Exploring Signuradi Part 3.3: The Voyage - Eichholz, Pelizzatti and Studach

So far its been a long exploration throughout different stages spreading from the Adolecents, to Middle-Agers and those visits we've already paid to various Grisons wineries including Cicero Weinbau, Weingut Donatsch, Weinbau Christian Hermann and the Gantenbeins. Today this extended trilogy will find a fortunate and blissful end with my visit impressions of Weingut Eichholz (Irene Grünenferlder) in Jenins, Weinbau Annatina Pelizzatti also in Jenins and finally the very surprising visit of Thomas Studach's winery in Malans. Let's begin with the current releases of Weingut Eichholz ...

Exploring Signuradi Part 3.2: The Voyage - Hermann and Gantenbein

So far we visited Cicero Weinbau and Weingut Donatsch. Today I'd like to start with a little peek into a real poster-garage-winery just like a lot of people might imagine a place like this to be. The name of the winery? Well, for sure one of the most famous names in the valley: Weinbau Christian Hermann in Fläsch! Following my humble impressions of Hermann's impressive and dense crus I'd like perform my customarily insufficient tasting notes to the wines of a winery which doesn't need any extensive introduction. If there is one internationally and nationally downright famous Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer in Grisons - then it had to be the winery of the Gantenbeins from Fläsch. But first things …Hermann it is!

Exploring Signuradi Part 3.1: The Voyage - Cicero and Donatsch

So far we had the Adolescent Entry Level and The Mature Middle-Agers. What else could be better than hitting the road to Switzerland with three other wine obsessed fellows and give those Alpine Pinots another try or two!?

... for Part 3: The Voyage.  Over two days we have been visiting seven wineries to get closer insights of the people, the actual wineries, their wine making process and of course their wines. For the sake of conciseness I'd like to highlight my most impressive wine experiences in not so flamboyant and dissipated ways like I normally tend to do. I ask for your understanding!

Before I start with my never ending blather I'd like to start with a most sincere Thank You  to all wineries we've visited! I guess, I never experienced such a large amount of openness, respectfulness and friendliness throughout a wine journey! Great Job!

Today I'd like to start with my wine impressions of Cicero Weinbau in Zizers and Weingut Donatsch in Malans. The following two parts will include well known wineries like: Weinbau Christian Hermann in Fläsch, the wines from Daniel & Martha Gantenbein, Weingut Eichholz (Irene Grünenfelder), Weinbau Annatina Pelizatti and the wines of Thomas Studach in Malans.

Exploring Signuradi Part 2: The Mature Middle-Agers

Last month I started to explore the grandeur of Grisons Pinot Noir with the adolescent entry level. This time I'd like to continue with a few mature middle-age'ers from 2005 and 2006. Apart of the aged ones I also had the pleasure to taste two other rather adolescent Pinots from Fläsch. One entry level from Andrea Davaz and one big shot Pinot from the Gantenbeins. As if that was not enough two other Pinot Noirs, one from Lake Constance region (Thurgau) and one from Burgenland in Austria had to take the role as possible counterpoints. Let's check them fellows out ….

Exploring Signuradi Pinot Part 1: The Adolecent Entry Level

Signuradi? What …? Co din ins quai per englais? Difficil! Apparently, Grisons Lordships!?! Betg idea! Correct? Well, let’s stop my pretentious and deeply pathetic attempt to socialize with the native language of Girsons. The Rumantsch Grischun speaking south-eastern canton of Switzerland! In the coming weeks I would like to familiarise you guys out there with a fair amount of the Pinot Noir spectrum of the Bündner Herrschaft (aka Signuradi). Probably another pathetic attempt. This viticulture area might be small (approx. 400 ha), but a few post won’t be able to give you a comprehensive view on local Pinot anyway! Whatever, substance wasn't and won't be and will never be the strong suit of this very blog anyway. No change here then ;-)

With my first post I’d like to give you a few tasting notes of young entry level Pinot Noirs from three renowned wineries. In the forthcoming weeks there will be more to come! As you already may have realized – no background education in this Wine-Zeit zone. The author is lazy by nature after all! At least today! Only this: 80%-Pinot Noir land (besides some minorieties of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sylvaner x Riesling, Completer and a few others), average elevation of 500 m, warm Alpine chinook wind climate along the Baby Rhine River, predominantly limey schist soils and a longm, old wine growing tradition (Pinot Noir since the 17^th century).