Lockdown WIne #3 - Sinano Grand Deluxe, Japan

My Daughter got me this from her recent trip to Japan (late January) as a gift. Its a half bottle, bought from a gift shop. You will not find it for sale anywhere in the UK, as far as I can see.
Sinano Winery is in Nagano, the kikyogahara valley.

http://www.nagano-wine.jp/english/visit/kikyogahara/shinanowine.php

Red Wine
12%
Grapes: Merlot and Muscat Bailey A.

It is "unusual" It has considerable residual sugar, although not sweet as such - a bit like those cheaper californian wines. It gets an online rating of 2.5/5.0 so not that great. Without the sweetness it might be OK, but I'd really give it a miss. I mean, its drinkable, but....

The interesting thing about it is the Muscat Bailey A grape variety
Muscat Bailey A is a deep pink-skinned grape variety used to make light red wines in Japan. It was bred in the 1920s by Kawakami Zenbei, the "grandfather" of Japanese wine.
Muscat Bailey A is a hybrid with a complex genetic heritage. It was created by crossing Muscat of Hamburg with Bailey, itself a little-known crossing whose family tree includes Triomphe and two interestingly named American hybrids, "Big Berry" and "Extra". Muscat of Hamburg (also known as Black Muscat) is a dark-skinned variety used more commonly for table grapes than wine production.
Today, Muscat Bailey A is one of Japan’s most popular wine grapes. It is most often used to make light-styled, fruity reds, low in both tannins and acidity. It is planted in roughly 370 acres (150ha) of vineyard, mostly in the Yamanashi Prefecture, immediately west of Tokyo. Very little is to be found in Niigata Prefecture, the variety’s homeland.

This, of course, explains the sweetness.

S

Lockdown Wine #2 Las Maletas Malbec

And this ones is from Robert W.

Sampling a nice drop of Las Maletas Malbec while cooking dinner.

2015 vintage with specially selected grapes from the Mendoza region of Argentina. 14% fruity nose, damson and a touch of blackcurrant on the tongue with pronounced tannins and reasonable length..

Lockdown Wine #1 - Sangue di Giuda, Croatina Grape

Given the interruption to the regular activities of the UWS, I thought I'd revert to my story of the Wine Century.

I've done the 100 – and have a very nice certificate, and have gone past the 200 now..I have sort of stopped, but if something comes up. Well. Why not? .

So, I have a number of bottles of wine of obscure grape varieties which need drinking. This is one of them. I will be posting weekly on this until I run out.....

I bought this for the Croatina grape, but as an added bonus it has some Uva Rara in there. Nope, I've not heard of either before.

Croatina Grape: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatina

Uva Rara: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uva_Rara

The Wine: Sangue di Giuda 2017, Bruno Verdi.

Region: Pavese, North East Lombardy - City of Pavia

Grapes: Croatina, Barbera, Uva Rara

The interesting thing about this wine is that it is a sweet red wine, low in alcohol at 8.5%, lightly sparkling. Quite like Lambrusco.

I've actually been putting off opening this bottle, as in Sweet Red Wine - really?

 But, it is really nice! Very deep red, light but powerful at the same time, and not that sweet.

The website says:

Intense ruby red with violet tinges, it has a large and complex nose rich in fruity olfactory sensations with a clear memory of typical aromas of wine at a young age. Sweet, slightly moved, fruity, soft, slightly tannic, long, with a very pleasant persistence. Try it with salami or young cacciatorino, fruit tart, homemade donut.

 You will not see it in the supermarket - but it is not too expensive online at <£10 from various sources.

I bought it from Turton Wines,

https://www.turtonwines.co.uk/products/bruno-verdi-sangue-di-giuda-paradiso?_pos=1&_sid=14d455724&_ss=r

Also available from other suppliers

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