Red Wine Torre dei Beati Mazzamurello Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. This playful red is named after a cheeky elf which according to local tradition in Abruzzo can be found living amongst the barrels in the cellar. Grapes are sourced from Torre dei Beati’s finest Montepulciano vineyards which are planted at an altitude of 300 metres on excellent clay and limestone soils. Once in the winery the grapes are attentively vinified and the young wine is then aged in new barrels for up to 22 months with regular lees stirring or battonage”. This creates a dark and handsome Montepulciano with ample dark berry notes and hints of licorice and winter spice. The first sip reveals a robust full body, firm yet smooth tannins and a long finish with plenty of dark fruit and floral hints. A great partner for hearty red meat dishes, charcuterie, or even a spicy pepperoni pizza. The estate which produces this delicious red is a family-run boutique winery set close to the magnificent Gran Sasso peak and just 25km from the Adriatic Sea. In total the family works 21 hectares of vines which are all farmed organically. Although the winery was only officially founded in 1999, some of the vineyards are much older since founder Rocco first started planting vines here in 1972.
2017
Red Wine Torre dei Beati Mazzamurello Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017
Red Wine Tribunal Red 2017. A fantastic everyday red to enjoy with weeknight dinners and casual entertaining, this Californian blend delivers enormous value and a delicious fruit-forward flavour profile. This complex wine is composed of Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Barbera, Grenache and Petit Verdot grapes which are all sourced from California’s North Coast. Conditions here are ideal for growing good quality grapes thanks to the cooling breezes from the coast and the warm, sunny summer days which help the grapes to achieve optimum ripeness. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented separately by variety and then blended and matured in oak before bottling and release. The result is a richly-flavoured red blend which opens with succulent cassis, blackberry and cherry aromas as well as hints of toasted oak and woodsmoke from the oak ageing. On the palate there is a generous medium body, smooth tannins and clean finish with hints of dried fruit, cigar box spice and dark chocolate. A great wine to enjoy on its own with friends or family or to pair with a wide variety of dishes including Tex Mex dishes, pizzas and pastas, and most red meat dishes.
2017
Red Wine Tua Rita Keir Syrah 2017. Tua Rita is known for its sublime Super Tuscans which consistently draw top scores from international wine critics, but the Keir marks a bold new direction for the estate. This limited edition release is crafted from 100% Syrah and vinified on the skins in amphorae for three months. The new wine is then transferred to used oak barrels where it spends a further five months before bottling. This innovative use of clay vessels for fermentation followed by maturation in used oak barrels showcases and emphasises the quality of the grapes. The nose opens with ripe plums, cherries, and crushed dark berres, while the first sip reveals a vivacious freshness, gentle tannins, and a firm structure. Hints of bacon and tobacco smoke along with blackberry and blackcurrant flavours linger long on the palate, inviting sip after sip. The unique Keir is a testament to the vision of Rita Tua and Virgilio Bisti who established Tua Rita in 1984 after purchasing 1 hectare of vines in the Notri sub-zone of Suvereto in southern Tuscany. Before long the estate was selling grapes to Sassicaia before deciding to bottle their own wines and expand the property to the 30 hectares it covers today.
2017