Leif Karlsson – Vino & Velo

Vino & Velo Wine Consulting

July 11, 2020July 11, 2020 Michele KarlssonLeave a comment

Tourism is on a sabbatical this year due to COVID and while we’re going to miss spending time on our bikes with everyone we’re very excited to shift our focus from the Velo part of our name to the Vino, and the aromas, tastes, and feelings that that word inspires. Many wineries rely on tourism for the majority of their sales, whether it be directly to visitors in their cellars or to local restaurants and wine shops. During these difficult times we’re uniquely positioned to connect wine producers, especially boutique and small family wineries, with wine lovers…or wannabe wine lovers.

Leif is a certified AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommeliers) sommelier. He’s passionate about wine but what he loves even more is the challenge of finding the perfect wine for every occasion. In the last fifteen years he has crisscrossed the country with guests visiting wineries in every corner of Tuscany and many other regions. In the past his knowledge of wine and the producers has been a valuable complement to our main business of bike tours. Now is the time to take that deep knowledge of Italian wines to the next level and focus on getting Italian wines into the cellars of people wanting to expand their wine experience without traveling.

Leif stands ready to take the menu from your special occasion and choose the perfect wines to make your day unforgettable. If you’re interested in growing your wine cellar Leif can help you find wines and producers that will round out your selections so you’ll always have the perfect wine on hand. He can guide wine clubs in creating outstanding tasting events. Maybe your company would like to switch things up and give wine as bonuses or corporate gifts this year. The possibilities are endless.

Once the wine is chosen Leif will act as liaison between you and the vineyard. This is where his language skills and personal connections with many of the vineyards will become apparent as he helps assure a smooth order and shipping process.

Monna Lisa

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 Leif KarlssonLeave a comment

Monna Lisa

Chianti Classico DOCG

Gran Selezione 2013

The beautiful Villa Vignamaggio just outside Greve in Chianti in Tuscany is a beautiful piece of history! The Gherardini family built this, the same family that Monna Lisa came from, the very same woman who in the early 1500’s stood as a model for Leonardo da Vincis famous painting.

Villa Vignamaggio has made a magnificient Chianti Classico, a Gran Selezione, which means the very finest grapes choosen, at the very most local and characteristic “terroir” they have. The criteria of quality is very high on a Gran Selezione, so some years they don’t make any Gran Selezione.

The base of grapes for the Monna Lisa is 85 % Sangiovese, and 15 % of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The ageing of the wine is made partly in 225 litres oak barriques (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) and partly in 15 hl oak barrels (Sangiovese) during 24 months, and a final minimum stay of 6 months in bottle for refinement. The overall time of ageing and refinement has to be at least 30 months.

The wine has a beautiful garnet red colour. The nose is complex and intense, with lot’s of dark fruit like black berry, dark cherry and black current, together with impressions of wet leafs and dirt, leather, vanilla, tobacco, orange, dark chocolate and graphite.

On your tongue you will notice it’s dry, very persistent with intensive elegant tannins, it’s bringing a good portion of acidity and therefore not too soft, and it has a beautifully rounded warm body. Monna Lisa brings harmony and balance to the meal.

We would recommend a meal with game, red meat, salmon, tuna fish, salami, mortadella, proscitutto and maybe some blue cheese.

Vino-Velos (1-5):

Rosso di Montalcino DOC

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 Leif KarlssonLeave a comment

Vinursprung: Rött vin från Toscana, Italien

Vintyp: Rosso di Montalcino DOC

Vinproducent: Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona

Toscana

En av Italiens mest renommerade vinregioner är Toscana, med många vingårdar som toppar flertalet omröstningar varje år. Det görs mest rödvin här, dock med en stigande andel produktion av vita och rosè-viner, inklusive lite bubbel, som italienarna kallar för spumante.

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona

Vingården ligger på ca 300 möh strax söder om Montalcino i närheten av det berömda klostret Sant’Antimo. Vinfälten har en yta av 55 ha. Jordmånen är alkrik lerjord med inslag av sten.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2016

Färgen är vackert rubinröd med god genomskinlighet och fin konsistens.

Doftbilden är intensiv och komplex, med dofter av röda blommor som rosor och nejlikor, fuktig jord och löv, läder, röda frukter som jordgubb och smultron, lite björnbär, mint och rosa grapefrukt.

Smakintrycken är intensiva och långvariga, med smaker av smultron, björnbär, pepparmint, rosa grapefrukt, viol, vanilj och röda vingum. Denna Rosso di Montalcino är torr, frisk, relativt mjuk, med varma tanniner och en fyllig kropp. Vinet har fin balans och harmoni, det är redo att drickas nu, och kan också vänta några år i källaren. Rek serv-temp 18-20°C, i stora tulpanformade kristallglas.

Mat

Rekommenderas till toskansk fläskkorv (salsiccia), stekt/grillad fågel, gris- och nötkött, viltkött, lammkött, pasta med såser baserat på rött kött, fylliga soppor och stuvningar, salami, skinka (prosciutto) och till sist lagrade ostar som parmesan och pecorino.

Tekniska data

Druvblandning: Sangiovese

Fyllighet: Fyllig (9 av 12)

Klassificering: Rosso di Montalcino DOC

Alkohol: 14%

Vinifiering: Jäsning med skalkontakt i temp-kontrollerade stålfat och cementtankar.

Mognad: På ekfat från Slavonien i storlek mellan 2000 och 7500 liter, därefter en tid på flaska innan försäljning.

Lagring: 6-8 år

Vino-Velos (1-5):

Chianti Classico Riserva – Corte di Valle

March 23, 2020March 27, 2020 Leif KarlssonLeave a comment

Corte di Valle makes one of my favourite Chianti Classico Riserva. They also have some really good saffron production, and I would recommend you to try some of their saffron pasta! The saffron plants blooms in October on the slopes of Corte di Valle. It’s a colour explosion that you really should see one day in your life!

2014 was a difficult year for many wine producers in Italy, with lots of rain and cold weather far into the month of May, which could explain a Chianti Classico Riserva with 13 % of alcohol, not too low by any means, but not high neither, merely an indication of a less sunny year.

Corte di Valles Riserva has a beautiful garnet red with small shades of ruby red. Lots of dark fruit in the nose, some vanilla, leather and graphite. The wine has an intense dry entrance with a good load of classic Sangiovese tannins, a well developed body with flavours like black currant, blackberry, black pepper, truffle and pepparmint. I would recommend to decant it before serving.

The ageing process concists of 18 months in the oak barrels and then refined in bottles for 8 to 12 months. The wine should be good for some more years of ageing, but they really do good now!

It never hurts with some local salsiccia with this Riserva from Corte di Valle. A steak of lamb would be awesome! For Thanksgiving a big turkey from the oven!

Vino-Velos (1-5):