Red Wine Corte Medicea Eklektos Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. It is recommended to decant it half an hour before service. Corte Medicea is the Tuscan project of the La Bollina group and, as such, is followed by winemaker Andrea Bernardini. In this region, among the most famous in the world for its wine-making reputation, he produces great red wines. The company’s vineyards are located in San Casciano dei Bagni, in the heart of the beautiful Tuscan countryside, about 90 km southeast of Siena. The grapes for the Corte Medicea Cabernet Sauvignon Eklektos come from different vineyards in the region. After the manual harvest, which takes place partly in September and partly in October to obtain a greater fruit concentration, the grapes are left to macerate for six days and then fermented for sixteen days on lees between 24 and 26 °C. The wine is then aged in 225 liter French oak barrels for 24 months. The color is dark, with inviting violet reflections. The nose reveals an opulent depth of fruit, with aromas of cassis, blackberry, and elderberry, not to mention the impressive spicy, toasted and smoked nuances. On the palate, the wine is extremely seductive: it shows ripe tannins, perfectly integrated woody notes as well as lively fruity flavors. The long finish once again brings out beautiful woody flavors such as vanilla, licorice, and cocoa. It is a perfect accompaniment to a Tuscan roast lamb, or a pasta dish with spicy sauce.
2018
Red Wine Corte Medicea Eklektos Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Red Wine Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. No need to decant. While some winemakers look to change the status quo and styles of wine associated with certain regions, Chateau Ste Michelle’s Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon embraces the ripe and jammy style associated with Washington state. Having grown grapes in Washington since 1912, they clearly understand the land they are growing their grapes on and how to bring out the best in it. Using cutting-edge technology, grapes are destemmed and sorted to find the best quality ripe grapes. Using the best and ripest grapes allows for the purest expression of the varietal, while removing stems and leaves properly will halt any harsh bramble notes that could overpower the wine. In the glass, the wine is dark and inky with dark fruit notes coming to the forefront. On the palate, the fruit notes that come forward the strongest are blackberry and plum. They mingle with dark chocolate, clove spice and all work together to create a velvety finish. When pairing with food, the soft nature of the wine allows it to pair with many options. Veal, lamb, duck, beef, blue cheese and dark chocolate are natural fits. If you are seasoning a dish to pair specifically with this wine, consider using paprika, rosemary, thyme, cloves, or ginger.
2018
Red Wine Cullen Mangan East Block 2018. Kevin and Diana Cullen are pioneering winemakers in Margaret River who first founded their winery here in 1971, long before the region was known for its excellent wines. They actually introduced Cabernet Sauvignon to the Wilyabrup sub-region, and their daughter Vanya who now runs the estate has been named Winemaker of the Year” by both the Australian Women in Wine Awards and Halliday Wine Companion Awards. In recent years the estate has embraced biodynamic agricultural practices which they believe help them to produce top quality, healthy grapes consistently every year. The fruit for this exquisite Petit Verdot and Malbec blend comes from their Mangan vineyard which is owned by Vanya’s brother Rick. The vines here are set on loamy gravel soils over clay and are dry farmed to help produce intensely concentrated fruit with plenty of character. Delicate notes of rose petals and violets are the first to emerge from the glass followed by deeper, darker notes of bramble, cassis, and ripe plums. On the palate there’s a robust full body, firm tannins, and rich dark fruit flavours which linger long on the tongue along with hints of spice, licorice, fresh mint, and dark chocolate.
2018