Red Wine Marani Satrapezo Saperavi 2017. Decant for up to an hour before serving. From a wine cellar outside the city of Telavi in the historic Kakheti region, Marani have spent over a century providing the world with Georgian wines of the highest quality. The company strikes a fine balance between innovative techniques and time-honoured Kakheti traditions, with their diverse range of award-winning vintages. The Saperavi grapes for this wine are sourced from Marani’s largest vineyard in Kondoli, where they grow on a loamy, loose soil atop a limestone bedrock. They are plucked and de-stemmed by hand, before being buried under the earthen floor of Telavi Wine Cellar in large Qvevries. This skin-contact method of fermentation produces intensely aromatic wines, and in the case of the Saperavi grape, a stunningly dark and inky colour. Sophisticated aromas of blue forest berries, vanilla, and spice marry effortlessly in this savoury red. Blackberry and smooth oaky tannins envelop the mouth at the beginning, followed by refreshing cassis and notes of black licorice. The mouthfeel is a treat, round, silky and full-bodied. Drink this powerful Saperavi now, or let it age for decades further. It is worthy of enjoying alone, but it pairs well with traditional Georgian food, dense meats, or hard cheeses.
2017
Red Wine Marani Satrapezo Saperavi 2017
Red Wine Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. This sublime red is considered one of the finest Barbarescos on the market thanks to the exceptional reputation of the 11 hectare Martinenga single vineyard site. The entire vineyard is owned by Marchesi di Gresy and they split the site into three distinct subplots each with its own unique character. The vineyard has an altitude of 250-280 metres above sea level and very special blue marl soils which contain clay, limestone and chalk. These conditions help to create a uniquely refined and elegant style of Barbaresco even during difficult vintages. On the nose there are telltale Nebbiolo aromas of rose petals, sour cherries and redcurrants along with hints of dried fruit and leather. The first sip reveals a robust full body, firm tannins and well-built structure which will respond well to additional cellaring over the next decade or so. A bright streak of acidity provides balance and a counterpoint to the rich red fruit flavours seasoned with dried herbs and licorice. Marchesi di Gresy is truly one of Piedmont’s insider secrets, producing exceptional quality reds which often rival those of their near neighbour, Angelo Gaja. The estate has been owned by the di Grésy family since 1797 and was run as a traditional farm up until the 1960s with the grapes sold on to local wineries. It was only in the 1970s that the family began to bottle their own wines under the visionary leadership of Alberto di Grésy, and today his son and daughter Alessandro and Ludovica support him in running the family business.
2017
Red Wine Mario Giribaldi Barolo 2017. Azienda Agricola Mario Giribaldi was founded in 1886 by Giovanni Giribaldi and still remains in the hands of the same family three generations later. In 2001 the estate was converted to organic agriculture, achieving certification in 2004, and in 1999 a brand-new winery was built with state-of-the-art equipment. This has allowed the estate to blossom into an exceptional small producer with a clear focus on sustainability and quality. The family now work some 30 hectares of vines across the Langhe region. Their top wine is their Barolo DOCG which is made in a classic, powerful style with ample ripe fruit character as well as spicy hints from the oak. The grapes are sourced from the Ravera and Cerviano Merli crus where the vineyards sit at 350-400 metres of altitude. After being vinified in stainless steel tanks the young wine is then matured in French oak barrels for 2 years.
2017