Falstaff Magazin International 00/2021

wine / CELEBRITY WINES

wine / CELEBRITY WINES Gordon Ramsay in the vineyard with one of his wines on California‘s Monterey Coast. < Then there are music bands who just license their names, like Kiss or The Rolling Stones – their names grace wine bottles but usually without input from the artists themselves – such wines were not part of our tasting. Our tasting made it abundantly clear that it takes more than a famous name to be successful in the wine business. All the wines tasted had significant input from the respective stars. The wines that scored well come with a clear identity and line of communication; they are well-made wines from quality grapes which merit their price. They are credible projects made by real professionals – in the spheres of wine and communication. They are more than lifestyle hobbies of the rich and famous dabbling in wine and when done properly they are convincing extensions of that famed personality – with just a little stardust. And who knows how many of these wines have converted fans into real wine lovers – that can only be a good thing. < Brad Pitt and winemaker Marc Perrin at Château Miraval, also pictured below. Photos: CM004 ©sergechapuis, Lionel Cironneau / AP / picturedesk.com, provided 76 falstaff summer 2021

BEST OF CELEBRITY WINES TASTING TASTING INFO WEITERE BEWERTUNGEN SEE MORE TASTING UND BESCHREIBUNGEN NOTES AT FINDEN SIE FALSTAFF.COM AB SEITE 148. 95 2011 INGLENOOK RUBICON FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA WINERY Rutherford, Napa Valley, California Intense nose with notes of dark forest fruit, dried plum and blackberry jam. In addition, fresh hints of grapefruit and sour cherry as well as spicy notes. Full-bodied and gripping on the palate. Powerful stature, aroma of dark forest fruit and caramel as well as liquorice. Finely polished tannin, long finish. 94 2018 CHARDONNAY SONOMA COUNTY RESERVE GORDON RAMSAY WINES, Sonoma, California Appealing citrus aromas on the nose. Lime, lemon and grapefruit. Hints of buttered toast and peach as well as mirabelle plum. Juicy, beautiful acidity on the palate. Full-bodied without being overbearing. Fine citrus aromas and yellow stone fruit. Long mineral finish. 92 2020 CARMÉNÈRE LES QUELLES DE LA COSTE Provence, France Top wine from John Malkovich and team. Intense fruit on the nose. Notes of strawberry and raspberry as well as ripe plum, alongside hints of liquorice and caramel. Dense and juicy on the palate with ripe acidity and fine tannin. Lots of fruit, plum, raspberry and cherry. Long finish with spicy hints. 95 2010 PORTE NOIRE CHAMPAGNE BRUT 2010 GRAND CRU – SÉLECTIONNÉ PAR IDRIS ELBA Champagne, France An initial whiff of oyster shell is soon overtaken by a rich notion of buttery, salted shortbread. That creamy, rich shortbread notion remains a firm feature also on the palate where it clothes and enriches that chalky poise and rounds out the ultra-cool and vivid, chalky depth. Real elegance and presence and very long-lasting. Bravo. 95 2015 OLIVIERO TOSCANI OLIVIERO TOSCANI Casale Marittimo, Tunscay, Italy Concentrated aromas on the nose. Notes of dark berry compote and sour cherry, accompanied by spicy notes of bay leaf, black pepper and liquorice. Dense and juicy on the palate. Fine-grained tannin and ripe, juicy acidity. Aromas of plum, blackberry and sour cherry as well as an elegant spiciness. Long finish. 93 2020 MIRAVAL CÔTES DE PROVENCE CHÂTEAU MIRAVAL Le Val, Provence, France Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt‘s rosé is a modern classic. Intense nose with notes of grapefruit, peach, pineapple, lychee and passion fruit along with hints of white flowers. Taut acidity on the palate, light on its feet, lots of fruit with strawberry, ripe apple and citrus. Long finish. 92 2016 SISTER MOON ROSSO TOSCANA CASTELLO IL PALAGIO, Mercatale Val di Pesa, Tuscany, Italy Red wine from Sting‘s vineyard in Tuscany. Appealing nose with notes of ripe Morello cherry and dark forest berries. In addition, smoky hints and some grapefruit. Juicy acidity on the palate, pleasantly elegant. Discreet fruit aromas with sour cherry and redcurrant. Slightly noticeable tannin, long finish. 91 PROSECCO ROSÉ NV KYLIE MINOUGE WINES, Veneto, Italy Intense fruity-powdery nose. Notes of strawberry, redcurrant and lychee. Also honeydew melon and dried pineapple. Noticeable pleasant sweetness on the palate, juicy acidity, citrus notes, white stone fruit and apple. Pleasantly fine mousse, medium-long finish. 90 2020 SUN GODDESS BY MARY J. BLIGE SAUVIGNON BLANC, Fantinel, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy Inviting fruity-fresh bouquet with notes of ripe apple and pear, followed by citrus and apricot as well as white flowers and some caramel. Fresh acidity on the palate, light and filigree, lots of yellow fruit, apple, apricot, citrus, long finish. Up to € 20 / $ 30 € 21 – 30 / $ 31 – 40 € 31 – 50 / $ 41 – 60 € 50 – 100 / $ 61 – 110 € 100+ / $ 110+ summer 2021 falstaff 77