Red Wine Gattavecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Padri Serviti 2017. The Gattavecchis have been making wine in Montepulciano for five generations, helping to play a pivotal role in putting the town on the map for world class wines. The family own stunning vineyards on the finest hillsides of Montepulciano and San Gimignano where they select only the best grapes for their Vino Nobile and Vernaccia wines. These days the operation is headed up by Valente Gattavecchi along with his children, Luca, Gionata, and Daniela. Following fermentation the young wines are aged in casks and barrels in the stunning cellars of the 12th century Padri Serviti monastery located under the church of Santa Maria dei Servi which gives this wine its name. In total the wine is left here to mature for at least 30 months, adding plenty of character and extra complexity to the final cuvee. This elegant Montepulciano is an excellent introduction to the Gattavecchi style with ample fruit aromas carefully balanced by influence from the oak and the lengthy maturation process. Expect to find enticing hints of sour red cherries, plums and wild berries along with deeper undertones of spice, woodsmoke, and baked earth.
2017
Red Wine Gattavecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Padri Serviti 2017
Red Wine Jordan The Long Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. The quirky name of the wine is a reference to the hard work the Jordan family have put into turning their Stellenbosch estate into a point of reference for South African wine over the past four decades. To create ideal soil conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon to thrive, the family removed numerous granite boulders from under the vineyard plots and blew them up with dynamite. One particularly tricky boulder needed over 300 charges and a very long fuse, inspiring the name of this delicious Cab. In keeping with its name, the Long Fuse Cabernet offers an explosive aroma profile with ample ripe blackcurrant, cedar and hints of smoky tobacco. The first sip is evocative of the region’s sunny Mediterranean climate with plenty of sweet dark fruit and hints of dried herbs along with sweet spice from the 23 months of maturation in new and used oak barrels. The grapes used for this sublime Cabernet are sourced from west and north facing vineyards which are cooled by breezes and sea mists from the nearby False Bay. Combined with hot days during the ripening season, this creates a unique microclimate which is ideal for crafting premium wines with classic Bordeaux varietals.
2017
Red Wine Giodo Brunello di Montalcino 2017. It is recommended to decant it for one hour. Podere Giodo is the winery founded and managed in the Montalcino area by Carlo Ferrini, a famous Italian winemaker. Brunello di Montalcino Podere Giodo is produced with Sangiovese grapes from more than 15 different clones, especially selected for their low yields capable of guaranteeing the highest quality of the grapes. The vineyards, planted on soils rich in skeleton and limestone at an altitude of about 300 meters, are naturally protected, given their proximity to Monte Amiata, from hail storms. The winemaking process begins with the alcoholic fermentation of the must in stainless steel vats using only indigenous yeasts. It continues with a gentle and short-lasting maceration without pumping over to avoid excessive extraction that could cloud the elegance of the wine. Aging takes place in 500-liter oak barrels for about 24 months. This Brunello has an intense ruby red color.On the nose, it displays hints of red fruit, including strawberry and cherry, ripe black fruit, such as blackberry and dried blueberries, and floral aromas of violets and roses to finish. There is also a hint of spices, followed by chocolate and licorice. It is slightly tannic, dry, warm, and robust in the mouth with a persistent finish. This Brunello is a classic Sangiovese wine with a modern twist: rich and powerful but at the same time endowed with excellent roundness and substance. Try it with red meat stews, game and aged Pecorino.
2017