Red Wine Sassetti Livio Pertimali La Querciolina Montecucco Rosso 2018. The Sassetti family have been crafting sublime wines on the slopes to the north of Montalcino for over a century, and in the 1960s Livio Sassetti was one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino. Today he’s been joined by his two sons who represent the third generation of the family to make wine here. Together they take care of some of the region’s finest vineyards, producing top quality wines which celebrate the exceptional terroir. Montecucco might be less well-known than the more famous appellations of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, but the Sassettis also work their magic on this region a few kilometres from Montalcino to produce easy-going reds that are bursting with bright red cherry and plum with plenty of freshness on the palate and smooth tannins. The grapes used for this youthful and energetic red are grown on volcanic soils and are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve their varietal character and natural freshness. The young wine is then aged in 33 hectolitre barrels for 6 months followed by another 6 months in the bottle. It’s a great red to enjoy now alongside a generous platter of charcuterie or tomato-based pasta dishes.
2018
Red Wine Sassetti Livio Pertimali La Querciolina Montecucco Rosso 2018
Red Wine Sean Minor 4B Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. Sean Minor’s initial plans to enter the world of finance where turned on their head when he met his wife, Nicole, and fell in love with winemaking. Before long he went back to school to study winemaking at UC Davis and spent many years working with top wineries in California and Oregon. In 2005 the couple decided it was time to pursue their dreams by founding their own wine label that would fill a gap in the market by creating delicious yet affordable wines with real character. The couple do not own their own vineyards but prefer to purchase grapes under long-term contracts from their trusted partner growers. Fruit is sourced from across California and Oregon’s top wine regions and the Minors work hard to ensure their growers share their commitment to both exceptional quality fruit and sustainability. This robust and powerful Cabernet is crafted from specially selected vineyard parcels in the Paso Robles area. A small portion of Merlot and Petite Sirah is added to the final cuvee for extra complexity and depth of flavour. Once in the winery the different parcels are vinified separately and aged in oak barrels before the final blending takes place. The result is a richly-flavored and intense Cabernet which is bursting with dark berries, luscious spice, and hints of toasted oak.
2018
Red Wine Sean Minor 4B Pinot Noir 2018. Sean Minor initially studied finance at university and only became interested in the world of wine after meeting his wife, Nicole. He then went back to school at UC Davis to learn the ropes and worked for several top wineries including Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa and Benton Lane Winery in Oregon. In 2005 the couple decided it was time to make their own mark on the wine industry and they founded their very own wine label which would deliver both affordability and excellent quality. Rather than purchase their own vineyards, Sean works with long-term partner growers across California and Oregon who all share the couple’s commitment to sustainable agriculture. Grapes for this Pinot are sourced from Napa’s Central Coast and North Coast and are harvested at optimum maturity. Once in the winery they are transferred to stainless steel fermenters and cold soaked for 3 days before fermentation begins. Each particular vineyard parcel is vinified separately and aged in oak barrels before being blended to allow maximum control over the final composition of the cuvee. This allows the winemaking team to create an elegant yet full-flavoured Pinot which is bursting with ripe strawberries and raspberries as well as hints of toast and baking spice.
2018