Wines that have got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, part 5

Wines that have got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, part 5 of 5

Only the wines that still have aging potential (the largest majority of the wines here) and the few others that have no aging potential but are still in really good condition to drink are shown here. This applies regardless of the year in which the wine/wines was/were tasted. Note that if some wine has aging potential, it appears from the wine's description.

Wines that have got 3,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP Wines that have got 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP Wines that have got 4,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP Wines that have got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP

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Campo Viejo, Gran Reserva, 2010 (12 EUR in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Rioja, Spain, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (06-05-2017 by Nenad Jelisic)

Wow, what a good Gran Reserva-wine! That both Reserva 2012 and Gran Reserva 2010 got 3,5 NJP and 4,0 NJP respectively, say a lot about what good wines are produced by Campo Viejo. Campo Viejo Gran Reserva 2010 has a long aftertaste, well-integrated tannins and feels velvety in the mouth. Aroma, which is both spicy and complex, of vanilla, tobacco, leather, raisins, black tea, prunes and ripe berries like blueberries and blackberries. Taste, which is spicy, tasty and complex, of white pepper, dark chocolate, dark cherry, tobacco, espresso, black tea and dried fruits. The wine consists of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. The grapes for the wine come from Campo Viejo’s various vineyards in Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. After selection in both vineyards and winery, careful destemming and pressing, the wine is fermented/macerated at a controlled temperature of 28°C in stainless steel tanks during a 20-day long period. After the fermentation and the maceration, the wine is aged in 225 litres French oak barrels (80%) and 1,000 litres American oak casks (20%) for 24 months and finally in bottles for 36 months. Foods that fit perfectly to the wine are pizza vesuvio, pizza capricciosa, pasta carbonara and grilled chicken or grilled chicken filled with smoked bacon with freshly baked ciabatta and mild ajvar. Decant the wine for 4 hours and then start to enjoy it at 16°C to 18°C from Bordeaux glass. Campo Viejo Gran Reserva 2010 can be aged up to 7 years, i.e. until 2024.

Pahlmeyer, Merlot, 2014, red dry blend wine, Napa Valley, California, USA, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (07-04-2017 by Nenad Jelisic)

Vintage 2014 consists of 93% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. In the fruity, sweet and spicy aroma, one finds vanilla, white chocolate, cardamom, black cherry, violets, dried plums, espresso, and blackberry. In the concentrated, fruity and flavourful taste, one finds sweet spices, dark cherry, white pepper, ripe plums, cocoa-rich dark chocolate and raspberries. Thanks to the wonderful interplay between the wine's tannins, acidity and fruitiness, the wine feels velvety in the mouth. Pahlmeyer Merlot 2014 has a really good aging potential, up to 12 years, i.e. until 2029. It benefits from decanting, but if you want to feel how it wonderfully grows (evolves) in the glass, do not decant it. It works best with grilled lamb chops with buttery mashed potatoes and red wine sauce or with grilled rib-eye steak/fillet of beef with potato gratin and red wine sauce or with various types of hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Svecia, Västerbottensost, Parmesan and Grana Padano. After careful selection in field, the grape bunches for the wine are selected again, both mechanically and manually, when they come to the winery. After careful destemming, grapes are manually selected. Then the grapes are gently pressed, must is cold macerated for five days and then fermented from two to five weeks. The complete fermented wine is aged in 85% new American and French oak barrels for 20 months. Drink the wine at 18°C in real Bordeaux-glass, if possible, from Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Spiegelau or Riedel.

Onn'Anto, Riserva, Falerno del Massico, Nugnes, 2008, red dry blend wine, Campanian, Italy, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (90 points of 100 points) (05-12-2015 by Nenad Jelisic)

Wow! What the aroma and flavour richness. Well integrated tannins, good concentration and fruitiness. In both the smell (the nose) and the taste (the palate), one feels clearly vanilla, cardamom, roasted chestnuts, liquorice, cinnamon, ripe dark berries, violets and white pepper. Onn'Anto Riserva 2008 comes from, for us living in Scandinavia, a little-known appellation Falerno del Massico DOC. It consists of three different grapes: Aglianico, Piedirosso and Primitivo. In addition to the really beautiful package, the wine has a very good aging potential, up to 7 years (to 2022). Onn'Anto Riserva 2008 benefits from decanting (aerated). But instead of decanting, I suggest that you pull out a really good Bordeaux wine glass and enjoy the wine's wonderful development in the glass. The wine should be started to drink at 18°C. Pizza Capricciosa or Vesuvio, grilled lamb or pork chops with potato wedges and creamy chanterelle sauce, elk burger with red wine sauce and buttery mashed potatoes, Boeuf Bourguignon slow-cooked stew and mould cheeses such as Blue Costello, Gorgonzola and Roquefort or soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert and Monte Enebro will fit really good with this wonderful wine. The wine is not for sale in Sweden, but it can be ordered (thank God for that) from Denmark, where it costs 400 DKK or 276 DKK with purchase of 6 bottles.