Today I'm having just one #wine, but it has enough aroma and flavor for two: 2011 Istina by Francuska Vinariya, owned by Estelle and Cyrille Bongiraud - a French vigneron couple who moved to Serbia to make wine.
This one is a blend of three local grapes: prokupac, vranac and zacinjak, and as the couple tells it, it's an expression of the of Rogljevo, where they are located. Vinified in Burgundy style and matured for 18 months at minimum, this wine is inky, flavorful and long-lasting. Excellent!
2/2
The Bianco reminds me of Canary Island whites I love - it has that hint of sulphur or gunpowder to it, but balanced with nice acidity and what feels like very very light carbonation - excellent!
Today having two bottles of white(sic) #wine by the great Dario Prinčič: 2019 Bianco Sivi and his regular Bianco. The glass is filled with the former - not very Bianco, innit? ;)
Dario never disappoints, and Sivi (macerated Pinot Gris) is no exception - wonderful structure, strong but not overpowering, perfect with food. Definitely getting a couple more bottles!
1/2
First comparative tasting of 2025 and I'm back to #gamay: Bass Phillip from Gippsland, Australia vs Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Zaccharie, both from 2019.
The Aussie one is surprisingly powerful, with more leather behind the fruity notes. The Beaujolais one is also quite strong, but more elegant I think, with the smoothest silky tannins I've had in a long while. I love them both, but I think I slightly prefer the Thivin. Great start of the year!
Got some great Japanese #wine today. Particularly happy about scoring three bottles of Viniqrobe - one Pinot and two Merlots. They are exceedingly hard to get, since they're not only excellent, but also have those lovely unique ballerina labels that people like to collect. Looking forward to all of them.
The Iwadarehara Merlot Cuvée Spéciale on the right is the most expensive Japanese wine I've ever bought, but I'm told it's worth it - we shall see :)
