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2019 Volnay Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume

2019 Volnay Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume

This 2019 Volnay is a red wine from Burgundy at the “Village” level, made by Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume. The Jessiaume family in Santenay has a long history of wine making. They used to own the Domaine Jessiaume but at some point had to sell. Not giving up, Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume, together with his brother Stan and his father Marc Jessiaume created a new, small winery that is making some fantastic wines.

Deep purple color. Complex aromas of red fruit in the nose, with some sous-bois. Notes of raspberry, cherry, red currant and blue plum. On the palate, the wine is dry, fruity, with medium-low acidity and very gentle, silky tannins.  A real pleasure. I had it with a plate of venison… Pinot Noir harmonises wonderfully with game dishes. A great wine that shows that Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume is doing a great job in wine making. A name to be remembered.

TBM 94 points.

2019 Volnay Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume

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1997 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

1997 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon

The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon is the “basic” wine of the Stags Leap Wine cellars in Napa Valley, California.

Rubi color with slight grenade reflexes. In the nose, complex aromas of ripe dark red fruit, compote of dark plum, notes of cigar box, coffee, leather, sous-bois. On the palate, a dry wine with medium-low acidity, confirming the aromas of the nose, tannins nicely resolved. Rather long finish. This wine is at, or just beyond, its peak. Drink now.

TBM 91-92 points.

1997 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon

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2019 IP blanc Clos Venturi

Clos Venturi IP blanc

The 2019 IP blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine from Corsica, made with the Vermentino grape. The “IP” name comes from the Corsican words Invechjamentu Prolungatu – extended maturation. Biodynamic viticulture (both in the vineyards and the cellar). Limestone soil. Manual harvest, carefully selected grapes. Pressing after complete destemming. 48-72 hours of cold maceration. Temperature controlled fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Maturation on fine lees with battonage for two years (14 months in concrete vats). No clarification. Decanting after cold settling (naturally low temperature in the cellar in the winter). Clos Venturi is adding very little sulphites, only 15mg free sulphites. The sulphur that is used is a mineral sulphur, especially produced (jointly with five other vintners), much more pure than what is commonly used.

Straw colour. Complex aromas of white flowers, citrus fruit, wax, honey and some herbal and mineral notes.  Dry with medium acidity on the palate. A great Vermentino, which has the potential to be stored for some years.

TBM 90 points.

Clos Venturi IP blanc

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2020 Altare blanc Clos Venturi

Altare Blanc Clos Venturi

The 2020 Altare blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine blend made of Biancu Gentile, Genovese e Vermentino from Corsica, France. It owes its name to two plots of vineyards terraces that are shaped in the form of an altar. This vineyard is being worked on with horses, no machines. Manual harvest. Very low yield, only 28hl per hectare. The grapes undergo vinification separately in vats of 12hl with indigenous yeast. The blending takes place thereafter. Maturation in large barrels (foudre) during 14 to 18 months. No clarification, no filtering. 2.000 bottles made, according to Eric Mialhe who gave the explanations to me at the Gerstl tasting.

Straw colour. In the nose, complex aromas of citrus and other yellow fruit, with a floral hint, nice mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is dry, fresh – a medium acidity, round. The fruity aromas are very pleasant, the wine appears creamy and a bit spicy. Really great expression of its terroir.

TBM 91 points.

 

 

Altare Blanc Clos Venturi

Foto credit: Comptoir des Millésimes.

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2020 Etna Bianco

Etna Bianco

2020 Etna Bianco, Giulia Monteleone, Sicily, Italy.

This wine is made of the Carricante grapes, an autochthonous grape variety of Sicily. The vineyard is situated in the east of the Etna area, where the soil is volcanic.

The wine has straw colour, complex aromas of yellow fruit and some flower in the nose. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity. A fruity wine, with reasonable length.

TBM 88 points.

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2020 Anthemis

Anthemis

2020 Anthemis, Giulia Monteleone, Sicily, Italy. This white wine, made of the autochthonous Carricante grape, comes from vineyards on the east side of the Etna, beyond the Alcantara river. Maturation in barrels of 400, 600 and 700 litres (1st, 2nd and 3rd use).

Straw colour. Complex aromas of yellow fruit. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, round and pleasant, very long finish. Great wine.

TBM 91 points.

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2019 Rumex

Rumex

The 2019 Rumex by Giulia Monteleone is a red wine from the Etna area in Sicily, Italy. The soil is entirely volcanic. The vines are pre-phylloxera, not grafted. Made with Nerello Mascalese, an autochthonous grape from Sicily.

Purple to ruby colour. In the nose, the wine shows complex aromas of red fruit, remembering a bit a Nebbiolo. On the palate, the wine is dry, medium acidity, good body and structure, silky and integrated tannins, leaving a round mouthfeel. Beautiful wine.

TBM 92 points.

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2019 Qubba

Qubba

2019 Qubba, Giulia Monteleone, Etna, Sicily, Italy. A beautiful red wine made from old vines of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, two autochthonous grapes from Sicily, and a bit of Alicante (Grenache). The soil is volcanic with clay.

Purple colour, transparent and brilliant. Complex aromas of red fruit in the nose (raspberry, strawberry). O the palate, the wine is dry, with medium-low acidity, tannins silky and well integrated, good structure and body.

TBM 89 points

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2019 Etna Rosso

Etna Rosso

2019 Etna Rosso, Giulia Monteleone, Sicily, Italy. A red wine made in the region below Mount Etna, with volcanic and clay soil. Made with Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, two autochthonous grapes from Sicily.

Purple colour, transparent and brilliant. In the nose, complex aromas of red fruit, strawberry. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium-low acidity, silky tannins. A very nice wine.

TBM 89 points.

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Gerstl Tasting – Fall 2022

Gerstl Tasting - Fall 2022

The Gerstl Tasting – Fall 2022 took place in the wine shop in Sempach on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 21 to 23 October. They showed 129 wines from different countries – a marvellous selection. Gerstl made the open tasting even more interesting with the presence of several wine makers. I was able to speak with Eric Mialhe of Clos Venturi, a wine maker of exceptional wines from Corsica. Cellar is their importer in Brazil. Furthermore, I met with Laetitia Barrot of Domaine la Barroche and tasted her Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Rhône wines. Animavinum imports their Liberty wine into Brazil

Gerstl had organised the Gerstl tasting – Fall 2022 in 12 different stands, that were divided by themes. Some stands were producer-specific, others gave a more general overview of the wines in a particular country (e.g. Spain). For certain countries, like France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, there was also a specific selection of wines by the Gerstl team. As this was overwhelming, I decided to taste a total of 41 wines, white and red. They were from Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria, Germany and Portugal. All were good, very good or even excellent. I shall be writing my tasting notes over the next few days and they shall be published on this site.

Here is a short video of some impressions of the tasting: IMG_1157