Reijosfood

Famous Finnish architect and designer Alwar Aalto has desinged several buildings in Finland including Finlandia Hall as well as abroad. Buildings designed by him can be found also in USA, Germany, Italy, France, etc. One of his most known glassware works was Aalto (Savoy) vase. Think it is still one of the most popular items to by in Finland by tourists. Aalto was also responsible for interior design of classic restaurant Savoy in Helsinki, which still looks the same as 75 years ago.

If you have any knowledge of Aalto, I would be interested in to hear how did you learn about him or his works. Do you have Aalto art pieces at your home?

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EXCUSE ME! This post should review wines, not art or design, am I wrong??!!

WAIT, there is link between Aalto and one Spanish winery and it’s wine…….

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Bodegas Aalto was founded in 1998 by Mariano Garcia, Vega Sicilia’s legendary winemaker of over 30 years, and Javier Zaccagini, former President of the Ribera del Duero AOC. 15 years since it was founded, the winery is considered one of the best in the region. The name of the winery was inspired by famous Finnish designer Alwar Aalto. Aalto is main wine for this winery and also reviewed wine carried Aalto name. Fantastic honours to Aalto!

Grape used in producing Aalto red wine is 100% TINTO FINO. Tempranillo, more known grape, is known under a number of local synonyms in different regions of Spain, Cencibel and Tinto Fino are used in several regions, and it is also known as Tinta del País in Ribera del Duoro where Aalto winery is located.

THE LOOK

Label itself is one of the most minimalist seen before. Different colors of black and silver gray letters and small bunch of grapes in the upper right corner of O letter.

Vintage 2008 was dark red like red wine grape looks before collecting.

THE NOSE

Bouquet was rich and pleasant, could recognize tempranillo. Some black berries and hint of fennel. Aroma became even more elegant after 10 minutes.

THE TASTE

Full-bodied, again elegant and soft. Filled mouth not just flowed down. Again tempranillo was easy to identify, one of the best Spanish wines ever tasted.

Facts and figures:

Aalto wine is elegant but partly because of low production volume, it is not the most unexpensive. 39€ in Alko and 145€ in restaurant Savoy, where it is available, does not allow wine to be enjoyed too often. Although you have to pay a little bit more the quality really provides value for the money.

REVIEW: OVERALL GRADE 5/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK +++ /+++

Unfortunately winery web site was under construction when writing this post http://www.aalto.es

You can find more about Alwar Aalto via this link  http://www.alvaraalto.fi/aalto_architect_designer.htm

Restaurant Savoy wine list including Aalto wine http://www2.royalravintolat.com/savoy/pdf/viinilista/savoy_viinilista_uusin.pdf