Red Wine El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. El Enemigo was founded in 2009 by historian Adrianna Catena, the youngest daughter of legendary Argentine winemaker Nicolas Catena, and Catena Zapata’s chief winemaker, Alejandro Vigil. The two friends were inspired to create a wine label together that would celebrate both Argentina’s youthful winemaking culture and the rich viticultural heritage of Europe. To create this majestic Gran Enemigo cuvee Alejandro draws on his wealth of winemaking experience and top quality grapes sourced from a single vineyard in the prized Mendoza sub-region of Tupungato. The vineyard sits at the foot of the mighty Andes Mountains and are irrigated by melted snow running down from the peaks. Set at an altitude of up to 1400 metres above sea level, this location is perfect for producing this premium Cabernet Franc thanks to the sunny days with plenty of UV light and cooler nights which help preserve freshness. The quality of this special wine has already been recognised by Robert Parker who awarded it a near-perfect 99 point score. The grapes are carefully harvested by hand during 4 passes through the vineyard to ensure perfect ripeness, with a lengthy and slow fermentation and maceration carried out in the barrel. The final result is a powerful wine that is reminiscent of the finest Pomerols with ample notes of cassis, crushed wild berries, leather and cigar box spice from the barrel ageing.
2017
Red Wine El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2017
Red Wine El Principal Memorias 2017. This punchy Bordeaux-style blend was first created in 1999 in homage to the indigenous Picunches people who lived here in the Maipo Valley prior to the arrival of the Conquistadors. The label is adorned with a spiral design, an ancient symbol which references the circle of life and the wisdom inherent in nature. The bottling is a careful composition of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere and Syrah which combine together beautifully to produce a muscular and multi-layered wine. The grapes are sourced from prime vineyards which sit at 780 metres above sea level on sandy, well-draining soils and enjoy sunny summer days cooled by breezes from the nearby Andes Mountains. Once vinified the young wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 17 months to add polish and extra complexity before bottling. This is a full-bodied and powerful wine with luscious dark fruit notes like cassis, blackberries and dark cherries. On the palate the tannins are smooth yet firm with a well-developed structure which will respond well to extra cellaring. A great partner for red meats including barbecued ribs, steak, or a hearty beef stew.
2017
Red Wine Pagliarese Chianti Classico 2017. The Pagliarese estate was purchased by the Poggiali family who own the renowned neighbouring estate of Felsina in 1995 and since then the family have dedicated themselves to restoring it to its former glory as one of Tuscany’s top estates. Over the years the property has been replanted with cuttings taken from Pagliarese’s oldest vines and in 2015 the estate began bottling and selling wines under its own name. The Pagliarese Chianti Classico is a radically different style from the wines of Felsina, offering a modern take on the winemaking traditions that are peculiar to this corner of Tuscany. The blend is dominanted by Sangiovese along with smaller quantities of Canaiolo and Mammolo. All of the estate’s grapes are harvested by hand and their vines are farmed organically to produce the very best raw ingredients possible. The family works with large Slavonian oak casks for the maturation of the wines as is traditional in this part of Italy. This helps to produce a well-rounded, elegant wine with plenty of freshness and bright red fruit character. The first sip reveals a medium body, fine tannins, and charming red cherry, dried herb, and sweet spice flavours.
2017