Black plum, black cherry and anise imbue this sultry, savoury blend of Montepulciano and Aglianico from DOC Biferno Rosso in Molise. Supple leather on the palate carries dried cherry and raspberry, dusky mulberry, anise and perfumed scrubby herbals (rosemary, thyme, rock roses). Lovely red-fruited and floral intensity for its 13.5% frame.
The discovery of this winery at this year’s Nebbiolo Prima was one of my highlights! Powerful; the cherry, plum, vanilla, spice, cocoa, tar, dried earth carry long into the sunset. With all the tannins, there is a 20-year life ahead.
This blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca is an opaque coloured red which is chock-full of spice, black raspberries, dark cherries and floral aromas and flavours. It is light to medium bodied with a smooth texture. In other words, a perfect BBQ wine.
Dark ruby. Ripe nose of black fruits, toasted oak, hints of tar. Dense and ripe on the palate, acidity is on the low side; powerful middle palate and an intense, slightly warm finish.
Ripe and concentrated with blackberry, raspberry and currant flavours. Perfumed nose, layered and rich with velvety, well-integrated tannins, bright, crisp acidity and exceptional length.
Named for a Russian signal station, this radio sweetheart is an Imperial Stout by way of the freezer aisle: Strictly neapolitan. The nose is madagascar vanilla, dehydrated strawberry, and hershey syrup, but the body is milkshake thick, leaning into bitter dark chocolate and a bourbon barrel sweetness that lingers slightly longer than it would take that ice cream to melt. As novelty Russian Imperials go, this one is a winner.
Amid the oceans of Pinot Grigio flowing through the liquor boards, there is also Pinot Gris — the same grape but usually given oak treatment. Alsace is renowned for its Pinot Gris and one of the best values from Alsace is this wine. Pale straw in colour with an earthy, peach aroma heightened by a floral grace note, it’s medium-bodied, off-dry, with well-extracted peach and yellow apple flavours. Serve it with lightly curried chicken or pad Thai.