Red Wine Michael David Winery Petite Petit 2018. Named the American Winery of the Year for 2020 by Wine Enthusiast, this family-run estate takes its moniker from brothers Michael and David Phillips who head up the business. The Phillips family have been growing fruits and vegetables here in Lodi since the 1850s, and today its the fifth and sixth generations who are working this same property. The family are so committed to preserving their land for future generations that they are one of California’s most sustainable wineries. Their 800 acres are farmed according to the Lodi Rules, a set of 100 principles governing everything from water usage and soil management to pest control and HR. Their Petit Petite is predominantly composed of Petite Sirah along with a drop of Petit Verdot, creating a full-throttled red which is bursting with luscious black berries, toasted oak and plenty of spice. After vinification the young wine is aged in French oak barrels for 14 months to add complexity and polish to this powerful cuvee. Thanks to the punchy flavour profile it’s a great wine to serve alongside hearty dishes like lasagne, barbecued ribs, ribeye steak, or game dishes like venison.
2018
Red Wine Michael David Winery Petite Petit 2018
Red Wine Michele Chiarlo Barbaresco Asili 2018. Michele Chiarlo founded his namesake winery in 1956 with a vision of making exceptional traditional-style Piedmontese wines that could be enjoyed all over the world. Today his two sons, Alberto and Stefano, help run the estate, taking good care of their vineyards which include many of the most prized crus for Barolo and Barbaresco. They were certified in 2011 under the VIVA Sustainable Wine scheme, and wherever possible they pursue environmentally-friendly policies in the vineyard and winery. Asili is a prestigious Barbaresco cru which encircles the village of the same name. Here the superb calcareous and clay soils and excellent exposure help to create complex wines with a silky smooth texture and elegant structure. The Chiarlo’s 1 hectare vineyard is harvested by hand and fermented in 55 hectolitre oak vats. The wine then spends 18 months maturing in oak barrels followed by more ageing in the bottle before release. The result is a refined and balanced Barbaresco with enticing notes of bright red berries, dried herbs, and cigar box spice from the oak ageing. On the palate there’s a generous medium body, firm tannins, and a solid core of ripe fruit flavours which linger on the tongue. A great partner for red meat and game including a rack of lamb, roast pork, or rabbit.
2018
Red Wine Montes Alpha M 2018. It is recommended to decant an hour before serving. After gaining extensive knowledge of the world of wine over the years, in 1987, Aurelio Montes and his partner Douglas Murray finally decided to vinify their own high quality wines in Chile. In 1988 the other two partners (Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand) joined and together they founded Discover Wine Ltda, which later became the world-famous Winery Viña Montes. Montes Alpha M is definitely one of the largest reds in Chile and South America. It is incredibly elegant and refined, reminiscent of a great Bordeaux wine. The grapes are grown in the Viñedo Apalta, in the Santa Cruz area, in the Central Valley region. This microregion of Apalta is considered, today, the best in Chile for red wines. The finished wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. In the glass, this intense wine shines with a bright intense red color. The bouquet is wonderfully balanced, elegant, and harmonious. The nose releases powerful aromas of juicy cherries and ripe black currant supported by floral accents (especially violets) and spicy notes of vanilla, bourbon, cinnamon. On the palate, it has a structured and full-bodied style supported by lush fruity notes of berries, cassis, and spices. The finish is accompanied by ripe, velvety, and dense tannins. Enjoy this excellent Chilean red wine with stuffed roast duck, roast turkey or grilled beef steaks with braised vegetables.
2018