This year it took me a while to publish the second article of Blend 2022but with the master's degree and my constant living between Rome and Monte Isola, time is really tight. Then I managed to take a lot more notes than other years that I wanted to share with you along with the photos of labelswhich I consider fundamental when choosing a wine. Of course, I am an aesthete... but how a bottle is presented says so much about the cellar and also about the wine. But above all, it speaks for the contents of the bottle even before it is uncorked. And I find that among these wines distributed by Bellenda there are some real gems at the label level. The labels I find most beautiful? Supernatural from Bodegas Menade and Crianza from Costers del Sio.
Blend 2022 started with a conference on agroforestry moderated by journalist Antonio Paolini. Talking about it today, with an obvious environmental and energy problem, should be a stimulus for the entire supply chain, from those who produce to those who buy a bottle of wine. However, in this article, I want to focus on the splendid wines imported from Bellenda, promising to talk about agroforestry, in a piece entirely dedicated to this topic, in the coming weeks.
Blend 2022: Champagne Forget-Brimont
A house that I was not familiar with and would place as 'to be explored', especially for those who like vertical and rather snappy Champagnes. Being a completely different style from Champagne Roger Coulon, which already imported Bellenda, I find it a very good choice.
Champagne Forget-Brimontnow in its sixth generation of winegrowers, is located in the heart of the Reims Mountains. Perfectly focused on the environment thanks to their sustainable and respectful viticulture with the use of natural fertilisers and very few treatments in the vineyard.
Champagne Forget-Brimont | Extra Brut Premier Cru
It is pale straw yellow and brilliant with a numerous, fine and persistent perlage. The nose is delicate, not particularly complex and mostly veering towards bread crust. In the mouth it is crisp, very fresh and very vertical.
Champagne Forget-Brimont | Brut Premier Cru
It is fairly pale straw yellow and brilliant with a fine, numerous and persistent perlage. The nose is delicate and elegant, already more complex, with very pleasant buttery notes. In the mouth it is crisp, very fresh, vertical, savoury and rounder than the previous one.
Champagne Forget-Brimont | Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru
It is bright straw yellow with a fine, numerous and persistent perlage. The nose is extremely delicate, with barely noticeable notes of white flowers and peach. In the mouth it is consistent, crisp, vertical and overall round.
Champagne Forget-Brimont Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Premier Cru 2016
It is bright straw yellow with a fine, numerous and persistent perlage. Although it has the delicate nose of its predecessors, it is more complex and interesting. Buttery and pastry notes are discernible. In the mouth it is crisp, fresh and very savoury with a nice structure. Long finish of fresh unsweetened cream.
Blend 2022: Chateau Lou Payral
I became acquainted with the Perigord area thanks to Bellenda who introduced me to this winery that I appreciate more and more, year after year. We are in the south-west of France, in Razac de Saussignac, in an oenologically crazy and unfortunately much neglected area.
Chateau Le Payral produces organic wines without added sulphites and using indigenous yeasts.
Chateau Lou Payral: Perigord 2020
It is straw yellow with a rose gold reflection, consistent. The nose is delicately intense and quite complex with notes of fresh and jammy apricots, honey and white chocolate. On the palate it is consistent, intense, structured, warm and very pleasant with a long tropical finish.
Chateau Lou Payral: Perigord 2017
It is a deep straw yellow, almost veiled. The nose is intense and fascinating, with clean, concentrated aromas. Notes of candied orange, mushroom, officinal herbs are recognisable. In the mouth it is consistent, fresh, soft, structured and with a long tangerine finish, both fresh and candied.
Chateau Lou Payral: Bise
It is straw yellow with rose gold highlights. The nose is delicate, with pleasant notes of dandelion flowers. In the mouth it is fresh, consistent, long and has a great pleasantness that invites drinking.
Chateau Lou Payral: Saussignac 2004
What a crazy wine! A beautiful amber colour, consistent. On the nose you can smell the typical aromas of botrytis cinerea with notes of honey, mint and apricot. In the mouth, there is a splendid balance between sweetness, savouriness and minerality that envelops. Long hazelnut finish.
Chateau Lou Payral: Merlot 2019
It is ruby red with violet hues, impenetrable and consistent. The nose is intense, with notes of leather and animal scents. In the mouth it is fresh, savoury, consistent, soft and quite tannic. Gifted with excellent drinkability.
Blend 2022: Costers del Sio
A project that originated with Juan de Porcioles, who always wanted to live in the country and built an estate where olive trees and cereals are cultivated, animals are raised in the wild and wines are made using ancient methods.
Costers del Sio - Las Cuadras, white blend viognier & muscat a petit grains 2021
It is pale straw yellow and brilliant. The nose is intense with notes of white peach and ripe pear. In the mouth it is consistent, soft and fresh, well balanced and with a long finish.
Costers del Sio - Las Cuadras, Tempranillo & Garnacha tinta 2021
It is transparent ruby red, consistent. The nose is intense with spicy notes of nutmeg and pepper, cherry and blackberry. In the mouth it is consistent, spicy, soft and warm, but also fresh and tannic. Long finish.
Costers del Sio - Las Cuadras, Crianza D.O. Costers del Segre Garnacha tinta & Syrah 2019
It is transparent and consistent ruby red. The nose is intense and spicy. In the mouth it is soft, consistent, and with a well-presented and fine spiciness. Long finish and great drinkability.
Costers del Sio - Siòs Nature D.O. Costers del Segre Syrah 2021
It has a slightly transparent, consistent ruby red colour. The nose has earthy notes of green pepper, violets and sour cherry. In the mouth it is fresh, quite soft and with tannin that still needs to round off. Great potential for bottle ageing.
Costers del Sio - FincaSiòs, Vino de lagar 2017
It is intense and transparent ruby red, consistent. The nose is intense, fine, elegant, with balsamic notes of underbrush, black pepper, cardamom and liquorice. In the mouth it is fresh, soft, savoury, consistent and with a long finish.
Costers del Sio - AltoSiòs, Vino de lagar 2017
It is deep ruby red and transparent, consistent. The nose is intense, with a note that does not convince me completely. In the mouth it is smooth and consistent, but has somewhat green tannins and a negative lipid note that makes me think of some difficulties with the grape seeds.
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Blend 2022: Marco Levis
In Alpago, Marco Levis has given a new impetus to local viticulture and rediscovered ancient methods of grape cultivation, such as ring-cutting the fruit head towards the end of ripening. The terroir is magnificent: between the mountains a small lake helps to avoid temperature fluctuations and reflects the sunlight, while the vines enjoy great annual temperature fluctuations.
Marco Levis - Pinot Grigio
It is pale straw yellow, brilliant and consistent. The nose is delicate, fine and with pleasant fruity notes. in the mouth it is very savoury, very mineral and altogether very pleasant. Definitely a pinot grigio capable of exceeding all my expectations.
Marco Levis - Ring 2020
It is straw yellow with pinkish reflections. The nose is delicate and distinctive with very pleasant slightly oxidised notes. In the mouth it is soft, consistent, fresh and - like all of Marco's wines - very drinkable. [In this article dedicated to Blend 2019 you will find a photo of the label]
Marco Levis - Pinot Noir 2020
It is pale ruby red, transparent and fairly consistent. The nose is very fruity, cherry both fresh and jammy. In the mouth it is consistent, fresh, to be served chilled and with a light structure. Perfect with fried food, especially moscardini, cuttlefish and barbed fish.
Blend 2022: Chateau Puybarbe
The night before, I had dinner at Dolada Restaurant with Riku Väänänen, the delightful owner of Chateau Puybarbe. We are in my beloved Bordeaux, in the Cotes de Bourg, also called 'la petite Suisse girondine'.
Chateau Puybarbe is the romantic and ambitious project of Riku and Anna, where since 2018 they have been creating wines that bring the bucolic landscape of the French countryside to life in a glass.
Chateau Puybarbe - Annabel, AOC Cotes de Bourg Bordeaux Rosé 2021
It is intense and bright onion skin pink. The nose is fresh and delicious with notes of strawberry that I also found in the mouth. On the palate it is consistent, savoury and very fresh with a nice structure. A rosé for the whole meal that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Chateau Puybarbe - Gaja, AOC Cotes De Bourg 2019
It is intense ruby red, transparent and consistent. The nose is delicately perfumed with notes of red fruits and a light spice. In the mouth it is fresh, savoury and has an excellent drinkability.
Chateau Puybarbe - Le Roc, AOC Cotes De Bourg 2019
It has an intense, consistent ruby red colour. The nose is very very fruity and ripe cherry dominates over sweet spices. In the mouth it is soft, a little tannic and needs time to round out, but it is already very pleasant. It has many years in the bottle ahead of it.
Chateau Puybarbe - Chateau Puybarbe AOC Cotes De Bourg 2015
It has an intense ruby red colour, barely transparent, consistent. You can feel the very ripe fruit, and it is more woody in the mouth than the 2018. The vintages are certainly different and between the two I preferred the 2018 (I remind you that you can read the tasting in this article dedicated to the previous evening at the Dolada Restaurant).
Blend 2022: Bodegas Menade
The three Sanz brothers, in the heart of the Rueda in Spainthey founded Menade, which is more than a winery: it is a project to restore the natural landscape of the Castilla y Léon. They do not use synthetic products in the vineyard, but experiment with herbal and flower infusions to prevent pests and diseases.
Bodegas Menade - Nosso, Verdejo Natural Vino de la Tierra Castilla y León 2021
It is pale straw yellow with greenish highlights, brilliant and consistent. The nose is very fragrant, with citrine and floral notes. In the mouth it is consistent, structured and very pleasant.
Bodegas Menade - Sobrenatural - Verdejo Natural - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León 2018
It is an intense, brilliant straw yellow. The nose is delicate, with slightly oxidised, citrus and white chocolate notes. In the mouth it cleanses a lot thanks to its saltiness, it is very coherent and chocolatey, structured and fine with a long chocolate finish. A wine I love more and more every year!
Bodegas Menade - Adorado de Menade, Solera 1967
It is bright golden yellow with amber highlights, intense and consistent. The nose is fabulous, intense and elegant. Notes of milk chocolate, raw chocolate, crunchy, zabaglione, custard, candied mandarin and violet. In the mouth it is fresh, smooth, consistent, structured and with a long zabaglione finish.
Blend 2022: Bellenda 1986
I have written so much about Bellenda in this blog that I will not add anything, but I invite you to also read this article on a spectacular tasting I made during Vinitaly 2017 of SC 1931 itself: a prosecco with extraordinary potential that redefined my idea of this denomination and this grape variety.
Bellenda - S.C. 1931, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Pas Dosè 2018
It is an intense, brilliant straw yellow with a very fine, numerous and persistent perlage that forms a froth that leaves a rim. The nose is delicate, buttery, with hints of brioche bread, candied pear and a slight citrus accent. In the mouth, it is crisp, very fresh, vertical and very drinkable.
Bellenda - Saiph Extra Brut s.a.
It is an intense, brilliant straw yellow, with a very fine, numerous and persistent perlage. The nose is delicate, fine and with buttery notes intertwined with pastry. In the mouth it is consistent and intense, crisp, fresh, structured and with a long finish of cumin. A classic method sparkling wine with extraordinary value for money.
Bellenda – Würm, Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2008
It is an intense, brilliant straw yellow with a very fine, numerous and persistent perlage. The nose is amazing with chocolatey, buttery notes of fruit tarts with custard and undergrowth. In the mouth it is crisp, very fresh, soft, savoury and with a long finish of toasted hazelnut and creamy zabaglione. I love it!
Bellenda - Pluck 2012
It is an intense and brilliant straw yellow. The perlage is quite numerous, very fine and persistent. The nose has those slightly oxidised notes that remind me of a certain way of making champagne... and I love it! Notes of hazelnut, vanilla, candied pear and brioche crisp and harmonious. In the mouth it is very fresh, consistent, crisp and with a long buttery finish.
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Blend 2022: Ilocki Podrumi
If you have read this article in Blend 2019 e this article on Blend 2021 you know I love this company madly!
Ilocki Podrumi was built under Ilock Castle by Nicholas the Great, lord of the lands of Slavonia. In the historical cellar, which survived the ravages of the Serbo-Croatian war, there are still a few bottles of the 1947 vintage sweet Traminac, the same one chosen in 1953 for the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II.
Ilocki Podrumi - Graševina 2020
It is a transparent and consistent straw yellow. The nose is delicate and elegant with notes of white peach and white flowers. In the mouth it is very fresh, consistent, with good structure and great drinkability.
Ilocki Podrumi - Graševina D.O. Principovac 2018 Grand Collection Magnum
It is an intense, brilliant straw yellow with golden hues. The nose is stunning, with a bouquet of white spices and cedar. In the mouth it is consistent, structured and very fresh, even more intense on the palate and with a note of chamomile and incense continuing on the finish.
Ilocki Podrumi - Velika Berba, Graševina 2011 refined at sea
It is an intense, brilliant straw yellow with golden hues. The nose is incredible, intense and with very elegant notes of butter and saltiness, freshly roasted peanut, roses. In the mouth it is consistent, elegant, balanced and very fresh, still very young.
Ilocki Podrumi - Traminac D.O. Principovac 2018 "Limited Edition
It is pale straw yellow and brilliant. The nose presents the characteristic notes of the variety with a dominant rose. In the mouth it is soft, fresh, structured and has an excellent drinkability.
Ilocki Podrumi - Traminac Semidolce 2020
It is bright golden yellow. The nose is delicate and characteristic with notes of both fresh and dried roses and pastry. In the mouth it is very fresh, with the sweetness perfectly balanced by great flavour. Long almondy finish.
Ilocki Podrumi - Ledena Berba, Traminac DO Principovac Icewine 2012
It has a beautiful intense amber colour, viscous and consistent. The nose is a triumph of dried fruit, caramel, butter, dates, dried fig and chestnut honey. In the mouth it is fresh, soft, balanced and very savoury, with a very balanced sweetness. Very long salted caramel finish. I made an encore.
Blend 2022: Champagne Roger Coulon
What can I say about this Champagne house except that I am hopelessly in love with it? And also with Isabelle Coulon, what a fascinating woman! Then the wines are CRAZY all over, but Esprit de Vrigny in particular remains my favourite! I want to visit them sooner or later!
The age of the vines is a rarity in the area: the oldest plot dates back to 1924 and all the vines have an average age of 40 years. Approximately 100 very different plots in 10 hectares of organically managed vineyards, where grassing is practised and native vegetation is favoured to counter erosion.
Champagne Roger Coulon - Esprit de Vrigny, Champagne AOC Premier Cru Brut Nature
It is an intense, bright straw yellow. The nose is amazing and has that meunièr nose that I love. You can recognise notes of butter, vanilla, white chocolate, custard, lime blossom and exotic fruit. In the mouth it is intense, consistent, crisp, fresh, structured and with a long finish with a light almond.
Blend 2022: Domaine Damien Pinon
We are in the Loire Valley, and Damien and his wife Ingrid have 25 hectares of property with vineyards with an average age of 30 years. The philosophy is to seek the best quality and genuineness of the fruit in a sustainable way. In the vineyard, treatments and fertilisation are kept to a minimum. In the cellar, indigenous yeasts are used and no sulphites are added.
Domaine Damien Pinon - Moelleux Les Perruches, Vouvray AOC 2009
It is an intense and brilliant golden yellow, consistent. The nose is delicate, ample and very elegant with notes of custard that intertwine with apricot, candied orange peel and the characteristic scents of Botrytis cinerea. In the mouth, it is very smooth, with well-dosed, consistent sugar, good structure and excellent drinkability for the type. For me an oyster wine.
Blend 2022: The Vineyards of Alice
I always keep my beloved Cinzia Canzian by Le Vigne di Alice last because I would like to spend a lot of time at her stall as I always find goodies there... but this year I was literally kidnapped by Anna from Studio Cru from the very first taste to be accompanied to the station and I was very sorry (even though there was actually a train to catch...)! I hope to make up for it soon... and in the meantime I'll let you know that Once again P.S. has stolen my heart!
Thanks to Umberto, his family and everyone who makes Blend a unique and culture-rich experience every year. A culture never ostentatiousbut rather sought-afterof food, wine and words to carry in your heart.
Cheers 🍷
Chiara
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