Red Wine Duckhorn Decoy Red Blend 2015. Today Napa is full of superstar producers, but Duckhorn have a special place in the Valley as one of the pioneering wineries who first put the region on the map for world-class wines. Founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, the estate quickly established a reputation for outstanding Merlot. It didn’t take long for the couple to apply their expertise to nearby Sonoma, and in 1985 the Duckhorns launched their Decoy wines which are designed to be ready to drink when they are released and offer excellent value for money. The Red Blend was the very first Decoy wine to be made back in 1985 and it remains one of the winery’s best loved wines to this day. Composed of the three classic Bordeaux varietals Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Duckhorn ages the wine in French and American oak barrels for 10 months to add extra complexity and to harmonise and integrate the different components of the blend. The result is a refined Bordeaux-style blend which offers opulent aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis and cherries along with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and smoky tobacco which carry through onto the palate. Ripe, soft tannins and a smooth mouthfeel are carefully balanced by a gentle acidity and a firm structure which makes this a great choice to accompany red meats and game dishes.
2015
Red Wine Duckhorn Decoy Red Blend 2015
Red Wine Ferragu Amarone della Valpolicella 2015. Brothers Carlo, Ornello and Angelo are the driving forces behind the Ferragu estate which produces some of the Illasi Valley’s finest Amarone. This is their flagship wine which was first crafted in 1997 when the family began experimenting with producing top quality wines using local traditional winemaking practices. The estate currently consists of 8 hectares of vines set on the gentle rolling hills close to the city of Verona where they grow the indigenous Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara grapes used in their handsome Valpolicella and Amarone wines. The grapes destined for their Amarone are carefully selected and harvested by hand before being left to dry for 70 days according to the traditional appassimento technique. This concentrates the sugars and flavours in the wine, helping to produce Amarone’s characteristic full body and rich dried fruit notes. This magnificent wine offers a deep ruby hue and charming aromas of cherry jam, raisins, liquroice and anise. The first sip reveals a generous full body, smooth tannins and sumptuous red fruit flavours with hints of spice from the 36 months of maturation in oak barrels. The power and structure of this wine make it an excellent contender for extended cellar ageing or it can be enjoyed now alongside hearty beef stews, venison or hard cheeses.
2015
Red Wine Tapiz Seleccion de Barricas 2015. This powerful Bordeaux blend is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec along with a dash of Syrah and Merlot. All of the fruit is sourced from Tapiz’s San Pablo single vineyard in Mendoza’s Uco Valley in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. This vineyard sits at 1400 metres above sea level which helps to give a unique character to the wine. Cool nights and breezes from the nearby mountains ensure a long and slow ripening period with plenty of complex aromas and freshness in the grapes. Once in the winery the grapes are vinified and a special selection of barrels is made which will be used for this particular wine. On the nose there are enticing hints of coffee, dark chocolate and crushed cassis while the well-integrated oak is immediately apparent on the palate with cigar box spice and hints of vanilla mingling with the juicy dark fruit flavours. The smooth tannins and full body make this a great partner for barbecued red meats, steak and roast beef. Tapiz winery is widely recognised as Argentina’s most innovative and high-tech thanks to their dedicated research into viticulture in partnership with the University of Cuyo and other local organisations. Overseeing the winemaking is top consultant Jean-Claude Berrouet has previously worked at both Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux and Dominus in Napa Valley.
2015