Red Wine Querciabella Mongrana 2020. Querciabella is a pioneering Chianti estate which first embraced organics in 1988 and biodynamics in 2000. More recently, the property has adopted vegan principles in all its operations, using only products that are not derived from animals. These strong commitments to sustainability have helped put Querciabella on the map as one of Italy’s leading organic and biodynamic producers. Today the estate has 74 hectares of vines in the Chianti Classico appellation as well as a further 32 in the coastal Maremma region where this wine hails from. Crafted in an easy-going, accessible style, this elegant Tuscan wine is composed of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. These grapes all thrive in the Maremma thanks to regular cooling breezes from the sea which help preserve freshness and aromatics, helping the grapes achieve perfect ripeness. Once in the winery the fruit is vinified in cement and stainless steel tanks and then aged for 12 months before bottling. The beauty and finesse of this bottling has been extensively recognised by wine critics, with Wine Spectator selecting it as one of their Top 100 Wines of the World”. Morello cherry, dark plum, and crushed wild berries dominate on the nose, followed by silky smooth tannins and delicate hints of spice, leather and woodsmoke on the long finish. A great wine to enjoy with friends over a generous platter of charcuterie and cheeses.
2020
Red Wine Querciabella Mongrana 2020
Red Wine Quintodecimo Terra d’Eclano Aglianico 2020. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Famous for being the company of Luigi Moio, one of the most important Italian university professors of enology, the Quintodecimo winery is located near Mirabella Eclano, in Irpinia. The company has always been one of the reference wineries in this area. The range of Quintodecimo wines includes both ample, fruity, and impeccable whites and distinctive and complex red wines. The management in the vineyard is certified organic, with cru vineyards cultivated with Aglianico, Fiano, Falanghina, and Greco di Tufo. Aglianico Terre D’Eclano Quintodecimo is produced with 100% Aglianico grapes, coming from five distinct vineyards. The refinement, which determines the general characteristics of the wine, takes place in oak barrels (semi-new) for about 18 months. The result is a seductive and refined wine. The wine has an intense and deep ruby red in the glass. The nose reveals a broad and intriguing olfactory profile, with fruity aromas of black cherry, plum, mulberry, and notes of undergrowth such as fern, wet earth, and wild leaves, followed by tobacco, graphite, and incense. In the mouth, the tannins are lively and in perfect balance with pleasant freshness and alcoholic warmth. It is an austere but harmonious and highly concentrated wine that goes very well with Pappardelle with wild boar sauce or roast pork shank with potatoes.
2020
Red Wine Raul Perez Ultreia Rapolao Mencia 2020. No need to decant before drinking. When it comes to wines from Spain, Raul Perez Pereira is a name that often comes up. Receiving global attention in recent years for his unadulterated, terroir-driven wines, Raul Perez wines are one-of-a-kind. Growing up in wine, his family has been tending vines for at least 300 years and today is the largest owner of Mencia in the Bierzo appellation. He produced his first vintage for the family winery in 1994, and later split off to begin his own winemaking project. His work has expanded to include grapes from the appellations of Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra and Tierra de León as well. The Ultreia Rapolao is made from grapes coming from 100-year-old vines in the renowned El Rapolao Cru. Fermentation is spontaneous and includes whole-cluster in chestnut fermenters. The wine is then aged for one year in barrels, with a touch of new oak giving the final product a slightly creamy quality. The nose is announced and gritty with wet stone, anise, violet bitters, and orange zest jumping from the glass into red berries and cocoa. The palate has a distinct sappy mouthfeel with medium tannins and balanced acidity. Worn leather and dried herbs are pronounced here with dark fruit and a touch of smoke on the finish. A great food pairing wine, try enjoying the Ultreia Rapolao with mushroom based dishes, chorizo, veal, wild game and a sheep’s milk cheeses.
2020