Red Wine Tenet The Pundit Syrah 2018. Drink now. No need to decant. Tenet Wine Company looks at Syrah differently than other winemakers do. In the New World, Syrah can often be just a blender to beef up Cabernet Sauvignon or an overly jammy wine from warmer regions. To find the best of both the Old World and the New World, the winemaker embraces the fruit forward quality of the grapes grown in the area, but looks to traditional Southern France varietals to round out the wine. They also employ unique winemaking styles like experimenting with what percentage of grapes are destemmed and which are fermented as whole bunches. Some try to move away from the bramble that can come from stems, but the winemaker feels that the savory element that comes from this method is actually a perfect balance to Syrah in particular. In the glass, the wine shows dark purple and ruby hues. The nose features strong blueberry jam notes with undertones of a brambly and meaty quality. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky with the blueberry coming forward to start, followed by tobacco and gamey subtleties. The dark and rich quality of the wine makes is a wonderful pairing with red meat, especially gamey options like lamb, duck and wild boar.
2018
Red Wine Tenet The Pundit Syrah 2018
Red Wine Stina Plavac Mali 2018. Set on Croatia’s southern Dalmatian coast, the Stina winery is located on the island of Brac which is famed for its pristine white stone or stina” in the local dialect. The winery occupies the building previously used by the island’s cooperative winery and strives to produce exemplary bottles of indigenous Dalmatian varieties like this vigorous Plavac Mali. Considered one of Croatia’s most valued grape varieties, Plavac Mali is related to the Zinfandel grape which today enjoys huge popularity over in California. The small, bluish coloured grapes tend to produce powerful and well-structured red wines which can be aged extensively. This excellent example is aged in used French oak barrels for 8-10 months before bottling to soften the variety’s naturally grippy tannins. The wine is then aged for a further 6 months in the bottle before release. On the nose there are classic Plavac Mali aromas of red cherries, strawberries and rose petals while the first sip reveals a touch of black pepper and lightly spiced flavours on the long finish. There is a full body and smooth yet firm tannins which will respond well to additional cellaring. The robust flavour profile also makes this bottling a great partner for red meats including game, steak or even barbecued ribs.
2018
Red Wine Stina Tribidrag 2018. Jako Vino founded Stina winery in 2009 and has quickly built a loyal following in Croatia and beyond for his delicious wines made from authentic local Dalmatian varieties. The winery is set in a stunning white stone building which used to be the island of Brac’s cooperative winery right on the waterfront in Bol. Jako primarily sources his grapes from steep vineyards on the island which must be worked by hand. This delicious red is composed of Crljenak or Tribidrag, the local name given to the Zinfandel grape which originates in Croatia. For this wine Jako sources grapes from the northern side of the island where conditions are ideally suited to the variety. The young wine is aged in oak barrels for 12 months to add complexity and soften the grape’s typically firm tannins. The result is a robust and hearty red wine with plenty of power and a generous full body. On the nose there are intense aromas of cassis, dark berries and sweet spice and licorice from the oak. The tannins are well-built yet smooth with a firm structure overall and a long finish. This is a wine which will age beautifully in the cellar and makes a great pairing for rich red meat dishes.
2018