Aged, but Crisp Verdejo from the West: Bodegas Vidal Soblechero Pagos de Villavendimia Finca El Alto 2006, Rueda

This time I got a wine for you made by one of my favourite varietals: Verdejo. The Pagos de Villavendimia Finca El Alto 2006 is a highly limited (apparently just 548 bottles. Wow!) in French oak barrels aged (14 months) Verdejo produced by Bodegas Vidal Soblechero in La Seca/Rueda. The approx. 80 year old vines were cultivated on the chalky and loamy soils of Finca El Alto.

Duell of Quaffable Pintos: Matteo Braidot Pinot Nero Vecchio Confine 2009, Isonzo and some Teutonic Speaking Pinots

This time I got three very different and partly highly unusual Pinot Noirs for you. The headliner comes from Isonzo region in the east of Italy right on the border to Slovenia. Bedsides this one, I got a Swiss Pinot fellow made by Jürg Saxer from Zurich and an admittedly far more expensive German fellow from Pfalz region produced by Bernd Philippi from Koehler-Ruprecht. The last one has been called up as a late replacement for another more simple minded fellow from Pfalz region (-> cork).

A Spicy K and K Reunification: Weninger Kékfrankos 2008, Sopron

A couple of years ago Franz Weninger, one of Burgenlands most famous wineproducers, dared to make two or three steps, if you got small feet maybe five or six, further east over the border to Balf in Sopron Region/Hungary. Over there he cultivates almost all popular regional and international red varieties. The grapes for his basic Kékfrankos or Blaufränkisch were cultivated on brown earth and slate in the Frettner vineyard. The aging took nine months in 2/3 oak and 1/3 concrete. Another rather interesting fact about this wine is the harvest date: 14^th September 2008. Does anybody remember what happened on this very day? Ha, Ha! Ups!

Well, back to today's wine:

Austro-Aussie Shyrazh: Salomon Estate Finniss River Shiraz 2008, Fleurieu Peninsula SA

Today’s wine was made by one of the most famous viniculturalist from Krems in Austria: Bertold Salomon from Salomon Undhof Winery. The Australian subsidiary Salomon Estate was established in 1995 on Fleurieu Peninsula approx. 50 kilometres south of Adelaide. The grapes for this Shiraz were cultivated on gavel and orange-red sandstone soil on Finniss River, a relatively low altitude part of Fleurieu Peninsula.

Kupljen Renski Rizling Selection Mon Royal 2009, Jeruzalem-Svetinje and a Couple of Classics 2009 from Emrich-Schönleber

Today I had my first Riesling from Slovenia. Again from Kupljen in Jeruzalem. Alongside this personal novelty I had a couple of Emrich-Schönleber Rieslings 2009 from Nahe region in Germany. Let’s see how the Renski Rizling will put up a good show against the classics.

Rully Tastealike? Te Kairanga Runholder Pinot Noir 2005, Martinborough

Today I got a little evaluative re-tasting going on. The first time I mentioned this one was HERE. Approximately 7 months ago. The basic structure of this rather old world’ish Pinot from Martinborough remained more or less the same. This time it appeared to me a bit more aged. How astonishing!!! Yeah, right! Well, maybe a bit more aged (than expected) concerning its colour. This time it appeared to me far more red-brown and very murky.

Bio-dynamic Red'ster from False Bay: Reyneke Cornerstone 2008, Stellenbosch

Today’s wine is a red blend made of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Syrah (40%) and Merlot (10%) from a biodynamic winegrower and producer in Stellenbosch. Mostly known for its various and very unique Sauvignon Blanc wines, Reyneke gained quite some reputation over recent years. Today’s red blend was pretty unique and somehow full of character. So let’s get on with it …

A Chinese Blue Nun: Greatwall Winery Chinese White Wine Dry

A Chinese Classic! No need for further elaboration!

Pinot from the End of the World? Bodegas del Fin del Mundo Pinot Noir Reserva 2006, Patagonia

Doesn’t that sound awfully great? Bodegas del Fin del Mundo! Well for sure it is pretty deep in the south of South America, even in Patagonia, but more on the most northern fringe of the state Patagonia. Still more than just several hundred miles away from Tierra del Fuego. Well, maybe not really the end of the world, but pretty far away anyway.
The Pinot grapes for this wine were cultivated in the Neuquén region and aged for approximately 9 moths in French and American oak. Due to my miserable Spanish skills I couldn’t find out anything about the soils or the actual climate. So straight on to my wine impression:

Indigenous Softy: Chiao Kuo Basil Seed Drink with Honey, Taiwan

On an early Sunday morning it might be better to grab for something without alcohol. Maybe!?! I guess. Whatever … today it shalt be like that! Right now I am having a “classic” Chinese soft drink. A basil seed drink with honey!!! It simply consists of water (46%), basil seeds (40%), sugar (13%) and hints of banana and honey.