A New Player In Town - Tasting Through The Sortiment From Brix Wine

Jörgen, who previously worked at a Swedish importer have started up his own import and consulting business - Brix Wine.
I got the opportunity to taste through a part of the range. Very much to like and a few things that I have to put in the cellar.
I give a approximate score since I only spent a minute or two with each wine.

First out was a few bottles from Domaine Collet, an up to now unknown producer for me. The NV Empreinte de Terroir Extra Brut has a fine, elegant nose with notes of summer flowers, grass, assorted nuts and some fudge. The taste is tight and pure with a racy acidity and sweet lemon fruit (~89p). Same wine as the above but with a bit more dosage, the NV Empreinte de Terroir Brut is more buttery on the nose and has a fine lavender note. The taste is almost identical to the extra Brut and the 3g more dosage isn´t really noticeable (~89p). The NV Empreinte Blanc de Blancs Brut was next and this beauty has a racy, pure nose with notes of freshly washed clothes, cold butter and candied lemons. The taste is cool and refined with buttery cookies, grass and gravel as notes. Very good (~91p).

Lastly, the two prestige cuvees was poured. First the NV Anthime Cuvée Hèritage Brut (100% Chardonnay) displays a lovely, deep and complex nose with notes of buttercup flowers, almond paste, hazelnuts and a fine salty scent. The taste is long and expansive with notes of butter cookies, warm grass, hazelnut cream and dried flowers (~93p). NV Anthime Cuvée Sensation Rosé Brut (90% Pinot, 10% Chardonnay) is a finely tuned wine with notes of lingonberries, sandalwood, wild strawberries and gravel. Deep and fine. The taste is tight and restrained with fine red fruits and a high acidity. The finish is long and lovely (~92p).

Some whites followed - I very much liked the 2014 Alsheim Fruhmesse Riesling Trocken from Juliane Eller with its spicy, earthy, pure nose and the salivating taste with lots of acidity and notes of melon, minerals and flowers (~91p). In line with my current tasting project, the 2012 Faugères Blanc showed a very fine character with a dense, deep nose with notes of ripe yellow apples and lanolin. The taste is tight and young with lots of dried tropical fruit, rubber and warm rocks. Long and fine (~91p).

A real bargain is the 2014 Trassegum Blanc, Chateau d´Oret de Gueules which sports a young, spring-like nose with notes of candied lemons, peach and sweet flowers. The taste is fresh and perky with a fine acidity and a medium length. For 13 Euro (ex VAT) this is a must buy (~90p).

From the previous producer, we start with the reds. The 2011 La Bolida is made from Mourvedre from 80 year old vines. It has a deep, complex nose with notes of mashed blueberries, liquorice and autumn leaves. The taste is earthy and warm with notes of spicy blueberries, old leather and bonfire. Very, very good (~90p).

A for me new producer from Piedmont blew me away with their Barbaresco´s. The 2012 Barbaresco, La Ca´Növa has a intricate, old fashioned Nebbiolo nose with notes of rose petals, dried mushrooms, earth and a delicate cherry sweetness. The taste is refined and structured with a fantastic cherry fruit and additional notes of roses, truffle and meat stock. Really, really good (~93p).
Even better is 2011 Barbaresco Montefico Bric Mentina which impresses with its deep, focused nose with notes of ripening raspberries, forest floor, mushrooms and rosehips. The taste is young and tough but the fruit, acidity, tannin and structure is impeccable and creates a harmonious package. Given this blind I would have guessed some of the big names from the foggy hills in Piedmonte... (~96p). Great stuff and both wine are must buys!

Staying in Italy, we move down to Brunello land. 2010 Rosso di Montalcino, Le Ragnaie is a very fine Rosso with upfront cherry fruit and notes of violets, liquorice and gravel. The taste is young and seedy with fresh cherry fruit and a uplifting acidity (~90p). The big brother from the same vintage - 2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Le Ragnaie - has a wonderful, refined nose that hits all the right spots - bright cherries, flowers, violets and dusty gravel. The taste is young and impressive with sweet red cherries, Tuscan gravel, warm tiles and a hint of dark chocolate. Long, long and intense (~95p).

Last up is two bottles of St Emilion - the 2012 Haut Faugères has a rather big, tight and focused nose with notes of plums, chocolate, expensive soap and warm earth. The taste is pure, intense and warm with notes of red currants, plums, chocolate and tobacco. Very long and intense (~92p). Lastly, the 2010 Chateau Faugères is a gorgeous creature with its nose full of ripe plums, Valrhona chocolate, new leather, dark flowers and warm tiles. Very deep and fine. The taste is powerful yet light on its feet and has a wonderful combination of sweet fruit, ripe tannins and a taut structure. Still young, but very impressive (~94p).