Rupert & Rothschild 2013 “Classique” This wine proves that yes, you can make some brilliantly spicy, smooth, and balanced wines on South African soil! A favorite and this is the last of our stash. 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc. Blackcurrant and plum aromas combined with cedarwood and graphite nuances. Abundant fresh berry flavors with fine-textured tannins and a lingering finish.
El Cipres 2018 Malbec Mendoza The viticultural history of the Correas family began in 1860 when Don Segundo Correas built the family’s first winery in Mendoza. For many decades, beginning in the 1930s, led by Julian Correas, the family was notorious for producing some of Mendoza’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon. Luis Segundo Correas, the third generation of his family to craft Argentine wine, continues to build on this history at the humble winery space he built in the mid-1970s. All wines here are estate-grown, and their “El Cipres” Malbec is a go-to value for us. You simply will not find a better option in the category.
Collefrisio 2016 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Third-generation winemakers Amedeo De Luca and Antonio Patricelli created the Collefrisio winery in 2004 in the hills of Frisa, Chieti Province, in Italy’s Abruzzo region. The estate is based on the hilltop holdings they acquired from the Frisio family (hence the name “Collefrisio”). Vineyard holdings are 35 hectares in total, and all farming is organic. Here we have a handmade Montepulciano that is fruity, fresh, and more interesting than most of what is on the market. Ruby red color with violet reflections. Intense nose, containing hints of slightly spicy cherry plum. Nice structure and well balanced.
Chateau Gaudou 2018 Cahors “Cuvee Tradition” The Gaudou estate sits in Vire-sur-Lot amongst a handful of Cahors’ other most prestigious vineyard addresses – A mythical location referred to as “The Beverly Hills of the Cahors Appellation” by French critic Michele Bettane. Most vines on the estate are considered “old vine,” some still on original rootstock being planted as far back as the late 1800s! A variety of soil types and exposures within the estate drives complexity in the finished wine – This bottling is a blend from the 48 acres of vines the Durou family owns and farms on second and third terraces in the terroir of the village of Bagat en Quercy. 80% Malbec, 15% Merlot, 5% Tannat.
Castello di Meleto 2017 Chianti Classico Castello di Meleto is a Tuscan estate on the rise, and probably the earliest ever vinous example of the now popular “crowdfunding” practice. They are receiving crazy press for their wines, with this Chianti Classico being the flagship bottling of the estate. Deep ruby red. Marked notes of cherry, typical of the grape, with hints of floral and spice. Velvety, enveloping palate with rounded tannins. Good structure with an excellent balance and long full finish. Check our podcast the first week of June for an in-depth look at this property.
Catania 2015 Ribera del Duero Crianza Goblet trained, ungrafted 70-year-old-plus vines, that sit on sandy/calcerous loam soils in La Rasa at over 3,000 feet in elevation. Applause worthy stuff in its ability to provide a top level Ribera del Duero palate experience at a fraction of the price of some of the region’s more well-known names. Intense ruby red color. Ripe fruit aromas with hints of cocoa and roasted coffee. A touch of sweet fruit on the palate with a backbone of tannins and a little acidity makes this a complex and balanced Crianza.
