Red Wine Korlat Merlot Boutique 2018. The Benkovac winery has been highly regarded in their native Croatia as a top rosé producer since the founding of the estate in 1956. In 2005 they began to experiment with planting international grape varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the nearby hills of Korlat. Here the warm conditions and stony soils force the vines to grow deep roots to search for water which helps to produce excellent grapes with concentrated flavour profiles. Their exquisite Merlot Boutique is a sweet wine which is produced by carefully allowing the grapes to dry on the vine by harvesting them much later than the traditional harvest date. This process helps to concentrate the sugars, aromas and flavours in the grapes, producing a deliciously intense wine with a luscious sweetness. The nose opens with enchanting notes of dried fruits, figs and dark chocolate, while the first sip reveals a generous sweetness and rich fruit jam and raisin flavours which are balanced by a subtle freshness. The opulent style of this wine makes it an excellent match for desserts, chocolate cake, dried fruits and caramelised nuts or simply served alone at the end of a meal.
2018
Red Wine Korlat Merlot Boutique 2018
Red Wine Krutzler Perwolff 2018. Widely regarded as one of Austria’s most important wineries, Krutzler is best known for their innovative work with the country’s iconic Blaufränkisch grape variety. The winery is set in the Eisenberg region which is revered locally as one of Austria’s top locations for making red wines. Thanks to the steep hillsides the vines enjoy plenty of exposure to the long hours of summer sunshine, helping to produce robust, spicy red wines with complexity and intensity. The estate’s iconic wine is their Perwolff red which was first produced by Hermann Krutzler in 1992 and has received numerous awards. Today the winery is run by Hermann’s son, Reinhold, who has continued his father’s legacy of making top Blaufränkisch reds as well as working with international varieties like Merlot. The Perwolff cuvee today is sourced from 30-50 year old vines growing in top plots in Eisenberg and Deutsch-Schützen, the latter of which is the new name for the historic village of Perwolff” which gives the wine its name. Following vinification the young wine is aged in new oak barrels and larger 500 litre casks. The result is a refined yet powerful red wine which is bursting with ripe cassis, blackberry and wild dark fruits along with hints of dried herbs, winter spice and bitter licorice.
2018
Red Wine L’Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. Set in Washington’s stunning Walla Walla wine appellation, L’Ecole No. 41 was founded in 1983 by husband and wife Jean and Baker Ferguson. It’s named after the old schoolhouse that houses the winery and was built in 1915 by French-Canadian settlers who planted the first vines here in the early 1800s. Over the years the estate has gained a reputation for being one of the region’s finest; they’ve been recognised as a Top 100 Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine 15 times. These days the estate is run by the couple’s daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Marty, who have a minimum intervention approach in the winery to allow the fantastic local terroir to shine through. Long sunny days, cool nights, and the proximity to the Blue Mountains help produce perfectly-ripe fruit with refined tannins and enticing dark fruit flavours. This punchy Cabernet Sauvignon is made in an attractive Old World style from grapes grown on prestigious vineyards belonging to L’Ecole as well as their partner growers. Once in the winery, the fruit is vinified and the young wine aged in French oak barrels for 22 months before bottling. This helps add polish and complexity to the cuvee, seasoning the luscious dark fruit flavours with hints of spice, licorice and leather.
2018