Tastings by Michael

October 23, 2022November 2, 2022

2020 Ungeheuer GG Von Winning

The 2020 Ungeheuer GG Von Winning is a Riesling at the GG (Grosses Gewächs, Grand Cru) level within the VDP classification. Forst is the village in the Palatinate with the highest density of “Grosse Lage” vineyards, and the Forster Ungeheuer comprises undoubtedly some of the best German vineyards for Riesling. Some of its most famous winelovers include Otto von Bismarck and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (who said that “life is too short to drink bad wine”). In a play of words, Bismarck once said that the “Ungeheuer ist ungeheur gut” (the “Monster is unbelievably good”). Tasted at the Gerstl fall tasting in Sempach.

The wine presents itself in straw colour. In the nose, Riesling aromas prevail – yellow fruit, citrus aromas, some flowery notes and herbs. The wine is dry (though not “bone dry”, it has 6.4 gr/l residual sugar) with medium acidity (7.2 gr/l), nice minerality, and gives a great mouthfeel and a long finish. This wine has great potential, it is still young and should be left developing for a few years.

TBM 89 points.

October 23, 2022October 28, 2022

2019 Chiesa Nera blanc Clos Venturi

The 2019 Chiesa Nera Blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine blend from Corsica, made from the grapes Biancu Gentile, Genovese e Vermentino. Limestone soil, south- southeast exposition. Manual harvest. Yield 30-35 hl per hectare. Biodynamic viticulture. Total destemming, followed by a cold maceration of 48 to 72 hours. Fermentation in egg-shaped concrete tanks, and based on autochthonous yeast. Maturation during 12 months in the concrete tank, on fine lees. Thereafter, further maturation during 4 to 8 months in the bottle. No clarification and no filtration of the wine.

This wine has a beautiful straw color. In the nose, you find aromas of white fruit, herbs and flowery notes, with hints of citric fruit and tangerines. Dense on the palate, with a wonderful freshness, this wine enchants with its play of the fruity notes. Very elegant wine. Tasted at the Gerstl autumn tasting in Sempach.

TBM 90 points

Foto credit: Comptoir des Millesimes

October 23, 2022November 2, 2022

2021 WinWin Riesling Von Winning

The 2021 WinWin Riesling Von Winning is a very nice wine from the basic “Gutswein” level (in the VDP classification), from the region of Palatinate, Germany. The team of Stefan Altmann follows traditional winemaking styles, fermentation in large wooden barrels without cooling. The WinWin is fermented partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in barrels. The grapes come from vineyards in Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg. Tasted at the Gerstl tasting in Sempach.

This wine shows a straw colour. In the nose, some typical Riesling aromas – apple and citrus fruit dominating. No petrol notes yet, as the wine is very young. On the palate, the wine has a bit of residual sugar (8,7 gr/l) which is nicely balanced by the acidity (8,3 gr/l) of the wine. Due the interaction between acidity and residual sugar makes the wine appear almost dry. This wine gives a pleasant, round mouthfeel and has a long finish. Beautiful young Riesling.

TBM 88 points

October 23, 2022October 26, 2022

2021 Clos Venturi blanc

The 2021 Clos Venturi blanc is a white wine from Corsica, made with the Vermentino grape. Clos Venturi works with biodynamic principles in the vineyards and the cellar. Limestone soil. Manual harvest. Cold maceration during up to 72 hours. Temperature controlled fermentation with indigenous yeasts. 8-9 months maturation on fine lees. No clarification. Light filtration after decantation (natural cold settling of the wine in the cellar). Yield 35hl per hectare.

Straw color with slight greenish reflexes. In the nose, the wine shows aromas of citric fruit, pineapple and pear. Dry with medium acidity on the palate, long finish. Beautiful white wine.

TBM 88 points.

October 23, 2022October 26, 2022

2021 Brama blanc Clos Venturi

The 2021 Brama blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine from Corsica, made with biodynamic principles in the vineyards and the cellar. It is made with the Biancu Gentile grape, autochthonous of Corsica. The limestone soil gives the wine a nice freshness. The yield is only 30 hl per hectare. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete vats. Maturing 8 months on fine lees. No clarification, light filtration after natural cooling (cellar gets rather cold in the winter). Tasted at the Gerstl tasting on 23 October 2022.

Straw color. In the nose, yellow and citric fruit. On the palate, the wine is dry, with nice acidity, round and with good body and structure.

TBM 87 points.

October 23, 2022November 2, 2022

2021 Ostara Weingut Weedenborn

The 2021 Ostara Weingut Weedenborn is a white wine made from a blend of different grapes: 50% Pinot Blanc, 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Riesling. Enologist Gesine Roll created this fresh wine from terroirs of Rheinhessen. Strangely enough the wine cannot be found on their website. I tasted it at the Gerstl tasting in Sempach. Gerstl called it a top cuvée and “the white wine of the year 2022”!

Straw colour. In the nose, the typical Sauvignon Blanc aromas are dominant at first – Passion fruit, especially. Then, there is also yellow fruit (grapefruit, lemon) and flowery notes. On the palate, the wine is dry, slightly acidic with a reasonable finish. Not sure what made Gerstl consider this wine to be so extraordinary.

TBM 83 points.

October 23, 2022October 26, 2022

2021 Clos Venturi 1769 blanc

The 2021 Clos Venturi 1769 was my first wine from Corsica in the Grand Tasting of Gerstl on 23 October 2022. I was lucky to meet the producer of Clos Venturi, Eric Mialhe, at this event. Clos Venturi is a winery on the island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean. They apply biodynamic principles. which strengthens the vines so that in hot and dry summer as in 2022, the vines are not stressed too much.

The 2021 Clos Venturi 1769 blanc is made with the Vermentino grape, which makes a very aromatic wine. Straw colour with slight greenish reflexes. In the nose, complex aromas of yellow fruit, quite impressive – apple, pear and quince come to mind. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity, round and well balanced.

TBM 86 points.

October 23, 2022November 2, 2022

2021 Grüner Veltliner Terrassen Smaragd

2021 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Terrassen Rudi Pichler

The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Terrassen Smaragd from Rudi Pichler is a fresh Austrian white wine from the Wachau area. Rudi Pichler uses grapes from different terroirs to make this Grüner Veltliner, which according to his website is “combining minerality, subtle fruit aromas, tobacco-like spiciness and a peppery elegance”.

Straw colour, this wine shows aromas of yellow and citrus fruit in the nose. On the palate, the wine is rather dry, with a medium to medium high acidity, leaving a distinct freshness in the mouth, paired with a hint of bitterness. The finish is reasonable.

TBM 85 points.

October 23, 2022October 30, 2022

2020 Givry 1er Cru “Pied de Chaumes” Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume

After tasting this 2020 Givry 1er Cru Pied de Chaumes, made by Jean-Baptiste Jessiaume, I understand why King Henry IV chose the Givry 1er Cru as his favourite wine! Well, he didn’t exactly taste this wine….

Ruby colour with slight violet reflexes. In the nose, red dark fruit – blueberry, plum, dark cherry. A touch of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is dry, round, with medium-low acidity and velvety tannins that are nicely integrated. Long and pleasant finish. A great, elegant wine. Ready to enjoy now, but certainly will improve even more over the next 5 to 10 years. Available in Brazil at @vinhos.primeur of @elainelencastre!

TBM 92 points.

October 23, 2022November 9, 2022

2021 Langhe Nascetta

2021 Langhe Nascetta by Diego Conterno is a white wine from Piemonte, made using the autochthonous Nascetta grape. The vineyard has a westerly exposition, below the winery in Monforte d’Alba. Diego Conterno comes from a famous winemaker family. At some point, he had a joint venture with his cousins Claudio and Guido Fantino, but he discontinued the JV in 2000 and started his own winery. The winery is small, it has 7,5 hectares. Harvest is carried out manually. The grapes are then cooled with dry ice, and undergo a maceration for 24 to 36 hours. Thereafter, the must ferments in steel tanks. Limited production of 5.300 bottles. Good ageing potential. Tasted at the Gerstl tasting in Sempach.

The 2021 Langhe Nascetta presents itself in a straw colour, slightly golden. In the nose, tropical fruit dominates – pineapple comes out clearly. Citrus notes as well, grapefruit grind. Slight herbal or flowery notes and a touch of mint. On the palate, it is dry, fruity with a touch of minerals, slight salinity. Good mouthfeel.

TBM 85 points.