Red Wine Chateau Prieure Lichine Margaux 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. This prized Margaux estate was originally a priory for Benedictine monks who made their own wines here until the property was seized and broken up during the French Revolution. In 1951 the estate was purchased by wine merchant Alexis Lichine who reportedly picked it up for a bargain price as the vineyards were in such bad condition. Thanks to Lichine’s dedication and passion for the property, the chateau soon blossomed to include 58 hectares of vineyards spread across the Margaux appellation. After Lichine’s death chateau was run by Lichine’s son, Sacha, who enlisted the help of world-famous consultant Michel Rolland until the sale of the estate in 1999. Their Grand Vin is predominantly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon along with a relatively high proportion of Merlot compared with their neighbours and a smaller amount of Petit Verdot. Each parcel is vinified separately to allow maximum control over the final blending. Before bottling the young wine is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Due to the relatively large amount of Merlot, this is a silky, supple style of Margaux with a perfumed nose and a great depth of flavour. Cassis, dark plums and blackberries along with subtle hints of cigar box spice and tobacco burst out of the glass while the first sip reveals crushed dark berries and spice with firm tannins and a very long finish.
2018
Red Wine Chateau Prieure Lichine Margaux 2018
Red Wine Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2018. Decant 2 hours before serving. Renato Ratti began his career in the wine industry in Sao Paolo in Brazil where he emigrated after completing his enology degree in Alba. After making sparkling wines and vermouths for several years for Cinzano, he decided it was time to return home and purchased his first vineyard just below the Abbey of L’Annunziata in La Morra. He quickly became a trailblazer and advocate for the Barolo region, creating the first detailed map of Barolo’s historical crus in the 1970s and producing one of the first single vineyard Barolos in the 1960s. In 1988 Renato’s son, Pietro, took over the reins and has continued to modernise and innovative, adding a new gravity flow cellar in 2005 and expanding and restoring the family’s vineyards. The Ratti family’s Marcenasco Barolo is named after the sub-zone where the fruit is sourced which has been planted with Nebbiolo since at least the 12th century. The grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness in October and the young wine is aged in large oak casks for two years.
2018
Red Wine Barone di Villagrande Etna Rosso 2018. Etna is known for its uniquely wild and inspiring wines made from unusual grape varieties like Nerello Mascalese and Carricante. This red is the handiwork of iconic local producer Barone di Villagrande which has been run by the Nicolosis for generations. The family have been farming here to the east of Mount Etna since the 17th century and inherited their lofty title in 1727 when Don Carmelo Nicolosi was made Baron of Villagrande by Emperor Charles VI of Augsburg. Over the years the Nicolosi family have played a key role in the region, helping Etna to achieve their DOC status as a wine region in 1968. The property is now in the hands of Marco who is passionate about showing the world his exquisite wines produced from Etna’s magnificent volcanic soils. This classic Etna Rosso is primarily composed of Nerello Mascalese along with some Nerello Cappuccio sourced from Milo and Castiglione di Sicilia. Etna is the region where the warmth of southern Italy meets the mists and abundant rains, producing wines with plenty of mouthwatering freshness balanced by bright red cherry fruit and herbal notes. This wine is aged in chestnut barrels for one year, adding a smooth texture and refining the tannins. The result is a perfect gastronomic wine that pairs effortlessly with Italian classics like beef tartare, tuna tagliata, and even a delicious plate of fresh pasta with a tomato-based sauce.
2018