Red Wine Luciano Arduini Simison Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016. It is recommended to decant the wine 1 or 2 hours before service. The Arduini winery has a long experience in the wine sector. Its origins date back to the 40s, when grandfather Gabriele started the business in Marano Valpolicella. The wine production then expanded thanks to his three sons, Battista, Alfredo, and Turiddo, who collaborated for a long time. Luciano, the current owner, has continued in the innovative footsteps of his father Battista. In 2002, the Arduini company took a big step forward in terms of quality, modernizing the cellar and moving from the sale of bulk products to marketing under its own brand. The wine is obtained from a blend of traditional grapes, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta, from 45-year-old vineyards. The grapes, harvested by hand, are then left to dry until about mid-January. The wine is then stored for 24 months partly in French oak barriques and partly in American ones. The wine shows a vibrant fruity note, and a solid tannic backbone, but with a perfectly harmonious taste and a softness that lingers over the long term. The first hints that reach the nose are oak, mint, lemon, and elderberry, but the aromas of black berries are also impressive (blackberries more than others) along with charming sweet spices. This is a wine with a unique character and a sumptuous texture. It is excellent with game, red meats, roasts, and aged cheeses.
2016
Red Wine Luciano Arduini Simison Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016
Red Wine Masciarelli Marina Cvetic Iskra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2016. With some 900 acres of vines spread across Abruzzo’s four provinces, it’s hard to believe that the Masciarelli estate started with just 5 acres clustered around an old farmhouse. Founder Gianni Masciarelli began the project in the late 1970s after an inspirational trip to France’s Champagne region. Over the decades he became recognised as one of Abruzzo’s leading winemakers, winning 29 Tre Bicchieri awards for his visionary modern winemaking style which helped revive the region’s wine industry. Masciarelli’s Marina Cvetic wines showcase the finest terroir on the estate are named after Gianni’s wife who now runs the winery along with their eldest daughter, Miriam. This elegant single vineyard bottling is named Iskra”, which means spark” in Marina’s native Serbian language, in reference to its vivacity and energy. The grapes are grown in the Teramo province on a gently sloping vineyard at around 700 metres above sea level with yields kept very low to maximise quality. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months followed by 24 months in the bottle. The result is a complex, intense red which is bursting with luscious cherry, dark berry and spiced plum notes along with hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, woodsmoke and leather.
2016
Red Wine Matar CB 2016. The Pelter family are well-known on the Israeli wine scene for their boutique winery in Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights which was founded by Tal Pelter in 2005. Tal studied winemaking in Australia and returned to his native Israel convinced that his family could make top quality Israeli wines in addition to their farming activities. In 2012 Tal founded a new project with his brother Nir called Matar which specialises in making fine kosher Israeli wines with fruit sourced from many of Israel’s finest terroirs. CB is Matar’s flagship kosher wine, boasting serious ageing capability and an intense flavour profile which makes it the ideal choice for special family dinners and holiday occasions. The cuvee is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes along with a dash of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The fruit is sourced from prime vineyards in the Golan Heights, the Jerusalem Hills, and the Upper Galilee. The rich, concentrated fruit flavours of this wine are complemented by hints of woodsmoke, earth and leather from the 30 months of ageing in French oak barrels. On the nose there’s abundant notes of black plum, cherry, and freshly cracked black pepper which deepens on the palate to cassis, mulberry and hints of dried herbs. The full body and firm tannins make this a great wine to keep in the cellar for another decade or so, or to enjoy now with hearty red meat dishes.
2016