Red Wine Castello di Neive Santo Stefano Barbaresco 2018. Castello di Neive is a magnificent 18th century Italian castle which stands proud over the charming medieval village of Neive. The estate has been in the hands of the Stupino family since 1964, and today the family has 26 hectares of vines as well as 20 hectares of hazelnuts. All of their wines are made from estate-grown grapes using traditional artisanal methods wherever possible. Of all their vineyards the most famous is Santo Stefano which was already mentioned in 1742 on maps of the castle grounds. For many years it was an overgrown hill that was mostly used for hunting until Giacomo Stupino saw its potential for producing top quality Barbaresco. Now it is considered a prized monopole” or single vineyard appellation with exceptional soils that are perfectly suited to the Nebbiolo grape. The vineyards are between 30 to 40 years old and are planted on poor calcareous soils which forces the roots to dig deep for moisture and nutrients. The result is an elegant and multi-faceted wine that opens with nuances of violet, spice, and bright berry notes. On the palate there is a medium body, firm tannins, and intense core of fruit flavours that linger long on the tongue. This is a wine which is ideal to be cellared further, although it can also be enjoyed now with tomato-based or red meat dishes.
2018
Red Wine Castello di Neive Santo Stefano Barbaresco 2018
Red Wine Castello di Volpaia Balifico 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. Castello di Volpaia takes its name from the enigmatic 11th century walled village where the winery is based. Despite its ancient roots, the winery has blossomed in recent years thanks to the vision and hard work of Carlo and Giovannella Mascheroni who were given the property as a wedding gift in the 1970s. The couple have completely modernised the winery and replanted much of the estate vineyards, all while preserving the charm of the historic winery buildings. This magnificent single vineyard wine is a Super Tuscan, meaning that due to the grapes used in the cuvee it cannot be labelled as Chianti. In 1994 the superb quality of these maverick Super Tuscan wines was finally officially recognised and given its own IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica). Today this wine is crafted from Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes planted at around 450 metres of altitude on sandstone soils. Thanks to the cooler nights and warm and sunny summer days, the grapes are able to achieve perfect ripeness while also retaining lots of freshness. Following unification the young wine is aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months to add extra polish and complexity. Bursting with luscious dark berry notes, firm tannins, and a long, spicy finish, this is a great wine to cellar for a few more years or enjoy now with hearty red meat dishes.
2018
Red Wine Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva 2018. Located in the 11th century walled village of Volpaia, this important Chianti winery has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years thanks to Carlo and Giovannella Mascheroni. The winery was gifted to the couple as a wedding gift by Giovannella’s father, Raffaello Stianti, one of Italy’s most important printers and bookbinders. Over the years the property has been modernised without making any changes to the external structure of the ancient village. With 114 acres of vineyards set at 400 to 640 metres above sea level, Castello di Volpaia is Chianti’s highest altitude winery. During the summer this means warm sunny days followed by cooler nights which helps to produce ripe fruit balanced with plenty of freshness and aromatics. These ideal growing conditions, as well as top notch winemaking, are the reasons why this bottling is the first Chianti Classico ever to rank in Wine Spectator’s top three wines in the world. The Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva was first produced in 1967, at a time when it was very rare for Chianti wineries to make a Riserva wine. Following vinification the wine is aged in French and Slovenian oak casks for 24 months and then a further 3 months in the bottle. Elegant and well-structured, this stunning wine is a great partner for charcuterie, mature hard cheeses and game dishes although it can also be cellared for a few more years to reveal even more of its hidden beauty.
2018