Red Wine Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Part of the Merryvale group, Starmont was founded about 30 years ago between Carneros and Napa Valley, in the historic Stanly Ranch. The area characterized by foggy mornings and cool afternoon breezes benefits from perfect conditions for the production of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The company has a strong green and sustainability-oriented approach which includes recycling the cellar’s process water, recovering 98% of waste, and producing enough electricity every day to power over 250 homes. The grapes for this wine have been sourced from four different counties. 76% of them come from Lake, 11% from Napa, and the remaining 3% and 10%, respectively, from Sonoma and Yolo. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 18 months in wood. Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon is a generous and full-bodied wine that shows aromas of berries (especially blueberry) and plum on the nose, followed by spicy notes of vanilla and cinnamon. In the mouth, the wine is full of character and dry with soft tannins and fresh and well-balanced acidity. The finish is prolonged and recalls hints of chocolate. Excellent with stewed beef, it is a must-try with lamb.
2019
Red Wine Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Red Wine Talenti Rosso di Montalcino 2019. Founded by Pierluigi Talenti in the 1980s, the Talenti estate is now run by Pierluigi’s grandson, Ricardo, who has worked tirelessly to modernise the vineyards and cellar while respecting the traditions and heritage of this venerable winemaking region. Today Ricardo works some 21 hectares of vineyards to the south of Montalcino close to the historic village of San Angrelo in Colle. This vibrant Rosso di Montalcino offers exceptional value for money thanks to the estate’s well-situated vineyards and Ricardo’s winemaking talent. Fruit is sourced from the younger Sangiovese vines on the estate which are bursting with bright red fruit flavours. Once in the winery Ricardo adopts a minimal intervention approach, allowing the fruit to ferment with wild yeasts found naturally in the air and on the grape skins. The young wine is then aged in used oak barrels to help add polish and to soften and integrate the tannins. The result is a dynamic, fruit-forward red which is bursting with red cherries, plums and raspberries as well as hints of darker berries. The well-developed structure and refreshing acidity provide a perfect balance, making this a natural partner for tomato-based dishes like pasta served with a ragu sauce or even a pizza fresh from the oven.
2019
Red Wine Tedeschi Marne 180 Amarone della Valpolicella 2019. The very first mention of the Tedeschi estate dates back to the 17th century, with the family working this charming corner of Valpolicella since at least the 1630s. During the 20th century the family gained a reputation as one of the region’s benchmark producers thanks to the work of Lorenzo Tedeschi who realised the exceptional potential of his family’s vineyards. The family’s Marne 180 Amarone is created from prime vineyards on the hills of Mezzane and Tregnago. Marne” is the Italian word for marl”, the soil type found in these vineyards which gives great elegance and a refined structure to the wine, while 180” refers to the vineyards’ degrees of exposure which helps the fruit to reach perfect ripeness. Following the harvest the grapes are left to dry out over the winter and the fruit is then macerated and fermented slowly over 40-60 days. The young wine is then aged in Slavonian oak barrels for around 30 months with another 6 months of ageing in the bottle before release. This lengthy, complex winemaking process creates a rich, powerful red wine with succulent dark berry, dried fruit and sweet spice notes. On the palate there is a robust full body, firm tannins and a well-developed structure which will help this opulent wine age beautifully in the cellar.
2019