Red Wine Petrolo Boggina A 2020. Petrolo winery is one of Tuscany’s finest establishments, nestled in the Chianti countryside among woodland, parcels of olive groves and copious vineyards. Since the 1940’s the estate has been owned by the Bazzocchi family, who select their grapes very carefully – Petrolo’s vineyards are low yielding, producing only 770 hectolitres of wine per hectare. The estate’s vineyards are also tactically planted, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are all cultivated in separate vineyards, each with the ideal micro-climate for its respective grape variety. The result of all this care and attention is some truly stunning Tuscan red wines. The A” in this wine’s name stands for amphora, meaning the Sangiovese grapes were fermented for some time in clay pots. It has an open and appealing bouquet of wild raspberries, plums, and hints of spice. It has a pleasant grippy bitterness from its fine tannins and a juicy mouthfeel. There is also a hearty hint of saltiness, reminiscent of anchovies. On the palate, cherries and raspberries mix with cardamom and notions of cumin and pepper. It is extremely enjoyable now but can be aged further. Serve at room temperature. This wine will pair well with hard cheese or a wholesome Tuscan bean soup.
2020
Red Wine Petrolo Boggina A 2020
Red Wine Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangeliere 2020. Back in 1929 local winemaker Pierre Amadieu decided to start bottling his own wines made from 7 hectares of prized vineyards in Gigondas which had been in his family for generations. Since then the property has grown to some 140 hectares which is carefully looked after by the current generation of the Amadieu family, with Pierre Junior running the winery and his uncle Claude in charge of the vineyards. The estate vines are largely planted on hillsides at 230 to 500 metres of altitude. Surrounding the vineyards are a wealth of oak trees and wild bushes which help to preserve the biodiversity of the land and promote vine health. Summers here in this part of the Rhone can be very hot, so it’s an advantage that their vineyards face north-northwest and aren’t exposed to the sun all day long. This handsome Vacqueyras is predominantly made from Grenache grapes and some Syrah grown on the southern slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. After vinification in concrete tanks the blend is then aged in barrels and in larger foudres for 6 months to soften the punchy tannins. This adds subtle notes of woodsmoke, toast and spice to the ripe plum, cherry and crushed berry notes, creating a sumptuous red that’s ideal to enjoy alongside roast lamb or mature cheeses.
2020
Red Wine Quartz Reef Bendigo Pinot Noir 2020. Founded in 1996 in New Zealand’s Central Otago region, the Quartz Reef winery owes its name to the quartz deposit which is located below its vineyards and which is the largest in the whole country. The company owns 30 hectares of vines, 15 of which are on a north-facing slope that includes arid soils of clay, fine gravel, and quartz. The other 15 hectares of vineyards that produce the grapes for the Methode Traditionelle sparkling wine are located on Waenga (fine sandy loam) and Molyneux (shallow sandy loam) soils. The Pinot Noir grapes, coming from the Bendigo vineyard, are left to macerate for 19-24 days before fermenting and resting for 12 months in French oak barriques. The resulting wine is a true symphony of flavors. It is an elegant and at the same time accessible Pinot Noir with intense aromas of plum and cherry interspersed with spicy notes. On the palate, the flavors of forest fruit and spices come back again. The tannins are ripe and the finish is long and juicy. It is the ideal wine for duck, pork and game bird.
2020