Red Wine San Marzano Negroamaro F 2018. Set in the heart of the Primitivo di Manduria appellation, Cantine San Marzano was founded some fifty years ago by 19 local winemakers in the winery’s namesake village. San Marzano occupies an excellent setting in between the Ionian and Adriatic seas where cooling breezes help to moderate the hot Mediterranean summers. This provides perfect conditions for making hearty, full-bodied reds from Primitivo and Negroamaro balanced by freshness and aromatics thanks to the proximity to the coast. Their Negroamaro F is crafted from three vineyards in Contrada Monte La Conca planted with particularly old Negroamaro vines. The plots sit on the region’s classic red soils which are high in iron oxide and have bush vines which are carefully harvested by hand using small baskets. Once in the winery the grapes are vinified using wild yeasts and then aged in French and Caucasian oak barrels for 12 months. The result is a luscious wine with a inky purple red hue and enticing aromas of cherry jam, cassis and blackberries. On the palate there is a generous full body, smooth and ripe tannins, and a gentle streak of freshness which brings balance. It’s a great wine to pair with all types of red meats, charcuterie and game as well as tomato-based pasta dishes.
2018
Red Wine San Marzano Negroamaro F 2018
Red Wine Stefano Accordini Valpolicella Ripasso Acinatico Classico 2018. Decanting time: 2 hours. The richness of this wine is no doubt a result of the Valpolicella Classico method” which is a rigorous tradition that features a second maceration of the grape skins and re-fermentation of the wine itself. A deep and intense cherry red is at the forefront of this powerful and vibrant Ripasso Acinatico, followed by a bouquet of vanilla, assorted spices and, to no surprise, red cherries. Its full, juicy flavor gently warms the palate with floral, ripe red fruits and underlying hints of coffee, licorice and spice. Wood-derived notes and pleasant tannins lend an earthiness edge and yet are balanced by notes of blackberries, plums, and spices. The result leads to a tenuous, fruity expressions of sharp and delightfully exotic proportions. This Ripasso carries a bold impact that lends rustic charm and intensity to its character along with a concentration of lively acidity. Aged 12 months in small oak casks. With such a deeply, complex set of various flavors, this medium-bodied wine pairs well with a range of dishes, including grilled meats, soft and mild cheeses, rich fish such as tuna or salmon, shellfish and hearty pasta meals. An excellent value wine which can be enjoyed now or will age gracefully well into 2020.
2018
Red Wine Stefano Accordini Acinatico Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2018. Decanting time: 2 hours. This Acinatico Amarone from one of the world most renowned estates, is a deep garnet red in color. The inviting warm, spicy bouquet, delivers a strong, complex aroma of dried fruit and emerging hints of vanilla. Hailing from the Veneto region in northern Italy, the grapes (made primarily from Corvina), are harvested in the first week of September and air dried through traditional viticulture, which offer a tightly nuanced and restrained floral and aromatic taste absent from sugars. This vintage benefits from at least two hours of aeration and is best served in a large glass to allow for the more subtle tones, like vanilla, the opportunity to expand. Gentle acidity heightens the discrete, crisp mouthfeel. Dryish to taste, this elegant vintage has soft, fine tannins, is immensely rich and broad, and possesses a subtle underlying core that benefits from its excellent structure, leading to a lingering, soft finish. The Stefano Accordini winery employs traditional methods of viticulture, offering some of the highest quality grapes from their low-yielding vines. This Acinatico Amarone is still considered young and will keep well through 2024-2034 if stored properly. Serve with game, venison, grilled meats and aged cheeses to experience the sophistication this vintage lends.
2018