Red Wine Tinazzi Ca de Rocchi Amarone della Valpolicella La Bastia 2017. The Tinazzi family are well-known winemakers in the Veneto region and founded their Cantina Tinazzi in Cavaion Veronese in Verona. The family have been exporting their delicious wines since 1984 and over the years they have also acquired estates in other areas of Italy including Feudo Croce in Puglia and Poderi Campopian in Sant’Ambrogio Di Valpolicella. Their Ca de Rocchi line of wines combine traditional winemaking techniques with an easy-drinking international style. La Bastia is their excellent Amarone which is crafted from Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes selected from prime vineyards sitting at 150-300 metres above sea level in Valpolicella. Prior to vinification the grapes are left to dry out in order to concentrate the sugars and flavour compounds. The grapes are then fermented in temperature-controlled tanks and then aged in large French oak casks for 12-24 months. This creates a full-bodied, richly-flavoured wine with ample dark berry, dried fruit, woodsmoke and sweet spice notes which linger long on the tongue. The bold flavour profile makes this a great match for hearty dishes like coq au vin, beef bourguignon, or smoky barbecued meats. The wine can also be kept in the cellar for another eight years or so if desired.
2017
Red Wine Tinazzi Ca de Rocchi Amarone della Valpolicella La Bastia 2017
Red Wine Tinazzi Valleselle Aureum Acinum Amarone della Valpolicella 2017. The Tinazzi Tenuta Valleselle Aureum Acinum Amarone Della Valpolicella is an Italian red wine that exudes pure bliss and distinction evident from its bold display. Gian Andrea Tinazzi, who currently owns the Tinazzi winery, has done a lot to live up to the expectations of his family history. The winery has been a great success because of Gian’s great entrepreneurial endeavors. This strong, full-bodied masterpiece is abundant with exceptional aromas of fruity gin, black plantain, white chocolate, cloves, and curry sauce complemented by delicate notes of red pepper, caramel, and rock sand. The wine features moderate acidity on the tongue, tempered by tastes of distilled liquor coupled with notes of blackcurrant, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes are hand-picked from the vineyards before being spread out on mats for close to four months to undergo dehydration. The partially hydrated grapes undergo a slow fermentation process for up to 2 months before being transferred to oak barrels for the aging process. This could take close to a decade. Tinazzi Tenuta Valleselle Aureum Acinum Amarone della Valpolicella is ideal when served at cool temperatures after 2 to 3 hours of aeration. It pairs greatly with dark chocolate and meat delicacies as well as cheese.
2017
Red Wine Torre dei Beati Cocciapazza Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. Set close to the stunning Gran Sasso massif, Torre dei Beati takes its name from a rare 14th century fresco in a nearby church which shows the Tower of the Blessed” where good souls are destined to go on Judgement Day. Torre dei Beati is a boutique family-run winery that was formally established in 1999 although founder Rocco started planting vineyards here in 1972. Today the estate has 21 hectares of vines located just 25km from the Adriatic Sea. The vineyards are all farmed organically and benefit from superb climatic conditions thanks to the hot, sunny summer days and warm breezes from the sea which help to achieve optimal ripeness. Towards the end of the growing season Gran Sasso is usually covered in snow, bringing cold mountain air down to the vineyards to preserve freshness and aromatics in the grapes. This hearty red is made from the estate’s finest Montepulciano d’Abruzzo vines which are vinified and then aged in barrels for 22 months before bottling. This enhances the rich, robust character of the grapes, crafting a generous full-bodied wine that is bursting with bramble, dark cherries and wild berry notes along with hints of winter spice and dried herbs.
2017