Angelo Gaja Barbaresco 2000

Tasting this wine again is a wonderful experience. My first tasting was almost 2 years ago when I was building my Italian wine portfolio. I fell in love with Gaja and have since acquired cases of the Barbaresco to be aged in my cellar.

Even in 2007, this wine is still fresh and youthful. Made from Nebbiolo grapes, the wine is expected to exhibit its typical profile: dark in color, tart and tannic with the best smell of cherries, licorice or truffles. These qualities are the jewels of a long aging potential wine.

I decanted it and waited for 30 minutes before drinking. The nose opens up like peeling off an onion over time. Red fruits and plum in the beginning and it evolves into some smoky, coffee characters. Licorice and truffles come to mind at some point in time. The color is extremely inviting, ruby in the centre. The wine is full-bodied with great tannins. Decanting is important to mellow the tannins since we are drinking a little early for this vintage. There is enough acidity to suggest further aging potential. Perhaps another 2 years in bottle will be ideal. The finishing is long and mineral. If we really want to have this wine now, decanting is definitely required and it will go very well with braised meat or something very strong like dry, aged cheeses.

I can’t leave this page without saying a few words about Nebbiolo. It is a native Italian grape that produces long-lived and prized wines adored by collectors. Nebbiolo is the most famous appellation of Piedmont. It has its name derived from the foggy appearance when the grapes are ripe. Nebbia is Italian for fog. The grape skins are thin but tough and are resistant to molds and pests. It is a difficult grape to grow and even so compared to Pino Noir. A late-season ripener, the vines need the best exposures, especially in cooler climates, in order to reach maturity. However, when the conditions are right, this grape will produce one of the most delicious wine in the world and one that gives many years of enjoyment throughout its aging process.


Copyright of Wine Treasures Pte Ltd

By Cher Lim
Wine Treasures Pte Ltd
Website: http://www.wine-treasures.com/
Email: limce@singnet.com.sg

2002 Alois Kracher #12

It has been a busy Chinese New Year vacation for me and my family. There is the usual relative visiting, eating out and of course, giving red packets to all the younger ones. I am amazed that I have not put on additional weight, thanks to the calorie burners like running around delivering wines and taking last minute orders.

So, when the last weekend of Chinese New Year arrives and my husband suggested to open the Kracher, I am quite pleased to indulge myself into the world of vino sweetness. Yes, it is a dessert wine that we bought in one of the many Austria trips back in 2004. Kracher is one of the world’s great sweet winemakers. The 2002 harvest has created 58 different lots of trockenbeerenauslese (TBA). It is a category defined by Germany back in 1971 when the wine laws were revised in a bid to bring them closer into line with those of the other members of the EC. Due to the proximity of Austria and Germany, the revised wine laws have been closely followed by Austria. Trockenbeerenauslese wines are produced in minute quantities, in only the finest vintages, from individual grapes that have undergone noble rot to such a degree that they have shriveled to tiny raisins. The sugars in these grapes can go as high as 21.5% abv which is matched with high levels of acidity. This balance creates a dessert wine that does not overpower the palate with sweetness. Indeed, traces of acidity should be identifiable when tasting a fine TBA. Top quality TBAs are among the world’s most expensive wines.

2002 Kracher #12 is an unique wine because it has barely reached 4% alcohol after fermentation. According to the EC regulations, anything below 5% alcohol is strictly not a wine. Therefore, Kracher #12 is called a noble wine rather than a TBA. Regardless, this wine has a fantastic nose of sweet candied fruit and peaches. There is hint of acid and almost negligible honey in the nose. The viscous palate is full of marmalade and apricot flavors. The high acidity has kept the wine in perfect balance, leaving a perfect length that shows finesse. It is a very balanced wine. I enjoyed it just by itself without pairing with any food.

Copyright of Wine Treasures Pte Ltd

By Cher Lim
Wine Treasures Pte Ltd
Website: http://www.wine-treasures.com/
Email: limce@singnet.com.sg