Issue N.33 Year 5 Nov/Dec 2020 Price: GBP: 5.00 USD: 5.00 EU: 5.00 VND: 110.000 Celebrate! 2 3 CONTENTS 4 CONTENTS ► Wine & Spirit reviews - 8 ► Wine Person Peter Gambetta - 7 ► About - 67 COLUMNS ► Alfredo de la Casa: ICelebration wines - 33 WINERY REVIEWS ► Antinori Chiiianti - 15 ► Ramon Bilbao - 37 ► Yalumba - 47 ► Bruce Jack - 57 Published by Green Talent Ltd in London, UK. © Green Talent Ltd 2006-2020. Green Talent Ltd registered in England 05905795 5 6 WINE PERSONALITY: Peter Gambetta 7 Wicked Secrets Moscato sparkling rose NV Australia This sparkling rose is a great rose of when simplicity can make a fantastic wine. And it is not fantastic for its high complexity, it is not complex; not fantastic because of the top grapes used, we don’t even know which kind of Muscat; and is not fantastic because it comes from one of the top wine areas, the wine maker does not even specify where is made. It is fantastic, because it is gorgeous, easy to drink, even easier to enjoy ( you will finish the bottle by yourself before you notice), it is low in alcohol, so forget getting drunk too fast, and even though is on the sweet side, it is dry, so it is not only not overwhelming but easy to pair with food. Pair is with tomato based pizza, salmon based dished, omelettes, and if you have a high acidic dish like boquerones it will balance it. 9POIN2 TS 8 Luzon organico red 2018, Jumilla, Spain Bodegas Luzón is one of the main producers and exporters of quality wines of the D.O. Jumilla, and one of its most historic wineries, producing wine since the late nineteenth century. The wine growing area of Jumilla is located southeast of Spain, north of the region of Murcia. The climate is continental, influenced by the Mediterranean sea with warm days, rain that do not reach 300 liters per square meter, and cold nights. The result is a harsh climate, which causes a thick textured soil and allows to obtain small grape bunches, with a good concentration of sugar, excellent acidity and thicker skins. To reach the winery’s origins, we must go back to 1841. Don José de Molina, commander of the Royal Armies stationed in the Spanish colony of Manila (Philippines), decides to return to his land Jumilla. It is then when he names his lands as “Finca Luzón”, in honor of the island where he was so long. This organic red, made from 100% Monastrell grapes, is a joy to drink: fresh, fruity, elegant, without complications, and obviously organic. Fresh red fruits are predominant. Pair it with red meats or even roast chicken. 9POIN1 TS 9 Maquis Lien 2010 Colchagua, Chile. Maquis is one of the oldest wineries in the Colchagua Valley and has been owned by the Hurtado family for four generations. During the XIX century, Maquis was owned by two Chilean presidents who felt proud of their property, organized some cabinet meetings in Colchagua, and built brick bridges for their ministers to come. Remains of these old bridges are still present on the Maquis Estate. In 1916, Maquis was bought by the Hurtado family who wished to develop a fine wine business. In 2002, after several years of refining the management of the vineyards, the Hurtado family built a new winery designed both to facilitate wine production and to enable the expression of the characteristics and personality of the grapes in the clearest way possible. Lien was Viña Maquis’s only wine for five years, and only later, master blender Jacques Boissenot convinced the Hurtado Family to start producing Maquis Franco, later Maquis Viola and then the Maquis grand reserve range. Today the complete Maquis portfolio is available in more than 15 countries around the world. Maquis Lien has a beautiful velvety red colour. On the nose, ripe red fruit aromas emerge from a floral background. In the mouth, its elegant structure relies mostly on its juicy yet intense tannins. The finish is long and delicate, due to its rich, natural and fresh mouthfeel. 9POIN0 TS 10 Cletus 2016. Tuscany, Italy This wine is a blend of merlot and Sangiovese. One of the many so called “super” Tuscans, that although nice, fails to deliver the superiority. Almost impossible to find information about who makes this wine, probably and considering how heavy the bottle is, it may be one if the many wines aimed at the Asian market where more is spent in the bottle than in the wine itself. The wine considerably improves after an hour of decanting. Expect musk andearthy characters in both nose and palate. Ad for pairing, rustic pizza would go well. 9POIN0 TS 11 Stonefish Shiraz, 2018, Margaret River Stonefish Wines is an Australian company producing wines that reflect the unique character and quality of premium Australian harvest. Over the last decade, Stonefish has made a commitment to providing excellent quality wines at competitive prices and is enjoyed by consumers across the world. Founder and owner Peter Papanikitas has been involved in various facets of the wine industry for the past 30 years. Initially his contact was with companies that included Penfolds, Lindemans and Leo Buring, then he spent five years working for Cinzano, gaining experience in worldwide sales and marketing Shiraz grapes for this wine were hand picked at optimum ripeness from our carefully nurtured Western Australian vineyards. The wine displays a youthful rich and ripe palate with red berries and spices interwoven with oak. A well balanced, full bodied wine enhanced by soft tannins. An excellent accompaniment to grilled red meats and game dishes. Smooth as velvet. 9POIN1 TS 12 Bird of Fire Reserve 2013, Australia Stonefish Wines is an Australian company producing wines that reflect the unique character and quality of premium Australian harvest. Over the last decade, Stonefish has made a commitment to providing excellent quality wines at competitive prices and is enjoyed by consumers across the world. Founder and owner Peter Papanikitas has been involved in various facets of the wine industry for the past 30 years. Initially his contact was with companies that included Penfolds, Lindemans and Leo Buring, then he spent five years working for Cinzano, gaining experience in worldwide sales and marketing This elegant Botrytis Semillon is from the Riverina wine region in NSW, which is recognised internationally for producing Australia’s greatest award winning Botrytis wines. This wine is no exception. A delicious aroma of mango and pear with hints of mixed nuts. The palate is rich and luscious with an explosion of peach and citrus flavours. 9POIN2 TS 13 14 WINERY REVIEW: ANTINORI CHIANTI The Antinori family has been involved in the Each and every vintage, each and every production of wine for over six centuries, ever separate area, each and every idea which is to since, in 1385, Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined be put into practice, is a new beginning, a new the “Arte Fiorentina”, the Winemakers’ Guild of search for higher quality standards. the city of Florence. As Marquis Piero Antinori likes to say: “ancient During this entire long period, thorough twenty roots play an important role in our work. But six generations, the family has always directly have never been a limit to our innovative spirit”. managed the wine business, sometimes bringing innovative decisions, but always The estates in Tuscany and Umbria, the historic maintaining, unaltered, a fundamental respect patrimony of the family, have been joined, over for tradition and for the territory in which they time, by investments in other territories with an have operated. important potential for high level wine both in Italy and abroad, in places where it would be Today the firm is run by Marquis Piero Antinori possible to begin working for a larger prestige with the support of his three daugthers, Albiera, and wider awareness of the family’s ability to Allegra, and Alessia, directly involved in the produce outstanding wine. work of the winery. The Marchesi Antinori firm expresses its Tradition, passion, and intuition have been the passion for viticulture by a constant search for three driving principles which have led the even the smallest areas for quality Marquis Antinori firm to become a leader in improvement. For this reason, continuous Italian wine. experiments go forward both in the vineyards and in the cellars, seeking new clones of local 15 18 and international grape varieties, experimenting of the Antinori family. cultivation techniques, vineyard altitudes, fermentation practices an temperatures, For the first time in 26 generations, the modern and traditional fermentation methods, Antinori’s inaugurated a new winery designed to different types of oak for aging and different welcome wine enthusiasts inviting them to sizes and age for the casks and barrels come into direct contact with their production themselves, and different aging times before philosophy based on passion, patience and the their commercial release for the bottled wines continual pursuit of high quality. as well. The winery overlooks the countryside from a A story that began in 1385. A historical link with terrace surrounded by vineyards planted with the Chianti Classico region. A place where Chianti Classico’s most typical grape, tradition and innovation coexist in perfect Sangiovese, together with other varieties that harmony. A winery that reveals the past, present were historically planted nearby: Canaiolo, and future of the Antinori family. Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, and Mammolo. A small area is dedicated to The winery was inaugurated in October 2012 international vines, Cabernet Sauvignon and affirming the historical bond between the Cabernet Franc. Antinori family and their ancestral territory. The winery was designed for gravity flow vinification and to guarantee ideal climatic The winery was built entirely with locally conditions for wine production and aging by sourced materials, respectful of the surrounding using completely natural elements.