900’s and the main building, the Villa Gresti was occupied by the Germans in both great wars.

This particular wine, produced since 1982 did received many mentions and rewards for its quality, including the first ever Tre Bicchieri for the 1988 vintage. Since I really liked the 2006 (which I have some bottles in the cellar), I couln’d resist trying this 2010…

Beautiful garnet color. Fine, delicate and beautiful nose of berries, earth, leather, just a hint of green bell pepper, then comes the spices and subtle notes of oak. On the palate there is some strenght, but what impresses me the most is the balance of this wine. It’s long, there is acidity and freshness without compromising the flavors and concentration. For me, that’s what a Grand Vin is all about! I did layed down few bottles of this as I want to open one with my boys when they’ll be at the age of drinking wine. Excellent+ (92)

Made of 60% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. Aged 18 to 24 months in new and used oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available at the SAQ for 76,75$ (Code SAQ : 10476109)

Tenuta San Leonardo’s website: sanleonardo.it

L’Enoteca di Moreno De Marchi represents them in Québec : lenoteca.ca

Clos Bellane Altitude Rosé Côtes du Rhône 2015

Clos Bellane Altitude Rosé Côtes du Rhône 2015

Clos Bellane Altitude Rosé Côtes du Rhône 2015

Pale salmon pink color. Nose of flowers, small red fruits, citrus fuit and water melon. This wine is all about freshness! Good showing on the palate, it’s bright, have a good acidity level and the fruit to go with it. Good+ (88)

Made of 100% Grenache. Organic wine. Aged on lees for 3 months. Alcohol level of 12,5%

Available at the SAQ for 20,25$ (Code SAQ : 12513567)

Clos Bellane’s website: clos-bellane.com

Vinealis is the agencey that represents them in Québec: vinealis.qc.ca

 

Domaine de la Charmoise Sauvignon Touraine 2015

Domaine de la Charmoise Sauvignon Touraine 2015

Henry Marionnet Domaine de la Charmoise Sauvignon Touraine 2015

Medium light straw color. Exotic and fresh nose with aromas of pear, red apples, pineapple and wet rocks. On the palate the wine is mouth coating while lively on the tongue bringing brithness to it. Long tasty, spicy and mineral finish. Drinks quite easily with a versatile style perfect to pair with many type of dishes or to bring along when visiting friends! Good+ (88)

Made of Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in stainless tanks. Alcohol level of 13%

Available at the SAQ for 18,55$ (Code SAQ : 12562529)

Henry Marionnet’s wensite, the producer behind the Domaine de la Charmoise : henry-marionnet.com

Sample proposed by la Société de Vins Fins: sdvf.ca

A video on Domaine de la Charmoise (in French only):