Not your usual Spanish Garnacha – Cuevas de Arom, As Ladieras 2015, Campo de Borja

Image ~ February 18, 2020April 5, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

The Garnacha from Campo de Borja I was waiting for a long time… I’m a fan of the region, following it since 2012, and while some wines like Alto Moncayo impressed me in a way, there is one thing which prevents me from really liking these wines: heavy-handed winemaking. Too much oak and acid adjustment, to be more precise.

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Top dry Tokaji: Péter Pince Arcus Cuvée 2018

Image ~ February 16, 2020April 5, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi ~ 1 Comment

The top dry white from Péter Pince. It’s also one of the finest in Tokaj, if you ask me.

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High alcohol red wines III. – Domaine André Mathieu, la Centenaire Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Image ~ February 5, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi ~ 1 Comment

Hitting 16%, this Chateauneuf du Pape has the highest alcohol in this series. La Centenaire is made entirely from Grenache, which is supposed to handle heat far better than Syrah for example, but to see such alcohol content on the label is not just a bit worrying. Yet this was the winner of the trio (the other two are the El Telar Monastrell and Maccone Primitivo), when it comes to handling alcohol.

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High alcohol red wines II. – Bodega Vinnessens, El Telar 2016, Alicante DOP

Image ~ February 3, 2020February 3, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Following the Puglia Primitivo, here is an other genre which tends to achieve high alcohol levels: Monastrell from south-eastern Spain. According to the label, this example, the El Telar 2016 from Bodega Vinnessens has the same the alcohol content as the Primitivo (15.5%), but it looks more out of balance in comparison.

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High alcohol red wines I. – Angiuli Donato Maccone Primitivo 2018, Puglia IGP

Image ~ January 30, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Do you buy high alcohol red wines? I do, sometimes. While I prefer balance in my wines, I admit that I tasted some impressive high octane reds in the past, and from time to time I still like to try some. Especially in winter time, when it’s still cold and dark enough here in Central Europe, despite climate change.

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Yet another great value Monastrell: Ego Bodegas Talento Eco 2018

Image ~ January 27, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

If you want something bigger than the Telmo Rodriguez Al-muvedre, try the Talento Ego. Different style, but same quality, and again, amazing QPR.

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Textbook dry Hárslevelű from Tokaj – Péter Pince 2018

Image ~ January 22, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

Péter Pince was a new discovery for me last year. The dry wines

made at this address are among the most vibrant and precise ones in Tokaj, making the producer my current favorite from the whole wine region.

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Another great value Monastrell: Telmo Rodriguez Al-muvedre 2018

Image ~ January 20, 2020March 5, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

I’m still in love with Spanish Mourvedre, or Monastrell as it’s called down there. Real personality combined with great value, what more could one wish for.

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Great Tokaji Szamorodnis on the market #3 – The World Class Balassa Bomboly Szamorodni 2017

Image ~ January 16, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

The winner of our recent Szamorodni blind tasting. Took the first place for all the three tasters, and got the same high scores, too. It’s in a completely different class, everything else looked a simple drink in comparison, except the Gizella.

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Great Tokaji Szamorodnis on the market #2 – Gizella Szamorodni 2017

Image ~ January 14, 2020 ~ Zoltán Németi

If you are in doubt that Tokaji Szamorodni can be as great as Aszú, try the Gizella Pince 2017. It was my favorite from our recent blind tasting.

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