A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to taste through a range of the
Brixwine portfolio. Here are the wines that caught my attention.
I tasted two bottles from Peter Jakob Kühn. The 2018 Hallgartener Hendelberg Riesling Trocken is young, crisp and stony with refinement and a fine acidity (90p). The 2018 Spätburgunder Trocken is open, spicy and damn right yummy with gorgeous raspberry fruit, a good body and supporting acidity (91p).
Four wines from Elena Casadei impressed me. All brought up in amphoras, hence the series name "Le Anfore". The 2020 Migiu is made from Semidano grapes and displays a fine notes of oranges, concrete and hay and a medium bodied, grassy taste with a dry finish (88p). I really liked the 2020 Ansonaco (which also is the name of the grape that is used to make this wine) with its deep, willful nose with notes of orange blossom water, dry caramel and hay. The taste is distinct and refined with a great mouthfeel (91p).
The first of the two reds was the 2020 Syrah and if someone needs a posterchild Syrah to show how this grape should behave on the nose and in the mouth, seek no further. Pepper, meat, blueberries, low key power, intensity and a dangerous gulpable character (92p). Lastly, the 2020 Cannonau is tight creature with a mix of dark berries, herbs, undergrowth and firm tannins (88p).
I love Rossese and I have very found memories from my
visit to Ka*Mancine, so it was fun to be able to taste these two bottles.
2019 Beragna is a fine wine with a nice, open nose with notes of red currants, mixed herbs and a cool, balanced taste (
87p). The
2019 Galeae shows more depth and intensity with fine notes of ripe raspberries, licorice, herbs and some peppery notes. Lovely (
91p).
I love Nebbiolo even more than Rossese :-), so these two was fun to taste. The 2018 Barbaresco, La Ca Növa shows a earthy, gravelly nose with notes of dried strawberries, dry licorice and rosehips. The taste is young and tight with notes of red berries, violets, gravel and some dry tobacco (90p).
The 2018 Barbaresco Montestefano, La Ca Növa is a stunner that will need 8+ years in the cellar. The nose is tight and focused with notes of rosehips, mushrooms, dried strawberries and forest floor. The taste is taut and refined with polished tannins, gorgeous fruit and structure for ages to come (93p).
The 2018 Château Cap de Fargues displays a cool, classic nose with notes of black currants, granite, tobacco and a fine floral note. Fine, silky tannins and a mix of red and black currants on the palate (88p).
With spices, hot earth and some meaty aromas, 2013 Gabaxo, Oliver Riviere offers up a upfront nose and a full bodied, peppery palate with lots of charm (90p).
The 2015 Chianti Rufina Riserva Lastricato, Castello del Trebbio is a winner. Stefano, father of Elena (see above) runs this estate with his wife Anna. This is a gorgeous wine with a high, open, slightly mature nose with notes of dried cherries, black olives, fresh herbs and a hint of fresh stables. The taste is velvety and fine with notes of dried cherries, tobacco, rosemary and gravel (93p). For 26 Euro this is bargain. I really hope that the 2016 (the 15 is sold out) will be released at the monopoly.
2019 Oxymore is a new venture from Thomas Farge and Stephane Usseglio which is a blend of grapes from the northern and southern Rhone. The nose is young and complex with notes of mixed black fruits, undergrowth, meat stock, fir wood and banana peel. Deep and fine. The taste is ripe and concentrated with notes of ripe blueberries, iron, violets and fresh herbs. Very, very good (90p).
The two bottles from Heller is, well... interesting. No sulphites and eye catching bottles. The 2020 Gamay is somewhat compressed on the nose (this bottle was opened the day before) but delivers a tight, high taste with an array of red fruits, gravel and herbs (88p). The 2020 Syrah is a Syrah posterchild, as the Le Anfore above, with notes of meat, bay leaves, pepper and a ever so slight hint of fresh stables. On the palate is shows a tiny spritzy feeling, long and very, very good (90p).
