Had the opportunity to try the 2010 Brunellos, both the standard and riserva. Both great wines, the long finish in the riserva stays with you for a while...

What a wonderful pleasure!

APPEARANCE
Clarity: Clear
Intensity: medium
Colour: garnet

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma characteristics: blackberry caramel

PALATE
Sweetness: dry 
Acidity: medium
Tannins: medium
Body: full 
Flavours: blackberry and black cherry
Finish: medium 

CONCLUSION: Very good. Good balance of fruit, alcohol and tannins.

My friend Cristina sent me the article, the description of AurumRed gold series was ridiculous and impossible. Tried to work out why a fake article would be on one of the main Spanish newspapers... Fools day in Spain falls in December, the article published in June... Where is the catch? Was she winding me up? 

Insulting and patronising, the product sums up as: better than anything anyone else has ever done before. The Ferran Adrià of wine, is called Hilario Garcia. 

Was initially annoyed by the article and ignored it. After a few days of disbelief, I looked into it on the Internet. Roughly the same article is in every main Spanish newspaper, slightly different interview and more or less detail but all the same... The wine is very real, verified by the top wine critics. Why/how is it possible than a fairly new wine is at the top of the worlds best wines list? 

It just doesn't makes sense, yet it works. Read every article, listened to every interview plus went through too many books and far too many university thesis'. Spent months obsessed looking into it and although I might not know a lot, I have learnt a fair amount from this. My roses at home no longer have viruses, forgot to treat one of them and the difference is incredible. After so many hours looking through thesis' and books, it is great to see it work in practice. 

http://www.projectgarnacha.com/blog/archives/02-2013

Here are some of the reasons why in my opinion and through findings and research, Aurum Red is the best wine in the world:

Technique. Aurum red is above all a "technique" perfect wine. At least as perfect as science allows today and in the foreseeable future. The vines are maintained at the best quality found anywhere in the world, free of disease and virures through ozone treatment and full of vigor at 125 years old. We might not be ready for it, yet Aurum red allows us to peak into the future of wine.

Bio-dynamics on steroids. With far too much imagination Rudolph Steiner introduced "magic formulas" which make excellent wines yet without scientific explanation. Magic has no room here, the treatments are proven by a fairly simple yet elegant theory that explains many of the big open questions in the world of wine. Some bio-dynamic "magic formulas" are proven here. 

Uniqueness. These techniques will change our understanding of agriculture and health. These formulas might (and in my opinion will) be replicated everywhere in the future, this still will be the first product of its kind. 

If that was not enough, from here on it just gets crazy...

Art. Hilario Garcia only produces 500 bottles of Aurum red per year. Supply and demand do the rest, each bottle sells at €17,000, hand delivered anywhere in the world, comes in a custom designed bottle and case and includes a gold jewel. 

There are two other wines each at the top of the range taste wise by Gilbert & Galliard (96/100) and lower prices. Aurumred silver edition is a Merlot that sells at €450 per bottle, there is also a Sauvignon Blanc at €15 per bottle. 

Taste. 97/100 on the Gilbert & Galliard guide. Clockwise you get aromas of figs, fig bread, spices and roasted nuts. Anti-clockwise however the aromas get more elegant, less alcoholic, roasted scents, cocoa, mature red fruit and cranberries. At the above price you will find very few tasting notes around.

Ageing. Once open, the wine keeps its freshness (if kept open) for up to 3-4 years. Extrapolating this, the potential for ageing via nano oxigenation/in bottle will be measured not in years but in centuries/millenia.

This changes everything we know about wine today, but also agriculture, human health and our relationship with nature. It is because of this that in my opinion and the opinion of around 500 HNWI (High Net Worth Individuals each year), this is the best wine in the world.

http://www.aurumwine.com/body/

Travelled around South Africa earlier in the year. Whilst there we tried numerous wines and visited some stunning vineyards and countryside.

We have some good wines and some not so good, this is one of the better ones. If you can get it you will enjoy it. Perfect with seafood.

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: pale
Colour: lemon

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma characteristics: orange blossom, vanilla and grapefruit

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Body: medium to long
Flavours: lightly candied grapefruit with vanilla
Finish: medium to long

CONCLUSION: Very good.

It combines lightness of flavuour with good balance. Good value too as it's reasonably priced. A gem.

A few weeks ago i was lucky enough to go to Riga for a long weekend with coincided with 25 year of Latvian independence celebrations. What a beautiful and inexpensive place (by western standards). Had the opportunity to visit a few good restaurants and drink some excellent wines.

Towards the end of the holiday we lunched at cafe/restaurant next to the opera house. Great lunch where we got to try a dry yet very fruity white wine. Australian origin, made by blending Gewurztraminer and Riesling.

On a separate event, my good friend Steve came over for lunch. Steve is generally not too keen on wine however he is a lover of all things sweet. On a trip to Morrissons I found this same wine we have had in Riga, thought Steve might like it. He did, or at least that's what he said, he was driving and couldn't have much... A very inexpensive treat.

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: pale
Colour: lemon

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: pronounced 
Aroma characteristics: lychee, candied lemon and a hint of honeysuckle 

PALATE
Sweetness: off-dry
Acidity: high
Body: long
Flavours: lychee and candied lemon peel with a hint of rosemary
Finish: Long

CONCLUSION: Very good to outstanding. Excellent by itself, with fish, seafood and particularly good with fragant Asian food (Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, etc)

Stellenbosch is the most popular wine region in South Africa. It is full of tourists either staying at a wine estate, attending a wedding or just visiting for the day. Art galleries, shops, cars everywhere around the main streets, a lot more relaxing in the estates themselves.

Franschoek (french corner) is a little drive away from Stellenbosch's centre. It has some of the best restaurants and wineries in South Africa and it's well worth a visit. The Holden Mainz winery is just stunning, the staff ever so friendly, the wines excellent. What's not to like? Try to either stay there or get someone else to drive if you go to visit...

We tried and bought quite a few wines, all brilliant. I understand that they had a young award winning winemaker Schalk W Opperman who just left for nearby Lammershoek winery recently. Best wishes to Schalk and best of luck to His replacement at Holden Manz. Look forward to trying wines from both wineries in future vintages.

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: pale
Colour: lemon

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: pronounced 
Aroma characteristics: butter biscuit, white flowers

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Body: full
Flavours: orange marmalade, grapefruit and vanilla biscuit
Finish: long 

CONCLUSION: outstanding, this wine has long strong flavours that go on and on and on. Great wine, please try if you have the chance.

While in holidays in beautiful South Africa i was lucky enough to try some good wines. Some of them just weren't so nice, at least for my taste.

Wine quality can vary from year to year, winery change winemakers or they just might have had a bad year... Whatever the reason, the good thing is... I can't remember it too well, hence why the note will come in handy.

Here is the note...


APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: medium
Colour: ruby

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: light
Aroma characteristics: red fruit

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Tannins: medium
Body: medium
Flavours: red fruit or berries (no coffee, no plums)
Finish: medium

CONCLUSION: adequate. Very generic flavours with no specific good attributes. High alcohol yet unbalanced on flavour. Mental note: avoid.

Just back from holidays in South Africa, visited a few wineries on the way... Fleur du Cap, (flower of the Cape) is one of their most famous white wines. You often see it advertised on bars or sponsoring events. In a way it is a modern south african wine, mono varietal Chenin Blanc with great balance.

South Africa has traditionally been famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnays around Stellenbosch. Chenin Blanc being their most planted white variety, a more accessible wine. This is a good example of why South African whites are doing so well, they are well worth their money and are often very good quality. 

Perfect on its own or with dinner on a warm summer evening, dinner outside, good company... What's not to like? 

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: pale
Colour: lemon

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: medium 
Aroma characteristics: white flowers, apple, apricot

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: high
Body: medium 
Flavours: peach, apple and melon with butterscotch
Finish: long finish 

CONCLUSION: outstanding wine, mix of green and stone fruit with a good balance and long finish. 

Mentrida is a traditional wine making region in Toledo, near Madrid in Spain. Garnacha is the main grape used in the area, flavours of strawberry and raspberry, often mixed with other varieties.

This wine however is made with Tempranillo (cherry) as the main grape plus Shiraz, Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot. Often in Spain certain winemakers break away from the traditional rules for the area and go off piste. They often mix French varieties with Spanish. 

In this case, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot give body and structure to the Tempranillo grape creating a full body and well balanced wine.

Besana is the name of the first row that you dig up for planting.

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: deep
Colour: garnet

NOSE
Condition: clean 
Intensity: medium
Aroma characteristics: red cherry, 

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium
Tannins: medium 
Body: medium 
Flavours: cherry, strawberry, rosemary 
Finish: medium

CONCLUSION: very good

Had drinks with my friend Dani, a good catch up over a glass of wine. The conversation was excellent, will miss Dani and Tania when they get back to Spain... On a positive note, will remember them every time i drink this wine from now on. The wine (like them) occupies a special and treasured place in my soul.

We were lucky enough to try some Portia crianza 2013 over our catch up. Excellent wine, difficult to buy in the UK, keep en eye on it if you see it or get a chance to try it.

Here is the tasting note, this wine is truly excellent and good value too.

APPEARANCE
Clarity: clear
Intensity: deep
Colour: garnet

NOSE
Condition: clean
Intensity: medium
Aroma characteristics: blackberry, black cherry

PALATE
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium-high
Tannins: medium
Body: full
Flavours: blackberry, black cherry, wild mushrooms and butter biscuit
Finish: medium-long

CONCLUSION: an oustanding wine as it combines a long finish, good balance of flavours/aromas and great value for money. Excellent if you can find it, not available at big UK supermarkets and randomly available in specialist shops in the UK.