Red Wine Roots Run Deep Educated Guess Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2020. Roots Run Deep was founded by winemaker Mark Albrecht who is on a mission to make delicious, ageworthy wines at fair prices. To set up his own wine label he took a leap of faith and sold his house. In 2005 he launched Educated Guess with financial support from friends and family who believed in his talent and dedication to achieve Napa Valley quality at affordable prices. The eyecatching labels are a nod to Mark’s interest in both science and art which play a key role in his winemaking style. The design features chemical equations describing the fermentation process, with each bottle offering a complex roadmap bringing together all the factors that go into making wine. Mark took a similarly detailed approach to sourcing his fruit, experimenting with various terroirs before deciding on the Sangiacamo Vineyard on the Sonoma side of Carneros. This punchy and robust Cabernet is bursting with luscious cassis, blackberry and crushed plum notes on the nose, while the first sip reveals a generous full body and firm tannins. The finish is long and elegant with hints of wild herbs, licorice and woodsmoke which ligner on the tongue after the liquid is gone. It’s a great wine to drink with barbecued meats, steak or a hearty game stew, although it also has the structure to be kept in the cellar for another decade or so.
2020
Red Wine Roots Run Deep Educated Guess Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Red Wine Sarris Megali Petra 2020. It is recommended to decant it for an hour and half. Founded in 2017 by Panos Sarris, after a long career as a sommelier and restaurant owner, Sarris Winery is located in Svoronata, on the island of Kefalonia. From its splendid terraced vineyards, Sarris produces excellent natural wines with local grapes characterized by intense aromaticity and great elegance. Megali Petra means big rock, and in this wine’s name, there is a clear reference to Mount Enos, watching over the Ionian island of Kephalonia from 1,628 meters. On its steep slopes, at an altitude of 400 meters and on limestone soils, the Mavrodaphnes grapes grow in beautiful scenery to create this excellent dry red wine. The Mavrodaphne grapes, sourced from the Fagias vineyard, are hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in stainless steel for six months. The Megali Petra shows a dense ruby red color in the glass. There is a rich palette of aromas on the nose, starting from sour cherries, blackberries and plums with some final spicy and herbal notes. The Mavrodaphne is juicy and powerful in the mouth with moderate alcohol content. The delicate acidity is in perfect harmony with the velvety tannins. The wine lingers for a long time. This is a wine for those who want to experiment with something unusual. It’s also an excellent match for wild boar, red meat stews and game in general.
2020
Red Wine Skouras Saint George Nemea Agiorgitiko 2020. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 1986, on the peninsula of Peloponnese, by George Skouras, the Skouras winery started producing around 6,000 bottles of wine per year. In 1996 a second winery was built in the area of the Nemea wine appellation, and then in 2003, the headquarters were moved to Malandreni, south-east of Nemea. The vineyards, planted mainly with the indigenous Agiorgitiko variety, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Moschofilero, Roditis and Viognier, are located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. They are planted with the main variety. Today, production has reached around 750,000 bottles, half of which are exported. This wine is made from 100% Agiorgitiko grapes, fermented in stainless steel and later aged in neutral French barriques for 12 months and in the bottle for a further two months. The Skouras Saint George Nemea Agiorgitiko shows a full bouquet of ripe red fruit and some perfectly integrated smoky and spicy notes in the background. This red wine is powerful and rich on the palate, with a nice balance between acidity and fine tannins. It’s a beautiful and smooth wine that goes well with beef, lamb casserole and, of course, moussaka.
2020