Red Wine Rupert Rothschild Baron Edmond 2017. Rupert & Rothschild was founded in 1997 on a quiet Franschhoek farm at the foot of the Simonsberg mountain on South Africa’s Western Cape. It began as a partnership between Baron Edmond from the famous Rothschild family of winemakers and local South African entrepreneur Dr Anton Rupert. Today it’s in the capable hands of the new generations of both families who focus on crafting premium wines in an Old World style from the stunning South African terroir. Created to honour one of the original founders, the Baron Edmond cuvee is composed of Cabernet Franc and Merlot along with a smaller dash of Cabernet Sauvignon for extra complexity and structure. The fruit is harvested by hand from Stellenbosch and fermented in wooden vats and stainless steel tanks. The young wine then spends 18 months maturing in 225 litre French oak barrels before bottling. Cedarwood, forest floor, and bright wild berry notes dominate on the nose, while the first sip reveals a generous full body, well-developed structure and firm tannins that will help this wine age beautifully in the cellar. The solid core of ripe fruit and robust flavour profile make this a great partner for a sirloin steak, rich beef stews, or even a generous platter of charcuterie.
2017
Red Wine Rupert Rothschild Baron Edmond 2017
Red Wine Chateau Phelan Segur Saint Estephe 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. One of Saint Estephe’s benchmark producers, Phelan Segur was founded by Bernard Phelan who united two neighbouring properties, Clos de Garramey and Segur, and added his name in keeping with the traditions of the time. In 1860 his son, Frank Phelan, built the stunning country house on the estate which by this time was the largest in the Saint Estephe appellation. In 2017 the property sold for a record €90 million to Belgian investor Philippe Van de Vyvere. Today the property has 70 hectares of vineyards planted on exceptional terroir, sitting on a ridge of clay and gravel soils above the Gironde estuary. As the saying goes, “the greatest terroirs look to the water”, and Phelan Segur’s wines offer both power and character with excellent potential for extended ageing in the cellar over the next decade and beyond. The estate’s Grand Vin is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon along with a smaller proportion of Merlot and a drop of Cabernet Franc. To allow for precise blending, each parcel of vines is vinified separately with ageing taking place in 50% new French oak barrels for 16-18 months. This helps to soften the firm tannins and add subtle hints of woodsmoke and spice to the luscious cassis, blackberry and dark plum fruit.
2017
Red Wine Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino 2017. Decant 1 hour before serving. The Salvioni family have been grape growers since the early 1900s, although it was only in 1985 under Giulio Salvioni that they began to bottle and release their own wines. Success followed soon after when Italian wine critic Andrea Gabbrielli awarded the 1985 vintage the Tre Bicchieri award in the well-known food and wine magazine Gambero Rosso. The family’s La Cerbaiola vineyard sits at 450 metres above sea level on a well-exposed plateau with a total surface area of around 4 hectares. Most years the Salvionis produce just four casks of Brunello which amounts to around 12-13,000 bottles. This scarcity and the celebrated reputation of Salvioni amongst wine collectors around the world means these bottles are very difficult to get hold of indeed. The signature style of Salvioni Brunello is elegant and incredibly complex with classic Sangiovese aromas of cherry, plum and red berries seasoned with dried herbs, earthy hints and a touch of cigar box spice. On the palate there is a refined medium body with silky smooth tannins and a well-built structure which will help this magnificent Brunello age gracefully over the next decade or so. It can also be enjoyed now alongside roast lamb, venison or wild game dishes which complement the rich, earthy flavour profile.
2017