News from Ferment

2023 Heinrich Oh when the Saints Petnat

Kr. 289,90

Straw yellow. Light nose, apples, fruit forward. Fresh acidity, yeasty, apples, fruit forward, leaner. 85

 

 Langmann Schilchersekt 

Kr. 249,90

Bright ruby. Nettles, herbs and faintly of red berries nose. Crisp acidity, lean, focused and narrow. 84

 

 Loimer Extra Brut Reserve

Kr. 339,90

Pale lemon yellow. Leaner, apples, some pears, easy going nose. Fresh acidity, apples, yeasty, leaner, refreshing. 85

 

 Loimer Brut Rosé Reserve

Kr. 339,90

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, leaner, fresh, yeasty notes nose. Fresh acidity, apples, leaner, refreshing. 84

 

2024 Massimago Duchessa Allegra Garganega

Kr. 239,90

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, leaner, some grapefruits notes nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, elegant, refreshing, bit anonymous. 85

 

2023 St Donat Marga Furmint

Kr. 284,90

Pale lemon yellow. Leaner nose, apples, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, fruit forward, juicy, good length. 86

 

2023 Filep Tokaji Furmint Harslevelu

Kr. 309,90

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some almonds, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, elegant, minerals, refreshing, bees wax finish. 87

 

2022 Lapeyre Vitatge Vielh Jurancon Sec

Kr. 264,90

Pale lemon yellow. Leaner nose, white fruits, faintly floral nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, elegant texture, some salinity, nuanced, good length. 87

 

2023 Roc des Anges Imalaya

Kr. 429,90

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus, some minerals nose. Fresh acidity, apples, minerals, detailed, nuanced, some salinity, elegant. 89

Roc des Anges Alquimia

Kr. 429,90

Pale lemon yellow. Flor, white fruits, yeasty, nuts nose. Fresh acidity, nuts, apples, leaner bodied, peach, some salinity, good length. 88

 

 Heinrich Naked Orange

Kr. 229,90

Orange. Yeast, red berries and soapy floral notes. Fresh acidity, leaner, easy going.  84

 

2022 Heinrich Muskat Freyheit

Kr. 399,90

Cloudy straw yellow. Citrus, soapy, fruit forward nose, floral. Fresh acidity, citrus, floral, leaner, easy going.84

 

2023 Massimago Duca Fedele Valpolicella 

Kr. 239,90

Bright ruby. Herbs, anise, rubbery notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, herbs.  84

 

2024 Alamos Malbec Organic

Kr. 164,90

Ruby. Red and dark fruits, anise, some herbs, lean nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, dark fruits, leaner. 84

 

2023 Filep Egri Kekfrankos

Kr. 299,90

Bright ruby. Red berries, anise, some herbs, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, leaner, rustic finish. 85

 

2022 St. Donat Magma Kekfrankos

Kr. 299,90

Bright ruby. Red berries, plums, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, red fruits, anise, spices, good length. 86

 

2021 Glatzer Blaufränkisch Göttlesbrunn

Kr. 252,30

Ruby. Dark fruits, red berries, anise, some spices, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, leaner, some herbs. 87

 

2023 Roc des Anges Segna de Cor

Kr. 299,90

Ruby. Red berries, anise, some herbs, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, leaner. 86

 

2023 Roc des Anges Australe

Kr. 389,90

Ruby. Red and dark fruits, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, some spices, good length. 87

 

2023 Roc des Anges 1903 Carignan

Kr. 499,90

Ruby. Red berries, dark fruits, almost dusty nose, crushed stone. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, good length. 88

 

2019 Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon

Kr. 369,90

Ruby. Dark fruits, some tobacco notes, liquorice, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, spices, good length. 91

 

2022 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino

Kr. 860,00

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, spices, vanilla, rich and fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, rich, liquorice, fruit forward, long. 90

Tasting of Boscarelli’s Il Nocio back to 1991, the first vintage

Boscarelli is one of the stars of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appelation, and here was a very rare oportunity, to taste a vertical from them, all the way back to the first vintage of Il Nocio, one of their single vineyard wines. It has changed name a few times over its lifetime.

 

2021 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio

Bright ruby. Scented, cherries, anise, liquorice, fruit forward nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, detailed, nuanced, spices, detailed, elegant texture, quite bright, long. 3 tries in the vineyard, one for the sandy soils, one for the clay soils and one for the red soils as they ripen at different times. 40% sandy, 40% clay and 20% red soils. 94

 

2018 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio

Bright ruby. Scented, cherries, deeper, nuanced, morellos, fruit forward nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, detailed, nuanced, juicy, cherries, morellos, detailed and long. 93

 

2016 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio

Bright ruby. Cherries, anise, spices, nuanced nose, detailed, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, detailed, nuanced, elegant, detailed, smooth, cherries, elegant texture, long. 95

 

2012 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Starting dates, tobacco, cherries, anise, spices, liquorice notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, cherries, detailed, tobacco, detailed, elegant, detailed. Nocio is a 2 hectare vineyard. Average production is only around 4000-5000 bottles. First few vintages was around 10.000 bottles as the selection was less strict. 92

 

2006 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Nocio dei Boscarelli

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Tobacco, light minty touch, red berries, some spices, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, dates, some figs, spices, truffles and chocolate. Again a minty note in the finish. Long. Has more body and texture. 94

 

2001 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Nocio dei Boscarelli

Bright ruby, thin brick rim. Red berries, nuanced, detailed, fruit forward, lifted nose, tobacco, lifted nose.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, dates, figs, cherries, tobacco, hint of chocolate, some cigar notes, detailed, intense and long. Firmer finish. 93

 

1995 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vigna del Nocio

Bright ruby, thin brick rim. Red fruits, anise, dates, figs, some tobacco and chocolate notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, getting softer, dates, figs, a minty hint, nuanced, detailed, elegant texture, long finish. Still bright. Very generous of Boscarelli to open this bottle, they now only have 4 bottles left! 93

 

1991 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva del Nocio

Bright ruby, thin brick rim. First vintage. Tighter nose, dates, figs, some mushrooms, very evolved nose, but not oxidative in any way. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dates, figs, cherries, tobacco, floral, tender even if structured, nuanced, flavours going all over the place. The other vintages are much more linear in their expression, this is wilder, long finish. 92

 

2018 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Costa Grande

Bright ruby. Floral, red berries, cherries, bright, nuanced, detailed, scented, very seductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, detailed, bit firmer, nuanced, very bright fruits, detailed, long finish. 5000 bottles or thereabouts. Two tries for harvesting, one for the sandy part, one for the clay and red soils part, as they ripen a bit differently. 93

Tasting of Poliziano, Il Molinaccio, Montemercurio, Tiberini and Talosa

 

During Anteprime di Toscana the Conzorsio of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano organized different tastings, amongst them a tasting of different vintages from five of the estates in the region. Here are my tasting notes:

 

2021 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Ruby. Scented, red berries, anise, fruit forward nose, cherries, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, cherries, detailed, elegant texture, long finish. 90

 

2016 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone

Ruby. Scented, red berries, dark fruits, some spices, liquorice notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, cherries, some liquorice, detailed, elegant texture, nuanced, long. 93

 

2015 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Red berries, anise, spices, dates, figs nose, evolved quite a bit more than the 2016.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cherries, anise, spices, red berries, liquorice 90

 

2012 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Spices, touch of mint and tobacco, cherries and dates, some cigars notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, tobacco, minty, detailed, elegant texture, long finish. 92

 

2016 Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano La Poiana

Ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, hjuicy, red berries, anise, spices, quite detailed, elegant texture, long. 90

 

2015 Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano La Poiana

Bright ruby, thin garnet rim, Red berries, anise, some spices, cherries, floral, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, leaner bodied, good length. 89

 

2012 Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano La Poiana

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Scented, cherries, nuanced, fruit forward, detailed nose. Again some floral notes.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, red berries, some dates, figs, elegant. Good length. 88

 

2021 Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano La Spinosa

Bright ruby. Scented, red berries, bright nose, nuanced, lifted, floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, nuanced, juicy, elegant, detailed, strawberries and cherries, good length. 88

 

2016 Montemercurio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Damo

Ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, bit lazy, good length. 88

 

2015 Montemercurio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Damo

Ruby, brick rim. Red berries, anise, spices, liquorice, dates, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, cherries, anise, red berries, leaner. 87

 

2012 Montemercurio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Damo

Ruby, brick rim. Dates, figs, anise, spices nose. Fresh acidity, fewt tannins, fully mature, starting to dry. Easy going. 86

 

2019 Montemercurio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Messagero

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Red berries, anise, cherries, some spices, leaner nose, some herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, leaner. 86

 

2016 Tiberini Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Campaccio

Bright ruby. Red berries, cherries, scented, fruit forward nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, some spices, juicy, leaner finish. 88

 

2015 Tiberini Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Campaccio

Ruby. Scented, cherries, anise, spices, liquorice, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, leaner finish, juicy. 88

 

2012 Tiberini Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Campaccio

Ruby, thin brick rim. Scented, red berries, anise, spices, cherries, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, leaner, bit thin. 86

 

2021 Tiberini Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Podere Le Caggiole

Ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and dark fruits, good length. 87

 

2016 Talosa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva

Ruby. Spices, cherries, anise, dark fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, good length. 89

 

2015 Talosa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva

Ruby. Red berries, anise, some herbs notes nose, leaner. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, leaner bodied, good length. 88

 

2012 Talosa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva

Ruby. Cherries, liquorice, some dates notes nose, coffee. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, cherries, anise, spices, leaner, good length. 87

 

2021 Talosa Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Alboreto

Ruby. Red berries, anise, some herbs and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, spices, leaner, good length. 87

Terre di Pisa, visits to Podere La Chiesa

 

One of the really exiting producers of the region is Podere La Chiesa, with its winery with lots of round windows in the middle of the vineyards. Their recently released Sangiovese, I Matti, as well as the CF Cabernet Franc is amongst the flagship wines of the region. Microscopic production of both, so not the easiest to find, but well worth the hunt. 

 

La Chiesa was founded in the 2000’s by Palma and Maurizio, after dreaming about a winery for years. In Terriciola in the hart of Terre di Pisa they found their spot of land to begin their dream. And several of the wines have evolved from and idea, or a dream, into a final wine with different personalities. Art and music is never far away, and has inspired and still inspires at La Chiesa. They also organise art exhibitions as well as concerts. 

 

Wines has been tasted during 3 visits to the estate. Sabiniano is the best value here, the rosé is elegant, but the two real stars here is the top end Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, two wines that really show the potential of the region. So far the production is tiny of both of them. 

 

2022 La Chiesa L’Altro Punto di Vista Vermentino

Pale lemon yellow. Some peach, apples, fruit driven, some minerals notes nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, peach, fruit driven, some pears, light saline note in the finish. 87

 

2022 La Chiesa L'Altro Punto di Vista Rosato

Orange. Some red berries, anise, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, red berries, juicy, fruit driven, elegant texture, good length. 84

 

2021 La Chiesa Terre di Casanova Chianti

Ruby. Scented, red fruits, anise, some spices and light herbal note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, good length. 87

 

2021 La Chiesa Le Redole de Casanova

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice nose, nuanced, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, spices, some herbs, good length. 86

 

2020 La Chiesa Sabiniano di Casanova

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, some liquorice notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, juicy, good length. Bit easy going. 88

 

2020 La Chiesa Opera in Rosso

Bright ruby. Scented, cherries, fruit driven, some spices, liquorice nose. Nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, some spices, cherries, softer, gentler Sangiovese, elegant, long finish. 90

 

2020 La Chiesa Opera in Nero

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, some spices, liquorice nose, spices and coffee. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, vanilla, spices, fruit driven, juicy, dark fruits, liquorice, long finish. 90

 

2016 La Chiesa Opera in Rosso

Ruby. Cherries, anise, liquorice, some tobacco, fruit driven nose. Intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, intense, some alcohol warmth, long. 90

 

2021 La Chiesa I Matti di Casanova

Bright ruby. Bright fruit, nuanced, scented, so pure nose, cherries, deep and layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, bright, red fruits, juicy, start out seeming a bit easy going because it has such harmony, but has a lovely long aftertaste and more complexity than it seems like from the start. 94

 

2020 La Chiesa CF

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, cassis, dark fruits and liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, juicy, saline, sweet dark fruits, long finish. 93

 

2013 La Chiesa Opera in Nero

Oxidated

 

2024 La Chiesa Vermentino Terre di Pisa

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some pears, some citrus nose, some spices. Fresh acidity, apples, fruit driven, citrus, elegant texture, good length. 89

 

2023 La Chiesa L'Altra Punta di Vista Rosato

Orange. Light nose of red berries, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, some bitterness, textured, good length. 83

 

2024 La Chiesa L'Altra Punta di Vista Rosato

Pale orange. Apples, fruit forward, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, apples, red fruits, elegant txeture. 84

 

2021 La Chiesa Le Redole di Casanova

Ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, liquorice, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, leaner, some herbs. 85

 

2022 La Chiesa Chianti 

Ruby. Cherries, anise, fruit forward nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, juicy, made from young Sangiovese vines, around 4000 bottles made. 86

 

2021 La Chiesa Sabiniano di Casanova

Ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, some liquorice, some herbs nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, cherries, spices, elegant texture, detailed, good length. 89

 

2021 La Chiesa Opera in Rosso

Bright ruby. 2000 bottles made. Cherries, anise, spices, liquorice, somewhat floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, some herbs, cherries, some liquorice, long. 90

 

2021 La Chiesa Opera in Nero

Ruby. 2000 bottles made. Blackberries, some vanilla and spices, blueberries, scented if firmer nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward, juicy, long. 90

 

2020 La Chiesa CF 

Ruby. 1500 bottles made. Blackberries, detailed, dark fruits, some vanilla and spices, nuanced nose, intense. Floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, layered, intense, juicy, spices, liquorice, blackberries, detailed, intense, nuanced. Long finish. 94

 

2021 La Chiesa I Matti di Casanova

Bright ruby. 550 magnums plus 50 bottles made. Second vintage, 2019 the first one of this wine. Scented, red berries, bright, nuanced nose, elegant, cherries, some light liquorice notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, elegant, nuanced, bright, detailed, layered, superb texture and fruit forward, gorgeous length. Wonderful. This is Sangiovese for meditation. 95

 

2020 La Chiesa Opera in Rosso

Bright ruby. Red berries, anise, cherries, some liquorice, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red andd arker fruits, energetic, blackberries, nuanced, good length. 89

 

2020 La Chiesa Sabiniano di Casanova

Bright ruby. Cherries, anise, red berries, nuanced, scented, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, some spices, liquorice, detailed, textured, good length. 89

 

2020 La Chiesa CF Cabernet Franc

Ruby. Around 1500 bottles amde in a year. Scented, detailed, fruit driven, layered, lifted, complex, floral, lovely nose, complex and layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, detailed, juicy, spices, detailed, refreshing even with high alcohol, long finish. 94

 

2019 La Chiesa I Matti di Casanova

Bright ruby. 350 magnums made. Cherries, anise, liquorice, tight, fruit driven, floral, fruit driven nose. Has depth to it. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, saline, cherries, anise, spices, liquorice, detailed, intense, saline, bright, rich, complex, layered, stunning energy to it. Incredible length. Needs a lot of air. 96

 

2021 La Chiesa CF Cabernet Franc

Ruby. Cassis, dark fruits, some spices, liquorice, layered nose, deep, nuanced, almost exotic. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, detailed, intense, juicy, cassis, complex, long finish. 94

Terre di Pisa, visit to Uccelliera

 

At Uccelliera, a fossil coral reef has recently been discoevered in the area, and they find old shells in their vineyards. The Uccelliera farm was established in the 1960’s, and produce olive oil, wine as well as has woods, and oenotourism. The second generations now runs the estate. 

 

The whites are gentle and rounded while retaining freshness and elegance. Nero in Bianco is a white made from Sangiovese, and is a very lovely white. Quite rare to see a white from Sangiovese. The rosé is particularly smooth and elegant, lovely finesse to it. Of the reds the Syrah really stood out for me, a very elegant expression. Castellaccia is a beauty, but the entire range has personality and there are some very good value wines. 

 

For those that doesn’t read me regularly, I score a bit stricter than some wine journalists, so to give you an idea, 88 points is normally a very good Burgundy village in quality. 92-93 is a very good Burgundy premier cru in quality. 

 

 

2024 Uccelliera Nero in Bianco

Pale lemon yellow. 2250 bottles made. Apples, lighter nose, fruit forward nose, leaner. Fresh acidity, elegant fruit, apples, juicy, rounded, elegant texture, good length. 88

 

2024 Uccelliera Ficaia

Pale lemon yellow. Yellow fruits and light floral note nose, fruit forward. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward, elegant texture, good length. 88

 

2024 Uccelliera Isola

Pale lemon yellow. 1240 bottles made. Apples, fruit forward, nuanced, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, saline, detailed, elegant texture, good length. 89

 

2024 Ucceliera Lupinaio

Pale lemon yellow. Herbs, citrus, grapefruits nose, leaner. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward, elegant, white fruits, nuanced, good length. Some alcohol warmth. 87

 

2024 Uccelliera La Prima Volta

Pale pink. 2600 bottles. Red berries, floral, frui forward nose. Fresh acidity, elegant body, fruit forward, juicy, good length. Lovely rosé. 85

 

2022 Uccelliera Ginepraia

Bright ruby. Red berries, anise, spices, fruit forward, nuanced nose, faintly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, spices, juicy, good length. 88

 

2022 Uccelliera Chianti Superiore

Bright ruby. Red berries, some cherries, lighter nose, fruit forward. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise, juicy, cherries, good length. 87

 

2022 Uccelliera Poggio Alle Pietra Governo

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, spices, blueberries, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, cherries, juicy, good length. 88

 

2018 Uccelliera Chianti Riserva

Bright ruby. Red berries, anise, cherries, morellos and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, red fruits, anise, refreshing, good length. 89

 

2024 Uccelliera Terre di Pisa

Ruby. First vintage of this wine, bottled five days ago, doesn't have a name yet, but it will be the first Terre di Pisa released from Uccelliera. Dark fruits, blackberries, blueberries, fruit forward nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, blackberries, ansie, spices, blueberries, long finish. 90

 

2018 Uccelliera Syrah 7 Dieci

Ruby. 2700 bottles or so made. Blackberries, dark fruits, blueberries, scented, bit tight, liquorice notes nose.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, juicy, intense, spices, elegant, long finish. 91

 

2020 Uccelliera Ginepraia Botte n. 7

Ruby. 2000 bottles made. Cherries, anise, dark fruits, nuanced, blueberries, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, some juniper notes actually, long. 92

 

2019 Uccelliera Castellaccio

Ruby, 4000 bottles made. Dark fruits, blackberries, vanilla, spices, fruit forward, some rosemary and minty notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, spices, nuanced, juicy, long finish. Richer but has finesse. 93

 

2007 Uccelliera Vin Santo Doc di S. Torpe

Pale amber. Dried fruits, dried apricots, nuanced, floral, almonds, nuanced nose, if lighter. Fresh acidity, smooth, rounded, youthful for its age, dried fruits, nuanced, elegant texture, long finish. 93

Terre di Pisa

 

I have followed the region Terre di Pisa for a few years now, after a brief visit around two years ago. I was invited on a press trip to Tuscany, and visiting Fibbiano in Terre di Pisa was an eyeopener. 

 

Terre di Pisa is a relatively new appelation, streching from Pisa to the outskirts of Volterra from North to South, and around halfway towards Florence, just to give you an idea of where we are. San Gimignano and the different Chianti appletions, as well as Carmignano to the east, and Bolgheri to the South. 

 

We have local varieties, as well as international. Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is found at several wineries in the region. Cabernet Franc can almost be seen as loval, as Catherine de Medici brought it here in the 1500’s sometime. Petit Verdot is another variety that is relatively normal here. Of the indigenous, Sangiovese off course, but also other Tuscan reds, Ciliegiolo is seen, Sangiovese Forte, a clone of Sangiovese can be found in Sanforte from Fibbiano, as well as Vermentino, Trebbiano and Malvasia. Meaning there is quite a broad diversity of styles. 

 

Soil is very fascinating in the area, as it is old seafloor, and some parts have been cioral reefs at some point. At Fibbiano, again, you can actually still se corals littered all over parts of the vineyard, and is probably the winery where this is most profound, but you see them in the soils of many vineyards. You nearly always find shells in the vineyards. And several wines of the area has a salinity in them. 

 

It was this soil and a tasting of fascinating wines, that I had never heard of, at Fibbiano, that led me to visit the region again, and I am currently on my third trip, and have visited nearly all members of the Conzorsio of Terre di Pisa, to better understand the region. And it feels weird to be amongst the first journalists to visit, and several wineries have told me I was the first to pay attention to the region, and that I am the first journalist to taste several wines in this region. That is an honour, as there are some absolute gems here. And I have no idea how they have been overlooked for so long.

 

But I will publish on the estates and their wines over the next weeks and months. There are many excellent value wines in the region, so pay attention, while it lasts. As many of them are really small production, so as soon as they get discovered, expect prices to rise. And there are some really lovely whites, and rosé wines in the region as well. Most producers are looking for importers as well, while some has allready established some importers in some markets. You are in the hart of the reagion after about 45 minutes in car from Pisa, and about an hour and a half or so, from Florence. 

 

And it is stunning vistas everywhere, and not that many tourists, so while you have Sienna about two hours away, and maybe around an hour or so to San Gimignano, you have all the tourist destinations close by, and yet you can be here without that many tourists everywhere. Which also reflects on the local restaurants, great local food, some of the best I have had in Tuscany, while prices tend to be 20-50% less than elsewhere in Tuscany. Several wineries also have oenotourism. 

2015 and two bottles of 1966 Barca Velha tasted

2022 Casa Ferreirinha Callabriga 

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries, fruit forward, scented and fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, juicy, detailed, blackberries, layered, long. 91

 

2021 Casa Ferreirinha Quinta da Leda

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, spices, fruit driven, liquorice, layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, dark fruits, spices, liquorice, detailed, intense, juicy, nuanced and long. 93

 

2015 Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward, detailed nose, layered and complex, some floral high notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, bright fruits, detailed, layered, nuanced, juicy, layered, intense, red berries, gorgeous, long. 98

 

1966 Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha

Bright ruby, brick rim. Dates, tobacco, figs, nuanced, minty, spices, layered, mature nose, intense nose. Fresh acidity, tannins left getting softer, dates, figs, nuanced, juicy, minerals, long finish, lovely. 94

 

1966 Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha

Bright ruby, brick rim. Scented, lifted, bright, so different from his brother in the other glass, layered, dates, figs, gorgeous nose. Fresh acidity, tannins even softer, gentle, stunning freshness, detailed, perfect balance, bright, dates, tobacco, nuanced, long finish. Very long. Absolutely stunning. 98