Red Wine Woodlands Clementine 2017. David and Heather Watson dreamed of making their own world-class Bordeaux-style blends when they founded their own winery in 1973. Woodlands was one of the very first wineries to be planted in Australia’s Margaret River region and now has 10 hectares of vines which are all farmed organically. In 2021 the winery was chosen as one of Wine & Spirits magazine’s Top 100 Wineries, a testament to their rigorous winemaking and excellent terroir. Their Clementine cuvee is a complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot from Woodlands’ Brook Vineyard. The fruit from this prized plot is bold, aromatic, and intense, creating powerful red wines with plenty of rich berry notes. Following vinification the young wine is aged in French oak barrels for 16 months to soften the tannins and add extra complexity. The inky deep red hue in the glass is complemented by hints of mulberry, blackcurrant, dark cherry, and black olive on the nose. The first sip reveals a robust full body, firm tannins, and a solid core of dark berries which linger on the tongue. The finish is long and intense, with hints of bay leaf, tobacco, cedar and woodsmoke.
2017
Red Wine Woodlands Clementine 2017
Red Wine Lothian Vineyards Horny Owl Shiraz 2017. This delicious red is crafted from an exceptional Shiraz plot which produces very low yields and is always harvested by hand to optimise quality. On arrival at the winery the grapes are fermented using a combination of wild and cultured yeasts to add complexity and individuality. The young wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 14 months and is not filtered before bottling to preserve the intense flavour profile. On the nose there are the typical spicy notes of the Shiraz varietal with hints of clove, cinnamon, licorice, and dark berries. The first sip reveals a full body, firm tannins, and intense ripe cassis, plum, and blackberry flavours which linger long on the tongue. The excellent balance between fruit, structure, and freshness make this a great partner for charcuterie and red meat dishes. The Wilson family who own Lothian Vineyards have been making wine on the Cape for three generations. Thanks to the cool climate conditions and superb terroir of the estate, owners Gavin and Ewen are able to pursue a Burgundian approach to winemaking with a focus on purity of flavour and exceptional quality. They are supported by talented head winemaker Richard Kershaw who holds the much-coveted Master of Wine title.
2017
Red Wine Zeni Vigne Alte Amarone della Valpolicella 2017. The Zeni family have been making wine close to the eastern shore of Lake Garda since the 1870s, but it was only in the 1950s that visionary winemaker Gaetano Zeni decided to move the winery to the hills of Bardolino. Today the estate is run by his children, Fausto, Elena and Federica who look after the family’s 25 hectares as well as sourcing fruit from their local grower partners when required. Zeni focuses closely on quality at every stage of the grape growing and winemaking process, with each parcel vinified separately to allow them to create complex expressions of Valpolicella’s greatest wines. Their Vigne Alte Amarone is one of their iconic red wines and offers tremendous value for money with a decadent dark fruit core, enticing notes of spice and dried fruit from the lengthy ageing and great ageing potential. The fruit is all harvested by hand from the family’s hilly vineyards and left to dry out and turn into raisins over the winter. This long process concentrates both the sugars and the flavours in the grapes and is a legal requirement for all Amarone wines. Following vinification the young wine is then matured in 25 hectolitre casks for 2-4 years.
2017