Red Wine Casa Ferreirinha Callabriga 2019. The grapes which go into the Callabriga are sourced from selected vineyards on the Quinta da Leda estate and neighbouring vineyards. The estate boasts a total of 10 hectares of vines which were planted in collaboration with the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro de Vila Real. Research was carried out to select the very best clones of local varieties which were then planted here on the estate. The Callabriga is predominantly made with Touriga Franca along with smaller amounts of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz which are all typical varieties found in the Douro wine region. Following the harvest the grapes are gently crushed and then macerated and fermented in stainless steel tanks and lagars which are shallow open troughs traditionally used in the region. The wine is then matured in French and American oak barrels for up to 18 months before the final blend is decided by the head winemaker. The result is a powerful dry red wine which exudes intense aromas of ripe plums, dark berries, black pepper and pine needles. The first sip reveals a full body, firm tannins and a subtle freshness which balances the rich dark fruit flavours.
2019
Red Wine Casa Ferreirinha Callabriga 2019
Red Wine Dominio de Pingus Psi 2019. Named after the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet, PSI has been described as a labour of love by some and One of the greatest and most exciting wines I have ever tasted” by wine expert Robert Parker. Organic and biodynamic, Pingus Psi is 100% Tinto Fino grape (better known as Tempranillo) sourced from vine-growers with whom the winery has strict working agreements, from balanced vineyards, planted with bush vines on soils that are different in composition and averaging 30 years old in age. Grapes are manually de-stemmed to ensure the very best quality. Long maceration takes place in concrete tanks in order to obtain the maximum possible from the fruit aromas and then matured in large oak vats and barrels with virtually no new oak. Dominio de Pingus Psi is bright purple on the eye. The nose brings pronounced aromas of cherry, dark berries such as blackberries and blueberries with a hint of vanilla. On the palate, cherry, cassis and blackberry are balanced with well defined tannins and acidity that offers a very fresh, fruit forward wine that is a pleasure to experience. The finish is long and rich with an almost sweet edge. Food matches include cheese, red meat, pâté or foie gras.
2019
Red Wine Aalto PS 2019. Decant 1 hour before serving. This sensational Tinta Fina from Ribera del Duero is the handiwork of Mariano Garcia who worked for some 30 years at Bodegas Vega Sicilia as winemaker and technical director. Mariano teamed up with the well-known wine business management consultant Javier Zaccagnini to found a brand-new project, Aalto, in the late 1990s. The winery now has 32 hectares of vineyards which have been planted with carefully-selected old clones as well as using older vineyards scattered across the Burgos province. Their iconic wine is the Aalto PS or Private Selection which is only made during the very finest vintages. Such is the attention to detail that the grapes undergo a rigorous multi-step selection process to distinguish the best fruit. Following vinification the wine is aged in top quality French oak barrels for 20 months before bottling. The result is a truly remarkable wine that regularly receives scores in the high 90s from the likes of Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. Packed with opulent fruit, firm tannins, and a well-developed structure, this is a uniquely beautiful Ribera del Duero wine which will age extremely well in the cellar over the next 10-15 years.
2019