Red Wine Caccia Al Piano Ruit Hora Bolgheri 2017. Set in a former hunting lodge off the famed Via Bolgherese road, in 2003 Caccia al Piano was acquired by top winemaker Franco Ziliani who is best known for creating the very first Franciacorta sparkling wines. Caccia al Piano was a brand-new project for Franco, located at the epicentre of Super Tuscan production in the coastal Bolgheri sub-region. Today the estate is run by Franco’s three children, Arturo, Paolo, and Cristina, and boasts 45 acres of vineyards which are mainly planted with Bordeaux varieties. Conditions here are ideal for producing top quality reds thanks to the cooling sea breezes which help moderate the hot summers and the mountains to the west which provide shelter from incoming weather systems. This charming Super Tuscan is composed predominantly of Merlot along with a drop of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Fermentation takes place in steel tanks and the young wine is then aged in barrels for 10-18 months depending on the variety and the vintage. Following blending the wine is then aged in the bottle for 6 months prior to release. The result is a rich, darkly-fruited red with a generous full body, firm tannins and a long spiced finish with hints of tobacco leaf and woodsmoke. A great wine to drink alongside charcuterie, fresh pasta served with a hearty ragu, or aubergine parmigiana.
2017
Red Wine Caccia Al Piano Ruit Hora Bolgheri 2017
Red Wine Cantina del Pino Barbaresco Ovello 2017. It is recommended to decant it an hour before serving. The Cantina del Pino is located in Barbaresco on the top of the hill overlooking the Ovello vineyard and has belonged to the Vacca family for about a century. The family members have been involved in viticulture for several generations. In 1997 Renato Vacca decided together with his father Adriano to leave the Barbaresco Producers cooperative and start making wine on his own. The symbol of the estate is the maritime pine that dominates the Ovello hill, planted at the end of the 19th century by Domizio Cavazza, the previous owner of the estate. The family’s vineyards are concentrated around the Ovello hill, a site known for its cool microclimate and the uniqueness of its soils, a mix of limestone, sand, and calcium, that creates the ideal conditions for long-lived Barbaresco wines. The rich bouquet of this powerful wine, composed of notes of ripe red fruits and sweet spices, shows a unique elegance. On the palate, there is a multitude of perfectly integrated flavors of fruit, wood and spices that unfold, and the wine is soft, dense texture and a firm character. This is a bucket list wine from a select plot with limited availability. Enjoy it now paired with truffle risotto, stewed game, or aged cheeses, or forget it in the cellar for the next 20 years!
2017
Red Wine Capichera Lianti 2017. Capichera has been owned by the same family since the 19th century and has long had a local reputation for producing delicious wines in this corner of northern Sardinina. In 1980 the family opened a new chapter in the estate’s history when they began to bottle their first Vermentino in a bold modern style that drew the attention of many top international wine critics. Today they continue to set the benchmark for Sardinian wines crafted from local varieties like this stunning island red made from Carignan. The grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in Sulcis and Gallura with the harvest taking place at night and by hand to guarantee excellent quality fruit. The must is then fermented in stainless steel tanks and the young wine ages in oak barrels for 12 months. The nose opens with hints of red cherries, plums and baked earth while the first sip reveals a bold full body, smooth and ripe tannins and a long finish with notes of spice from the oak ageing. This is a classic Mediterranean red wine with plenty of fruit balanced by subtle savoury notes, and it pairs brilliantly with local dishes like lamb served with artichokes and suckling pig.
2017