Red Wine Pine Ridge Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Decant 1 hour before serving. Set in the Stags Leap District which is known for its fabulous Cabernet Sauvignons, Pine Ridge was founded in 1978 by Gary and Nancy Andrus who dreamed of making top quality Bordeaux-style wines in their native California. Today the estate has 160 acres of vineyards spread across five different appellations, Carneros, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford and Stags Leap District, which gives them tremendous versatility and consistency from vintage to vintage. The fruit for this powerful Cabernet is carefully selected from the estate’s premier Stags Leap District, Oakville and Rutherford vineyards. The fruit is all harvested at night when temperatures are cooler to preserve the natural character and plenty of freshness. Fermentation takes place in neutral tanks with the wine then matured in American oak for 17 months. Seductive notes of raspberry, blackberry pie and cassis dominate the nose, while the first sip reveals hints of dried violets, cocoa, ginger and even fresh basil. There’s a generous full body, grippy and firm tannins and a powerful structure that will respond well to another decade or so in the cellar. The finish is long and clean with plenty of ripe fruit, coffee bean, dark chocolate and spice notes.
2019
Red Wine Pine Ridge Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Red Wine The Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Decant 1 hour before serving. From the California tastemaking line Prisoner comes this redefined Cabernet Sauvignon. IT bears the iconic label inspired by Francisco Goya’s sketch Le Petit Prisonier – part of a series meant to visually protest the Spanish War of Independence. The Prisoner Wine Company uses this image to mark its standing in solidarity with the fight against racism, mass incarceration and the systematic oppression of Black communities.” Staying true to a founding style that sought to incorporate lesser represented varieties from California, this wine features a blend of small portions of Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petit Syrah and Charbono. It is aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels of which 50% are new. On the nose is black cherry, ripe plum and vanilla. It’s lush texture carries notes of blackberry and cherry, cocoa and baking spice. This wine may be held for around 10 years, but with round medium tannins and medium acidity it can be enjoyed starting from now.
2019
Red Wine Pulenta Malbec 2019. Owned by brothers Hugo and Eduardo Pulenta, the Pulenta estate boasts 135 hectares of prime vines in Mendoza’s Alto Agrelo sub-region. Conditions here are ideal for producing top quality Malbec wines, Argentina’s signature variety, thanks to the 980 metres of altitude and proximity to the Andes Mountains whose melted snow provides irrigation for the vines. The fruit enjoys a long growing season thanks to the hot summers and significant difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures which helps preserve freshness and aromatics in the grapes. This classic Malbec is crafted from fruit from a vineyard in Alto Agrelo as well as one in the higher altitude Uco Valley. Once in the winery the grapes are vinified and then matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. The wine then undergoes a further 12 months of ageing in the bottle before it is deemed ready for release. Vibrant dark plum, blackberry and cassis with hints of cigar box spice define the nose while the first sip reveals a generous full body, well-rounded tannins and silky smooth texture that is characteristic of Malbec. The bold flavour profile makes it a great match for typical Argentinian fare including prime cuts of beef, smoky barbecued meats or fresh pasta served with a hearty ragu sauce.
2019