Red Wine Marani Reserve 2007. Decant for up to an hour before serving. Over a century, Marani have steadily become a powerhouse of Georgian wine-making. They incorporate modern technology with a deep respect for the ancient wine-making traditions of the Kakheti region. Based in Telavi Wine Cellar, slightly outside the city of Telavi, Marani own three vineyards on both sides of the beautiful Alazani River, planted on loose, loamy soil. Their Kondoli vineyards span 240 hectares and support a huge variety of native Georgian fruits, including Mtsvane, Kisi, and the robust Saperavi. A warm deep red in colour, offering a strong nose of tart cherry, smokey tobacco, and spice, this Reserve is perfect for those who want to taste a classic. It was produced from the best blocks of Saperavi in the Kondoli vineyards, picked and de-stemmed by hand, before being fermented in oak barriques. This dry red is soft and silky in the mouth, with flavours of condensed red fruits, sweet spice, and ripe, tenacious tannins. It can be enjoyed immediately or cellared for a lengthy period, thanks to the powerful nature of the Saperavi. It pairs well with lamb or pork dishes, savoury mushrooms, or hard cheeses.
2007
Red Wine Marani Reserve 2007
Red Wine Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Vigna Cinque Querce 2008. Decant 1 hour before serving. Salvatore Molettieri comes from a long line of grape growers in this charming corner of Campania to the west of Naples which is best known for its punchy Taurasi reds. In 1983 Salvatore decided to start making his own wines rather than sell his fruit to Mastroberardino. Before long he was joined by his son, Giovanni, who trained as an enologist, as well as his other three sons who help out in the family business. The fruit for this magnificent Taurasi is sourced from the Cinque Querce vineyard which is set on clay and calcareous soils at 500 metres above sea level. The hot sunny summer days and cooler nights help to create lusciously ripe fruit which retain some aromatics and freshness. Once in the winery the grapes are macerated on the skins for up to 20 days in 50% wooden casks and 50% stainless steel tanks. The young wine is then matured in a combination of 30, 50, and 80-hectolitre oak casks and smaller French oak barriques for 36 months. This lengthy ageing refines the wine, creating a surprisingly elegant yet powerful Taurasi that’s capable of ageing for at least another decade. Notes of plum, sour cherry, leather and dried herbs make it a great match for hearty game or red meat dishes like venison, partridge or even a fine ribeye steak.
2008
Red Wine Roxanich Teran Re 2009. Decant 2 hours before serving. Smitten with the hearty wines of the Rhone Valley and his own native Istria, winemaker Mladen Rožanić took his time when searching for the perfect site to start his own winery. After careful research and extensive knowledge acquired from working alongside top winemakers all over the world, he decided to plant 26 hectares close to Višnjan in western Istria where conditions are ideal for crafting stunning natural wines. Mladen insists on working in harmony with Mother Earth and allowing the native Croatian and international grape varieties he uses to show their full potential with minimal intervention in the winery. He uses the Teran grape variety for this bottling which has been grown in western Istria for centuries and is very popular with local winemakers in the region. Mladen’s Teran Re is a classic example of this grape variety with an intense ruby red hue, ripe dark fruit notes and a distinctive bright acidity on the palate. There are additional hints of leather, smoke and spice, a well-rounded mouthfeel, and firm tannins which make this an ideal partner for the typical local istarski pršut” or cured meats. The robust personality of this wine make it a good contender for further cellar ageing over the next few years.
2009