Red Wine Stefano Accordini Paxxo Rosso del Veneto 2019. Decanting time: 2 hours. This beautiful Paxxo Rosso, hailing from the Veneto region of northern Italy, is comprised of a blend of Corvina Veronese (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Merlot (10%) and Rondinella (10%) grapes. The careful blending adds layered complexity, sophisticated structure and an unmistakable element of softness. These hand-selected and single-layered, semi-air dried grapes are a perfect match for this mature, gourmet wine, which is well-structured and remarkably accessible. A very distinctive, powerful Italian red wine. The beautiful, spicy aroma of candied fruit opens to fuller notes of laurel, along with red and perfectly ripened, rum-soaked fruits. The lingering notes of the oak are subtle in their presence, yet are the perfect support for the intense, dark, black fruit and spice flavors. The full, harmoniously rounded finish of this warm and soft red wine continues to linger, perfectly suited for seasoned meats of all kind, wild game, hard cheese or even duck confit. The deep concentration of flavor is the result of the initial 35-40 days the grapes are dried on large drying racks, for an intense, powerful result. Traditional practices of viticulture from impassioned winemaker Stefano Accordini include a manual harvest and the 12 month fermentation of the wine in French oak barriques.
2019
Red Wine Stefano Accordini Paxxo Rosso del Veneto 2019
Red Wine Ridge Lytton Springs 2019. Decant one hour before serving. The tale of Ridge Vineyards begins back in 1885 when the Italian doctor Osea Perrone bought 180 acres near the top of the now legendary Monte Bello Ridge. For many years the land fell into disuse until it was purchased by four Stanford Research Institute engineers and the modern winery began to take shape. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the estate first burst onto the global stage following the 1976 “Judgment of Paris” tasting where top French wines were tasted blind alongside leading Californian wines. Ridge’s Monte Bello Cabernet finished fifth, ahead of several top-rated French wines, proving the incredible quality of California’s fledgling contemporary wine industry. Lytton Springs is one of California’s benchmark Zinfandel wines and is crafted from its namesake vineyard which was planted at the dawn of the last century. To add extra complexity a small proportion of Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro is added to the Zinfandel base and the young wine is aged in American oak barrels for 14 months. The result is a polished yet powerful red with punchy dark fruit flavours and pronounced tannins which will respond well to extended cellaring. This is a great addition to any collector’s cellar, but it can also be enjoyed now with hearty red meat dishes.
2019
Red Wine Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Decant 1 hour before serving. The world-famous Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in the heart of Napa was founded by Warren Winiarski in 1972 after he gave up his academic career to study winemaking under the legendary Robert Mondavi. Winiarski’s fledgling project shot to fame in 1976 at the Judgement of Paris tasting competition when his 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon was voted to first place by leading French wine critics, beating numerous top Bordeaux chateaux including Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. Artemis is named after the ancient Greek goddess who was traditionally associated with wild animals, and particularly the estate’s namesake stag. Grapes are sourced from some of Napa’s finest plots with a small portion of Merlot and Malbec added to the blend to bring a rich, smooth texture and extra complexity. The wine is then matured in a combination of American and French oak barrels for 18 months. This is a powerful and ageworthy Cabernet which will respond beautifully to another decade or more of cellaring. Voluptuous cassis, black cherry and plum characterise the nose, while the palate offers a generous full body, handsome dark fruit, firm tannins and a well-developed structure. The robust flavour profile makes it ideal to serve with hearty red meat dishes or to hold for another few years.
2019