Red Wine Tenute Dettori Tuderi 2019. Easily one of the most beautiful wineries in Europe, Tenute Dettori sits high above the glittering Mediterranean Sea with views from the vineyards looking out to the nearby island of Corsica and Gulf of Turritano. Alessandro Dettori and his father have 29 hectares of vineyards here which they work according to traditional biodynamic farming principles. This includes avoiding any chemical use in the vineyards, harvesting by hand, and using minimal sulphites in the winery. Since everything is done using artisanal wine making methods, the family produces just 55,000 bottles per year from typical local grape varieties like Cannonau and Vermentino. This delightful red is crafted from 45 year old Cannonau vines which are planted on prime calcareous soils rich in minerals. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented using wild yeasts and then aged in small cement tanks for 24-30 months before bottling. Crushed wild berries, plums, earthy herbs and hints of forest floor characterise the nose, while the first sip reveals a refreshing streak of acidity balanced by ripe red fruit flavours and smooth tannins. The long finish and medium body make this a great wine to pair with hearty tomato-based pasta dishes, charcuterie or mature cheeses.
2019
Red Wine Tenute Dettori Tuderi 2019
Red Wine Terrazas de los Andes Malbec 2019. This classic Argentinian Malbec is crafted with top quality fruit sourced from the Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley sub-regions of Mendoza. The vineyards in these two areas grow at 1070 metres above sea level creating high altitude growing conditions which help to concentrate the flavours and aromas in the grapes. The vines benefit from plenty of sunshine and cooler nights, ensuring optimum ripeness of the fruit while also preserving plenty of freshness and balance. The grapes used for this bottling come from 20-80 year old vines which tend to produce smaller quantities of high quality fruit. Once in the winery they are carefully vinified and the young wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 12-14 months before bottling. This adds subtle hints of toasted oak and winter spice to the wine, creating a rich, multi-layered flavour profile which is bursting with ripe dark fruit and a silky smooth texture and firm tannins on the palate. Terrazas de los Andes takes its name from the winery’s proximity to the majestic Andes Mountains which give the estate’s wines their distinctive characters. In total they have 537 hectares under vine with parcels spread over much of the Mendoza wine region. This enables them to craft a wide variety of different wines which capture a true taste of the unique local terroir.
2019
Red Wine Teusner Avatar Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2019. The Ebeneezer region is located in the far north of the Barossa Valley and features fairly flat plains. It’s also home to some truly ancient vines which have been looked after by the Riebke family for six generations. In 2001 former Torbreck winemaker Kym Teusner and his brother-in-law Michael Page founded the Teusner winery which sources fruit from these venerable low-yielding vines. Their vision is to craft top quality yet affordable wines which showcase another side of the Barossa Valley. The very first wine that the duo made in 2001 was an unoaked Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz blend which they named Joshua. It sold out so quickly that they decided to make another interpretation of the vintage which became known as Avatar and is fondly regarded as Joshua’s older brother. After vinification the young wine is aged in used oak for 12 months to add complexity and depth to the final cuvee. The result is a punchy red which easily pulls its weight against the powerful 100% Shiraz wines of the Barossa Valley. It’s an intense and harmonious combination, with Grenache adding plenty of ripe fruit, Shiraz bringing darker, deeper berry notes and firm tannins, and Mataro adding a hint of earthiness. A great wine to cellar for a few more years or serve now alongside hearty beef stews and meaty pasta dishes.
2019