Tag Archives: Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

Monteagudo wine estate

Monteagudo wine estate located in state of Santa Catarina in Brazil, is a family business founded in 2004 by doctor Leônidas Ferraz and the grain producer Alceu Muller. A dream was born … to produce quality wines in a unique terroir with soil, temperature and altitude different from those explored in other producing regions of Brazil. It has the advantage of being in the Serra Catarinense and still suffer the influence of the maritime breeze which confers, to the wines, very peculiar characteristics.

The Monte Agudo family started planting the vineyards from seedlings from France. The vineyards originated at the beginning of 2005, January 6th – Magi’s Day. That is why they are used to say that the wines were present from the fertile land of São Joaquim, at 1,280 meters of altitude at Fazenda Morro Agudo, Serra Catarinense.

The strains planted were Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and the result was an expression of the terroir; giving rise to complex and safe wines.

Currently, Monte Agudo has an intense involvement of the Rojas Ferraz family, counting on the daughters of Leônidas, Carolina and Patricia, who have managed to best convey their passion for wines. Monteagudo has recently won the gold medal in the Great Test of Brazil, with their red wine 2011.

We tasted: Sinfonia Brut Rose

This wine has two fermentation, in steel tanks and in autoclave by the charmant method at low temperatures.

In contact with the yeasts for 6 months, aiming for more aromatic complexity and creaminess in the mouth.
The colour is vivid light pink color with fine, intense and persistent perlage. The aroma is fruity with nuances of guava and cherry in syrup, mixed with light notes of toasted bread and yeast. In the mouth this wine has a good volume and intense perlage. Retro soft and persistent taste that brings out a pleasant fruity flavor.

For food pairing this wine is ideal with food finger, sushi and with dessert.

This wine was awarded with gold medal at the “Concours mondial de Bruxelles” 2013

Sublime

This Rosé wine is made from merlot, harvested in advance and obtained by light pressing controlled by the release of color until obtaining a bright red, with orange tones that give it copper notes.
It was then debranched and fermented with selected ferments at low temperatures in order to preserve the numerous and intense fruity aromas of raspberry, butiá and ripe strawberry mixed with a light background of white roses.
The lively acidity and the lightness of the tannins reveal in the mouth, citrus flavors and aromas that end up emphasizing a pleasant aftertaste of lime.

Ideal for aperitif and fish dish.

Brazil is among the best wine producers in the world

Steven Spurrier no Panorama dos Espumantes do Hemisfério Sul. Foto: Janice Prado/Ibravin

Steven Spurrier no Panorama dos Espumantes do Hemisfério Sul. Foto: Janice Prado/Ibravin

The World Association of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers (WAWWJ) last ocober 2015 has published a list of the 10 best wines in the world, two of them are Brazilian. In addition, extending the list to the 100 best wines, two more Brazilians appear.

The national products chosen were:

– 8th place: Marcus James Sparkling Brut, from the winery Aurora;

– 9th place: Garibaldi Prosecco Brut sparkling wine from Cooperativa Vinícola Garibaldi;

– 39th place: Aurora Sparkling Chardonnay Brut, from Aurora winery;

– 52nd place: Garibaldi Sparkling Moscatel, from Cooperativa Vinícola Garibaldi.

The list was made up of 74 world drinks contests, such as the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and the International Wine Challenge. Drink scores varied according to the relative importance of the contest and the position of each label. 650 thousand drinks were evaluated.

Foto: Janice Prado/Ibravin

Foto: Janice Prado/Ibravin

The Brazilian brands divide the space with famous Australian, French and Spanish labels. The first on the list is Champagne Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires Millesime 1995, by French Vranken Pommery Monopole Heidsieck.

In second and third place, there were two Spaniards: Pedro Ximenez Selection of Robles 1927, of Bodegas Robles, followed by Bioca Godello 2013, of Bodegas María Teresa Nuñez Vega.

Among the top ten, three labels are French, two are Spanish, two from Brazil, two from Australia and one from the USA.

In the ranking of the best wine producing countries, Brazil appears in 13th place among 62 nations.

Ahead were: USA, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Portugal, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Germany and Canada.

WINES FROM #BULGARIA

burg02dsddsThe 23rd “Concours Mondial de Bruxelles” took place in Plovdiv, an occasion to discover the Bulgarian vineyards.

The main objective of the “Concours Mondial de Bruxelles” is to introduce new wine regions and authentic wines from leading wine regions from Europe which disserve a place on the international scene. The competition and its ceremony happened this year in the second-largest city of Bulgaria. Plovdiv, with an impressive array of historic, cultural and touristic attractions. It will be then become the next European Capital of Culture  for 2019. During the contest about 8750 wines from 51 countries were tasted by a panel of 320 international experts. Three types of medals were awarded: Grand Gold, Gold and Silver, and it revealed also the excellence of Bulgarian vineyards. With some amazing productions of a very high standard,  which some of them were awarded.

Bulgaria’s nature benefits of a  rich historic past and of an extraordinary biodiversity with a lot of natural ressources like mineral water sources and springs among others. The country does not only produce Yogurt, but is also the second world producer of foie gras. The countries between the Black & Caspian Sea are in fact at the origin and the spread of viticulture. During the communist period Bulgaria was already the 5th world producer of wines, the winemakers are now axing their efforts on quality. The Bulgarian vineyards produce nearly 65% of white wine and about 30% of red wine. The main grapes for white wine are mainly Rkatziteli, Misket, Dimyat, Chardonnay. And for red wine are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pamid among others. About 30% of the total production is exported mostly to Japan, USA, Canada, Sweden and Benelux.

The Burgozone Domain.

The Burgozone Domain.

The “Chateau Burgozone” was awarded of two Gold medal, for its “Chardonnay” 2015 and its “Iris creation” 2014. The castle is named after an ancient Roman fortress that protected the Empire from barbarian invasions, and is located in the plains bordering the Danube to the north of the country. A vineyard of about 100 hectares on a single limestone soil enjoying a warm climate with freshness from the river. Allowing vines to express all their specificities. The main grapes cultivated by the Domain are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Syrah… And trying also to resettle indigenous varietals of the region such as Gamza and Tamjanka. The estate’s wines are regularly awarded to international competitions such as Mundus Vini and the Wine Ethousiast. The house produces minerals, fruity wines with elegant and soft tannins with a nice balance. The pleasure of tasting remains intact, Burgozone wines are indeed good value for monney and can be found in supermarkets.

The « Chardonnay » 2015, won the Gold medal, is a fine, elegant and well balanced white wine with complex aroma of green apple, citrus, tropical fruit and honey. With a small touch of bitterness at the end of mouth. The “Pinot Noir” 2014 has a taste of black fruit, milk chocolate keeping all its freshness, volume, good density and depth with length and velvety mildness. You can both taste the Château Burgozone confortably installed with friends at home or in Bulgary. The Vineyard is of course located on the “ Road of the Vines on the Danube”.  Bulgarian wines are of course a world to better discover, the country has a lot of wonders to discover onsite…

www.concoursmondial.com

www.probegex.com

www.burgozone.bg

www.vinodis.com

 

Olivier Bulto