Red Wine Tselepos Driopi Reserve 2018. It is recommended to decant the wine half an hour before serving. The Driopi estate is located in Koutsi, in the heart of Dop Nemea, the largest and most important wine-growing area with a protected designation in Greece. Here the grape of reference has been Agiorgitiko for millennia, a red berry that gives wines with a beautiful structure and very soft tannins. In the Driopi estate, this autochthonous vine is grown exclusively, for the production of rosé wines, both still and sparkling, and red wines. This red wine is obtained from the native Agiorgitiko variety. Grapes come from organically grown vines in the Nemea wine region, planted at an altitude of about 780 meters above sea level, on calcareous, clayey and schist soils. Upon arrival in the cellar, the grapes are cooled for 24 hours, and then fermented according to a classic vinification process with maceration in stainless steel tanks for about 25 days. The wine is later aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (70% new – 30% used) and 6 months in bottle. Tselepos Driopi Riserva is a full-bodied and characterful red wine with lively notes of red fruit, eucalyptus, and a vegetable touch. It is rich and slightly creamy with a soft finish and velvety tannins. Try it with steak or ‘coq au vin’ (chicken cooked in red wine).
2018
Red Wine Tselepos Driopi Reserve 2018
Red Wine Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. Decant 1 hour before serving. Turnbull Wine Cellars in Napa’s Oakville appellation was founded in the late 1970s by architect William Turnbull and his friend, the attorney Reverdy Johnson who also served as President of the Napa Valley Vintners Association. Today the estate has over 200 acres which include some of Napa’s most prized terroir for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, such as their two vineyards which neighbour the legendary Screaming Eagle. This is their classic Cabernet Sauvignon which is crafted from top quality fruit grown in their Fortuna, Leopoldina, and Amoenus vineyards. Along with the Cabernet a little Merlot and Cabernet Franc is added to the final cuvee to add extra complexity and plush dark fruit flavours. The nose is bursting with ripe plums, dark berries and cherries along with undertones of herbs, spice and dried fruit. On the palate there’s a generous full body bolstered by firm tannins and a long finish accompanied by delicate notes of cinnamon, cloves, and toasted oak. This bottling has been widely praised by international wine critics, regularly receiving scores in the mid-90s. Robert Parker even described the Turnbull wines as being some of the most compelling wines being made in Northern California”.
2018
Red Wine Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018. Valli Vineyard was founded by winemaker Grant Taylor in 1998 who named the winery after his great-great-grandfather, Giuseppe Valli, who emigrated to New Zealand from his native Italy. Taylor is one of the original Central Otago pioneers, having made wine here since 1993 when there were just 20 hectares planted in the region. He has helped many top New Zealand wineries with their first vintages including Felton Road, Mt Difficulty, Bald Hills and Hawkshead. Over the years his wines have been awarded the Best Pinot Noir Trophy at the International Wine Competition three times. At Valli Vineyard Taylor focuses on single vineyard wines which express the complexity of the Pinot Noir grape. His Bannockburn Pinot is made from hand-harvested grapes and is aged in French oak barrels for 11 months before bottling. Bannockburn is one of Taylor’s cooler vineyards, so this is a classic and elegant style of Pinot Noir with ripe red cherry, raspberry and strawberry notes mingling with hints of herbs and spice from the oak ageing. On the palate there is a distinctive freshness and bright core of red berry flavours along with smooth tannins and a pure, clean finish.
2018