Cantina Kurtatsch Kofl 2015. Sauvignon Blanc from Alto Adige. Vines from steeply hills , 500-600 m.a.s.l. The name of the vineyard is Kofl in the place Kurtatsch. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, maturation on the lees in large oak casks. My tasting notes: In the glass light yellow color with with green reflections. On the nose sage, elderberry, gooseberry, green apple and black currant. On the palate fresh, lemon, grapefruit and melon. Concentrated, elegant, minerals. Intense aftertaste, balance between fruit and minerals. Paring with sole, salted dishes. 89/100 #kurtatschkellerei #kurtatsch #kofl #sauvignonblanc #altoadige #sudtirol #winelovers #wineblogger #wineaccounttofollow #andrewinereviews

Gaja Ca ‘ Marcanda Promis 2016. Famous Italian producer of high quality wines. Ca ‘ Marcanda is the name of the estate In the Maremma region near Bolgheri in Tuscany. The estate was bought in 1996 when vines were planted and the estate extends 100 hectares. Promis is the name created by the Gaja family to denote commitment, expectations, fulfillment and hope. The grapes are cultivated in the terre brune dark soils of the vineyard. It is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah and 10% Sangiovese. The wine ages for 12 months in used oak barrels followed by several months of bottle aging. My tasting notes: Medium ruby red in the glass. On the nose roses, cherry, espresso, licorice, chocolate and sandalwood. On the palate, medium bodied, dark fruit, cedar wood, vanilla, pepper. Elegant, complex and firm tannins. The final is sapid, smokey and spicy. Paring with meat and pasta dishes. 91/100 #gaja #promis #camarcanda #bolgheri #maremma #merlot #syrah #sangiovese #supertuscan #igt #zaltoglass #wineaccounttofollow #winelover #wineblogger #andrewinereviews

Nino Negri 5 Stelle Sfursat Valtellina 2004. Recently I reviewed the 2010 and I wanted to taste the differences with the 2004. The Valtellina appelation lies north of the Lake Como in Italy. Sforsato ( Sfursat) di Valtellino is a DOCG. 🍇100% Nebbiolo ( Chiavennasca). The winery is situated in Chiuro in the region of Lombardia. They are producing on terraces high end wines on 32 hectares. The grapes are handpicked and are dried naturally for 3 months in their skins. After fermentation the wine ages for 3 months in oak barrels of 32 and 52 hectoliter. Afterworlds 6 months in bottles. My tasting notes:. I was curious about the difference to the 2010. The first difference is in the glass. Garnet red, but the 2004 has more orange reflections. On the nose aroma’s of spices, flowers , dark plum and toasted oak. More earthy aroma’s like smoke than the 2010. On the palate intense , dark cherry , balsamic, smoke and leather. Integrated tannins. Tannins are more integrated, there is less acidity, more tertiary. But still enough fruit. It depends on your taste what you prefer. I think the 2004 it’s on its top now and I loved it. Paring with lamb and game. Especially in this season it is perfect with lots of meat dishes. 93/100. #ninonegri5stelle #ninonegriwinery #valtellina #docg #lombardia #sfursat5stelle #sforsatovaltellina #nebbiolo #chiavennasca #winelovers #winebloggers #wineaccounttofollow #andrewinereviews #zaltoglass

Clos Fourtet Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2005. Château Léoville las Cases 2000 Saint Julien. Château Smith Haut-Lafitte 2005 Pessac-Léognan. These bottles I recently bought at an a wine auction. I love to buy wine at auctions. Wines you don’t find In a store anymore and most of the times less expensive. Perhaps as an investment but wine is made to drink and I love to drink good wine. Did you ever buy wine at an auction? #bestofwine #idealwine #winefieldsauctioneers #bestwineauctions #leovillelascases #closfourtet #smithhautlafitte #bordeauxwines #winelovers #winebloggers #andrewinereviews #saintjulien #pessacleognan #saintemiliongrandcru

Pintas Character 2017 Wine & Soul Duoro. Recently I made a wine trip to the Duoro Valley. One of the wineries I visited was Wine & Soul. Sandra Tavares and Jorge Borges produce great wines and Port since 2003 when they bought the vineyard at Vale de Mendiz in the Pinhão Valley. The Pintas Character is a field blend of more than 30 grape varieties, mostly Touriga National, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. The wine is made from old vines and ages for 18 months in for 50% new French oak barrels. Yearly production about 10.000 bottles. My tasting notes: Dark ruby red in the glass. On the nose aromas of black cherries, raspberry, plum. On the palate ripe black fruit, complex, elegant and fresh. Touch of cedar wood. Silky aftertaste with integrated tannins. Paring with grilled meat, matured cheeses. 91/100. #duorovalley #wineandsoul #touriganacional #tourigafranca #tintaroriz #sandratavares #jorgeborges #pinhão #valedemendiz #wineblogger #winelover #casasdocoro #andrewinereviews

Brunello di Montalcino Pinino 2004. Family winery situated in the North of Montalcino founded in 1874. Since 2004 owned bij the family Hernandez and Gamon. Manually picked grapes, after fermentation aging for 30 months in Slavonian Large oak barrels and French oak Barriques. My tasting notes: In the glass intense ruby red with a tendency to garnet-red. Drank the 2004 and the wine had some orange reflexes. On the nose, black currant, plum, cherries and raspberries. On the palate, full bodied, silky, integrated tannins, flowers, spices, balanced. Excellent length and richness. Paring with Filetto alla Griglia, , Pasto with truffle, game. 92/100 #brunellodimontalcino #pininowines #pininowinery #sangiovese #sangiovesegrosso #montalcino #tuscany #toscana #toscane #wineblogger #winelover #wineaccounttofollow #andrewinereviews

Kaesler The Bogan 2014. 100% Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. Grapes has been growing on this vineyard since 1893 and the winery still retains its original plantings. The Bogan is made from 2 different vineyards, the Marsmans for the intensity ( 1893) and the Nuriootpa for the aromas and taste of the black fruit ( 1965). The wine ages for 25% in new French oak barrels and for 75% in used barrels 2 and 3 years old. My tasting notes: In the glass dark garnet red. On the nose plum, laurel, cinnamon, blackberries. On the palate black currant, white pepper, elegant and full bodied. Velvety endless aftertaste. Paring with red meat, game and lamb. 91/100 #kaeslerwines #kaeslerwinery #shiraz #barossavalley #zaltoglass #maisondelfant #winelover #wineblogger #andrewinereviews

Bramito della Sala Antinori 2018. 100% Chardonnay from The Antinori family. Vines situated in Castello della Sala, Umbrië. Bramito means the roaring deer in mating time. Vines grow 200-400 meters above sea level. Aging 5 months in French oak barrels. My tasting notes: Light gold yellow in the glass. In the nose peach, apple, honey and tropical fruit. On the palate, soft, round, full bodied, balanced and structured. Tropical fruit with hints of vanilla. Intense and elegant aftertaste. Paring with codd fish, risotto, pasta salads, but also with Thai or Indian dishes. 90/100 #antinoriwinery #chardonnay #bramìtodellasala #castellodellasala #umbrie #bramitodelcervo #winelover #winebloggers #cecconisamsterdam #andrewinereviews

Pago de los Capellanes Parcella El Nogal 2012. Winery in Ribera del Duero founded in 1996 by the Rodero Villa Family. Selected parcel on the El Nogal estate, 6 hectares of sandy-loam soil at an altitude of 950 meters. 100 % Tempranillo. Aging for 18 months in selected grain French oak casks. My tasting notes: In the glass, garnet red. On the nose aroma’s of flower, wall nuts, smokey and coffee. On the palate ripe fruit , cedar wood and integrated tannins. Elegant and long aftertaste. Paring with Iberico ham, game , red meat and hard cheeses. 91/100 #pagodeloscapellanes #riberadelduero #pedrosadeduero #tempranillo #maisondelfant #winelover #winebloggers #wineaccounttofollow #andrewinereviews

Allée Bleue Franschhoek Valley South Africa. One of the oldest characteristic winery’s in the cape. Owned by the Dauphin family since 1999. Van Zyl di Toit is the winemaker and he is responsible for this flagship wine also named Allée Bleue. It is a blend of 68% Chardonnay, 21% Semillion and 11% Viognier. Fermentation in French oak barrels, 25% new. The wine was left sur lie for 9 months before blending and bottling. My tasting notes: In the glass pale straw yellow. On the nose, citrus, apple, apricot, a sense of almond, touch of vanilla and cinnamon. On the palate smooth, silky , peach, melon. Elegant and fresh aftertaste with a lemony touch. Paring with spicy Thai duck breast with ginger jus and noodles. Dishes with saffron sauce. 90/100 #alleebleuewines #vanzyldutoit #franschhoek #walkerbay #winesofsouthafrica #chardonnay #semillion #viognier #vinolo #winebloggers #winelover #andrewinereviews

Tenuta di Trinoro Magnacosta 2012. Great wine produced by Andrea Franchetti in Sarteano , South West Tuscany. Vines with an average of 22 years, yearly production 3300 bottles. It is a 100% Cabernet Franc and the wine ages for 8 moths in new French oak barrels , 10 months in cement vats. Andrea Francetti has also a winery on the slopes of the Etna in Sicily. My tasting notes: Dark ruby red in the glass. On the nose dark red cherries, plums, smoke, leather and tobacco. On the palate complex, full bodied, ripe red fruit, flowers. Integrated tannins. Intense persistent aftertaste. Paring with meat dishes, matured cheeses. 94/100 #tenutaditrinoro #andreafranchetti #magnacosta #cabernetfranc #tuscany #toscana #toscane #sarteano #winelovers #wineblogger #wineaccounttofollow #andrewinereviews

Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva 2015. Recently I visited the Duoro Valley in Portugal and some wineries. Unfortunately we couldn’t make an appointment with Quinta Nova so I tasted one of their great wines elsewhere. The winery is since 1992 situated in the heart of the Duoro Valley and owned by the Amorim family. Traditional methods of harvesting and pressing the grapes with the feed are combined with modern vinification methods. The produce their wines and Port on 210 hectares. This is a blend of 75% Tinta Roriz and 25% field blend old vines. The wine ages for 16 months in new oak French barrels and 6 months bottle aging. My tasting notes: In the glass a deep violet red color. On the nose complex aroma’s of red fruit, herbs, black pepper, graphite. On the palate powerful, intense,concentrated, floral , sappy. Soft tannins. Intense final with an aromatic and physical persistence. Possible to keep until 2038. Paring with tuna, codfish, carpaccio of Octopus. 94/100 #quintanova #duorovalley #tintaroriz #winetrip #winelovers #wineblogger #dopporto #winesofportugal #andrewinereviews

Donnafugata Tancredi 2015. Since 1983 a family owned winery by the Rallo family. Donnafugata means woman in fight and refers to a Roman named Il Gattopardo ( The Leopard) . An adventure that inspired the corporate logo, the image of a woman’s head with wind blown hair that dominates every bottle. The labels are work off art created or inspired by Gabriella Rallo, as are names of the wines, an homage to art and literature. The Tancredi is a reflection to Alain Delon playing in the movie The Leopard. The wine has the same elegance and ambition as the great actor. The label is the winery Contessa Entellina and in the upper right of the label you find the village off Sambuca di Sicilia where some vineyards contribute to the blend of Sancredi. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d’ Avola and Tannat. The wine ages for 12 months in new and used French oak barrels and at least for 20 months In bottles. My tasting notes: Deep ruby red in the glass. On the nose, cherries, plums, tobacco and chocolate. On the palate, black fruit, plums, vanilla, tobacco. Complex and structured with integrated tannins. Long and persistent aftertaste. Paring with T-bone steak, game and meat dishes with mushrooms. 91/100 #donnafugata #sicily #sicilia #tancredi #cabernetsauvignon #tannat #nerodavola #toutafaitmaastricht #restauranttoutafait #wineblogger #winelover #andrewinereviews

Poderi del Paradiso Saxa Calida 2008. In 1973 the Cetti family acquired the Poderi del Paradiso. Actually the Poderi extend in an amphitheater of vineyards at the foot of San Gimignano and they have 30 hectares of vines and a yearly production of 150.000 bottles. The beautiful situated Poderi also produces an excellent olive oil. The wine is a Super Tuscan and a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50 % Merlot and ages 16 months in new oak French barriques. My tasting notes: Deep ruby color with orange reflections. On the nose, blackberry, coffee, balsamic. On the palate dried dark fruit, herbs, tobacco, chocolate and a touch of vanilla. Full bodied, complex, rich tannins. For me now at its best, not many acids left, still fruit and tannins and earthy notes start to be dominant. Paring with matured cheeses, grilled meat, stew and hare. 92/100 #poderidelparadiso #sangimignano #supertuscan #merlot #cabernetsauvignon #tuscany #toscane #toscana #wineaccounttofollow #vinoandfriendsmaastricht #andrewinereviews #zaltoglass

Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi 2010. The Mazzei family produces since more than 600 years these unique wines. In 1435 the Castello was founded by the family. Already the 24th generation producing wines. Siepi is the name of an old 35-acres vineyard. The vines are situated in the Chianti Classico region. The Mazzei family also produces wines in Maremma and Sicily. The yearly production is 20.000 bottles. It is a blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Merlot. The wines ages for 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. 2010 was an excellent vintage, the aging potential of this wine is 2030+. My tasting notes: Dark ruby red in the glass. On the nose, dark chocolate, plum, and rosemary. On the palate, sour cherries, strawberry, plum and floral taste.. Polished tannins, complex, balanced and full bodied. Long intense aftertaste. Paring with game, meat with dark sauces, blue cheese. 94/100 #mazzei #castellodifonterutoli #siepi #tuscany #toscana #toscane #sangiovese #merlot #sangiovese #zaltoglass #winebloggers #winelover🍷 #andrewinereviews

Another great tasting last night🍷👌 #Vinites #fourcroynederland #goessenswijnen #jeanarnaud #coenecoopmeme #pierreachewijnen #babylonstorenfarm #thestoryofmywine #andrewinereviews

Château Giscours 2006 Margaux. Trosième cru Classé. Winery owned by a Dutch family. Wine of a great finesse and elegance, typical for wines of Margaux. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Nice vintage, not as good as 2005, but now perfect to drink. Aged in French oak barrels, 50 % new and 50% one year used. My tasting notes: Ruby red in the glass. On the nose cherry, plum, toast and herbs. On the palate earthy, truffle , toast, blackberries. Medium bodied, velvety tannins, elegant. Long and beautiful finish. Tasting with game, lamb with rosemary , poultry. 90/100 #chateaugiscours #margaux #bordeauxwines #harrysmaastricht #cabernetsauvignon #cabernetfranc #merlot #petitverdot #winelovers #wineblogger #andrewinereviews

Casanova Della Spinetta Sassontino 2004. Winery started in Piemonte in 1977 by the family Rivetti. Making great wines in Piemonte from the Nebbiolo grape. In 2001 they started in Tuscany a new project. The Sassontino 2004 is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino. The vines are over 30 years old. The wine is released in 2014 after 12 months aging in French oak barrels and at least 8 years bottle aging. Producing 10.000 bottles a year. My tasting notes: Dark ruby red in the glass. On the nose black cherries, plums, toast and mushrooms. On the palate dried plums, laurel, toast and leather. Complex and balanced. Long intense, silky aftertaste with fruity notes and a background of vanilla. Still fresh for this age with medium acids. Great paring with of course Bistecca Fiorentina, lamb, veal with mushrooms. 92/100 #laspinetta #sassontino #sangiovese # colorino #tuscany #toscana #toscane #cafesjiek #winelovers #winebloggers #andrewinereviews

Château Pontet-Canet 2000 Pauillac. 5e Grand cru Classé du Medoc. Pontet-Canet has only been owned by three families since it was created at the beginning of the 17th century. Today Afred Tesseron is managing the Château. Since 2005 it is a biodynamic winery, not yet common in Bordeaux. Pauillac wines are full bodied and tannic with a great aging potential. So I was wondering how the 2000 vintage would taste, a great year for Bordeaux wines. The 2000 vintage is already a pleasure to drink. The tannins are present, nice acids and red and black fruit. I think you can keep this wine in the cellar for another 10 years if you have the patience. The wines for 16-20 months in new and used oak barrels. A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Yearly production 25.000 bottles. My tasting notes: Dark ruby red in the glass with orange reflections. On the nose blackberry, black currant, truffle, cigar, earthy. On the palate medium bodied, present tannins, cigar, leather, tar, dried fruit and tannins. Intense earthy, silky aftertaste. Paring with red meat, game, lamb and poultry. 93/100 #chateaupontetcanet #bordeaux #bordeauxwines #pauillac #cabernetsauvignon #cabernetfranc #merlot #petitverdot #zaltoglasses #winelover #winebloggers #andrewinereviews

Pfitscher Pinot Nero Riserva Matan 2015. Already the 7th generation producing wines in Montagna ,Alto Adige. Grapes coming from the Gleno site at an altitude of 600 meters. The high temperature difference between day and night during the ripening season give this powerful dark red wine a fruit-toned character. The wine ages for 12-15 months in small and large oak barrels, followed by a few months in the bottle. My tasting notes: Ruby red in the glass. On the nose forest berries, strawberry and vanilla. On the palate full bodied, elegant, toast, strawberry and red berries. Intense fruity aftertaste with tones of vanilla. Paring with red meat, game and ripe cheeses. 90/100 #pfitscher #altoadige #sudtirol #pinotnero #pinotnoir #blauburgunder #montagna #vinoandfriendsmaastricht #winelover #wineblogger #gleno #andrewinereviews