Ruggabellus Timaeus

Sorry for not publishing for a while, but when travelling in the heat of Asia, fine wine consumption is not a priority.

Now back, I got my hand on a bottle of the highly acclaimed relatively new Ruggabellus label. Abel Gibson, the winemaker, won Young Gun of Wine this year, and there were many acclaims for this new winery. I therefore had to open the 2010 Ruggabellus Timaeus straight away.

This wine is a blend typical for the Southern Rhone, with Grenache being the main grape variety. Raspberry flavours are dominant on the front palate. The fruit is vibrant and lively. Then something curious happens.It is best described by texture versus structure. The texture of this wine is very appealing. The wine has a smooth and silky mouthfeel, but as it moves to the mid and back palate, the structure is missing for me. The tannins are not firm enough to balance the fruit. Currently it is all the rage to talk about picking grapes earlier in the Barossa and this wine is very 'fashionable', but in the well balanced 2010 vintage, this wine would have benefited from slightly later picking and a bit more tannin grip. As it is, I find the wine a little fruity.

Score: 91/+

New Poll

Are you going over a fiscal cliff yourself or do you ignore big politics? I am interested to hear how your wine budget is going for the Christmas season. Please vote.

Also, please comment here what particular wine or champagne you are looking forward to or you have experienced over Christmas.

Antinori Peppoli Chianti

Antinori's Peppoli is a very dependable Sangiovese. It is a high volume wine, made to high standards. The 2009 Antinori Peppoli displays typical red and black cherry favours and a savoury backbone. This wine is not overly complex, but has quite a full body. The wine is elegant and has the right amount of acidity to deliver a harmonious finish.

It is the perfect partner to the canapés I am consuming at the Metropole in Hanoi.

Score: 92/++