Red Wine Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella 2016. The Pasqua brothers founded their family wine firm in Verona in 1925 and since then the business has been passed down through three generations of the family. Today they specialise in producing delicious and accessible Italian wines that offer exceptional value for money. As well as classic wines like this charming Amarone, their portfolio also includes more modern styles which are exported all over the world. The grapes for this handsome Amarone della Valpolicella are grown on calcareous and clay soils which help to create great depth as well as elegance in the finished wine. The fruit is carefully harvested by hand in mid-September and left to dry for three months over the winter. This traditional practice must be used for making Amarone wines as it helps to concentrate the flavours and sugars in the grapes as they turn into raisins. After the fruit is vinified the young wine is then moved to French oak barrels where it is left to mature for 18-20 months depending on the characteristics of the vintage. This lengthy ageing process helps to create seductive layers of flavours and aromas, including rich cassis, blackberry, dark plum and hints of tobacco, cocoa, leather, and cigar box spice. The silky tannins and bold structure make this a great wine to cellar for a few more years or enjoy now with rich game stews, venison steak, or aged cheeses.
2016
Red Wine Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella 2016
Red Wine Acustic Celler Plaer 2016. Decant 1 hour before serving. Named after the Catalan word for pleasure, Plaer’, this powerful Priorat is sure to delight lovers of hearty red wines. Winemaker Albert Jané comes from a local winemaking family and founded Acustic Celler in 200-year old winery in the tiny town of Marçà back in 2003. Since then he has been scouting out the region’s finest old vineyards to produce incredible wines which truly speak of the mountainous landscape which gave them birth. Plaer is a blend of 80% Carinena and 20% Garnacha, two classic Priorat varieties which have grown on the steep hillsides of this region for centuries. Albert carefully selects and hand harvests the grapes from 40 to 60 year old vines planted on Priorat’s typical llicorella or slate soils. Here the intense summer sunshine and cool nights help to create concentrated, powerful wines which are balanced by a refreshing acidity. This stunning wine opens with succulent aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate and earthy undertones as well as hints of toasty oak and sweet spices from the 12 months of ageing in new French oak barrels. On the palate the velvety texture and intense fruit flavours are balanced by the soft tannins and vibrant freshness which makes this wine an ideal match for red meats or pasta dishes with a rich tomato sauce.
2016
Red Wine Podere Brizio Brunello di Montalcino 2016. Decant 1 hour before serving. The modern estate of Podere Brizio really hit its stride in 2013 when it was purchased by Alejandro Bulgheroni, owner of Dievole winery in Chianti. Alejandro decided to hone in on the Sangiovese grape, bringing in top winemaker Alberto Antonini to put the property on the map for excellent Montalcino wines. The house style now involves long fermentations in stainless steel tanks with wild yeasts and ageing in large 54-hectolitre casks that showcases the elegant side of Montalcino. The estate’s 11.5 hectares of vines are nestled amongst olive groves in the south-west facing hills which is considered to be Montalcino’s warmest area. As well as a strong eye on quality, the estate has embraced sustainable viticultural practices, harvesting its fruit by hand and minimising pesticide usage. This stunning Brunello is a classic example of the modern Podere Brizio, combining bright fruit with a refined structure. Once in the winery the fruit is vinified in stainless steel tanks and then aged in untoasted casks for 12 months. This helps to showcase the floral and expressive nose, with delicate hints of bergamot, rose petal, and bright red cherry. The palate is harmonious and balanced, with plenty of red fruit balanced by refined tannins and a rich medium body.
2016