Red Wine Tenuta La Fuga Brunello di Montalcino 2017. Decant before drinking. One of Ambrogio & Giocanni Folonari’s smallest estates, the Montalcino La Fuga site sits just above 4000 feet elevation on rich sedimentary soils. Mount Amiata stands tall in the southeast of Tuscany sheltering the vineyards of the region with a southwest exposure towards the Tyrrhenian Sea protected by rolling hills. What many call Sangiovese grosso is called Brunello in the municipality of Montalcino and is considered to be superior to Sangiovese grapes of other regions. Handpicked and fermented on skins in stainless steel tanks, the wine is then aged in large Slovenian oak casks for four years, with an additional 12 months of aging in the bottle. The Brunello grapes of La Fuga are no exception to the distinction of Brunello as an elegant yet powerful wine. The nose opens up to chocolate-covered raspberries, smoked wood, licorice and a rustic earthiness. On the palate the wine displays nice structure with soft tannins and zippy acidity. Ripe red fruit, forest floor, tobacco and a hint of peppered vanilla give way to a long, chewy finish. This wine is enjoyable young and will continue to charm drinkers years down the road. Pair with fowl, mature cheese and red meats.
2017
Red Wine Tenuta La Fuga Brunello di Montalcino 2017
Red Wine Thorn Clarke William Randell Shiraz 2017. No need to decant it, but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 2002 by David Clarke and his wife Cheryl (nee Thorn), the Thorn Clarke winery represents the union of two historic Barossa Valley families. In fact, both David’s and Cheryl’s families were pioneers in this region of South Australia. The couple bought their first vineyards in 1987 and for about 15 years they had produced grapes for other wineries. Given the success they achieved, they then decided to buy more land in the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley and to open their own winery. The wine is named after William Randell, one of the family’s ancestors, who emigrated to Australia in 1837. The 100% Shiraz grapes come exclusively from our own vineyards. The grapes from different plots are vinified and matured separately and are blended only before bottling. For the final blend, only the best barrels from the best plots are used. The wine is produced only in exceptional years.
2017
Red Wine Tchotiashvili Tavkveri 2017. It can benefit from decanting. The historic Tchotiashvili winery is located in Talavi, in the Kakheti region, one of the areas of Georgia with the oldest winemaking traditions. The family has been producing wine since the 18th century, and now the winery is run by Kakha Tchotiashvili, who cultivates the family’s vineyards according to organic principles and produces small quantities of exquisite Qvevri wines from indigenous varieties, in red and amber styles. Tavkveri grapes are grown from 42-year-old vines, located 450 meters above sea level. The must is fermented with wild yeasts and is then left to macerate according to the Qvevri method on the skins, and subsequently aged in French oak barrels. Less than 2000 bottles were produced and each bottle is hand numbered. Tchotiashvili Tavkveri is a brightly colored red wine, with fresh notes of cranberry, cherry, raspberry, and a mix of sweet spices including vanilla and nutmeg. In the mouth, it is light and lively with a medium body and a silky texture. A powerful fruity finish completes the tasting. The wine is perfect with pork, duck, or mushrooms, but it’s also a great choice for a wine and cheese night.
2017