Red Wine Gaja Sito Moresco 2019. It is hard to understate Angelo Gaja’s impact on Italian winemaking thanks to his unique vision and passion for the vine. In 1970 he took over the running of the winery that has been in his family since 1859 and immediately set about putting his own stamp on it. Angelo was especially inspired by French winemakers in Bordeaux and Burgundy, introducing French varietals to his vineyards and starting to use temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Another key change introduced by Angelo was the use of small oak barrels for ageing rather than the huge chestnut wood botti or casks traditionally used in this part of Italy. It was a move that caused controversy amongst local winemakers at the time, but today this practice is an integral part of quality Italian winemaking. This cuvee is made from a blend of local grape varieties Nebbiolo and Barbera as well as the international grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted in the Langhe region of Piedmont. The fruit is carefully hand-picked and sorted before being fermented separately in steel tanks. The next stage is to mature the young wines in oak barrels for 12 months before the final cuvee is created. The result is a magnificent red wine that’s bursting with complex notes of dark fruits, firm tannins, and a long, nuanced finish with heady spice, leather and hints of woodsmoke.
2019
Red Wine Gaja Sito Moresco 2019
Red Wine Giodo Alberelli di Giodo 2019. No need to decant it, but best to open it half an hour before serving. Alberelli di Giodo is the label that Italian winemaker Carlo Ferrini founded in the area of the Etna volcano. After a long career of prestigious collaborations, his love for Sicily led him to find a new challenge with another terroir and another extraordinary grape variety. The uniqueness of the Etna terroir and its native grape, Nerello Mascalese, have been interpreted in this wine with enormous finesse. The Sicilian estate of Carlo Ferrini consists of an old vineyard of just over one hectare, cultivated at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level, in an area facing north, with a cool climate and characterized by substantial temperature variations. The vines are between 80 and 100 years old, and many of them are ungrafted. This red wine perfectly expresses the grape and the terroir. In the glass, it has a light ruby red color with luminous reflections. It is refined and subtle on the nose, with aromas of red currant, cherry, fragrant red pulp fruit, notes of blood orange, aromatic herbs, medicinal plants, oriental spices, and mineral hints of graphite. It has a fine tannic texture on the palate and a rich, complex fruitiness with good gustatory persistence. The finish is long and savory, characterized by a pleasant mineral freshness. Try it with pasta bolognese or a ribeye steak.
2019
Red Wine Giovanni Chiappini Felciaino Bolgheri Rosso 2019. The Chiappini family relocated from the Marche to Bolgheri in Tuscany in the 1950s and for many years made bulk wines which were sold on to local wine merchants for bottling. Giovanni learned to make wine from his father and in 1999 he made his first vintage bottled under his own name. Today the winery has some 27 hectares of vineyards which are farmed organically by Giovanni along with his two daughters, Martina and Lisa. The family’s winery is located just off the Via Bolgherese and is adjacent to Ornellaia, meaning that their vineyards have similar characteristics to one of Tuscany’s most famous producers. In total they have four different parcels set on alluvial and calcareous soils which the family uses to make around 80,000 bottles per year. This charming red is a great example of their artisanal style, delivering exceptional value for money and a fruit-forward, easy-drinking profile. It’s made with top quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a dash of Sangiovese from the winery’s Felciaino vineyard which was planted back in 1986. The fruit is fermented using wild yeasts in stainless steel tanks and then matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. The result is an approachable, richly-flavoured red that’s bursting with ripe dark berries as well as boasting a generous full body, firm tannins and a well-developed structure.
2019