Red Wine Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2013. Decant 1 hour before serving. The modern history of this exceptional estate dates back to 1924, but its contemporary success is largely due to the work of Giuseppe Quintarelli who fought to follow traditional methods of winemaking while his neighbours converted to mass production techniques. His dedication to quality and attention to detail has given Quintarelli a global reputation for complex Amarone wines which are aged extensively in Slavonian oak casks. Great care is taken in the vineyards with several passes made through the vines to ensure the fruit is harvested at optimum maturity. Their traditional-style Valpolicella wines are crafted using techniques like appassimento, a method which dries out the grapes on straw mats to concentrate the flavours in the finished wine. Quintarelli’s classic Amarone is made in an opulent style and is only produced during the finest vintages. Widely regarded as setting the benchmark for the Amarone style, this robust red is aged in Slavonian oak casks for seven years.
2013
Red Wine Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2013
Red Wine Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Regaleali Rosso Del Conte 2013. Decant two hours before serving. The first single vineyard wine to be made in Sicily when it was first released in 1970, the Rosso del Conte was designed to be the estate’s flagship wine by creator Count Giuseppe Tasca and paved the way for today’s sought-after premium Sicilian reds. Made with only the finest Nero d’Avola, Perricone and rare local varieties from the San Lucio vineyard, the wine spends 18 months ageing in new French oak followed by a minimum of 6 months resting in the bottle before release. Kissed by the fiery Sicilian sun, the Rosso del Conte is lusciously full-bodied with concentrated cassis, blackberry and black cherry aromas that erupt out of the glass. Next come aromatic Mediterranean herbs, grassy tobacco and fresh mint, leading on to jammy black fruit, sweet liquorice, and mocha on the palate. A truly exceptional wine which punches far above its price tag, the Rosso del Conte has a long life ahead of it and will continue to develop with careful extended cellaring. Set in the heart of Sicily, in the rolling hills of the lower Madonie mountains, the Regaleali estate has been connected with the Tasca name since its purchased in 1830 by brothers Lucio and Carmelo Mastrogiovanni Tasca. These two innovators sought to modernise and reinvigorate the farm, bringing advanced agricultural technology and new methods to the isolated Sicilian countryside. Today the family continues that forward-thinking philosophy by focusing on sustainable viticultural practices and experimenting with little-known indigenous grape varieties like the Perricone used in this magnificent blend.
2013
Red Wine Roxanich Superistrian 2013. Decant 2 hours before serving. Inspired by his travels to wine regions all over the world, Mladen Rožanić decided to create this Bordeaux-style red blend to prove the exceptional winemaking potential of his native Istria. Much like Italy’s Super Tuscans, he chose the name SuperIstrian” to indicate that this is something a little different to Croatia’s traditional red wines since it is crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Gamay grapes using natural winemaking practices. Mladen’s vines are farmed both organically and biodynamically, while in the winery he follows a minimal intervention philosophy and relies on wild yeasts to initiate the fermentation process which takes place in large used wooden casks. Mladen then ages the SuperIstrian in these same wooden casks for three years and the wine is bottled and released without filtration. The result is a bewitching deep ruby red wine which exudes rich aromas of crushed wild berries, plum jam and subtle sweet spices from the oak ageing process. The Cabernet Sauvignon makes its presence felt with hints of blackcurrants, a full body and firm structure, while the Merlot brings softness and the Gamay adds refreshing acidity which provides poise and elegance. This wine is an excellent candidate for extended cellar ageing over the next decade or so.
2013