Red Wine Tenute di Nozzole La Forra Chianti Classico Riserva 2018. Drink now or cellar for up to 20 years, additional aging will benefit this wine. Decant before drinking. Tenute di Nozzole is an impressive estate with farming origins dating back as far as 1300. Acquired by the Folonari family in 1971, the family continues to operate the estate and its 385 hectares of land, 90 of which are occupied by vineyards and 15 occupied by olive groves. Located just north of the village of Greve, the estate is part of Tuscany’s famed Chianti Classico zone and represents some of the finest wines to emerge from the region. The Folonari family demonstrates a commitment to quality and terroir with wines that are honest in character and approachable to serious and everyday drinkers. The La Forra Riserva represents some of the estate’s most prized Sangiovese grapes as it is one of the best parcels, with vines more than 35 years old, and sitting at 300 meters in elevation. Burrowed in the Chianti Classico zone between Florence and Siena, La Forra Reserva has limited quantities as it is only produced in exceptional vintages. Like other wines from Tenute di Nozzole, the grapes are manually harvested before being destemmed and crushed. Fermentation takes place on the skins in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, and the wine is further aged in oak barrels for 16 months with an additional six months in bottle before release. The La Forra Chianti Classico Riserva captures aromas of ripe strawberry and tart cherry followed by cedar, tobacco and dried herbs. An elegance greets the palate with punchy tannins, fresh acidity and a rounded mouthfeel of vanilla and cranberry with hints of leather. This wine pairs beautifully with meaty entrees, cheeses and cured pork and beef.
2018
Red Wine Tenute di Nozzole La Forra Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Red Wine The Culprit Red 2018. This muscular Californian blend is sure to please lovers of big reds thanks to the punchy flavour profile, generous full body and long spicy finish. Primarily composed of Syrah, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah sourced from prime vineyards in different locations across Sonoma County, The Culprit also features small amounts of six other varieties which help create a multi-layered and complex flavour profile. Blackberry, candied cherries, cassis and licorice dominate on the nose while the first sip reveals a rich, smooth texture, firm tannins and intense dark berry flavours which linger long on the tongue. The complex layers of flavour and fruit-forward personality make this a great match for hearty red meat dishes including a prime steak with fries, beef stews, or fresh pasta served with a rich ragu sauce. It can also be cellared for a few more years where it will continue to evolve and develop. The Culprit is a winery in Sonoma which specialises in producing easy-drinking wines with plenty of ripe fruit flavours. They source fruit from across the county to capture Sonoma’s variety and complexity of terroir in each and every bottle.
2018
Red Wine Thorn Clarke Shotfire Quartage 2018. No need to decant it, but best to open it half an hour before service. The Thorn-Clarke winery was founded in 2002 by David and Cheryl along with their daughter Nicole and son Sam. The winery’s name comes from the fusion of their surnames and represents their history, Cheryl’s family (nee Thorn) was one of the first to settle in the region and has a long wine history. David’s family, on the other hand, was also a pioneer in the Barossa Valley, but above all famous for gold mining. David and Cheryl bought their first vineyard in 1987, and they later acquired more land in Barossa and the Eden Valley. The wine is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot. The grapes were harvested at night to maintain fruity freshness. After fermentation, the wines were filled into French oak barrels for maturation for 12 months. They were then racked and blended to form the final wine. The color of the wine is a dense and intense red. The olfactory palette is wide, a mixture of black fruits, especially ripe plums and black currants flanked by smoky notes and spices. On the palate, the wine is powerful and complex with notes of black cherry and black currant, chocolate, and sweet spices, especially anise. The tannins are firm and give the wine depth and density.
2018