Red Wine Rupert Rothschild Classique 2018. The Rupert & Rothschild brand was founded in 1997 by Dr Anton Rupert of South Africa and Baron Edmond de Rothschild of France. The two came together to pool their expertise and create a new winery based out of what was then a quiet Franschhoek farm at the foot of the Simonsberg mountain. Over the years the estate has been passed down to the next generations of the two families who continue to stay true to the original vision of making exceptional South African wines using time-honoured French winemaking techniques. Their Classique cuvee is predominantly composed of Merlot along with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot which are all harvested manually. Once in the winery the fruit is vinified separately in stainless steel tanks and then matured in small French oak barrels for 16 months. Luscious ripe plums, cassis and cherries dominate on the nose, followed by undertones of spice and woodsmoke from the oak ageing. On the palate there’s a generous full boy, firm tannins, and a solid core of dark fruit that lingers on the tongue. The robust flavour profile makes this a great wine to cellar for a few more years or to enjoy now alongside hearty red meat and game dishes.
2018
Red Wine Rupert Rothschild Classique 2018
Red Wine Saints Hills Dingac 2018. Very much a family-run business, the Saints Hills winery is headquartered in an ancient stone house which was formerly a winery before its owners emigrated to the Americas some 80 years ago. Today the new owners specialise in producing traditional local wines with family members involved in every aspect of the estate from giving tours to visitors to preparing delicious French dishes for guests at the winery. Although only founded in 2014, the winery already has prime vineyards in three key Croatian wine regions; the Peljesac peninsula, on the Dalmatian mainland, and in Istria. This stunning Plavac Mali comes from Dingac on the Peljesac peninsula, the first area to be given its own appellation in Croatia in 1961. Plavac Mali thrives here thanks to the steep hillsides and hot summer days which are moderated by cooling breezes from the nearby sea. All of the work in the vineyard must be done by hand due to the severe incline, with each individual berry carefully inspected in the winery. After vinification the young wine matures in French oak barrels for 18-24 months to add extra polish and complexity. It’s a powerful, full-throttled red which is bursting with succulent dark berries, spiced notes and hints of granite, leather and sunbaked earth. A great wine to cellar for a few years or serve now alongside roast beef, hearty stews, or even barbecued ribs.
2018
Red Wine San Giovenale Habemus Lazio 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. Seductive dark cherries, blackberries, sweet spice and lavender enchant the nose, while the first sip reveals wild berry jam, dried herbs and hints of smoke and tobacco along with a distinctive minerality. Full bodied and generous in the mouth, the firm structure and tannins are perfectly balanced by a touch of acidity and long finish. This unique red blend from Lazio is made from organically-cultivated Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Tempranillo grapes which are carefully handpicked at optimum ripeness. They are then fermented in stainless steel tanks using wild yeasts and aged in oak barrels for 20 months followed by a further 6 months of ageing in the bottle. The San Giovenale Habemus Lazio is one of the most exciting wines being made in Lazio today thanks to ambitious winemaker Emanuele Pangrazi. A successful entrepreneur before turning to his passion of wine, Emanuele worked with the famous Italian enologist Marco Casolanetti to identify prime sites for vineyards in the picturesque valley of Blera just to the north of Rome. Conditions here are ideal for making exceptional wines thanks to the plentiful summer sunshine and cooling influence of the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea.
2018