Nick Dobson Wines Ticino (Tessin)

Ticino Merlot DOC Biasca Premium 2005 Feliciano Gialdi Casa Vinicola Gialdi Mendrisio
Ref: 4170017

Gialdi's production facility is shared with that of Guido Brivio at Mendrisio, in Sottoceneri in the south of the canton, but the Gialdi vineyards are located some 60km to the north in Sopraceneri. We classify therefore Gialdi's wines as coming from Sopraceneri.

This is a fine Merlot from vines grown at an altitude of 320 metres around the town of Biasca in Sopraceneri. The grapes used are highly ripe and undergo traditional vinification with 10-14 day maceration in stainless steel tanks, then 12 months aging in large oak barrels, followed by a further 2-3 months in smaller barriques. Finally a minimum of 3 months bottle-aging before release.

A deep, shining ruby-red with granite tinges, this wine has a nose with vanilla and ripe red berry fruit, mirrored on the palate, along with white pepper. There is excellent body, good structure, and soft mature tannins. Good length. Allow to breathe minimum 30 minutes. Drink around 16 - 18 degrees C, with roast meats and cheeses, from now through to 2010 and beyond if stored in optimal conditions.

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Ticino Merlot DOC Sassi Grossi 2002 Feliciano Gialdi Casa Vinicola Gialdi Mendrisio
Ref: 4170001

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This is a truly legendary wine, the best in the range from one of the best producers. Truly a BIG wine; one of the best Ticino red Merlots I have tasted, and undoubtedly one of Switzerland's greatest red wines.

The grapes come from a region within Ticino known as Tre Valli - "the three valleys " of Leventina, Riviera and Bleniotal, close to Biasca. Yields are restricted to 60hl/ha, and grapes are rigorously selected for quality. Traditional Bordeaux-style vinification is used, with a long maceration of 14- 18 days at 28 - 32°C giving maximum extraction. After fermentation the wine is aged in new French barriques (from Allier, Fontainebleau, Cher and Vosges) for 15 - 18 months, with malolactic fermentation in barrique. The wine is bottled without clarification or filtration, and can throw a harmless sediment in bottle.

This wine is a great success; a deep brick red, with an intoxicating nose of mature fruit, vanilla, pencilbox, cedarwood, and spice. The intense palate is a riot of spice, pepper, prunes and other cooked red and black fruit, with soft yet powerful tannins supporting the whole. Very dry, huge length, with mainly spicy aftertaste. A tremendous wine, definitely one for food. Serve at 18 deg C. Allow to breathe minimum 1 hour (preferably 2 hours) before consumption. 13% ABV. Keeps till 2010 and beyond.

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Price: £30.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Ticino Merlot DOC Sassi Grossi 2002 Feliciano Gialdi Casa Vinicola Gialdi Mendrisio

Ticino Merlot DOC Sassi Grossi 2005 Feliciano Gialdi Casa Vinicola Gialdi Mendrisio
Ref: 4170014

Another successful vintage of Sassi Grossi. The 2005 is still very young; to drink now go for there 2002, whereas the 2005 is the choice for laying down.

Price: £35.50 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Merlot Bianco 2004 Guido Brivio Bianco Rovere
Ref: 4170004

Another white Merlot from Sottoceneri, this one barrel-fermented (both primary and malolactic) in new French barriques; a bâtonnage occurs between the 2 fermentations, and then the wine remains in barrel where it is aged for about 8 months. A pale golden yellow, highly limpid, with a nose of toasty oak, vanilla, and cinnamon, imparted by the barriques, and some underlying minerals. On the palate there is much fruit, with flavours of lychees, passion fruit, and other complex tropical flavours, as well as pears and minerals, with some cinnamon. Good body, and very, very smooth and elegant. Very good length, again extremely smooth.

This is a lovely wine, with a soft style arising form the barrel fermentations. Ideal both on its own as an apéritif, and with food - the ideal accompaniment for a variety of fish dishes, and I found it also works extremely well with goats cheese. Serve at 10 -12°C. 13% ABV.

Price: £20.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Merlot Bianco 2006 Guido Brivio Bianco Rovere
Ref: 4170018

Price: £20.95 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Merlot del Ticino 2005 Guido Brivio Baiocco
Ref: 4170015

This is the staple red Merlot from Brivio in Sottoceneri - a good quality product at an attractive price. Made using the Bordeaux vinification method, with 11-15 day maceration at 28 - 32°C in stainless steel vats. 70% of the wine is matured in stainless steel, the remaining 30% in 2nd and 3rd season barrels, for 10-12 months, before the final assemblage is made.

A deep red with a nose of fruit and spice, with some vanilla and hints of chocolate, this wine is soft and velvety, fruity, quite dry, with good body, and soft gentle tannins. There are flavours of cooked dark fruit, and good length, with a spicy dry finish. Ideal with red and white meats, pasta, and cheeses. Allow to breathe minimum 30 minutes, and serve around 16°C. Drink - now, through 2010 and beyond. 12.5% ABV.

Availablle now.

Price: £13.40 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Merlot del Ticino 2005 Guido Brivio Riflessi d'Epoca
Ref: 4170019

This wine is made from grapes grown in Sottoceneri; rigorous selection and yields limited to 60hl/hectare ensure quality. Bordeaux-style vinification is used, with a long maceration of 14-16 days at 28 - 32°C ensuring maximum extraction. After fermentation the wine is stored in new French barriques for 15-18 months; it is then bottled without clarification or filtration, and as such may throw a light deposit in time.

A deep red with violet tinges, Riflessi d'Epoca has an intense complex nose of mature fruit (cherries, plums), spice, and tobacco, with pencil box and vanilla. On the palate it is soft and dry with some spice and mature tannins. A good companion for game, poultry, red meats, and fine cheeses.

Serve around 18 deg C; ABV 13.2%; keeps - 2013 & beyond if stored correctly. Decant and allow to breathe for a minimum of 1 hour before consumption.

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Price: £23.50 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Merlot del Ticino 2004 Enrico Trapletti Gaio Rosso
Ref: 4170006

This is Enrico Trapletti's staple red Merlot - well at least 96% of it is Merlot. There are splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Gamaret making up the other 4%. 10% of it is made in oak, the other 90% is stainless steel, then the two parts are blended to create the final wine. It's got good depth of colour, a fine damson red, and an earthy gamey nose, reflected on the palate along with spice and black fruits. Good length, dry and gamey. A good dependable Ticinese Merlot.

Price: £14.10 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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Merlot del Ticino 2003 Enrico Trapletti Tera Creda
Ref: 4170007

This is a 100% Merlot red aged in oak for 12 months. It has a deep ruby red colour, with a powerful nose of smoke, earth, ripe cherries, red berry fruit, and spice. On the palate it is quite powerful; good body, with an fruity core with earthy undertones and soft silky tannins. Very long, with a good dry finish. Drinking well now, but still quite young and would benefit from perhaps a few more months in bottle (written March 06).

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Merlot del Ticino 2004 Enrico Trapletti, Coldrerio Trapletti Rosso
Ref: 4170008

The label doesn't give much away on this one - "Vino da Tavola della Svizzera Italiana, Rosso, Merlot", and the maker's details - but that's about all. Yet this is a bit of a find. It's a 100% Merlot wine, not oaked at all, which is made from a selection of Trapletti's best grapes. It's a deep red, with a gamey earthy nose, with notes of prunes, reflected on the palate, along with spice and cooked black fruit in abundance. Dry. Good length, with nice tannins. This isn't a "big" wine in the sense that Sassi Grossi is a big wine - yet it ticks all the right boxes - fruit, tannins, structure, and it's juicy and sappy, and really quite classy.

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Price: £23.50 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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