James Suckling 90 points. Edulis Crianza is a red wine from the Rioja developed by the Altanza winery. This winery, founded in 1998, is located in the town of Fuenmayor (Rioja Alta). Edulis Crianza is made from 100% Tempranillo. The grapes come from vineyards planted at an altitude of between 380 and 500m on clay-calcareous soils and ferrous clay. For maintenance and cultivation of vineyards, non-chemical herbicides or pesticides are used. Edulis Crianza development is carried out using a conventional winemaking. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28°C and lasts 12 to 15 days....
ALL REDS <$40
Evans & Tate Wild Cape Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 [RJ 93]
Gold Medal Melbourne Royal Wine Show 2022. Gold Medal Perth Royal Wine Show 2022. THE WEST AUSTRALIAN WINE GUIDE 2023, 93 points. The panel enjoyed the vibrancy and dense floral/fruit concentration in this wine, so I was not surprised to find out there is 12 per cent malbec in the blend. Value for money is through the roof. This is big on flavour, a little juicy up-front, finishing with plush, dry tannins. Classical blackcurrant, tapenade and cocoa powder. Drink now or cellar and enjoy for up to five years.RJ COLOUR Purple black with a vibrant purple rim. Showcasing a beautifully intense, deep colour from the inclusion of Malbec and the...
Feudi del Pisciotto (Valentino) Merlot 2018 IGT [WS 91]
Wine Specytator 91 points. A last minute disagreement with Valentino has resulted in the merlot being released without the designers name. Merlot loves sunshine and Sicilian merlot delivers the love. It is lush, plush, chewy and delectable. Think Sofia Loren rather than Kate Moss. Lots of cherry, plums and exotic spice. Produced from one of the first vineyards planted on the Feudi del Pisciotto estates. A Merlot that expresses the full potential and character of this grape variety, which finds an ideal form of expression in Sicily’s terroir. Wine characterised by an important structure and power, while at the same time...
Fontanafredda Barbera d'Alba "Raimonda" 2021 [JS 91]
James Suckling 91 points. The tradition of Piedmontese wine takes on noble contours in the "Raimonda", which takes the Barbera d’Alba DOC to a higher level, where aromas and sensations contribute to giving a great personality. The grapes ferment in contact with the skins for 7-8 days at a controlled temperature of 28-30 ° C, and then refine for a year, both in barriques and in large wood. Another nice Fontanafredda’s masterpiece.
Forest Hill Highbury Field Shiraz 2019 [JH 92]
Erin Larkin for James Halliday's Wine Companion 92 points. Intense bright purple hues. Lifted aromas of blue fruits, satsuma plum with spice notes. Flavours of blueberry and spice. Medium bodied but dense with ripe tannin and well balanced natural acidity. WINERY NOTE: Our Shiraz was picked then de-stemmed into a combination of small open fermenters, maintaining as many whole berries as possible. In addition, we also filled small vessels for 100% whole bunch fermentation. Fermenters were pumped over or plunged by hand twice a day; temperature was held around 25°C. The wine was then pressed to Burgundian oak ranging in size from 225L...
Greystone Nor'Wester Pinot Noir 2018 [SK 93]
93 points Sam Kim "Delightfully fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows dark cherry, raspberry, thyme, toasted nut and subtle mushroom characters. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and roundness, wonderfully supported by silky texture and fine-grained tannins, finishing persistent and very tasty." (4/2020) 91 points Bob Campbell MW "Supple, savoury Pinot Noir with dried herb, floral, violet, spice, cherry and raspberry flavours. An appealing wine in a medium-bodied style, with a backbone of bright acidity." (8/2020)
Guimaro Mencia 2021 [WA 92]
Wine Advocate 92 points. The young red 2021 Vino Tinto is one of the first 2021 reds from Galicia that I taste from bottle. 2021 is supposed to be a return to the conditions of the vintages from yesteryear—cooler and with less ripeness, lower alcohol and more acidity but also viticultural challenges. This is always a sure value, and it is mostly Mencía with some 15% other local reds (Brancellao, Merenzao, Garnacha Tintorera, Mouratón, Negreda, Sousón, Caíño...) sourced from old vineyards. It is young and fermented in stainless steel and was kept in contact with the lees for four to eight months before...
Hacienda Solano Selección 2020 [WA 92+]
Wine Advocate 92+. The 2020 Selección comes from a cooler year with enough rain and no stress in the vineyards, when they achieved a medium-bodied red with 14% alcohol and pH of 3.88. It is harmonious, balanced and elegant, with a medium-bodied palate and a velvety mouthfeel through its fine tannins. It reminds me of the classical reds from the zone before excess arrived. Classical Ribera with character, rusticity and elegance. 34,570 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2021. #MAY
Il Conventino Rosso di Montepulciano 2020 [WA 90]
This Rosso di Montepulciano from Il Conventino is able to best enhance the strong union between the Tuscan winemaking tradition and the modern winemaking methods of organic farming. Here the native grapes prove, once again, that they can give wines of the highest quality that speak of passion, belonging and innovation. Vinified in steel vats, aged first in Slavonian oak barrels and then for 3 months in the bottle, this full-bodied wine surprises for its very pleasant nose and marked freshness: you can appreciate every sip. Ruby red color. On the olfactory analysis the fruity scents of plum and blackberry predominate; then follow aromas of...
Ironcloud "Rock of Solitude" Mouvedre 2018 [JH 93]
Erin Larkin for James Halliday's Wine Companion 93 points. Fruit from the Ferguson Valley. Pure and bright with a course of scintillating fruit flavour that trails across the palate. Not overly complex or long, but certainly overly delicious. Gives the mourvèdre earthy tannins that make it such a wonderful variety, and traps within them a core of mulberries straight from the tree in summer. Erin Larkin Published 13 August 2021. colour | Dark red. nose | Blueberries and liquorice. palate | A generous palate featuring flavours of blackberry, coffee and cigar flavours, balanced with soft velvety tannins. winemaking Mourvedre grapes...
JJ Hahn Barossa Valley Homestead Cabernet Sauvignon 2021[JH 94]
Cabernet sauvignon sourced from vineyards in Light Pass and Vine Vale; matured in a selection of 65/35% French/American oak barrels for 16 months. Deep magenta in the glass with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherry. Plenty of spice and earth with hints of scattered herbs, licorice and a light dusting of amaro in the background. Deep, resonant and fruit pure, there is structure here for cellaring and a rising ride of rich, blackberry pastille-like fruit on the long finish. 94 points. Dave Brookes Published 02 August 2023.
JJ Hahn Reginald Barossa Shiraz Cabernet 2023 [WP 94]
A classic Australian wine style championed in the late 1800s. Today it is the great Australian red, to the point that leading international wine writers and commentators, Tyson Stelzer and Matthew Jukes, have labelled Shiraz Cabernet blends as “The blend that defines Australia: Mouth filling wine style; soft, fleshy but firm with an explosion of fruit and flavour by blending Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon”. 94 points Winepilot Ken Gargett - A Barossa version of the great Aussie wine blend, which will only add to the reputation. Superb wine, stunning value. The colour here is a deep maroon. The nose is enticing in every...
JJ Hahn Western Ridge 1975 Plantings Barossa Shiraz 2018 [JH 95]
Hand harvested. Matured in French and American oak barrels. Benchmark Barossa shiraz. Rolf Binder has set off the spicy black fruits that characterise the western Barossa with an impressive framework of classy oak structure. Old vines deliver all the density and depth expected, enlivened by a stream of natural acidity that sets a long finish and great potential. 95 points. Tyson Stelzer Published 13 August 2021
Justin Girardin Maranges Vielles Vignes Bourgogne Rouge 2021
Justin's tasting note: "An elegant wine with a character all of its own! Bright, vivid, red colour. Intense and fruity nose where notes of wet undergrowth and wild nature can be detected. Fleshy and well structured on the palate. A little chunky in its youth, it becomes rounder and delicious to drink as it gets older. Very flavourful aftertaste." This red wine is produced on the Aubuzes climat in Maranges on the edge of the Santenay vineyard. The name of the place is a local variant of "Aubues" from the Gallic word "albucre" which means a whitish clay soil. Here the soil is rich and clayey, covered with...
Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Shiraz 2021 [JH 91]
This is a good proprietary shiraz, plying peppery spice, a whiff of mint, cardamon and clove along rails of salty freshness. Slinky and fresh without any forfeit of flavour, nor paucity of structure. Just enough in all regards, although very, very marginal. I prefer this to some higher up, at least in lieu of the price. Still, it pushes the envelope of mid-palate astringency. 91 points. Ned Goodwin MW Published 21 March 2023
Keermont Merlot 2020
Our two Merlot vineyards are High Road with heavier clay and more rocky soils (altitude 330m) which leans toward more dense and concentrated wine; and Homestead Merlot (altitude 260m) in lighter, loamy soils which leans toward more elegant wine. We follow a traditional winemaking philosophy which means indigenous yeast fermentation, no adjustment to acid or alcohol, maturation in seasoned oak barrels and bottling by hand with little or no filtration. This wine spent 19 months maturing in French oak barrels before being bottled on 28 October 2021. A total of 11720 bottles and 101 magnums were produced. TASTING NOTE The Keermont Merlot 2020...
Kilikanoon Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 [WA 92]
Wine Advocate 92 points. The 2018 Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon offers up hints of sage, bay leaf and cassis, buttressed by hints of vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied, smooth and silky, with a line of acidity that runs from the front of the palate through the long, mouthwatering finish. Not a big, huge, ripe Cabernet, it's more about focus and harmony—and for the $30 USD SRP, it's a bargain. JC Aug 2021.
Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Established in 1997, Kilikanoon has established a reputation for producing world class, iconic Shiraz from vineyards located in the Barossa & Clare Valley. Winemaker Kevin Mitchell also produces more budget priced offerings, producing wines that offer ‘Killer Value’ under the Killerman’s Run label, with fruit now being sourced from entirely low yielding Clare Valley vineyards. Matured for 16 months in new and used French oak hogsheads. "Dense midnight black dark red colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated blackcurrant aromas infused with a mix of tobacco and bay leaf are trailed by some dried herb,...
Kilikanoon Killermans Run Shiraz 2020
Deep red in colour with a vibrant purple rim. Elegant red-fruited aromas with hints of cherry, anise and mixed spices. Dense flavours of red and dark fruits, blackberry, sweet plums and peppery spice. Mr. Killerman lived in a humble tin shed in the hills behind Kilikanoon. He foraged through the valley for his meals, finding wild rabbits and many other gourmet treats. Respected as a man from the bush, he knew the secrets of the rich landscape. Killerman’s Run reflects the rich landscape and being at one with the environment by sourcing and blending wines from right across the Clare Valley into a seamless, natural and...
Le Salette "I Progni" Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2020
BEST VALUE ITALIAN RED, VERONELLI GUIDE 2019. (2017 and 2019 vintage) TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE WORLD, WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE. James Suckling 93 points. This wine does not see appassimento, but like all Ripasso, the Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore I Progni is refermented on the air-dried skins left over from Amarone. Ripasso is an ancient wine making technique used for centuries in Valpolicella, the second fermentation is on the sweet, locally dried grapes. Made with grapes sourced from a single vineyard in Valpolicella Classica, called I Progni. The blend is 70% Corvina and Corvinone, with 30% Rondinella and...
Le Salette Valpolicella Classico 2020 DOC
70% Corvina and Corvinone; 30% Rondinella, Croatina and Molinara. Light ruby in color, the nose has copious smoky mineral, a touch of fresh tobacco and cherry scent. Light medium in body, with a broad mouth feel and good acidity, fine tannins provide very good structure and focus. The flavours are slightly herbaceous and very savoury, with a great deal of saliva-inducing mineral. The finish is well balanced, firm and reserved, and has very good length.
Majella Coonawarra Cabernet 2020 [JH 94]
The interesting thing here is the tannin. Indeed, as good as the fruit is, tannin is the defining aspect. It spreads from the mid-palate onwards, assertive and dry, fine grained but commanding. It gives a pronounced sense of gravity, but it also calls into question the wine's balance. It otherwise offers trademark blackcurrant, boysenberry, mint and cedar flavours, all of which are delivered in both delicious and substantial volume. 94 points. Campbell Mattinson Published 19 June 2023
Majella Musician Coonawarra Cab Shiraz 2021 [Trophy]
The Lynn family have been residents of the Penola - Coonawarra district for over four generations, starting out as Store-Keepers and then graduating into grazing. The property on which Majella now stands was originally owned by Frank Lynn and bought by his nephew, George, in 1960 for Merino wool production. Majella now has 61ha under vine and makes some of the finest wines in Coonawarra. The colour is vibrant deep ruby red with a crimson hue. Fresh mint, eucalyptus and spice make up the lifted nose. The palate is soft and well balanced, with blackberries and cassis flavours with supple soft tannins. A perfect pairing of Cabernet...
Majella The Composer Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 [WM 98]
Estate grown fruit from the Majella vineyard in Coonawarra. The Composer is a vivid dark magenta red colour with a crimson hue. Lush eucalyptus and red fruit aromas are paired with a bright, flavour filled, medium weighted palate of cassis and red berries. Subtle oak integration enhances the smooth and balanced finish. A plush, juicy and mouthwatering cabernet with great persistence of some lovely, lifted blackberry fruit laced with licorice and mint and soft and fresh lively tannins. Rating: ★★★★★; Equal Top in Category; 98 Points; Winestate Magazine; July August 2022 Trophy: Wine of Show - Cowra Wine Show 2023 Trophy: Best...
Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta Futurosa Rosato 2021
FUTUROSA ROSE’ PIEDMONT DOC Rosè wine made with Barbera and Merlot grapes Futurosa is a very interesting rosé wine with an excellent vocation for food pairing. Obtained from a blend of Barbera and Merlot, Futurosa elegantly combines the strongest qualities of the two grape varieties: the structure and acidity of Barbera are perfectly balanced by the power and roundness of Merlot. Alcohol: 12-13.5% Tasting notes Color: bright rosé. Olfactory profile: elegant and intense, fruity notes of strawberry and small red berries. Taste profile: full-bodied, fresh, elegant and persistent. Pairings: Futurosa is...
Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta Valmorena Barbera d'Asti 2022
Barbera is a grape varietal indigenous to Piedmont and it’s one of the most important ones from this region. Valmorena is our most authentic and traditional interpretation of Barbera wine. Thanks to the vinification and maturation carried out in stainless steel vats and partially in oak casks, Valmorena preserves all the natural freshness and fruitiness of the varietal, showing at the same time great depth and persistence. Alcohol: 13-14.5% Tasting notes Color: very intense ruby red with purple reflections. Aromatic Profile: very intense, vinous, floral, with hints of plum, dark cherry and...
Massena "Twilight Path" Primitivo (Zinfandel) 2020 [JH 91}
Dry-grown primitivo from southern Moppa, hand picked with 30% whole clusters in the wild ferments. Deep purple-red colour, with aromas of deep dark plum and black fruits sheathed in purple floral notes, souk-like spice and dark chocolate. Plenty of dark fruit horsepower on the palate, with a bright, spicy line and kinetic, sandy tannin and support on the rich finish. 91 points. Dave Brookes Published 17 January 2022 Grape Variety: Primitivo (a.k.a. Zinfandel) Every Wednesday evening as the sun was setting, my family used to walk a well worn path across an empty paddock behind our house to our friends house for dinner. One night...
Massena Moonlight Run GSM Blend 2019
Grenache/mataro/shiraz blend, aged in seasoned puncheons. Realising its aspiration of a 'soft, slurpy' southern Rhône style, this is a juicy, fruity and engaging GMS. Glossy red fruits of old bush-vine grenache are seamlessly melded with the savoury spice of whole-bunch mataro and the black licorice and satsuma plum of shiraz. Fine, supple tannins lend just the right amount of grip to steady the finish. Tyson Stelzer Published 16 August 2021.
Meerlust Proprietary Red 2021 [JG 94]
Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak, 94 points. "This was initially made as a one-off declassification, but now it is a permanent part of the range: they have 20 hectares of younger vineyards that need a home. 2021 was a lovely vintage, and quite cool, giving intense wines but also fresh wines and this year the wine was Cabernet Franc led. 18 months in oak, 10% new. Chunky and focused with sweet black cherry and berry fruits, with nice definition. Good concentration with a bit of structure and nice freshness. Lovely intensity to this wine with great balance and potential for ageing. 94/100" May 2025. Additional Information Meerlust has...
Monteabellon Finca "Athus" Crianza Rioja 2020
From our vineyards in Rioja Alta (500 metres). Intense ruby red colour, with terracotta tones at the rim, due to having been in the barrel. Aromas of ripe fruit, good varietal and subtle expression toasted to fine oak standing out for its elegance, fineness, complexity and long finish . Its flavour is smooth and rounded on entry with very pleasant, velvety sensations. Its tannic structure is elegant and very well constituted, its aftertaste is noteworthy for its lasting finish. 12 months in 70% French and 30% American barrels. VARIETY: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo. SOIL: Middle zone. Sandy loam soils with...
Monteabellon Ribera del Duero "14 Meses en Barrica" Crianza 2021 [TA 91]
Tim Atkin MW 91 points. Gold Medal, Brussels Concours Mondial 2022. Intense cherry colour, garnet rim. Intense aroma of candied fruit, sweet spices perfectly integrated with quality wood, making it elegant. Very tasty in the mouth, powerful and fruity, with ripe tannins. AGEING: 14 months in barrel. 70% French oak and 30% American oak. VARIETY: 100% Tempranillo. SOIL: High zone Altitude 830-950m. Clay- Calcareous soil with limestone. SERVING TEMPERATURE: 14 – 16o C.
Monteabellon Ribera del Duero "5 Meses en Barrica " Roble 2023 [TA 91]
Tim Atkin MW 91 points. Very deep bright, cherry-red colour. Very intense aroma with marked fruity sensations of blackberry and blueberries perfectly integrated with quality wood that envelops everything. Good structure and good fruity expression in the mouth, powerful, with ripe tannins. AGEING: 5 months in barrel. 50% French oak and 50% American oak. VARIETY: 100% Tempranillo. SOIL: Middle zone Altitude 800-830m. Sandy loam soils with pebbles.
Mount Edward Gamay 2024 [Organic]
WINERY NOTE: Gamay, the way forward when you want something uncomplicated, refreshing, delicious and red -THE summer red for sure. Gamay is the hallmark variety of Beaujolais, at its best making wines with the ability to age, equally though amazing when young, especially from younger vines. Ours is pure fruit, delicious acidity, with just enough structure and weight to make it serious fun. Serve chilled or at room temperature, this is designed to drink now. Note: – this wine has minimal sulphites, unfined, unfiltered – store it cool, drink it young and don’t worry about a thing. Certified Organic –Muirkirk Vineyard,...
Mount Pleasant Tempranillo Touriga 2021 [JH 90]
This is a new face, the blend proportions not stated, hand picked and co-fermented before 10 days on skins in tank then six months maturation in old puncheons. It's been very well made, a bright and juicy medium-bodied, fruit-driven wine, red fruits to the fore, ready now. 90 points. James Halliday Published 29 July 2023. Hand picked and destemmed to tank for a short cold soak. Inoculated for a warm ferment of around 10 days with pumping over three times daily. Pressed at dryness to old barrels for MLF before being racked to tank for blending which occurred in October after 6 months in wood....
Muga El Anden de la Estación 2019 [WA 92]
Wine Advocate 92 points. The 2019 El Andén de la Estación is a new red that takes advantage of the Barrio de la Estación, the train station neighborhood of Haro. It's a Crianza with less extraction, looking for the elegance and finesse of the classical Rioja wines. It's a blend of Tempranillo from their younger vines and Garnacha (that they buy) that matured in French and European barrels for 14 months. It's a quaffable red with lots of Garnacha character (it might represent up to 30% of the blend, by far the highest in Garnacha from the portfolio). It's floral, juicy and expressive, very open and...
Muriel Reserva Finca de la Villa 2016 [JS 92]
Top Ten Best Selling Wines - December 2022 Under $60 A perfumed nose of dark cherry, plum, coconut, cedar and dried thyme. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. Rich and structured with a chalky texture and a firm, delicious finish. Better from 2022. 92 Points James Suckling. #TOP
O'Leary Walker Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2018 [JH 90]
JH 90. WINERY NOTE: It all starts with the vineyard, paying careful attention to pruning and the health of the vines. Cool climate vineyards enable the vines to produce rich flavours and characters over a longer growing season. Our Pinots have never been shy in colour and the 2018 vintage is no exception - gorgeous crimson red with a hint of purple. Aromas of cranberry, lavender, violet and herbs. The plate is supple with soft tannins, leading to a long, lingering finish. Closure: Screw Cap Perfect with cold tea smoked duck!
Palacios Ramondo La Vendimia 2021 Organic
Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2021 is a vivacious red that captivates with its bouquet of ripe cherries and raspberries, interwoven with a subtle hint of vanilla and black pepper. On the palate, it is succulent, with an inviting acidity that beckons one to take another sip, and velvety tannins that allow the wine to glide effortlessly across the taste buds. It is a youthful wine, exuding a carefree personality, ideal for those seeking to revel in the unadulterated essence of fruit at its most genuine. Red wine Oak. 5 months in oak barrels.
Paringa Shiraz 2018
PRODUCED BY WINEMAKING PIONEERS THE HICKINBOTHAM FAMILY PREVIOUS VINTAGE NUMBER 8 IN WINE ENTHUSIAST BEST VALUE WINES ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST VALUE WINES TASTING NOTES The colour is a dark, inky deep red, almost black with a vibrant garnet hue. The bouquet is lifted and intense with aromas of ripe plum and blackcurrants as well as exhibiting notes of integrated oak, mocha, white pepper and caraway seed. The palate is extremely rich and generous with a labyrinth of dark plum, chocolate, cedar and spice. The subtle and integrated French and American oak tannins add complexity to the secondary notes of the wine and compliment the fruit and...
Paringa Sparkling Shiraz 2022
Paringa is owned by the Hickinbotham family (reknowned for their excellent South Australian vineyards). This is their value driven export label. Paringa Sparkling Shiraz has a saturated deep burgundy color with a crimson hue and an abundance of aromas that include fresh black current preserves, with dark strawberry and blackberry jam that are surrounded by underlying hints of butterscotch, menthol and spice. The palate is lively, refreshing and medium-bodied, comprising of sweet berry fruits, ripe plums and cassis, with hints of chocolate, molasses, caraway seed and fennel. The origin of the “fizz” has ensured that the...
Pecchenino Dogliani San Luigi 2021 DOCG
Designation: Dogliani D.O.C.G. Variety: 100% dolcetto First vintage produced: 1994 Harvest time: second / third week of September. Vinification: from grapes coming from vineyards surrounding the Dogliani winery. The territory is part of the San Luigi mention from where the name of the wine originates. The vines are cultivated with guyot and have a density of 5000 plants per Ha. The wine is the product of several vineyards with south-east, south and south-west exposures. The soil is calcareous-clayey. After pressing, the must ferments in steel tanks for 10-12 days at a temperature of 26°C. After a first racking the malolactic fermentation...
Pecchenino Dogliani Superiore Siri d'Jermu 2020 DOCG
Winery COLOR: Ruby red with violet highlights. NOSE: Intense bouquet of ripe fruits with notes of currants, blackberries and black cherries. FLAVOR: The flavor is balanced with smooth, sweet tannins and a persistent finish. SOMMELIER'S DESCRIPTION The peculiarities of Dogliani Siri d'Jermu are essentially summarized by the close relation that the family Pecchenino enjoyed for centuries with Dogliani in the Langhe area, famous for its cultivation of this native vine. The farm Pecchenino was founded towards the end of '700: it has always been a family-run estate and have been handed down from father to son, being enriched, with the...
Pujanza Hado 2016 [WA 91]
Wine Advocate 91 points. As with many reds from 2017, I was pleasantly surprised by the 2017 Hado, which Carlos San Pedro told me could be a modern version of the 2005 (and 2016, perhaps 2007). It has good ripeness, black rather than red fruit and spicy oak. The palate is still a bit tannic, but this wine will not be released until October 2019, so it will have some time to polish those tannins in bottle. LG June 2019. #22
Rocca di Frassinello Ornello 2019 [VM 93]
Vinous Media 93 points. Created in honour of the ‘butteri’, who remain the symbol of the Maremma region, strong and elegant at the same time. The Ornello (from the name of the wood – manna ash), is a long, pointed stick that is still used today for driving cattle. It stands out for its substantial percentage of Syrah grapes that make it very full and rich, nonetheless retaining the typical elegance and freshness of Rocca di Frassinello wines. Intense ruby red. On the nose it has balsamic and roasted coffee notes. On the palate there are notes of woody undergrowth and soft, velvety tannins. #FRASS
Rocca di Frassinello Poggio alla Guardia 2020 [JS 92]
James Suckling 92 points. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangioveto. The benchmark wine, the third label, from the great project of Rocca di Frassinello. But a wine with a very marked personality, spicy but very easy to drink. An introduction to the company’s other labels of great aged wines. It is such a pleasure to drink that the quantities consumed are always high. Plums, chocolate, spices and herbs emerge spontaneously. Clean mineral notes outline the finish and confer an attractive element of freshness. #FRASS
Rockcliffe Third Reef Shiraz 2018 [RJ 92]
Ray Jordan 92 points "A juicy and vibrant shiraz chock-full of plummy ripe fruit displaying a little spice and damp, earthy characters among the more perfumed exotic notes. The palate has a grainy texture with chalky tannins and a little oak balancing the medium weight fruit. The 30% new oak adds that little extra dab of spice on the finish. Best drinking now to 2028." WINERY NOTES: COLOUR Deep crimson with a purple hue NOSE Elegant perfumed bouquet of bramble fruits and savoury spice. PALATE The palate displays considerable fruit concentration of plum and dark berries. The fine ripe tannins are very well integrated with fruity and...
Romanico Tempranillo 2019 [WA 91]
Wine Advocate 91 points. The entry-level red is the 2019 Románico, produced with Tinta de Toro (a.k.a. Tempranillo) from younger vines (10 to 25 or 30 years old, some of them grafted) in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. It fermented in a traditional way, foot trodden and with soft pumping overs, with indigenous yeasts selected from their own vineyards and matured in used French oak barrels for an average of six to eight months, as some wine is kept in stainless steel and other lots are aged in barrel for longer. This is primary and fruit-driven (black fruit), with purity and something floral; it's juicy and tender, with ripe,...
Rustenberg Merlot 2019
Rich aromas of blackberries, cassis, eucalyptus and dark chocolate follow through to a smooth palate that is both balanced and well-rounded with fine grained tannins.
Rustenberg RM Nicholson Red Blend 2021
Recognised globally as one of South Africa’s top five wine estates, Rustenberg is also one of the oldest in the Cape. In 1941 the Rustenberg Farm, which sits 6km north of Stellenbosch, was bought by Peter Barlow. Vineyards producing the grapes for Rustenberg wines climb the rich red slopes of the Simonsberg and Helderberg; a range of slopes and aspects allows site-specific plantings that enhance varietal characteristics. With a long and very proud history of producing exceptional wines, Rustenberg’s winemaking style is simple: produce quality wines true to the style of the estate and the brand. Named after a former Rustenberg...
Sardus Pater "FORAS" Cannonau di Sardegna 2021 DOC
Cannonau is the local Sardinian name for Grenache, where it has been grown for a thousand years. Colour: ruby red. Nose: elegant olfactory profile with aromas of red fruit, wild strawberries, aromatic herbs with a spicy note. Palate: rich, warm and intense, with soft tannins and moderate freshness. The finish is persistent. Foras means foreigner, in Sardinian language. On Sant’Antioco there are no Cannonau grapes, so this wine is produced with “foreigner” grapes coming from Sardinia.