Red Wine Escorihuela Gascon Limited Production Malbec 2020. One of the very first producers to start making 100% Malbec wines back in the 1940s, Escorihuela Gascon is Mendoza’s oldest winery still working today. The estate was founded in 1884 in the Godoy Cruz neighbourhood of Mendoza and boasts excellent vineyards in the sub-regions of Agrelo and Altamira. Here the high altitude and cooling breezes from the Andes Mountains ensure the grapes ripen slowly and retain plenty of freshness and aromas. This extremely popular Malbec has a big, bold personality thanks to the unique terroir of Mendoza which helps to develop well-structured reds with ripe tannins and a remarkably smooth texture. The wine is aged in oak barrels for 12 months to add extra polish and subtle hints of cinnamon, clove and baking spice. On the nose there are enticing hints of burnt caramel, cassis and black plum while the first sip reveals a full body, smooth entry and very long finish with plenty of sweet spice and tobacco notes. While delicious to drink now with red meat dishes like steak or beef bourguignon, this intense wine can also be kept in the cellar for another 8 years or so.
2020
Red Wine Escorihuela Gascon Limited Production Malbec 2020
Red Wine Mordoree Chateauneuf du Pape La Reine des Bois 2020. Decant 1 hour before serving. Founded by Christophe and Fabrice Delorme in 1986, over the years the Mordoree estate has flourished to become one of the most dynamic and consistent producers of quality wines in the southern Rhone Valley. The estate’s 55 hectares of vineyards cover a range of appellations, microclimates, and soil conditions, allowing the Delorme family to craft a diverse portfolio which captures the essence of the region. The estate produces several red Chateauneuf du Pape wines with the La Reine des Bois considered the iconic wine of Mordoree. The blend includes Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Syrah and Vaccarese grapes which are sourced from the well-sited La Clau vineyard which boasts an average vine age of 60 years.
2020
Red Wine Cline Pinot Noir 2020. The Cline estate is ideally situated for making delicious Pinot, a fact that Fred Cline realised several decades ago when he became one of the first to plant the variety in southern California. The 350-acre farm occupies a prime setting in the Carneros Valley where cooling morning fogs roll in from the nearby San Pablo Bay and help capture the freshness and aromatic quality of the Pinot Noir. Once in the winery the must is fermented using wild yeasts and then transferred to oak barrels for 5-10 months. The result is an elegant and refined Pinot with ample red fruit character along with hints of dark chocolate, lilacs and dried herbs. On the palate there is a medium body and smooth, well-rounded tannins which make this delicious bottle ideal to drink with or without food. The family-run Cline estate is one of California’s most sustainable wineries thanks to their passionate commitment to environmentally-friendly practices, and they are proud to be a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery. As well as building California’s largest solar-panelled winery, the family also rely on natural solutions in the vineyard including a 2000-strong herd of sheep and goats who act as an alternative to damaging herbicides.
2020