Best Everyday Red
Campos De Luz Garnacha
Campos De Luz is part of a bigger picture called Vinergia, which was a wine project started in 2005 by two individuals who shared a mutual love and desire to showcase the best in new modern technology with their wineries. “Vinergia” the name, is a fusion of two words: wine and synergy. Owners Robert Hunter and Ignasi Lopez have over 50 years experience in Spanish wine production.
Tasting Notes
Bringing their expertise to the forefront, their goal is to simply produce wines that people actually want to drink, wines that are approachable, unfussy and pleasing to the palate without being overtly complicated. With over 12 wineries in their portfolio, Vinergia promotes Spanish wines in all its diversity. Campos De Luz is located in the North-East of Spain, where the dry Mediterranean climate compliments the growth of Grenache. Traditionally bush-farmed, this red varietal is more often than not trellised and the grapes are harvested September and early October. The vineyards of Campos De Luz are 200 hectares in size and are 40-80 years old. The resulting wine produced is fruit forward with a natural intensity of red berry fruit, with no oak ageing. Big and bold with intense notes of black cherry, ground black pepper and dry herbs.
*Château La Rode Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux*
Château La Rode is located near Saint-Emilion, in Saint-Aiguilhe on the slopes of Castillon la Bataille. The estate is owned and operated by the same family since 1963 and is managed by Christine Faux. The estate has been certified organic since 2012 and there are 20.7 hectares of vines in total, but the majority of the land is planted to Merlot, which takes centre stage in their Bordeaux blend.
Tasting Notes
Supported by generous black fruit flavours and well-defined acidity, the palate is supported by black plum, leather, tinned black olives, and dried bay leaf. The finish lingers.
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Lui Úmile Merlot
He’s just so happy to be in the vineyard. ‘He’ is famed Mendoza-born and bred winemaker, Mauricio Vegetti, who is considered one of the top winemakers alongside his peers Sebastian Zuccardi (Familia Zuccardi), Juan Pablo Michelini (Zorzal) and Santiago Mayorga (Nieto Senetiner). He is the brains behind the label Gauchezco, a 225 historical property (planted in 1881) in the Maipu region.
Tasting Notes
The texture of this wine is smooth and supple, with notes of raisins, cocoa nibs, and forest floor. 60% of this wine spent 12 months in French oak barrels that saw 3/4 years of usage already. Soft and lush, with bright plum and some anise notes that are surrounded by caramel, hints of spice, and wild berries.
Best Mid-Range Red
*Agriverde Riseis Montepulciano D’Abruzzo*
The family’s roots that began this winery go back to the 1800’s with the family exporting wines to the distant lands of the Savoy. Generation after generation of family members have carried this winery into the present day, where in 1980, the Di Carlo family decided to transition all of their production into becoming certified organic. Agriverde’s main objective is to operate respecting the env…
Tasting Notes
The resulting wine is very fresh with bracing notes of black fruit, violets black cherry and raspberry. The finish is long with layers of pepper and plum.
Bodegas Nodus Chaval Bobal
Bodegas Nodus owes its roots to Adolfo de las Heras, who in 1985, driven by his passion for oenology purchased one of the most valuable estates in Valencia. El Renegado spans over 450 hectares of land that is combined with vineyards and forests. Over 80% of the vines are 40-year-old native Bobal.
Tasting Notes
Prominent flavours of plum and black cherry with hints of Madagascar vanilla, baking spices and anise. The tannins are soft and silky and display a firmness on the palate, with a long lean length.
Idi Di Marzo Montepulciano
If you didn’t know, Montepulciano is another form of Sangiovese. Grown in the Abruzzo Region of Italy, where the fruit driven version of this varietal is grown between the Adriatic coast and the Apennine Mountains. The vines are embedded in mineral rich soils that adds complexity and depth to the wines that are made from them.
Tasting Notes
Sustainably farmed, this wine is comforting to the nose and the palate, rich in spices, notes of chocolate, dark berries leather and fresh black soil. The De Cherico family estate is located in the heart of Abruzzo’s most splendid viticultural district-in Villamagna, in Chieti. It was in 1910 that Vincenzo, the great-grandpa purchased the plots of land that were destined to become a great wine estate. Plantings of native varietals such as Trebbiano, Montepulciano and Pecorino dominate the landscape.
Best Premium Red
Cardano 1913 Cabernet Sauvignon
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 1913 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose bursts with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie, chocolate mint and tobacco with wafts of cedar chest and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid frame of lovely, ripe, grainy tannins to support the bags of black fruit, finish…
Tasting Notes
Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose bursts with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie, chocolate mint and tobacco with wafts of cedar chest and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid frame of lovely, ripe, grainy tannins to support the bags of black fruit, finishing with impressive purity.” from The Wine Advocate (11/2020).
Littorai Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir
“The 2019 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1991-1993 at the cooler northern end of the Anderson Valley. It has a medium ruby colour and slowly unfurls aromas of raspberry jam, tobacco, conifer, graphite and bergamot. Medium-bodied, powerful and expressive, it has concentrated flavours for its seamless, silty frame.
Tasting Notes
It has a medium ruby colour and slowly unfurls aromas of raspberry jam, tobacco, conifer, graphite and bergamot. Medium-bodied, powerful and expressive, it has concentrated flavours for its seamless, silty frame. It finishes with latent spicy accents that suggest it has a long life ahead in the cellar,” from The Wine Advocate(07/2022).
Littorai Wendling Vineyard Block E Pinot Noir
“Pale ruby-purple in the glass, the 2019 Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard Block E is extraordinarily fragrant and expressive! The nose features pure violet, iron, conifer and decaying leaves accenting a core of blueberry and pomegranate fruit, continually shifting with each return to the glass. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with waves of deep red, floral fruits, and it finishes with …
Tasting Notes
The nose features pure violet, iron, conifer and decaying leaves accenting a core of blueberry and pomegranate fruit, continually shifting with each return to the glass. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with waves of deep red, floral fruits, and it finishes with tremendous persistence and layering,” from The Wine Advocate(07/2022).
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