Red Wine Podere Forte Petruccino 2018. Decant for 2 hours. Bright ruby in colour, the nose gives ripe cherry, blackberry, jam, some floral notes and hints of oaky vanilla. The flavours are intense with black fruit jam, cherries and blackcurrant, a touch of buttery vanilla and a delicate floral note coming through. High alcohol balances well with crisp acidity and silky, well integrated tannins. The finish is long with spice and minerality at the end. Great food matches include game, roast beef, sausages, and cheese. Fermentation in oak vats lasts for 10-14 days. Maturation in French oak barriques for 14 months followed by 8 months in bottle ensures the very best from the wine. This wine is viewed as a premier cru and it is clear to see why. Podere Forte has been said to have an obsessive attention to detail” – but they see it as respecting nature’s gifts. The organic and biodynamic processes are testament to this attention to detail, with an overriding view that the minimum intervention in the growing and fermentation processes leads to the best wines. Although there is some disagreement about biodynamic and organic statuses, the underlying care and prosperity of the vineyard and its terroir are improved immeasurably by the care with which the winery displays in its winemaking. The resulting wines show that the minimal contact and interference ensures fantastic quality wines with unique characteristics.
2018
Red Wine Podere Forte Petruccino 2018
Red Wine Poggio Argentiera Capatosta 2018. Set in the Maremma region of Italy, Poggio Argentiera is an organic winery that was founded in 1997 when Gianpaolo Paglia purchased a farm dating back to the start of the 20th century. Today the family owns some 50 acres of vines in the Morellino di Scansano appellation just a few kilometres from the sea. With a Mediterranean climate and sandy limestone soils, the estate has ideal conditions for making top quality wines. Capatosta is one of the winery’s flagship wines and expresses the character of the region’s traditional grape varieties and the specific local terroir. The wine is primarily composed of Sangiovese along with a smaller portion of the lesser-known Ciliegiolo and Alicante grapes. Following vinification the young wine is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months followed by a further 18 months of ageing in the bottle. The result is a powerful, robust red with a punchy full body, firm tannins and a well-built structure which will respond well to further cellaring. Cherry, plum and sweet spice notes define the nose while on the palate there are savoury hints of dried herbs, leather and tobacco leaf which linger on the tongue. A great match for roasted red meats, tomato-based pasta dishes, or a generous platter of charcuterie and cheeses.
2018
Red Wine Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2018. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. The Barbaresco of the Producers of Barbaresco is one of the finest red wines of Piedmont, with an ancient history. It was mentioned for the first time at the end of the 18th century but it was around 1894 that Barbaresco began to conquer the world thanks to Domino Gavazza and his Cantine Sociali. After him, in 1958, Don Fiorino Marengo founded Produttori del Barbaresco. Today the crops of Barbaresco are concentrated in some municipalities in the province of Cuneo and in the famous area of the Langhe. These areas are very rainy and foggy but for this reason they are ideal for Nebbiolo, a delicate vine that requires a slow maturation so as to continue, in some years, until late November. The calcareous-clayey soils, together with the altitude of the area, are key elements of its cultivation, to the full advantage of the quality of Barbaresco. It is a warm and balanced red, with a dense and delicate tannic texture and hints of raspberry, blueberry, and currant. It has good acidity and a persistent aftertaste. It is an elegant wine, to be paired with pasta with meat sauces and risotto with truffles or mushrooms.
2018