Red Wine Matosevic Grimalda Red 2016. This quirky wine is made with Croatia’s indigenous Teran variety and Merlot which come together harmoniously in an explosion of rich dark berries, sweet spice, and hints of leather. The first sip reveals a deep dark fruit character and firm structure from the Teran softened by the smooth, well-rounded Merlot. The grapes used to make this wine are sourced from very low-yielding vines which give the wine an intense complexity and the ability to age extremely well if cellared for up to a decade or so. Winemaker Ivica Matošević prides himself on producing some of Istria’s most exciting modern wines crafted mainly from traditional indigenous varieties. His vineyards are situated in Brdo in central Istria where they enjoy a perfect microclimate, warmed by sunny Mediterranean summers and cooled by the nearby Mirna and Butoniga rivers. Ivica is today regarded as one of Croatia’s leading winemakers, but unlike many of his Istrian neighbours he had to begin from scratch since his family were not already established as winemakers or farmers in the region. After years of studying and working with other people’s grapes, he was eventually able to purchase his own estate and bottled his first wines in 1996 to international acclaim.
2016
Red Wine Matosevic Grimalda Red 2016
Red Wine Mayacamas Merlot 2016. Decant 1 hour before serving. Originally founded in 1889 by German immigrant and pickle merchant JH Fisher, the Mayacamas winery was largely abandoned for the first half of the 20th century. Its fortunes changed when it was purchased by the Schottenstein family who brought in famous Napa winemaker Andy Erickson to help capture the character of the unique terroir of these mountain vineyards. The Mayacamas Merlot is an exceptionally pure and beautiful expression of the variety which is typically made in a restrained style that showcases elegance and finesse. The fruit comes from dry-farmed vineyard sites high up on Mount Veeder where the cool climate and low yields create great intensity of flavour while retaining freshness. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented in neutral wood and cement tanks before being aged for 22 months in large foudres, some of which have been in continuous use in the cellar since the 1920s. This minimal approach to winemaking allows the pure varietal character to shine through, with plenty of exuberant raspberry, cherry, black plum and wild berries on the nose seasoned with gentle hints of star anise, clove, and cinnamon. On the palate there’s a generous full body, moderate tannins, and a long finish packed with luscious dark fruit. A wine that’s worth cellaring for a bit longer or enjoying now alongside roast lamb, beef stews, or even game dishes.
2016
Red Wine Michel Rolland Mariflor Val de Flores Malbec 2016. Decant 1 hour before serving. Michel Rolland is best known for his work consulting with top estates across the world as a flying winemaker”. In the 1980s he fell in love with Argentina and the winemaking potential of Mendoza as well as the northern region of Cafayate. In collaboration with several other Bordeaux winemakers he founded Clos de la Siete in the high altitude Uco Valley where he now makes his popular Mariflor wines. Rolland selected the site for its exceptional terroir with vineyards set at 1100 metres above sea level and fine stony and gravelly soils which provide natural drainage. Watered by melted snow from the nearby Andes, the vines enjoy ideal growing conditions with long, hot summers moderated by cooler nighttime temperatures. This helps to maintain harmony and balance in the grapes and preserves the varietal typicity of each variety. For this sublime Malbec Rolland sources grapes from a single vineyard named Val de Flores which is planted with 50 year old vines. The grapes are harvested by hand in the early morning to lock in the freshness and then are carefully sorted once back in the winery. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled tanks and the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 15 months to add a subtle hint of oak and spice to the rich dark fruit character.
2016