Red Wine Tunella L’Arcione 2017. Decant 1 hour before opening. Over the past few decades Tunella has developed a solid reputation for deliciously crisp and elegant white wines and complex reds made from Friuli’s classic grape varieties. The family-run property is located in the eastern Friuli hills where the conditions are ideal for winemaking thanks to their terraced vineyards which act as a suntrap and cooling breezes from the nearby Adriatic Sea. In total the family work 70 hectares of vines which are mostly planted on ponca” soils, a unique mixture of marl and sandstone which locks in plenty of elegance and freshness in their wines. This charming red blend is composed of two local varieties, Pignolo and Schioppettino, which are both little-known outside of Italy. The fruit is harvested in October at optimum ripeness and then left to raisin” or dry out a little to concentrate the flavours and sugars. This traditional process helps to produce an especially complex and intense red wine. Once vinification is complete the wine is aged in 500 litre French oak casks to add extra character and to fully integrate the different components. The result is a rich, multi-layered red that’s bursting with ripe dark berries, dried figs and raisin notes along with deeper undertones of spice, woodsmoke, tobacco leaf, baked earth and fresh herbs. Thanks to the complexity and personality of this wine it’s a great match for game or classic Italian dishes like aubergine parmigiana.
2017
Red Wine Tunella L’Arcione 2017
Red Wine Van Zellers VZ Douro Tinto 2017. The Van Zeller family has been involved in the Portuguese wine trade since 1780 when they established one of the country’s most successful Port shipping companies with over 20 vessels in their fleet. In the 20th century the family owned the famous Quinta do Noval estate in the Douro up until 1993 when the property was sold. The legacy of the Van Zellers was revived in the 2000s when visionary enologist Cristiano Van Zeller was given his family’s port brand, Van Zellers & Co, as a Christmas gift by his cousin. Under this label he began to produce both sweet Port wines and pioneering dry wines like this powerful VZ Douro Tinto. Fruit for this bottling is sourced from selected vineyards in the Douro Valley and the grapes are then trodden by foot in traditional lagares or stone troughs. Following vinification the young wine is then aged in oak casks for 6 months to add complexity and polish. The result is a smooth, rich style of red with ample dark berry, plum and cherry notes along with hints of winter spice, tobacco leaf and licorice from the oak ageing. Firm tannins and a long finish make this a great match for charcuterie, roasted red meats and tomato-based pasta dishes.
2017
Red Wine Vasse Felix Tom Cullity 2017. Dr Tom Cullity is regarded as a true visionary in Margaret River for founding the region’s first modern winery here in 1962. He recognised the potential of the cool climate terroir for producing exceptional and elegant wines based on classic French varietals. Today the estate has four prized vineyards which are all farmed using minimal intervention methods to produce the best quality fruit possible. This iconic cuvee celebrates Dr Tom himself and is crafted from the original Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines that he planted here in the 1960s. The fruit is carefully selected from small sections of his original blocks and harvested by hand before being fermented with wild yeasts. The individual varieties are then aged in French oak barrels for 18 months before the final blend is created. Intense dark cherry, cassis and ripe berries dominate on the nose while the first sip reveals a punchy structure, firm tannins and a solid core of black fruit. The finish is long and seductive with plenty of crushed wild berry notes and hints of toast, spice and oak from the ageing process. A handsome cuvee to serve with rich red meat dishes or to cellar for a few more years.
2017