Red Wine Farnese Edizione Cinque Autoctoni. This big, bold red offers an authentic taste of southern Italy since it’s crafted from five classic local grapes: Primitivo, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera are sourced from Puglia while Montepulciano and Sangiovese from Abruzzo. Each of these varietals is vinified and matured separately in a combination of new French and American oak barrels for 13 months before being masterfully blended and bottled. Richly flavoured with ripe dark berry and plums, this Italian red has firm tannins, a well-built structure and a generous full body. On the palate there are ample dark fruit flavours seasoned with hints of sweet spice and toast from the oak with a long, smooth finish. A great wine to serve with hearty red meat dishes like beef stews or a prime steak. Farnese is named after Ottavio Farnese who was a 16th century Duke of Palma and husband to Princess Margaret of Austria. The couple became iconic figures in the Abruzzo region’s winemaking history after planting vineyards on their lands and producing excellent wines that were sought after at many of Europe’s finest royal courts. Their legacy lives on today through the work of the Farnese group who create delicious Italian wines from prime Abruzzo vineyards.
Autoctoni
Red Wine Farnese Edizione Cinque Autoctoni
Red Wine San Marzano Collezione Cinquanta. The Collezione Cinquanta celebrates the founding of Cantine San Marzano over fifty years ago by 19 winemakers in the small village of San Marzano. Located in the heart of the Primitivo di Manduria region, San Marzano sits between the Ionian and Adriatic seas which help to moderate the warm Mediterranean climate. Conditions here are ideal for producing excellent Primitivo and Negroamaro red wines thanks to the hot summer days and cooling breezes from the nearby coast which help to preserve freshness in the grapes. This stunning red is crafted with grapes sourced from vines planted on Puglia’s characteristic terra rossa or red soil’ which is naturally rich in iron and clay-based so it can retain much-needed moisture. Following the harvest in September the grapes are fermented and the new wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The result is a silky smooth red that exudes rich aromas of blackberries, spice and plum jam. The first sip reveals a full body, gentle tannins, enticing dark berry, plum and dried herb flavours, and a long finish. The bold character of the Collezione Cinquanta makes it a superb partner for red meat like a prime steak, venison stew, or pasta accompanied by a hearty tomato sauce.
Cinquanta
Red Wine Blankbottle Familiemoord. Maverick winemaker Pieter Hauptfleisch Walser’s Blankbottle label is his creative outlet, allowing him to showcase the stunning vineyards he has discovered on his travels through South Africa’s top wine regions. He typically produces some 30 different wines each vintage, and as many as half of these are just one-offs. This particular bottle has an especially quirky backstory since it’s named after an incident in which Pieter was accidentally suspected of killing his son while burying him in a sandpit for a joke. Pieter blends wines from several vintages to create this inspired Grenache cuvee which is vinified in open top fermenters and left to mature for a few months before bottling. Luscious wild berries, redcurrant and ripe plum immediately burst out of the glass, followed by hints of dried herbs, undergrowth, and cedar. On the palate there’s a medium body, firm tannins and a solid core of dark fruit which lingers on the tongue. A pleasure to drink alongside charcuterie, hard cheeses, or rich game and red meats dishes, although it can also be kept in the cellar for a few more years if desired.
Familiemoord