Red Wine Argiano Rosso di Montalcino 2019. Argiano is a pillar of the Montalcino region, producing top-tier wine and amassing awards for well over four centuries. Under the guidance of Bernardino Sani, who took over in 2015, the estate maintains a healthy relationship with the surrounding limestone-rich land. Argiano abide by fully organic and sustainable methods. They believe that the vine, in this case, the Sangiovese, should be allowed to express itself with minimal intervention. A complex bouquet of tart raspberries and red cherries bursts from this bottle, with notes of violet and menthol. Being made from 100% Sangiovese grape, otherwise known as Jupiter’s blood”, Rosso often finds itself likened to a younger brother of Brunello. Argiano are quick to dispel that myth – through their caring approach to the Tuscan land, the estate has discovered that some soils are simply better suited to the versatile Rosso. This Rosso di Montalcino combines structure with breathtaking freshness. It is lighter-bodied than the Brunello, with velvety tannins and a soft yet concentrated finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a very enjoyable vintage and can be paired with a wide variety of food. Worthy of some aging, as it will become even softer and perfectly suited for pork.
2019
Red Wine Argiano Rosso di Montalcino 2019
Red Wine Artadi Vinas de Gain 2019. This classic red Rioja is made with Tempranillo grapes carefully selected from Artadi’s twenty to thirty year old vines planted in Laguardia, Elvillar and Leza in the highly-regarded Rioja Alavesa sub-region. Here the 450 to 700 metres of altitude ensure cool nights even during summer which helps to create elegant, finely-balanced wines which rank amongst Spain’s finest. The Artadi estate hand-harvests all the grapes for their Vinas de Gain wine before leaving the grape must to macerate and ferment with the skins in open wooden tanks. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels where it rests for 12 months before bottling and release to the market. Ripe red plums, cherries and crushed blackberries characterise the nose, while the first sip reveals a medium body, vibrant acidity and luscious wild berry, toasted oak and dried Mediterranean herb flavours. Thanks to its easy-going nature and agreeable balance between freshness and alcohol , this bottle is equally at home being sipped on its own after a long day at work or served alongside a show-stopping dish of grilled tuna steak, magret de pato, pork chops or even rabbit.
2019
Red Wine Baigorri Rioja B70 2019. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Bodega Baigorri, founded in 1996, is located in Samaniego, one of the most interesting cities of Rioja Alavesa. The modern winery, with the Sierra Cantabria behind it, opens its splendid windows onto the surrounding vineyards. Built 105 meters underground, the winery uses the most rigorous methods of handling the grapes by hand and by gravity to avoid the use of pumps or mechanical methods that could damage the grapes or the wine. The B70 is made with 100% Tempranillo grapes, harvested from 70-year-old vines positioned on the first slopes that rise in the mountains, on soils characterized by great mineral and organic richness. The grapes are selected and harvested by hand. Fermentation takes place in open barrels. The wine is then aged in new French oak barrels for 22 months. This is a wine that fully expresses the complexity of the Rioja terroir. It is an elegant, round, and vigorous wine that maintains its varietal and fruity expression despite the long wood aging. On the nose, the wine is energetic with intense aromas of ripe red fruit and delicate mineral notes that complete the aromatic profile. In the mouth, it is round, with firm but soft tannins. The wood influence is perfectly integrated and the finish is very long and persistent. It’s the perfect wine for Iberico ham or Chorizo, but it pairs well with all red meats.
2019